Genealogy Chat

I have a possible relative who is listed as an AB Pensioner in Chatham in the 1881 census on H M S Pembroke. I guess that AB stands for Able Seaman but why Pensioner ?(he was 59 years old but there were younger men with same description too). Thanks Ian

Hi Ian Just Googled this and it has come up with HMS INDUS... AB= Able Seaman... OS= Ordinary Seaman. Don`t know if this is any use to you. Kindest Regards Lyn.

Thanks Lyn, updated my message but still don't understand Pensioner.

Weird! I thought AB meant able bodied

It probably means that he is retired. HMS Pembroke may even be a Shore Establishment with accommodation for retired sailors.

Have you searched for his service papers on DocumentsOnline at the National Archives? http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/

I don't know whether you got a pension on grounds of incapacity or if it was simply based on years service. Certainly, where men applied for a pension (records in ADM 29), they had to state every ship they had served on. The Navy checked the details from all the ships' records and totted up the total years served. I believe that the pension was not vast and usually had to be supplemented by other means. Try going to the National Archives website and looking at the Research Guides for more information.

HMS Pembroke WAS shore based.

Thanks everyone, I will follow those links, regards Ian

From an RANer AB originally stood for able bodied however it now means Able Seaman and is second or third in rank (depending on how you look at) from the bottom in the general entry system (as oppossed to Officer entry). It goes RCT=recruit which is when you under take training; SMN=seaman part training and also in service; then AB; LS=leading seaman etc. In the early days however seaman was not the rank but their job. So at the time this person as an AB would have denoted that they were able bodied. Are you sure it says pensioner and not pursser or something similar to this? A pursser was the pay officer now part of the supply department. I have a feeling it is to do with this department,but stay tuned just in case I find out more. PS this is an Australian site but some might find it interesting http://www.gunplot.net/ UK site http://users.senet.com.au/%7Egittins/terminology.html PPS Just thought you could contact the Royal Naval Museum they should be able to tell you or point you in the right direction. I'd like to find out too now.

In the early 60s' stewards in shore establishments were often ex/retired navy men. Perhaps your pensioner was in receipt of a small navy pension and supplementing it by working as a steward. Victoria

Nudged I'm waiting to see if anyone else knows The Gypsy Joe

Another thought did they have Prison ships still then, could have been connected with that. Maybe AB prisoner something?? Could always contact martime museum, Navy museum etc they should be able to help. Gypsy Joe

At the top of each page for HMS Pembroke (pensioners pages), it says: ''List of the Officers, Men Boys, Marines and of all other persons not on board on the night of Sunday April 3rd 1881, but borne (??) on Ships Books.'' The ''NOT'' and the bit after ''1881'' are added to the typed heading, in ink.......... Merry

I have searched for three of the more unusual names amongst the pensioners, and they have each appeared twice - once in the ships record (but as it says, they are not on board!!) and once with theie families on shore!! LOL Merry