Can someone please 'explain'!!!!

[rubeaz]

My ancestor Thomas Hunt according to his son's death certificate 1856 states he is a 'Chelsea Pensioner'. On the 1861 Scotland Census states he is an Engine Keeper. In Australia a pensioner usually cannot work.
My ancestry researching is becoming quite difficult to say the least

Many thanks KAY

[frances]

Hello Kay,

I have also come across this term in some of my own family research.

As far as I could make out any soldier who received a pension used to be called a Chelsea pensioner as their pensions were administered through the Royal Hospital in Chelsea."Out pensioners " had their pensions paid at home.

You should be able to trace your ancestor through the army records.

I'm sure that someome else on TS will come back with more info about this subject for you.

Best Wishes

Frances

[paddyscar]

Hi Kay:

ScotlandsPeople gives the following definition in the Occupations list:
Chelsea pensioner
Retired soldier living at or supported by Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London

This is the official site for the Chelsea pensioners, including history and records information http://www.chelsea-pensioners.co.uk/home

And then there is Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_pensioner

Hope this helps,
Frances

[Currie]

Hello Kay,

Chelsea Pensioner records are available at findmypast. http://www.findmypast.co.uk/search/army ... ecords/all

There are quite a lot of Thomas Hunt’s there but fortunately not too many have date and/or place of birth missing. Some are Thos or Tom.

Alan

[Montrose Budie]

All soldiers receiving a pension were Chelsea pensioners or Kilmainham pensioners, Kilmainham being the Dublin equivalent of Chelsea.

The great majority were "Out-Pensioners" living at home and only the lucky few were "In-Pensioners", resident at the hospitals at Chelsea or Kilmainham.

Very often, in the censuses, 'Chelsea pensioner' was shortened to 'pensioner', just to make life easy for researchers ! Given the very small number of men who had an occupational pension, 'pensioner' most often means 'Chelsea pensioner'.

mb

[rubeaz]

Thanks Frances, Alan and MB

I will check out the sites you mentioned and also look at FindMyPast. I am using Ancestry UK at the moment as well as Scotlands People - becoming quite expensive!!!

So even though you are a Chelsea Pensioner, you can still WORK

What I can't understand is in 1856 he is a 'Pensioner' and in 1861 he's and Engine Keeper! Is that normal!

Cheers Kay

[Tracey]

Kay i dont think the term *Pensioner* in this context had anything to do with old age.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_pensioner ( i know not always reliable source of info but google around you will find more !)

*The pension was to be made available to all former soldiers who had been injured in service, or who had served for more than 20 years.
*

Someone who knows will correct it if its wrong.

[garibaldired]

My 3x gt grandfather left the army after 17+ years service in 1813 at about 34 years of age. He became a coal miner and is variously described as a coal miner or army pensioner.

Best wishes,
Meg

[trish1]

Hi Kay - for Australia you may be confusing an army/services pension with an old age pension (or repat pension for those who served shorter terms overseas) - very different - there is no restriction on working for anyone receiving a services pension in Australia (based on years of service in the regular forces) - probably based on the "Chelsea pensioner" concept - we copied alot of UK procedures in this part of the world .

Trish

[Montrose Budie]

.....snipped.......

So even though you are a Chelsea Pensioner, you can still WORK

Yes !

.....What I can't understand is in 1856 he is a 'Pensioner' and in 1861 he's and Engine Keeper! Is that normal!

Cheers Kay

Yes, it all depends how he interpreted the census form when he received it in early April 1861.

The question that he had to answer was "Rank, Profession, or Occupation?", so, given that he was working as an 'engine keeper', that's what he put down. Note that this could mean being in charge of a stationary steam engine in a factory, or a quarry, etc.

mb