Genealogy Chat

Thanks for that Clive,as I have a g.g.grandfather who lived in Cornwall in early 19th century,who was a Greenwich Out Pensioner,and haven't found out much more about him yet,except that he had been a seaman. Brenda x x

Typical Admiralty - penny pinching!

Greenwich out pensioner. Until 1853, service in the Royal Navy did not automatically qualify for a retirement pension, and seamen did not have permanent employment in the Royal Navy - they signed on to the books of a specific ship for the duration of the commission (voyage), and were paid off when she returned to the home port. 'Continuous service' was introduced in 1853, with seamen enlisting for a 10 year term during which they would be paid whether or not actually serving on a ship; by extending this to 20 or 25 years, they then qualified for a pension as well. Prior to this, the Admiralty paid pensions only in special cases - mainly wounded officers, and widows and orphans of officers killed in action. Pensions for wounded seamen, and seamen's widows and orphans, were provided by naval charities. Sailors had to pay in to their pension fund whilst serving. After 21 years from age 20 they could qualify. (Today 22 years from age 18) Records of seamen's service to qualify for a Greenwich pension are a useful way of finding the service history of a sailor pre-1853, which otherwise could be found only in the musters and pay-books of individual ships. When a sailor applied to Greenwich Hospital, the clerks in the Navy Pay Office checked his service in the pay-books, and produced a certificate of service. These records are at the Public Record Office, Kew, London, together with some records of applicants to Greenwich Hospital (and the committee's decisions), and payment of Greenwich out-Pensions. Clive Buckle