Chatham Chest facts for kids
The Chatham Chest was a special fund created in 1588. Its purpose was to provide pensions (regular payments) to sailors from the Royal Navy who had been injured or disabled while serving. Sailors contributed to this fund through small deductions from their pay. This money was kept in a strong chest at Chatham Dockyard. When a sailor could prove they were disabled, they would receive payments from the Chest. The fund stopped operating in 1803. It was then combined with a similar pension plan managed by Greenwich Hospital. Today, the actual Chatham Chest can be seen at the National Maritime Museum in London and at the Mast House in Chatham Historic Dockyard.
Contents
How the Chatham Chest Started
Why the Fund Was Created
The idea for the Chatham Chest began as a charity. It was set up after sailors who were injured during the war against Spain asked Queen Elizabeth I for help and support. Many people believe that Charles Howard, who was the main leader of the Royal Navy (called the Lord High Admiral of England), helped make this idea happen. He talked about it at the Queen's court.
The Chest Itself
The Chest was a very strong iron box. It had five locks to keep the money safe. It was kept at Chatham Dockyard, protected by the Chatham Division of the Royal Marines. To make sure no one person could take money, the keys for the Chest were held by five different officials. This meant all five had to be present to open it.
Payments and What Sailors Received
How Sailors Contributed
Sailors in the Royal Navy had to contribute to the Chest. Money was automatically taken from their pay. From 1594 to 1649, about 1/30th of a sailor's wages went into the Chest. For example, in 1626, a sailor earning fifteen shillings a month would contribute sixpence. In 1649, sailors' wages increased to nineteen shillings. Different amounts were then taken: sixpence a month for ordinary sailors, eight pence for surgeons, and ten pence for chaplains.
Pension Amounts
Pensions were paid based on a set scale. For losing one limb, a sailor might receive about £6.13s.4d each year. If a sailor lost both arms, they could get £15 a year. On top of the yearly pension, each sailor also received a one-time payment. This was usually equal to one year's pension and was called "smart money."
Challenges the Chest Faced
Early Problems and Missing Money
The Chatham Chest faced many problems over its long history. Before the late 1700s, and especially before 1660, sailors' wages were often lower than the official rates. However, their payments to the Chest stayed the same. This meant many sailors had to contribute more than 1/20th of their pay, which was a lot for them. Even with five officials needed to open the Chest, a lot of money went missing. Also, in the early 1620s, King Charles I simply took the money from the Chest to pay his own unrelated debts.
Financial Struggles and Help from the Government
By 1660, the number of sailors receiving pensions had grown a lot. This was due to wars like the First Dutch War and the war against Spain. But when peace returned and ships were taken out of service, the Chest's income dropped sharply. At first, they tried to offer sailors a one-time payment to stop their pensions. However, the Chest still struggled to pay everyone.
Samuel Pepys, who worked for the Navy Board, was very interested in the Chest's problems. He wrote in his diary in 1667 that there was no money to pay the pensioners. He said this would make them "a scorn to the world." Luckily, money was sent from the Treasury down the Thames River to Chatham, which helped solve the immediate problem.
From about 1673 onwards, the government generally agreed to cover any extra costs the Chest had each year. This continued, but sometimes the government was slow to pay. This meant pensions would be delayed. In 1690, some pensions were three years behind! The Chest also saw a big increase in pensioners during the Napoleonic Wars, with 5,205 people receiving payments in 1802.
Joining Forces with Greenwich Hospital
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An act for improving the Funds of the Chest at Chatham, and for transferring the Administration of the same to Greenwich Hospital; and for ameliorating the Condition of the Pensioners on the said Funds. |
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| Citation | 43 Geo. 3. c. 119 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 29 July 1803 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Greenwich Hospital Outpensions, etc. Act 1829 |
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Status: Repealed
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In 1803, a new Act of Parliament (a law passed by the government) was created. This law decided that the Chatham Chest's responsibilities would be combined with the support programs of Greenwich Hospital. The process of merging the two was finished in 1814. At that point, the physical Chatham Chest was no longer used for its original purpose. Since then, it has been displayed at the National Maritime Museum in London and at The Mast House in Chatham Historic Dockyard.
