Militia lists have been in existence since
1522, but it is the period after 1757 that is probably of greater
interest and importance to the majority of genealogists. The 1757
Militia Act ordered that militia regiments be re-established in the
counties of England and Wales. The Act introduced a form
of conscription, requiring townships or
parishes to prepare lists of adult males to be used as the basis of
ballots to choose a proportion of them for compulsory service. If
the chosen men were not willing to serve, they could find another
man to serve in their place as a substitute. This process,
although modified over time, led to the production of a variety of
records, most of which give lists of local men with some personal
details. In theory
at least, these should provide a complete
annual list of all men aged 18 to 50 years (1758-62), and aged 18 to
45 years (1762-1831) – unfortunately, their survival is patchy. They
clearly represent good census substitutes during periods before the
National Censuses came into being, and at a time when parish
registers were becoming more problematic in terms of completeness.
Below are examples of some of the available records.
You may judge for yourself how useful these may turn out to be in
your research.
Township of Aldingham
1819
Militia list pursuant to the directions of
the 42 Geo 3 Cap 90, 46 Geo 3 Cap 90, 52 Geo 3 Cap 38 and all other
Acts now in force
relative to the General and Local Militia.
Notice is hereby given, if any person thinks
himself aggrieved he may appeal which appeal will be heard at the
office of Mr Thos Kilner in Ulverstone
at 10 OClock in the forenoon after which
no appeal will be heard. And any person wilfully neglecting to
appeal will subject himself to the Penalty of Five Pounds.
Dated this 5th day of Octr
1819
[Signed] Thomas Atkinson)
Constables of the Township
Jos Goad
) of Aldingham
Extract of Low Furness Townships from
the list of Lonsdale North of the Sands
Township Militia Lists: Numbers - 1819
Return of men disembodied at Liverpool
on 15 March 1816 and now liable to be re-embodied in the 2nd
Regt of Royal Lancashire Militia, their respective periods of
service not having yet expired
Return of all the men in the 2nd
Royal Lancashire Regiment of Militia entitled to their discharge
owing to their respective
periods of service having expired up to
20 April 1818 inclusive
Return of men who were trained and
exercised of the 2nd Royal Lancashire Regiment of Militia
in 1821
Return of casualties that have risen in
the 2nd Rl Lancashire Regt of Militia since 17 July 1820
Persons enrolled as a substitute of
persons balloted on 10 March 1831
