Greenwich pensioner?

[MacGrigor]

Hello,

I have just discovered something exciting! My four times great-grandfather was a Greenwich Pensioner. I had never heard of the term until now. Below is the record:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGC7-1LM

Can anyone locate service records for William? He was born in 1801 in Millbrook. His parents were William and Hannah Pepper.

I'd appreciate any help!

Adam

[silaswall]

My 3xgrt grandfather was a Greenwich pensioner. He was in the Marines during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. I found lots of records for him. I am certain they were on Find My Past. I have just tried to check but FindMyPast is experiencing "technical difficulties". 

[rosie99]

There are quite a few military records for a William Pepper on FindMyPast, you would probably need to view them yourself to establish which is yours. They are not all indexed by age or place of birth

[MacGrigor]

Silaswall,

Wow! I didn't think records would be as well-kept back then. It's certainly an exciting discovery for me. Other than my grandad doing National Service in the RAF and a great-grandad serving in the Great War, none of my other ancestors have served in the Armed Forces - most were too old, too young, or not fit enough. Thanks for checking!

Rosie99,

Yes, well William Pepper is quite a common name I imagine. I don't think he could've served long as he married in Maulden in 1820, and worked as an agricultural labourer, as given on my 3x great-grandad's 1841 marriage certificate.

[ShaunJ]

Serving in the Royal Marines in March 1830: William Pepper, aged 30, born Millbrook, A Private 3rd Class on board the Scylla, on the Malta and Tripoli station. Portsmouth Division, 86th Company.

[MacGrigor]

That's great! Thanks so much!

[ShaunJ]

His attestation papers are at the National Archives. See:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10331277 and
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10033196

Attested 1824, discharged 1843 (invalided).

[MacGrigor]

Perfect. Thank you so much.

Have you any idea what sort of work he did in the Marines?

[ShaunJ]

So now you know why he wasn't with the family in 1841.

To quote from Wikipedia "Marines had a dual function aboard ships of the Royal Navy; routinely, they ensured the security of the ship's officers and supported their maintenance of discipline in the ship's crew, and in battle, they engaged the enemy's crews, whether firing from positions on their own ship, or fighting in boarding actions."