Out Pensioner RA

[HaydenP]

Hello

I have an ancestor John Jefferies whose occupation is described in the 1881 census as "Out Pensioner RA".  I am wondering if the RA stands for Royal Artillery. Aged 90 in 1881, he would have been 24 at the time of the Battle of Waterloo, which is an interesting thought!  I'm wondering if anybody has any suggestions as to how I might follow this up.

Many thanks

HaydenP

[CatOne]

On the 1861 and 1871 census his occupation is Ag Labourer or just Labourer. Could it mean "out pensioner receiving alms"? as in, out of the workshouse but receiving parish relief? I do know that RA in military terms is Royal Artillery, (I had business dealings at work with the local barracks where the 21st Reg RA was posted) but I wonder if in this case it doesn't mean that? Maybe someone can look up earlier censuses for you to confirm.....

Regards,
Catherine
then again I could be completely wrong!  just guessing as the previous censuses make no mention of being an army pensioner...

[HaydenP]

Hadn't thought of RA standing for "receiving alms". Is this a standard abbreviation?  I haven't come across it before.

Certainly there are no other references to a military background in his earlier records, where he appears variously as yeoman, labourer and carrier.

Thanks, Cat.  You've given me yet another avenue to explore!

Hayden

[Emjaybee]

I would most humbly suggest (I have to say that else I get jumped on for daring to have an opinion) the following regarding Chelsea Pensioners may possible with luck answer your query:

During the reign of King James II, the Royal Hospital was still under construction, so he introduced a system for distribution of army pensions in 1689. The pension was to be made available to all soldiers who had been injured in service, or who had served for more than 20 years.

By the time that the Hospital had been completed, there were more pensioners than places available in the Hospital. Eligible soldiers who could not be housed in the Hospital were termed out-pensioners, receiving their pension from the Royal Hospital but living outside it. In-pensioners, by contrast, surrender their army pension and live within the Royal Hospital.

In 1703, there were only 51 out-pensioners, by 1815 this figure had risen to 36,757.

The Royal Hospital remained responsible for distributing army pensions until 1955, following which the phrase "out-pensioner" became less common, and "Chelsea pensioner" was used largely to refer to "in-pensioners".

[CatOne]

Sounds a good possibility Meldrew! Did they still have that system going in the 1880's then? Never heard of it before, but seems likely....

Regards,
Catherine
ps. Who'd "jump" on you for having an opinion?! Not me! Thought thats what we're all here for, to throw ideas together, couldn't have got as far as I have without everyones help and ideas on here  .....

[HaydenP]

That's really interesting, Meldrew. So RA could stand for Royal Artillery.  Presumably all regiments were catered for by this arrangement.

If the pension was restricted to  those who had served 20 years or had been wounded I guess he would have fallen into the latter category as he continued to raise a family after 1815 and his occupation was always given as labourer on his chilren's baptism records.

So the next question is whether there are any army records going back that far which might give a lead on either the details of his pension or his service records.

Thanks for you comments

Hayden

[gilroy1790]

There was a John Jeffries in the Royal Artillery during the Napoleonic Wars. Served as a Driver between 1803-1818. Discharged aged 34. He was from Duddingston, Midlothian.
Record held at the National Archive. Royal Hospital Chelsea documents.

[gilroy1790]

Just realised you have taken it further since this posting and now know about your ancestor. The man I mentioned is just a coincidence.

[km1971]

Like army reservists and men in the Militia, few army pensioners recorded the fact on the census and BMD records, if they had another job. Normal enlistment was for life, or until a disability prevented a man serving longer. In reality they were given a medical after about 21 years and lots left then with a pension. In the middle of the 19th Century they introduced ten year enlistments, and men had to serve 20 years in order to qualify for a pension ‘time expired’. It later dropped to 12 years, either all in uniform or part in the Army Reserve. Basic pay for a Private was 8d a day. So the pension would have been about 3 pence per day - so not enough to live on, but like army pay it was paid 365 days a year.

A ‘Waterloo’ man had two years added to his pensionable service. And a man enlisting before c1818 would receive 50% added to any service in the East or West Indies.

Ken