Illustrated portrait of Chelsea Pensioners in the 19th century enjoying life at the Royal Hospital Chelsea

Tracing Ancestors

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Tracing Ancestors

Tracing Chelsea Pensioner Ancestors

An Historical Overview

From 1692 until 1955, the Royal Hospital Chelsea was responsible for administering and paying all Army pensions, leading to the term "Chelsea Pensioners" being used for all Army pensioners.

Historically, there were two categories of Chelsea Pensioners:

  • In-Pensioners: Army veterans who surrendered their pension and were admitted as residents of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
  • Out-Pensioners: Veterans who lived outside the Royal Hospital, either in the UK or abroad, and received their pension in cash from local agents. Records of Out-Pensioners are housed at the National Archives, Kew. If an ancestor appears in a census outside the Royal Hospital, they were likely an Out-Pensioner.

Today, the term "Chelsea Pensioner" refers exclusively to veterans residing at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Army pensions are now managed by the Ministry of Defence, so the term "Out-Pensioner" is no longer in use.

Archive Requests

The Royal Hospital Chelsea maintains an archive with some records of residents from 1871 to the present. Records prior to 1871 are available at the National Archives, Kew.

Available Information:

  • Pre-1871 records typically include: name, number, rank, regiment, date of admission, date of death, and burial place.
  • Post-1984 records are more comprehensive.

For a fee, we may provide copies of relevant records for relatives of Chelsea Pensioners. However, requests for photographs of Pensioners before 1990 are often unfulfilled due to the lack of identifiable images. A Guide to Tracing Chelsea Pensioner Ancestors will be included with available records to assist with further research.

How to Submit an Archive Request

To request archive information, please complete an RHC Archive Enquiry Form and send it along with a stamped, self-addressed envelope and a £20 cheque made payable to:

Chelsea Pensioner (RH) Ltd.
Research Assistants
Royal Hospital Chelsea
Royal Hospital Road
London
SW3 4SR

For more detailed information about our archive services, please download our advice sheet.

For further enquiries, contact us at research@chelsea-pensioners.org.uk.