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hi im trying to find info of my gtgtgt grandfather thomas born 1780 east dean sussex, his wife was elizabeth born1805 i belive,he went on to be a chelsea pensioner, i know nothing else about either of them but would like to know about thomas how he came to be at chelsea and when he died. i hope you can help . thank you .

Possible for him from the Chelsea Pensioners Records. 2 Images for him which I can download and send to you should you want them


First name(s): Thomas

Last name: HARRIS

Calculated year of birth: 1782

Parish of birth: East Dean

Town of birth: East Dean

County of birth: Sussex

Age at attestation: 21 years

Attestation date: 25 November 1803

Attestation corps:

Attestation soldier number:

Discharge rank: Gunner & Driver

Discharge corps: Royal Artillery

Discharge soldier number:

The National Archives reference: WO97 / 1234 / 122

This looks like his death. in the 1851 census he is living in Eastbourne

Deaths Sep 1858 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Harris Thomas Eastbourne 2b 33

1851

Elizabeth Harris
Age: 46
Estimated birth year: abt 1805
Relation: Wife
Spouse's name: Thomas Harris
Gender: F (Female)
Where born: Eastbourne, Sussex, England
Civil Parish: Eastbourne
County/Island: Sussex
Household Members: Name Age
Thomas Harris 72 >>>>Chelsea Pensioner
Elizabeth Harris 46
Harriett Harris 19
Ann Harris 17
Jane Harris 14
John Harris 11



He doesn't have to have been in Chelsea to be a Chelsea pensioner. All army veterans were paid their pension from the Royal hospital in Chelsea. Some were in-pensioners who lived at the hospital and some were out-pensioners who continued to live with their families but all were called Chelsea pensioners.
You can find more information on the web if you Google for it.

astra,thank you for your help finding thomas harris, yes i would like to have the chelsea images you have for him, he sounds a interesting man.my grandad was his grandson, harriet tom sdaughter was my gt grandmother dont know who her husband was.