Pre 1918 pension records

[Foxkarej]

In the course of using Census records to research the life of a relative who died in the Great War, I found that one of our common ancestors was in the Army in the 1860's.

He was Thomas Fox born circa 1840 in Lincolnshire, the 1861 census has him as a member of the 9th Depot Battalion based in Colchester. The 1871 census shows him living with his family in Lincolnshire employed as a groom but with a note that he was a 'pensioner due to illness' he died around 1874

The only pensioners of the day could be Military ones so I'm wondering if anyone could advise me how to go about finding if his pension records are held at kew?

If there is any liklihood they are could anyone point me in the direction of a reliable researcher who could get the information for me please.

Thanks in anticipation John.

[sotonmate]

John

NOT an "expert" in Pension Records,I merely have the NA leaflet to hand detailing how you go about finding what you want (Leaflet 3b -how to find a soldier's service record of discharge 1760-1913). Go about it by........looking in the Catalogue under WO121 :Royal Hospital Chelsea:Discharge Documents for Pensioners 1782-1887.

Search is under the name of the soldier. This apparently gives you another reference to a series of documents in WO97 which is a microfilm. Obviously a visit is required.

This is a simplification,but you should be able to get the WO97 ref by searching WO121 on line in the Catalogue.

Best wishes

Sotonmate

PS Just tried it if you search on the catalogue page enter FOX then dates 1782-1887,then WO121 in bottom box it will give you 88 Foxes to choose from.