Purser
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia · John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
The person appointed by the master of a ship or vessel, whose duty it is to take care of the ship’s books, in which everything on board is inserted, as well the names of mariners as the articles of merchandise shipped. Roccius, Ins, note. By statute pursers in the navy are now called paymasters.
R. S. § 1383.