The following appears on page 145 of my website [enter jeffreygreen.co.uk/145 into your search engine]
"A military man of colour mentioned in British newspapers in the 1850s was a Jamaican aged 102, who was resident in a London workhouse at Christmas 1852. John Turner had gone to sea on a man of war as a child, then served as a bandsman in the 62nd regiment and left the army in Canada after twenty-eight years. He then came to England, had a daily pension of 1s 2d which was reduced by contributions for his accommodation in the workhouse – and for his wife, who was also a resident. This was reported in major London newspapers (Morning Chronicle, 25 December 1852; Morning Post, 25 December 1852, p 5; and Daily News, 27 December 1852). His regiment became the Wiltshire Regiment; it had served two long spells in Nova Scotia. What happened to the Turners is unknown."
I have just checked the 1851 London census and John Turner is listed as a Chelsea pensioner. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, around 1754 [and so about 97] he was married to Frances Ann Turner, who was aged 49 and born in Gloucestershire.
The workhouse description could apply to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, where military veterans saw out their lives.
Jeff Green
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