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Archiver > MIDLOTHIAN > 2006-09 > 1158002837


From: "James Flemington" <>
Subject: Re: [MIDLOTHIAN] Military Age
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2006 20:27:17 +0100
In-Reply-To: <000201c6d597$bbec6e90$ef2e1ed3@namebc77221a5c>


Hello Jennie,

May I quote my family records of how the system worked?

My ancestor, born 1788, died 1860, joined the Royal Artillery in Edinburgh
in 1803. He was discharged in 1816, "upon reduction", the Napoleonic wars
having ended. He was given a pension which was provided by Chelsea
Hospital, as were all pensions of that period. He had to go to Linlithgow
once every quarter to collect the pension, which continued until he died..

I have his pension book together the originals of correspondence which he
had with Chelsea hospital pleading for an increase, which was refused.

His occupation on his discharge papers was given as "weaver". I have read
somewhere that this was a very common entry on discharge papers.

Nowadays we tend to think of Chelsea Pensioners as the red coated pensioners
who reside at the Chelsea Hospital. Two centuries ago the majority of
Chelsea Pensioners never went near the hospital.

Jim



-----Original Message-----
From:
[mailto:] On Behalf Of Jennie Fairs
Sent: 11 September 2006 12:45
To:
Subject: [MIDLOTHIAN] Military Age

I have an ancestor born in Cranston MID c1789 who was a Chelsea
Pensioner. I've assumed that he would have been a soldier at an early
age BUT I was wondering whether he could have become a soldier at a
later age instead as I can't find him listed when searching the online
index WO121 at TNA, Kew. The Scottish 1841, 1851, 1861 census have him
listed as an agricultural labourer. The 1871 census records him as
"formerly a soldier". His death certificate in 1879 states he was a
chelsea pensioner. His first child (that I know of) was born in 1826 but
I also haven't been able to find his marriage date and as he married an
Irish lass I've assumed he may have married her in Ireland.

I know this is far fetched but surely he couldn't have become a soldier
after the 1861 census after he was widowed (his age would have been at
least 73)? I guess the other option is that he was a soldier (early in
life) and was possibly posted to Ireland (fits in with the wife
remember) and is actually paid his pension from the Irish office. Does
anybody know what regiments went to Ireland and whether the army
pensions for Ireland are online?

Jennie Fairs,
Sydney.

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