The Case of Jemmy the Rockman
The Case of "Jemmy the Rockman."—Our readers are aware that the Mayor and the Town Clerk have been in communication with the army authorities, with the view of obtaining for "Jemmy the Rockman" a portion of the arrears of his pension as a soldier, voluntarily relinquished by him in a rather romantic way. Marrying a woman possessed of some property, he fancied he ought not to be a burden to his country any longer, and in 1824 he declined to receive his pension. It was not till 1844 that he sought to be reinstated, his wife having died many years before. His present wife, a poor paralytic, requires such nursing and attention as Jemmy cannot, afford to give her, and it was thought that if a portion of the twenty years' arrears could be obtained, this might prevent the aged couple ending their days in the Workhouse—an asylum which both seem to dread. The Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital, however, cannot allow romance or high-minded eccentricity to interfere with routine), and unless some local effort, is made, Jemmy will have to hand his wife over to the parish. The following the letter received from Chelsea :—
"Royal Hospital, Chelsea, S. W., 20th December, 1853.
"Sir,--I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th instant, relative to James Guidney, and to acquaint you that it appears, upon reference to the Hospital books, that he voluntarily relinquished his pension in the year 1824, and was not restored to the pension list until the year 1844, whereby he would have evaded any call or examination of the out-pensioners to which they were liable, and the Commissioner of lists Hospital, with reference to their practice in similar cases, regret that they have no authority to grant him any arrears of pension for the above period of twenty year; during which he ceased, of his own accord, to be a pensioner of this establishment.
"I have the honor to be, Sir,
"Your most obedient servant,
"A. J. Moorhead, Secretary and Registrar.
"Sir John Ratcliff, Mayor of Birmingham."
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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