Pensions for widows of British Napoleanic war veterans

[BradMajors]

Did widows of British Navy ratings who died in combat during the Napoleonic wars receive pensions?

[tomcadas]

The National Archives does have pay books to widows.

[BradMajors]

The National Archives does have pay books to widows.

Yes they do.  My question is who is eligible for a pension, and not where to find pension records.

[majm]

Hi,

The National Archives does have pay books to widows.

Yes they do.  My question is who is eligible for a pension, and not where to find pension records.

If you were to check the paybooks that tomcadas refers to, you may even find other details about her that may be of interest to you.

May I mention that 'widow' in that era may have a broad meaning, and you may find that the widow may have promptly re-married, perhaps to another naval rating.

You have not mentioned the widow's name or any identifying info about her or her husband in your opening post.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/royal-navy-ratings-pensions/   (Royal Bounty  http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/r/C4110904 )

Cheers,  JM

[BradMajors]

Hi,

The National Archives does have pay books to widows.

Yes they do.  My question is who is eligible for a pension, and not where to find pension records.

If you were to check the paybooks that tomcadas refers to, you may even find other details about her that may be of interest to you.

May I mention that 'widow' in that era may have a broad meaning, and you may find that the widow may have promptly re-married, perhaps to another naval rating.

You have not mentioned the widow's name or any identifying info about her or her husband in your opening post.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/royal-navy-ratings-pensions/   (Royal Bounty  http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/r/C4110904 )

Cheers,  JM

Let me try again. 

I am not looking for any pension records.  I am not looking for paybooks. I am already aware of the Kew research guides.

I am looking for information on who is entitled to receive a pension.  Your post and your link provide no information on this subject.

[majm]

......
I am looking for information on who is entitled to receive a pension.  Your post and your link provide no information on this subject.

From the link I posted

....
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/royal-navy-ratings-pensions/   (Royal Bounty  http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/r/C4110904 )

5. Widows’ pensions

5.1 Chatham Chest, 1695-1779

The pay books of the Chatham Chest record payments of pensions to widows of ratings who died in service, 1695-1779: see ADM 82/12-119.

5.2 Royal Bounty, 1675-1822

A lump sum of one year’s wages known as the Royal Bounty was payable to widows, dependant children or mothers (aged over 50) of ratings killed in action. Papers submitted to claim the bounty often include marriage and death certificates, with other documents attesting the age, relationship or poverty of the applicants.

Cheers,  JM

[majm]

More

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/royal-navy-officers-pensions/

9.1 Royal bounty 1675-1822

The royal bounty was a lump sum of one year’s wages which was paid to widows, dependent children or mothers (aged over 50) of officers killed in action. When relatives applied for a payment they often submitted marriage and death certificates as well as documents to prove their age, relationship or poor financial situation.

Pay lists of the royal bounty give the name, address and relation of the payee, the name, rank and ship of the dead man, and the sum paid.


So as per my reading of those TNA guides, the widows, dependent children or the mothers (aged over 50) of  British officers and ratings killed in action during the Napoleonic Wars would have been eligible to seek access to the Royal Bounty pension.

That seems to confirm my own research conducted at the NSW State Library many years ago, when researching several of my British Navy ancestors who came to New South Wales in 1818.   

Cheers,  JM

[BradMajors]

Thanks.  I missed the part about the Royal Bounty for rating's widows.

The Kew guides are better at providing information on what records the Kew has rather than background information.  The situation as far as officer's pensions is much clearer.

The best source of information I am aware of on pensions is "Naval Records for Genealogists" by Rogers.

Here is what I know:

* there are ratings who are receiving pensions during this time period, but the Kew guides do not seem to provide qualification details.  At one point it says "deserving" candidates may receive a pension, but do not define the word "deserving":

"Until well into the nineteenth century no officers or ratings were entitled to superannuation, and the limited number of pensions available were regarded as a privilege to be granted to deserving candidates."

* at this time an amount was withheld from pay for "Chatham Chest", but I don't know who was entitled to receive payments from this source.

* the Kew guide lists records for the Chatham Chest from 1695-1779, but the Chatham Chest continued long after 1779.

[majm]

......
* the Kew guide lists records for the Chatham Chest from 1695-1779, but the Chatham Chest continued long after 1779.

Again, from the link I provided earlier

1. Introduction

Until the late 19th century, there were three principal bodies responsible for the payment of various naval pensions to ratings:

The Navy Pay Office
The Chatham Chest (later the Greenwich Chest)
The Royal Greenwich Hospital
Records of all these bodies are held at The National Archives under the department code ADM. Before pensions became a right, it may also be worth checking for petitions for pensions in the records of the Secretaries of State (in SP) and the Privy Council (PC).
.......

May I ask
 
  What are the names of your ancestors who were in the Royal Navy and who were killed in action during the Napoleonic Wars?   

  If you want help researching them, what information do you already have?

Here is a further TNA link:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C725

In 1803 the hospital took over the administration of the Chatham Chest. This was a naval charitable foundation established about 1590, from which men hurt or wounded on naval service were relieved. It was supported by a charge of 6d a month on the wages of every officer and rating in the Navy, and was administered by a corporation of officers stationed at Chatham under the oversight of the Navy Board. It paid compensation for wounds and injuries sustained in action or on duty, and pensions for permanent disablement, to warrant officers, ratings and dockyard workers. It also paid pensions to the widows of those killed in action. In 1803 the administration of the chest was transferred to the Royal Greenwich Hospital, and it became known thereafter as 'the Chest at Greenwich'.


Cheers,  JM