Pensions

Before 1830 the Admiralty granted pensions to officers under the authority of orders in council. Pensions were paid to widows of officers killed in action or as a result of duty from 1673. Next of kin of officers killed in action could receive a grant or pension from the Compassionate Fund from 1809. Warrant officers´ widows qualified for pensions after 1830 and dependants from about 1885.

Pensions were also paid for wounds received in action. Officers and masters received them from 1673, surgeons from 1689, and warrant officers and engineers from 1866. Midshipmen and cadets could receive them from 1902.

Bills drawn by the Treasurer of the Navy include details of officers´ superannuation and retirement pensions in ADM 18. Those relating to captains are in ADM 18/39-97 covering 1666 to 1747. Those for lieutenants between 1737 and 1781 are in ADM 18/92-119. Others for masters, surgeons, pursers, boatswains, gunners, carpenters and cooks are in ADM 18/50-119 from 1672 to 1781.

Registers for 1781 to 1820 recording payments of superannuation and pensions to commissioned officers are in ADM 22/1-5 and ADM 22/17-24. Other records for commissioned and warrant officers are in ADM 22/27-30 for 1820-21; in ADM 23/22-23 for 1830 to 1836; in ADM 23/24 for 1870 to 1880; in ADM 23/161-163, 165-167 and 172 for 1899 to 1932; and in ADM 22/488-522 for 1881 to 1934.

From 1835 the Paymaster General´s Office became responsible for payments of pensions. Records of superannuation payments to commissioned officers between 1836 and 1920 are in PMG 15. PMG 15/1-3 and 5-7 contain surname indexes, the others are arranged by initial letter of surname. Payments to warrant officers between 1836 and 1924 are in PMG 16.

Lists of pensions to captains, commanders and lieutenants covering 1815 to 1839 are in ADM 22/47-48, also for 1820 to 1829 in ADM 11/70/3, and for 1835 to 1837 in ADM 6/270. Pension payments to commissioned officers between 1846 and 1921 are in PMG 71/1-13. Records of pensions for good or meritorious service can be found in ADM 23 and PMG 16 covering various dates from 1836 to 1928.

Widows and next of kin pensions can be found in various series, ADM 6, 7, 22 and 23, also in PMG 16 and 19. These records cover various dates from the 1670s to the 1930s.

Remittance and Allotment Registers

Warrant officers could remit or allot part of their pay. See remittance and allotment registers.