Gosport Mariners 1810-1850

[cschilansky]

My direct ancestor John HAWKINS b 1796 was listed as a Greenwich pensioner on the 1851,1861,1871 census' as well as on his death registration in 1873. He was obviously proud of his naval service as it defined him at each registration entry. He gave his place of birth as Gosport,Hants but all his children were born in greater London area and I believe he was baptised at Southwark. He was married 1816 at Southwark as well. I had contacted a researcher of naval records to find out more about what ships he had served on, his rank etc. But, with a name like John HAWKINS, the fellow wouldn't take my money,... stating that he was unable to determine which of many alternatives was mine. Does anyone have a better idea for researching these folks? Is there a means to determine his service number based upon address as a pensioner? All ideas appreciated...

[Geoffers]

My direct ancestor John HAWKINS b 1796 was listed as a Greenwich pensioner on the 1851,1861,1871 census'.....He gave his place of birth as Gosport,Hants and I believe he was baptised at Southwark. He was married 1816 at Southwark as well.
Searching for RN records prior to the introduction of Continuous Service Registers in 1853 is a bit more tricky, especially with a fairly common name and if you don't know his rank.

I'd suggest that the first place you might try is The National Archives (TNA) online catalogue:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
look at the top of the website and you'll see a series of links in a red bar. You need the heading 'Search our Collections' and from the list, select 'The Catalgoue (PROCAT)'. When you get to a saerch screen, enter the name 'John Hawkins' in field 1 - leave the dates field blank and in field 3 enter 'ADM29'.

You will be searching the Ratings' Services from 1802, these relate to certificates of service to support applications to receive a pension.

There aren't many places of birth, but ages on entry are usually given as are dates of service. You might find an entry where taking the age off date of joining comes up with something around 1796-ish.

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[cschilansky]

Hello Geoffers, sorry it took me so long to respond to your great suggestion to check the PROCAT. I have found 2-3 possibilities for my ancestor. BUT, where do I go from here? Does anyone know if there is a means for tracing an individual Greenwich pensioner's career given his addresses in retirement through 3 separate census cycles?(1851-1871) I'm only trying to put some meat on his bones. The genealogy guides always stress that what we do has to be more than just a collection of BMD facts...

[Geoffers]

Hello Geoffers, sorry it took me so long to respond to your great suggestion to check the PROCAT. I have found 2-3 possibilities for my ancestor. BUT, where do I go from here?
The certificate of service will include a list of ships on which someone served. If you find an entry on TNA's catalogue then you can apply for a copy online. Once you have a list of ships on which someone served, then you can trace where those ships were at specific periods in time.

Does anyone know if there is a means for tracing an individual Greenwich pensioner's career given his addresses in retirement through 3 separate census cycles?(1851-1871)
Pensions were administered by the Royal Greenwich Hospital. Registers of applicants for out-pensions up to 1859 are in TNA in document class ADM6/267-320. From 1842, records of the actual payments of out-pensions, through district offices are in WO22, arranged by place - you may be able to tie these into your census returns

Pensions were also paid for wounds/disabilities and for meritorious service and these are also at TNA.

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire