Desertion, debt, and incentives to enlist

The Navy treated men who remained pressed instead of converting to volunteers as more likely to desert or cause trouble. Volunteer status brought better terms and suggested at least some willingness to remain with the ship. Naval service could also protect a sailor from debt collectors, giving an indebted man an additional reason to enlist or stay. These incentives help explain why the legal category of entry did not map neatly onto later conduct. Discipline, pay status, and personal finances all affected the Navy's preference for willing crews.