The seven men all cited here are listed in alphabetical order according to their last names with the ir full "position" citations also given. They are as follows:
John Allen Officer
Andrew Dice Officer
John Duteille Master of arms, petty officer, subordinate officer
George Franks Adjutant, officer of marines
William Grinnell Officer
John Irvin Officer
J. Irvine Officer
The last two citations - those for John Irvin and J. Irvine - are almost certainly the same individual listed twice with a slight alternate spellings of his first and last names. It is completely possible for there to be two separate individuals on board the frigate South Carolina by these names. But, for there to be two separate individuals on board the frigate who are both listed as "officer" and having virtually the same first name and last name is rather improbable. It is possible, just not very probable. But, this still does not clarify what was his actual rank or function on board the frigate.
The pension application of Alexander Coffin, "Pension Application of Alexander Coffin W8617", cites "... William Grinell of Rhode Island..." as a lieutenant on board the frigate South Carolina at the time of her sailing for the Texel in Holland on August 4, 1781. The pension application of George Fisher, "Pension Application of George Fisher S46036", cites one Greenwell as a lieutenant "...which served longest in [his] respective station..." with the implication that this was just before the frigate left the Texel in Holland on the aforementioned date. It has already been indicated that this is most probably a misspelling of Grinnell's last name with it being spelled as "Greenwell". But, there is also a James Grinnell who is cited as being a "Lieutenant" on board the frigate and this may a confusion of these two individual officers in the service of the state of South Carolina.
The only other "officer" listed above who is possibly confused with another would be George Franks. His "position" is cited exactly as noted above - "Adjutant, officer of marines". An adjutant in the 18th century was an officer who assisted a more senior officer with administrative duties. Thus, it could conceivably be that George Franks was the adjutant for assisting Michael Kalteissen and John Spencer in administrative duties concerning the marines that were under their command. This status as an officer would qualify him to be considered as an "officer of marines" even though he may well not have had any kind of direct command of the contingent of marines commanded by Kalteissen and Spencer.
Another possibility with this specific officer is that this may be a confusion with a --------- Frankis who is cited earlier as a "Lieutenant". In Dr. Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, page 148, there seems to be some degree of confusion as to how this individual's last name is spelled - whether it was "Franks", "Frankis", or "Frank". This could conceivably be separate individuals but, again, there is also the possibility that the two individuals listed here are indeed only one person.
We come at last to an individual who may not belong on this list at all - John Duteille. His "position" on board the frigate South Carolina is exactly as cited here, "Master of arms, petty officer, subordinate officer". It has been the standard procedure of the section of Dr. Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, entitled "Appendix: Crew and Marines of the South Carolina" to list first the highest rank or rating that an individual achieved while on board the frigate South Carolina first and then list the lesser ranks or ratings in order after it from second highest to the lowest. John Duteille's rating of "Master of arms would qualify him to be a senior petty officer on board the frigate. The next rating is that of "petty officer" which is most probably a lesser rating that would qualify him as a junior petty officer. Where the confusion originates from is the last of his ratings/ranks of "subordinate officer". In his citation of "position", it is listed last and therefore, in the least significant place. Thus, it should rank or rate below a petty officer and mean that John Duteille was not considered an officer or a gentleman on board the frigate South Carolina. But, this term, "subordinate officer" is one that the writer of this blog is not familiar with in the literature of the any of the naval forces involved in the American Revolution. This could have meant that John Duteille was a junior petty officer on board the frigate. If this were the case, then it would match up with this "position" being cited last in the listing of John Duteille's "positions". Or, possibly, it could represent a confusion concerning his role on board the ship and be a misunderstanding of his function on board the frigate South Carolina.