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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Kent => Topic started by: Verna Mac on Thursday 14 June 07 08:23 BST (UK)
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Do they exist?
I have a shipwright Peter BUSBY who was a leading man of Shipwrights at the Royal Dockyards (1851 Census) and he was living at Plumstead.
In 1861 he was a Shipwright Pensioner living in Woolwich, as he was in 1871 when his son was also a Shipwright Pensioner.
This leads me to believe that they must have been paying into some fund..........
Also, Peter's father,George, who I can't find anything on at all, was a Caulker....so that points toward working in the Dockyard as well.
Did the Pensioning off co incide with the closing of Woolwich Dockyard? Do any staff records exist?
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Hello Verna
They will probably be at TNA at Kew; here's one of their guidance leaflets to start you off:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/rdleaflet.asp?sLeafletID=50
There are others so search their catalogue for "dockyards" and check the leaflets.
Good luck
Colin
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Hi Verna
As Colin has indicated, the records are at TNA at Kew. Being a pensioner does not necessarily mean that he paid into a fund - he may have retired on the grounds of ill-health or injury and was eligible for a pension as a result. He may also have started his working life elsewhere - Portsea or Chatham for example. Woolwich closed as a result of the silting up of the Thames and the fact that ships needed to be built somewhat larger than before!
Nell