chelsea pensioner

[tough]

Hi everyone
I have recently found the census record for my great great great great grandfather, James Tough, who was born around 1770 in Aberdeenshire. On the record, again in Aberdeen, he is listed as a Chelsea Pensioner. Can anyone suggest what this might refer to or how I could get any further information about him?
Many thanks in advance!

[Pennines]

Hi Tough -- Welcome to Rootschat.

May I just mention that you have put your query in the wrong section (it does say Please don't post queries here' or words to that effect -- and ideally you should have posted it on the beginners forum.

I would imagine your ancestor had served in the Army and had been awarded a pension when he left.

If you have access to Ancestry - Chelsea Pensioner records are on that site, seemingly from 1760 - 1920, as are Admissions and Discharges - 1715 - 1925.

I don't know if they are complete.
To find the data sets - go to the Card Catalogue and type in the search box 'pensioner' without the quotes.

[tough]

sorry and thank you!

[snooziflooze]

On The National Archives website there is an entry for a soldier who may be him.

James Taugh, alias Tough born Kildrony, Aberdeenshire, served in the 79th regiment...discharged aged 49...

He seemed to serve from 1800 - 1814.

I think you can find further details on Findmypast or Ancestry.  Good luck.

[Pennines]

He was supposedly born in 1765 in Kildroney, Aberdeen (that's what it looks like!) However this birth year differs from his supposed age on enlistment -- 33 in 1800!

On Ancestry he is transcribed as James Tough in one set of Chelsea Pensioner Records and Jas Tough in the other.

There is also a service record on Find My Past -- which I think must be the same as that found by Snooziflooze - at the National Archives - as his surname is shown as Taugh (although the actual filmed record is Tough).

He served for just over 14 years - from 1800 to 1814 in 2 different Regiments.  He suffered from Asthma.

[jim1]

FindMyPast has him in the 1st. Batt. 79th. Foot. discharged Feb. 24th. 1806 due to an ankle injury.
The following day he joins the 9th. Royal Regt. of Veterans & is discharged in 1814 aged about 49.
This gives a birth year of around 1765.
His attestation in 1800 states aged 33 as has been said. So 1765-68.
The 1841 census was rounded down to the nearest 5 years meaning he could have been 70-74.
Sounds like your man.
The 9th Royal Veteran Battalion formed at Edinburgh in April 1805, serving at Edinburgh Castle and, later, a company each on the Orkney and the Shetland Isles. Eight companies were disbanded in 1814, and the remaining two companies on the Isles were merged into the 3rd Royal Veteran Battalion in 1815

[tough]

I can't thank you all enough! I don't have access to find my past or ancestry so people getting that info for me has been wonderful. Thanks again - I'm off to read about the 79th!!

[Pennines]

tough -- as you don't have access to Find My Past you may be interested to know that he was described as;

Character Good.
5ft 4 ins in height
Fair Complexion
Fair Hair
Blue Eyes

[BumbleB]

tough - if you live in England or Wales, then visit your local library - many of them have access to Ancestry and/or FindMyPast.