Was he a soldier?

[Annie65115]

Abraham Wardle was living in Ibstock, Leicestershire at the time of the 1841 census. He'd been there at least since the early 1800s when his children were baptised there but before that, who knows?

(A previous thread tried to ascertain his background but we didn't get very far).

Anyway, in the 1841 census his age was given as 60; that of his wife, Bede (AKA Bridget), was 70. Abraham was a "pensioner" and Bede was from Ireland and this makes me wonder if he was in the militia. How else would he get a pension? And I've come across a fair few militiamen who brought wives back from their posting in Ireland.

What do folk think?

(I can't find him on the Ancestry search; FindMyPast has indexed him as "Abram Wardbee". I've no idea how old he really was; having been 60 in 1841, he died in 1842, when the National Burial Index transcription has his age as 72 and his death cert gives his age as 81!)

[ShaunJ]

The name appears in Royal Marines pension records. Went on to pension 4 May 1815.

[maddys52]

(I can't find him on the Ancestry search; FindMyPast has indexed him as "Abram Wardbee".

Ancestry have transcribed it as WARDLAW. 

[Annie65115]

The name appears in Royal Marines pension records. Went on to pension 4 May 1815.

I have seen that, ShaunJ, but I can't be sure that it's my Abraham. I can't check at the moment, but I think it says he's returning to Malham, and I've no other links with that area at all. I know the family was in Leicestershire before and after 1815!

[shanreagh]

'......that of his wife, Bede (AKA Bridget),'

Bridget was from Ireland and that explains the Bridget name and the Bede.  Bridget was often shortened to Biddy or Bedelia.  So I think the name Bede, his wife,  would be pronounced be dee and not Bede like the male saint ;Bede -  also known as Saint Bede, The Venerable Bede, and Bede the Venerable (Latin: Beda Venerabilis), was an English monk and an author and scholar.'


In Irish Baby Names the meaning of the name Bedelia is: A, meaning the high one or strength. Famous bearer: 6th century Irish abbess Brigid )known as St Bridget or St Bride) founded Ireland's first women's religious community.

[ShaunJ]

The Royal Marines pension records show that he died in 1842 and his pension was last paid on 2 August that year. He had 8 years and 6 months service up to May 1815, and was pensioned because of debility.

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record/browse?id=gbm%2fadm22%2f436%2f00076

I think it says he's returning to Malham

I haven't seen that in the RM pension records - where did you find it?

[Annie65115]

Shaun, the death date of 1842 would certainly tie in with my Abraham; I hadn't found tht so I will poke around some more. Thank you.

You ask about Malham. There's an Ab WArdell, age 36 years and 8 months, who I found on Ancestry: Chelsea Admission Books, Registers and Papers, 1702 - 1980; Out pensioners, class books WO 23/139. It says he was admitted on 18 July 1802 (presumably "admitted" might include "accepted" as these were "out pensioners") - the disability was "ruptured", and his residence was "Old Malham, York". Under "company", I think it says Ind. Compy 561R. (Added - looking at BMDs, this must be Malton, not Malham).

But this is Chelsea rather than Greenwich pensioners, so maybe it's a different Ab Wardell?

The earliest sighting I hvae of my Abraham in Ibstock is 1803, when his daughter Jane was buried, so after this pension date.

[Annie65115]

More thoughts. Is it possible that Abraham could have joined the navy whilst already being a chelsea pensioner? Maybe not, but I'm just trying to rule out as many possibilities as I can.

As I say, the earliest date in PRs that I have for him is a year after the army pension was issued to Abraham-from-Malton. I don't have a baptism for his daughter Janem wh was buried then, and there's no age given for her. And the last date I have is 1806 with the baptism of his son Robert, which would tie in with him joining the navy at that point.

And I still don't know where he met his Irish wife! I can't find a marriage anywhere.

[softly softly]

Possible baptism

Abraham Wardle 17th February 1764 Coleorton, parents William& Mary

SS