November Webinar | Chelsea Pensioners in Upper Canada | Linda Corupe
The story of the Chelsea Pensioners in Upper Canada is one of former British soldiers dismissed from active duty because of illness, injury or long service. In an effort to reduce costs, the British government decided around 1830 to offer assistance to all those on the pension rolls who were willing to emigrate to a British colony. This assistance was called commutation and was a lump sum covering four years worth of payments, minus the price of their passage and any other expenses they might incur. Over 2,000 took advantage of this offer and agreed to relocate to British North America.
Their story, in most cases, is one of hardship and poverty, and efforts by the Upper Canadian authorities to provide some type of relief. This presentation will discuss the history of these unfortunates, the types of related documents that have survived, and where they can be found.
Linda Corupe
Linda Corupe, U.E., the author of over 50 books on genealogy and history and a well-known researcher and presenter, is a descendant of a United Empire Loyalist from the Napanee area. Among her notable publications are annotated transcriptions of court records, heir and devisee records, and bastardy affidavits. Linda earned her B.A. from McMaster University and is a member of the United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada, the Ontario Genealogical Society and the Ontario Historical Society. One of her favourite places to be is at the Archives of Ontario, where she has spent countless hours researching for both clients and her own interests.
