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A Greenwich Pensioner was the Naval equivalent of a Chelsea Pensioner.^[1]

Although the initial concept of a Greenwich pensioner was that of someone living in the Royal Hospital Greenwich, the institution became responsible for the payment of pensions in 1804 (taking over the responsibility from the Chatham Chest).^[2] The Royal Hospital for Seamen, as it was originally called, now the Old Royal Naval College, has been described as "poshest pensioners home that ever was".^[3]

In- and Out-Pensioners

Those former sailors and marines who lived in the hospital were known as "in-pensioners". Those who drew a pension but did not reside at Royal Hospital Greenwich were known as "out-pensioners".^[1]

It was permissible for "out-pensioners" to apply for entry to Greenwich, thereby relinquishing their out-pension. ^[a]

Life of In-Pensioners

In common with the union workhouses of the 19th century, the families of the men were not allowed to reside with the men. If a resident wished to leave the hospital, they were free to do so. If they wanted to re-enter, they would have to wait until a year had passed.^[5]

The residents were bound by militarised rules and regulations. Like their contemporaries at Chelsea, they wore a uniform of tricorne hats, albeit with grey coats, from the eighteenth century onwards. Pensioners who broke the rules would have to wear a yellow coat, known as a "canary", and would have to perform menial tasks while wearing this garment.^[1] From 1805 until 1869, pensioners were issued with a distinctive uniform comprising a blue frock coat with brass buttons, white waistcoat and pantaloons, black shoes, and a tricorne similar to those issued to their army counterparts at Chelsea.^[6] Greenwich pensioners had adopted a standardised uniform long before the ratings of the Royal Navy in 1857.^[7]

Greenwich pensioners were in residence from 1705^[8] to 1869, and acquired the nickname "Greenwich geese" from the townspeople of Greenwich.^[1] Since 2010, the lifestyle of Greenwich Pensioners is presented within the Discover Greenwich tourist attraction as part of the Visitor Centre in the Pepys Building.^[9]

Genealogical records

It is possible to identify in-Pensioners on census returns, at Greenwich.^[10]^[11]^[12] Similarly, there are instances whereby an out-Pensioner will be recorded as "Greenwich Pensioner or "Naval Pensioner" whilst living in a location other than Greenwich.^[13]^[14]^[15]

In-Pensioners

There are admission & discharge registers of in-Pensioners that have survived. They have been digitised, and can be accessed via a paywall.^[16]

Out-Pensioners

There are registers of the quarterly payments made to out-Pensioners that have survived. They have been digitised, and can be accessed via a paywall.^[17]

Notes and citations

Notes

^ 'Men in the receipt of out-pensions relinquish them for the time they are domicilèd in the Hospital, but they are at liberty, under certain restrictions, to resume their pensions and leave the Institution, being eligible for re-admission after the lapse of a year.'^[4]

Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Greenwich Pensioner". UK: Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
^ Kemp 1970, p. 63.
^ "Admire the Old Royal Naval College". Visit Greenwich. UK. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
^ Cooke 1855, p. 20.
^ Rules in 1853
^ Adkins & Adkins 2008, p. 389.
^ Uniform Dress for Petty Officers, Seamen and Boys - 1857
^ Pappalardo 2019, p. 136.
^ "Visitor Centre". Old Royal Naval College. UK. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
^ 1841 England Census
^ 1851 England Census
^ 1861 England Census
^ "James Potter Greenwich Pensioner". Retrieved 17 March 2024 – via British Genealogy. I turned up James Potter in the 1861 census .... at Daniel Street, Portsea. James Potter is listed as a "Greenwich pensioner" which is a new term to me.
^ "Census of 1861 – Occupations – Scotland". Retrieved 17 March 2024. Alphabetical and classified arrangement of the occupations of the males and females of Scotland in 1861. .... Occupation Greenwich pensioner 162 males
^ "1861 Census look up please" – via Genes Reunited. 1861 Name: Jacob Chipp Age: 62 Street address:16 St Mary Road Town: Portsea Occupation: Greenwich Pensioner... 1871 census Name: Jacob Chipp Age: 71 Street address:17 St Mary Road Town: Portsea Occupation:Naval Pensioner
^ in-Pensioner registers
^ out-Pensioner payment registers

References

"Rules in 1853". Retrieved 17 March 2024.
"Uniform Dress for Petty Officers, Seamen and Boys - 1857". Admiralty Circular No. 283. Secretary of the Admiralty. 30 January 1857. Retrieved 17 March 2024 – via RootsWeb.

Adkins, Roy; Adkins, Lesley (2008). Jack Tar: The Extraordinary Lives of Ordinary Seamen in Nelson's Navy. London: Abacus. ISBN 978-0-349-12034-8.
Cooke, John (1855). A description of the Royal Hospital for Seamen, at Greenwich – via Wellcome Collection.
Kemp, Peter (1970). The British Sailor: A Social History of the Lower Deck. JM Dent & Sons. ISBN 0-46-003957-1.
Pappalardo, Bruno (2019). How to Survive in the Georgian Navy: A Sailor's Guide. London: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-47-283086-9.

"1841 England Census". Retrieved 17 March 2024 – via Ancestry. Archive reference HO107; Piece number 489; Sub district East Greenwich; County Kent
"1851 England Census". Retrieved 17 March 2024 – via Ancestry. Archive reference HO107; Piece number 1587; Institution Greenwich Hospital
"1861 England Census". Retrieved 17 March 2024 – via Ancestry. Archive reference RG9; Piece number 403; Keyword Hospital; Sub-registration district East Greenwich
"in-Pensioner registers". Retrieved 17 March 2024 – via FindMyPast. Archive series ADM 73
"out-Pensioner payment registers". Retrieved 17 March 2024 – via FindMyPast. Archive series ADM 27