Death in Chelsea --opinion please

[Ringrose]

My gggrandfather Richard Light ,although  born somewhere i Shropshire was in London by the 1830s.He lived in the Chelsea Kensington and Westminster areas on all the records I have. Searching for his death I found a possible in Chelsea in 1871 in Chelsea Hospital. I sent for the certificate and Im not sure. The age is about right as on the censuses it varies by a few years. Age at death 75 but this is what is puzzling me he is down as "In Pensioner" Does this mean he was a Chelsea Pensioner (never served in army)or coulod it be he was a pensioner from outside taken to the hospital for treatment?I have not found him on the 1871 by which time he had been widowed many years.He appears on his daughters marriage cert in 1868(no deceased)
Any ideas appreciated
Ringrose

[Nick29]

If you're sure that he was never in the army, then I don't think you have the right man.  To be eligable to be either an in-pensioner or an out-pensioner, a man had to be a soldier in the British Army.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_pensioner

[Ringrose]

Thats what I thought but not being able to find another possible death I just wondered. I dont think he would have gone far  from his family who were all in the area.
Ringrose

[maidmarianoops]

is this the family
sylvia

1841
Light Richard 45 Grocer Lambeth Walk Surrey       
 Light Eliza 40  Surrey         
 Light John 20  Student



  Light  Richard  40  Grainer   Granby Place, Lambeth, Surrey         
  Light  Hannah  30 

[Ringrose]

In 1851 the family consisted of Richard 50 a labourer(in 1841 he is a grocer),Hannah 38, Eliza 9 Jane 4 and Mary 1(my ggrandmother)Hewas previously married  i believe to a Margaret Turner whoi had connections with a Grocers and I found her death pre 1840 when his 2nd marriage tooknplace.
All in Westminster area though his 1st d Eliza was born in Lambeth.
Thanks for your interest
Ringrose

[Nick29]

Try tracing the children and grandchildren.  Often, folks would go to them to be cared for when they were sick.

[Ringrose]

Have done this by checking 1871 and 1881 with all family.
Ringrose

[Marathonman]

Hi

If someone is an 'in-pensioner' he was a resident pensioner at the Royal Hospital in Woolwich, or what is now at Chelsea and is indeed where the Chealsea Pensioners still reside to this day.  If you know for sure your ancestor wasn't in the army then you must have the wrong person.  Having said that are you absolutely sure he wasn't in the army prior to 1841. I have looked in the National Archives to see if any discharge papers exist for him but there are none although that doesn't discount him being in the army either.

I only know all this because my GGG Uncle was a Chelsea Pensioner and was an 'Out-Pensioner' as he didn't live at the hospital but went back to Arnold, Nottingham to live out his life after being discharged from the army with an 'exemplary' record.  He served at the Battle of Waterloo and was the Driver for the Director General of the Hospital at Woolwich until he retired and went back to Nottingham which is where he came from.

Hope that explanation makes sense

[Ringrose]

I have not looked at the possibility of Richard being in the army pre any records I have of him. The earliest record is a marriage in 1837and another 1840 having lost his first wife.He was in Lambeth area then. His son Richard is at Woolwich in the army in1871 so this is highly a possible solution --following in fathers footsteps.Also how he ended up in London.
I will now try and see if I can find some early army records ----this should keep me busy.
Thanks for your thoughts
Ringrose