When did Joseph die?

The Pensioner Register of the Royal Hospital Chelsea records Joseph's admission on 5 August 1812 with a pension rate of 2s 5d per day. His death is not recorded.

It is surprising but there is a possibility that Joseph may have lived to at least 1847, when he would have been 87 years old. An index of men awarded the Military General Service Medal (1793 - 1814) shows a Sergeant Joseph Ratcliff of the 27th Foot receiving the award with Egypt clasp. He could not have claimed until 1847 and would have had to apply for it in person. Next of kin could not apply on behalf of a deceased relative although it was awarded to next of kin of those claimants who had died between the date of their application and the date of presentation. There is no trace of Joseph in the 1841 census of England and Wales although he might have retired to Ireland, the home of the Inniskillings. However, there are other possibilities including an error in the index, a man of the same name and rank serving in the 2nd Battalion, or an imposter drawing his pension after his death.

If Joseph had survived until 1847 and was drawing his pension it should be possible to confirm because in 1842 pensions staff officers were appointed who made monthly returns to the War Office. Their records are held at the National Archives in WO22, arranged by payment district or country, and give the pensioner's name, regiment, rate of pension, date of admission to pension, rank and the district to which or from which he had moved. Yet another job on the 'to do' list!