Genealogy Chat

I have just found my 3g-grandfather on the 1851 IOM census described as a Chelsea Pensioner. He was only 37. Can anyone point me in the direction of finding out more about Chelsea Pensioners please?

If you go to the National Archives website & put his name in search you may get lucky & get his army record. I did this for my grt grt grandad who was 39 in 1847 when he left the Army on a pension.

Thank you Shirley, I will give it a try. Liz x

Yes, Liz, definitely try the National Archives. I got the records of a brother of my g-g grandmother who was a Chelsea Pensioner. It cost me £10. I got about 6 large pages from them. They made fascinating reading - especially the bit about his court marshall! Tina

If its not in the index on the website, you will have to get to Kew to find it, but if you are lucky you can get the ref and order photocopy. My gt x 3 grandfather's papers told me when, where and for how much he joined up, gave a physical description and details of the medical reasons he was discharged from the army. He is mentioned as an army pensioner once in 1861 census and then on his death cert, but despite being blind in one eye, he worked as an agricultural labourer too and married 3 times. nell

Hi Liz. All pensions at the time were paid from Chelsea. It does not mean your relative was in London in a red jacket and black hat -they are In-Pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Just for your interest. Good hunting. Keith