Army pensioner from Ireland

[elizasutton]

Hello,
I am trying to research my 4x g grandfather, I have very little information about him.
Thomas O Brian. B. abt 1793 in Ireland (sorry, cannot be more specific than this)
he came over to England around 1848, by 1861 (aged 68) he is living in Liverpool and is noted as being an army pensioner.
My question is - how can I find out more about his time in the army? Would he be part of an Irish army or British army? What sort of war would he have been involved in ?
Would there be a record like those held for WWI soldiers?
- this is a totally new subject to me so I really do not know where to start, any pointers would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Liz

[Isobelruss]

Theres a Thomas O Brien  born 1794 in Chelsea pensioners records he was from St Barrys Cork Co Cork.

[aghadowey]

Ireland was part of the U.K. in 1800s so there was no Irish Army.

[elizasutton]

Thank you Isobelruss, I have downloaded the info, alas, unable to confirm if he is 'my' Thomas - shall work on connecting the information in the files to my guy.

Aghadowey, thanks - this subject is totally new to me so sorry for my ignorance, always happy to learn more though!
Liz

[km1971]

Hi Liz

It could also be this one - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=-6192946&CATLN=7&Highlight=%2CTHOMAS%2CO%2CBRIAN&accessmethod=0

The problem you have is how do you form a link between when they were discharged and 1848?

Ken

[elizasutton]

Thanks Ken, I wonder if that is him, his children were born in Dublin so it is a strong possibility. These Irish ancestors are proving a real headache to trace, this army link is my only lead so far, it is now on the ever growing 'list of stuff to do when I finally make it to to national archives'!
Cheers.
Liz

[elizasutton]

Right!
Ken, I sent off for the details of Thomas O'Brians pension (many thanks!)
The information given is not vast though it does give the area in Dublin in which he came from (St James) unfortunately I have failed to find any records of him in Irishgeneology.ie, it does state when and where he signed up though (Carlow, Feb 1811 to the 82nd Regiment age 16) He was pentioned off due to blindness at the age of 26.
Now, is there any way I can follow up on this information, are there any inlistment records anywhere?  Any suggestions as to where to look next?
Many thanks,
 Liz

[km1971]

Hi Liz

There aren’t any enlistment papers. What you have received is probably it as far as individual records are concerned. Have you discovered his death? I am not sure when disabilities such as blindness are recorded in the census. Maybe his death certificate has something. So you still need to connect the army pensioner in Liverpool to the soldier in the 82nd Regiment.

The 82nd Regiment fought in the Peninsular War. A Private James O’Brien served with them and was alive in June 1847 as he was awarded the Military General Service medal for the Peninsular, and war against the USA. The NA record gives O’Brien as an alternative spelling.

He received clasps for:

= Pyrenees  - operations between 28 July and 8 August 1813
= Nivelle  - 10 November 1813
= Orthes - 27 February 1814

http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/militarygeneralservice1793_1814.htm

After the first victory against Napoleon in 1814 they were sent to Canada and back to Belgium when the war with the US ended, and they ended up in Ireland in 1816. In Canada some of their companies were involved in fighting within New York State. Others were involved in defending Canada. So an interesting person to have in your tree, if you can prove a link.

Ken

[elizasutton]

many thanks, I think I have his death, I shall send for the cert, thanks for your help, now on to proving he is 'mine' !
Liz