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From: John Sands <>
Subject: [CHS] Chelsea & Greenwich Pensioners
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:45:27 +0000 (GMT)

My 3 x g grandfather was discharged from the Army on half pay (i.e. a pension) in 1814 “on account of the reduction (i.e. cut-backs following the defeat of Napoleon) and a bad leg”. At the National Archives in Kew I found in WO22/96 the “Monthly return of changes which have taken place among Out Pensioners of Chelsea and Greenwich Hospitals and those belonging to the East India Company in the Salop District from 1st September to 30th September 1859 inclusive”. Section vi lists “Pensions ceased by death”. Details given are:

Regt or number 3rd Vetns
Rate 6d
Date of admission to Out Pensioners 29 September 1814
Rank Pte
Name of Pensioner John Bills
Pension: whether permanent or temporary Permt
Date of decease 16 September 1859
Age 73

I very much doubt that I will draw my pension for that long! The 6d (two and a half new pence) was half of the soldier’s daily rate of one shilling. If you know where your pensioner was living at the date of death you can use this information to find his regiment and follow his career through the Muster Books. I knew from the 1851 Census that my 3 x g grandmother was born in Jersey and the Muster Books reveal that John was stationed there from September 1806 - June 1814. I did this piece of research nine years ago in the days when you actually handled the original Muster Books - fascinating! Unfortunately I hit a brick wall. I cannot find a marriage; in his discharge papers John stated he was born at Bridgnorth, Shropshire, but in the 1851 Census he gave Montgomeryshire! I cannot find a (provable) baptism in either.

Hope this helps.

John

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• [CHS] Chelsea & Greenwich Pensioners by John Sands <>