British Navy 1791 - 1833

[thedownman93]

Hi

I haven't got a lot but my 4 times great grandfather Paul was listed as a pensioner sailor on one the relations birth certifcate in 1833 (this was in Donegal).

Would it be possible that he was in the navy, according to his death certifcate he was born in 1791, would it be likey he was involved in any battles? Its difficult to find some information, thanks 

[ShaunJ]

There aren't a lot of Royal Navy records available from that era but if you give us his name we can have a look.

[thedownman93]

Sorry, it was Paul Allen, he would have been 18 in 1809

[ShaunJ]

There are Royal Navy Greenwich out-pension records for a Paul Allen who was aged 26 when granted a pension of £14 per annum for life in April 1816. He had suffered a fracture to his left leg. Last ship served on was the Abercrombie. 

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2FADM6%2F277%2F00046&parentid=GBM%2FGREP%2FNAVY%2F00576563

Very few Greenwich records show where the pension was paid but one from 1845 is marked "Londonderry".
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record/browse?id=gbm%2fadm22%2f437%2f00028

[thedownman93]

Hi, that sounds like him. I have a copy that lists the same ship - Abercrombie, would that confirm he fought in napoleonic wars?  He did have a child born in Derry in 1830 and he moved to Donegal during the 1830's. I have 2 attachments here

[Hystericalwriter]

You can track the travails of various Royal Navy ship, but may mean a visit to the National Archives at Kew, and for some that might not be possible. ADM is the prefix to ships and general Admiralty records

[ShaunJ]

Yes that looks likely to be him getting a medal for the capture of Guadeloupe in 1810. Not sure about the LM rank - Landsman perhaps ?

The pension records indicate that he served for nearly 15 years so he must have joined the navy as a boy aged 10 or 11.

[ShaunJ]

Just be aware that there was another Paul Allen in the navy at that time - he was born in Boston USA circa 1765 and last served on the Minden.

[ShaunJ]

The Guadeloupe clasp to the Naval General Service Medal was awarded upon application to all British participants still living in 1847.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Guadeloupe_(1810)