United Kingdom, Royal Hospital Chelsea: Discharge Documents of Pensioners - FamilySearch Historical Records: Difference between revisions

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This collection is an index to military records from the Royal Hospital Chelsea for the years 1760-1887. The original records are held by the National Archives (reference number WO 122) and the index was created by FindMyPast.

The index of this collection refers to pension records for the British Army. In certain cases, the pension records may include other documents, such as marriage or birth certificates to prove familial relation, but these are relatively rare.

The following lists indicate potential information given in each type of record. It must be remembered that every record may not provide all of the listed information, as these records can vary over time and even between soldiers.  

== What Do I Do Next? ==

*Make sure to fully transcribe and cite the index entry record for future reference. See below for assistance in citing this collection. Save or print a copy of the image if possible.  

*Use the information which has been discovered to find more. For instance, use the estimated age given in the pensioner record to calculate an approximate year of birth, if that is yet undetermined.  

*Use the information which has been discovered to find the individual in other records. Particularly useful for research in nineteenth-century England are [[England Census|census records]], [[Church of England Parish Registers|parish registers]], and [[England Civil Registration|civil registration records]].  

*When looking for a person with a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which individual is correct. Use other information, such as place of birth, age, or occupation, to determine which candidate is the correct person. If listed, a personal title may be a clue to property ownership or occupation, either of which might be noted in other records.

*Check for variants of given names, surnames, and place names. Remember that it was not uncommon for an individual be listed under a nickname or an abbreviation of their name. See [[Abbreviations Found in Genealogy Records]] for some common examples of abbreviations.

For additional help searching online collections see [[FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks]].

Citing sources correctly makes it easier to refer back to information that has already been discovered; proper citations are therefore indispensable to keeping track of genealogical research. Following established formulae in formatting citations also allows others to verify completed research by helping them find and examine records for themselves.