Skip to content
Ottoman BureaucracyPeople, places and careers in Ottoman public service

Official

Mehmet Raif Efendi

Muslim (Müslüman). Born in Bitola (Manastır) in 1849/50 (AH 1266). On record 1875 to 1904, 30 annual entries. Death recorded 1904/05.

Life

Mehmet Raif Efendi was born in Bitola (Manastır) in 1849/50 (AH 1266). The record gives the community as Muslim (Müslüman), the nationality as Turkish and the father's occupation as Yuzbasi.

Schooling recorded: Rüşdiye Mektebi, with 7 years of schooling recorded. The record marks no qualification (diploma, certificate, training or decoration). Languages recorded, with the skill words of the record: Turkish, with Kitabet.

First work is recorded in Bitola in 1869/70 (AH 1286). The official was then about 19 years old. The record gives 6 years of unpaid apprenticeship (mülazemet) before the first salary. The first-salary field gives 380 kuruş a month. At the first annual entry, in 1875/76, the official was about 25 years old.

The first annual entry, for 1875/76, shows Muhabere Memuru in Ohrid (Ohri), with 380 kuruş a month. In 1879/80 the record shows Muhabere Memuru in Bitola, the salary going from 400 to 380 kuruş a month (before: Muhabere Memuru in Ohrid). In 1880/81 the record shows Muhabere Memuru in Serres (Siroz), with 380 kuruş a month (before: Muhabere Memuru in Bitola). In 1884/85 the record shows Muhabere Memuru in Ohrid, with 380 kuruş a month (before: Muhabere Memuru in Serres). In 1885/86 the record shows Başmuhabere Memuru in Kruševo (Kruşova), the salary going from 380 to 600 kuruş a month (before: Muhabere Memuru in Ohrid).

The highest salary, 600 kuruş a month, is first recorded in 1885/86 as Başmuhabere Memuru. 58 per cent of the other officials with a recorded salary that year earned less. The median salary of all officials that year was 500 kuruş. Over 30 years with a salary the median is 540 kuruş a month, with 2 rises and 2 cuts. The largest rise, 220 kuruş, is seen in 1885/86. From the first salary to the last the salary grew by 1.22 per cent a year on average. The last salary is recorded in 1903/04, when 61 per cent of the other officials with a recorded salary that year earned less.

A death is recorded under 1904/05 (AH 1322): the year of the annual list that holds the status word Vefat, not a date of death.

Record

Personal

Born
1849/50 (AH 1266)
Community
Muslim (Müslüman)
Nationality as recorded
Turkish
Father's occupation
Yuzbasi
Death recorded
1904/05 (AH 1322)the year of the annual list with the word Vefat, not a date of death

Education

Rüşdiye
Rüşdiye Mektebi (7 years)rüşdiye school (middle school)
Unpaid years (mülazemet)
6 years
Preparation route (classification of the paper)
Low
Qualification (diploma, certificate, training or nişan)
No

The years count all schooling up to that school, as the record gives them.

Languages

Turkish
Kitabetwriting

The glosses are cautious historical readings of the recorded words, not modern levels of proficiency.

First work

Year
1869/70 (AH 1286)
First salary field (kuruş a month)
380

Career

Career of Mehmet Raif Efendi, one row per stage
YearsTitlePlaceSalary (kuruş a month)
1869/70AH 1286First workBitola (Manastır)380first-salary field
1875 to 1879AH 1292 to 1296Muhabere Memuru
5 entries
YearSalary
1875/76380
1876/77400
1877/78400
1878400
1878/79400
Ohrid (Ohri)380 to 400
1879/80AH 1297Muhabere MemuruBitola (Manastır)380
1880 to 1884AH 1298 to 1301Muhabere Memuru
4 entries
YearSalary
1880/81380
1881/82380
1882/83380
1883/84380
Serres (Siroz)380
1884/85AH 1302Muhabere MemuruOhrid (Ohri)380
1885 to 1904AH 1303 to 1321Başmuhabere Memuru
19 entries
YearSalary
1885/86600
1886/87600
1887/88600
1888/89600
1889/90600
1890/91600
1891/92600
1892/93600
1893/94600
1894/95600
1895/96600
1896/97540
1897/98540
1898/99540
1899/1900540
1900/01540
1901/02540
1902/03540
1903/04540
Kruševo (Kruşova)600 to 540
1904/05AH 1322Death recorded
Monthly salary, kuruş
02004006001878AH 12951882/83AH 13001887/88AH 13051892/93AH 13101897/98AH 13151902/03AH 1320600 kuruş
Salary against the medians of the same year
2005001,0001878AH 12951882/83AH 13001887/88AH 13051892/93AH 13101897/98AH 13151902/03AH 1320This officialMedian, all officialsMedian, same title

Log scale: equal steps are equal ratios. The median of the same title is drawn for the years in which at least 5 officials with that title had a salary.

The numbers of the chart
Salary of Mehmet Raif Efendi against the medians of the same year, kuruş a month
YearSalaryMedian, all officialsMedian, same titlePaid less
1875/7638053040018%
1876/77400582.541017%
1877/7840056041016%
187840060050017%
1878/7940060042018%
1879/8038050038022%
1880/8138050040021%
1881/8238050040020%
1882/8338050040018%
1883/8438050040018%
1884/8538050040018%
1885/8660050060058%
1886/8760050060059%
1887/8860050060058%
1888/8960050060058%
1889/9060050060058%
1890/9160050060059%
1891/9260050060059%
1892/9360050060059%
1893/9460050060060%
1894/9560050060060%
1895/9660050060059%
1896/9754050054061%
1897/9854050054061%
1898/9954050054061%
1899/190054050054060%
1900/0154050054059%
1901/0254050054060%
1902/03540500562.560%
1903/0454047560061%

Paid less: the share of the other officials with a salary that year who earned less.

Placesbornfirst workannual entries
BitolaKruševoOhridSerres

Choose a row to mark its years in the charts and its place on the map.

Recorded with

Recorded in the same place in the same years

29 officials in all. Officials recorded in Kruševo (Kruşova)

Same school recorded

3,199 officials in all. Officials with Rüşdiye Mektebi recorded

Same birthplace

39 officials in all. Officials born in Bitola (Manastır)

Full record

Annual entries (30)

Annual entries of Mehmet Raif Efendi
YearTitlePlaceKuruş a monthInstitutionSourceArchive reference
1875/76AH 1292Muhabere MemuruOhrid (Ohri)380Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1876/77AH 1293Muhabere MemuruOhrid (Ohri)400Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1877/78AH 1294Muhabere MemuruOhrid (Ohri)400Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1878AH 1295Muhabere MemuruOhrid (Ohri)400Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1878/79AH 1296Muhabere MemuruOhrid (Ohri)400Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1879/80AH 1297Muhabere MemuruBitola (Manastır)380Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1880/81AH 1298Muhabere MemuruSerres (Siroz)380Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1881/82AH 1299Muhabere MemuruSerres (Siroz)380Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1882/83AH 1300Muhabere MemuruSerres (Siroz)380Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1883/84AH 1301Muhabere MemuruSerres (Siroz)380Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1884/85AH 1302Muhabere MemuruOhrid (Ohri)380Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1885/86AH 1303Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)600Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1886/87AH 1304Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)600Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1887/88AH 1305Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)600Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1888/89AH 1306Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)600Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1889/90AH 1307Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)600Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1890/91AH 1308Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)600Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1891/92AH 1309Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)600Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1892/93AH 1310Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)600Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1893/94AH 1311Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)600Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1894/95AH 1312Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)600Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1895/96AH 1313Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)600Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1896/97AH 1314Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)540Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1897/98AH 1315Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)540Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1898/99AH 1316Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)540Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1899/1900AH 1317Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)540Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1900/01AH 1318Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)540Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1901/02AH 1319Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)540Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1902/03AH 1320Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)540Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
1903/04AH 1321Başmuhabere MemuruKruševo (Kruşova)540Post and Telegraph (Posta ve Telgraf)Recovered annual personnel extract54_196; 389
What the sources named in this table are
Recovered annual personnel extract
The merged annual personnel file recovered for the replication of the first paper. Annual entries are taken from it for every official it holds.

Sources and original values (15)

Recorded values of Mehmet Raif Efendi with their sources
FieldRecorded valueSource
Identity
NameMehmet Raif EfendiPersonnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract
Birth year (AH)1266Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract
BirthplacemanastirRecovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract
Province of birthmanastirRecovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract
Father's occupationyuzbasiRecovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract
ReligionMuslumanRecovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract
Nationality or communityTurkishRecovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract
Schooling
SchoolRusdiye MektebiRecovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract
Years of schooling7Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract
Years of apprenticeship (mülazemet)6Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract
First work
First work: year (AH)1286Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract
First work: Gregorian year as stored1869Recovered annual personnel extract
First work: placeManastirRecovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract
First salary field (kuruş a month)380Recovered annual personnel extract; Personnel attributes extract; Earlier annual personnel extract
Status
Death recorded under the year (AH)1322Earlier annual personnel extract (original copy); Earlier annual personnel extract (parallel copy)
What the sources named in this table are
Earlier annual personnel extract (original copy)
A copy of the earlier annual personnel file, read for the title wording of each year. A death taken from it is the status word Vefat in the title field of one annual list: the year is the year of that list, not a date of death.
Earlier annual personnel extract (parallel copy)
A second copy of the earlier annual personnel file, read in the same way. A death taken from it is the status word Vefat in the title field of one annual list: the year is the year of that list, not a date of death. Two copies that agree are one piece of evidence, not two.
Earlier annual personnel extract
The detailed annual personnel file of October 2024. An official found only in this file keeps the years, titles and salaries it gives.
Recovered annual personnel extract
The merged annual personnel file recovered for the replication of the first paper. Annual entries are taken from it for every official it holds.
Personnel attributes extract
The detailed personnel file of September 2025, read for personal details such as birth, schooling and first work.
  • Origin of the record: Post and Telegraph personnel records.
  • 30 annual entries of 30 belong to the saved estimation sample of the paper.

How to read this record: calendar years, years without an annual entry, salaries and sources.