Genealogy Chat

Many thanks Nell and Alice, I am beginning to think its another spaceship job though. I mean he was 43 in the 1891 and died in 1913 - where could he be for 21 years without any record anywhere and Charlotte, what was she doing. I will have another trawl to see if I can find any likely kids who would be born 1871 onwards. Yes, Alice, bitter tonight. First morning when Ive had to get frost off the car windows. Son has a thing that hangs out the window to give outdoor temp and just shouted out its 3 degrees below freezing! Lets hope we dont have the usual fiasco in Norwich if it snows. Roll on the new road, eh?

I love "Horsehead" it is soooo mafia! I just found this by googling: Q. Who were Greenwich Pensioners? (Anon) Just as Chelsea Hospital was instituted for soldiers who had been injured or grown old in the service of the crown, Greenwich Hospital was built for seamen in 1695. Seamen contributed sixpence a month from their pay towards the upkeep of the hospital. Pensioners were admitted from 1705 and originally wore a uniform of dark gray with a blue lining and brass buttons. The colour of the uniforms changed to brown and then blue. Families of pensioners were not allowed to live with them in the Hospital so many lived in the Greenwich area. By the nineteenth century it was found preferable to pay out pensions and in 1869 the Hospital closed. Records of Greenwich Pensioners are with the Public Record Office, Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey. Hope this helps, it looks promising. nell

Hi heather, Have just had a look on ancestry and did not find him but am I righrt in thinking that the census covered royal navy ships at sea? I can't see how to find them though! But is it possible he would be listed there before he was injured on the 1871 (if someone cleverer than me could find them!). Cold tonight isn't it? Alice

Hi, the 1851 census says Middlesex, Shadwell, aged 3. I noticed he married in Bethnal Green though and his parents married in Bethnal Green in 1854 (yes, left it a bit late!). I understood there was such a thing as Greenwich Pensioners, equivalent to the army's Chelsea Pensioners. I must admit when 80 year old aunt was telling me about Jonas (as conveyed to her by elderly aunt!) she said he was in a home for ancient/sick mariners in Greenwich. I assumed this would be the naval establishment, perhaps I jumped to conclusions. I have tried looking for Charlotte on her own, no luck so far, but could be another mistranscription of Horstead I suppose (there seems to be so many - Ive even had Horsehead). Ive found two Charlotte Harrington's one more likely than the other, born in Brentford. In the 1891 she puts London as place of birth, but again, often the place is what people remember rather than the actual birthplace. Also they were living in one room of a house. There was another sailor in the house, a son of a Mr Heskett. I wonder if he was a friend and gave their details rather than themselves?

Heather Where was Jonas born?

According to the site I googled, Greenwich Naval Hospital closed in 1869 and became the site for the Royal Naval College. But people in all institutions should be listed on the census anyway, so I suspect the reason you can't find him is that he has been mistranscribed, or was away at sea. Have you tried looking for his wife separately? nell

m

I have found what I think is my GGUncle Jonas Horstead (mistranscribed as Thomas) in the 1891 census aged 43. He is living with his wife in one room in Bethnal Green. This is the only census I have found him on so far apart from the 1851 when he was 3 years old. He married a Charlotte Harrington in 1870 in Bethnal Green but I cant find any mention of either of them til 1891, apart from his death in 1913. Family legend is that he was injured at sea and lived many years at Greenwich Naval Hospital, certainly he died in Greenwich. I guess that would be why I cant find him on the census for 1901. There are no children on the 1891 with them. Jonas was a sailor and I wondered whether the Navy would have had married quarters at that time. Does anyone know please?