Dear Mr Savage2,
I would appreciate an opportunity to ask your advice on a few specific topics.
First, how were commoners addressed in the 18th century? Because they did not use the title Mr or Mrs until the mid 19th century.
Please help me out of this grammatic dilemma.
Sincerely,
Tanya-Elizabeth
I’m not sure what you mean by ‘commoners’. I suspect most people were known simply by their name (e.g. Josiah Smith), without any title added. Master (Mr) or Mistress (Mrs) would be reserved for wealthier, middle-class people, or ‘Masters’ in the sense of accredited masters of recognised trade. Other titles would only be used if they applied (Dr, Reverend, etc.). I can’t give you a specific reference for this, but it’s what I’ve always understood. Perhaps another reader can either supply a reference, or put me right about the whole matter.
Great story. I had imagined the Beach Companies were something like our life savers today, young men in skimpy bathers and well oiled bodies. But if they were going out to cargo and passenger ships at sea, in bad weather, then clearly this had to be a properly developed service.
They should have been paid properly! If they provided an essential service to a vital transport network, then taking a share of the salvaged cargoes did not seem to acknowledge the risks properly.
Pen and Pension 
Dear Mr Savage2,
I would appreciate an opportunity to ask your advice on a few specific topics.
First, how were commoners addressed in the 18th century? Because they did not use the title Mr or Mrs until the mid 19th century.
Please help me out of this grammatic dilemma.
Sincerely,
Tanya-Elizabeth
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I’m not sure what you mean by ‘commoners’. I suspect most people were known simply by their name (e.g. Josiah Smith), without any title added. Master (Mr) or Mistress (Mrs) would be reserved for wealthier, middle-class people, or ‘Masters’ in the sense of accredited masters of recognised trade. Other titles would only be used if they applied (Dr, Reverend, etc.). I can’t give you a specific reference for this, but it’s what I’ve always understood. Perhaps another reader can either supply a reference, or put me right about the whole matter.
LikeLike
Great story. I had imagined the Beach Companies were something like our life savers today, young men in skimpy bathers and well oiled bodies. But if they were going out to cargo and passenger ships at sea, in bad weather, then clearly this had to be a properly developed service.
They should have been paid properly! If they provided an essential service to a vital transport network, then taking a share of the salvaged cargoes did not seem to acknowledge the risks properly.
LikeLike