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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northamptonshire => Topic started by: Ridgeback on Sunday 25 January 09 01:20 GMT (UK)
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I note with interest that one of my ancestors was listed in 1871 census as a Drummer in the Northampton & Rutland Militia, would this mean that he was an enlisted solider or was this a part time job
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The Militia were the forerunners of todays Territorial Army...
Here is the timeline for them...
1833. 48th, or Northampton and Rutland Militia
1874. reorganised as two bns: 1st Battalion, 48th, or Northampton and Rutland Militia
2nd Battalion, 48th, or Northampton and Rutland Militia
1881 3rd Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment
HQ at Northampton
4th Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment
HQ at Northampton
1899. 3rd Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment
formed by amalgamation of 3rd Bn and 4th Bn
1908. transferred to Special Reserve at formation of Territorial Force
1921 Special Reserve ,redesignated Militia
1924 Transferred to Supplementary Reserve
1953 Disbanded
The oldest of the auxiliary forces was the Militia which first appeared in the statute books in 1558, but traced something of a legislative continuity back to the Anglo-Saxon fyrd as constituted by King Alfred in the 9th century. Some modern militia regiments traced their corporate ancestry to the 12th century. The Militia had a formal statutory existence from 1558 to 1604, 1648 to 1735, 1757 to 1831, and from 1852 to 1908. The term "trained bands" was used to describe the more elite militia from 1573 to 1663, and continued to be used to describe the militia of London until 1793.
The Militia have always been a "territorial" force (not to be confused with the "Territorial Force"), answering to the county High Sheriff and later the Lord Lieutenant. Officers' qualifications included the provision that they be local land owners. Service in the Militia was usually voluntary, but where recruitment failed the ranks could be filled by ballot. Many classes were exempt from service in the Militia, including peers, soldiers, clergy, etc. An Act of 1662 formed the basis for Militia law until 1908.
A series of further Militia Acts, notably in 1761, 1768 and 1802 had the effect of transforming the Militia from a local police and and national defence force into a reserve for the Regular Army. Those earlier functions were now filled by the Volunteers. Between 1808 and 1812 another series of Acts made Militia service compulsory for men between the ages of 18 and 30. In the 1850s, almost every Militia regiment was mobilised for home defence in order to release the whole Regular Army to cope with the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny.
In 1881 Militia battalions were redesignated as the 3rd (and sometimes 4th) Battalion of regular infantry regiments, but without changing their Militia status. (In the case of Ireland, ten regiments had to accommodate thirty-two battalions of militia, giving regiments up to four militia battalions.) In 1908 the Militia ceased to exist, and its units were transferred to the Special Reserve, but they retained their battalion designations in the regimental system. The Special Reserve was renamed the "Militia" in 1921, but all its units quietly went into suspended animation. Militia battalions were last embodied in the First World War, when they served to provide drafts for their regular counterparts. The Militia was not reactivated during the Second World War, and it was formally disbanded in 1953.
The late 1960s witnessed the first use of the "3rd Battalion" designator for non-Militia units. Two old Militia units survive in the 1990s: (1) The Royal Monmouthshire Militia, raised in 1539 and converted to engineers in 1877, transferred to the Territorial Army in 1953 where it has the honoured position of senior unit since the Militia took precedence over the Volunteers; (2) The Royal Militia of the Island of Jersey (which dates from the 13th century, but cannot claim seniority due to its broken history), was embodied in 1939 and became the 11th Battalion of The Hampshire Regiment. Disbanded in 1946, it was reactivated in 1987 as Jersey Field Squadron (The Royal Militia Island of Jersey) in 111 Engineer Regiment.
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Hi Ridgeback/Son.
Welcome to Rootschat Ridgeback.
You can also read about them at this link.
http://www.regimental-art.com/northamptonshire_reg.htm
And this forum maybe of help also.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/05d8
Sandy
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Thanks for the info, would this be a voluntary position or would he have joined up, as I notice that he was shoemaker before 1861 and again in 1891 meaning that he could have served for 20 years +, what would his role been besides a drummer?
David
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He was a volunteer....And part time at that.
Drums and fifes have been an integral part of the British Army for donkeys...They are distinct from the Band as they were (are) proper trained musicians, Drummers are not and are classed as "hobbyists"!
He joined up, but onl;y for weekends and some evenings. The main bks are still there in Clare St...The Drill Hall, and the museum in the park has some militia uniforms. In fact a number of badges for the N&R Militia came up for auction last month and fetched a pretty penny!
http://www.bosleys.co.uk/
He could have been a Regt Cobbler....
In todays army, the Corps of Drums are part of Support coy and provide the GPMG support.
Is he on the 71 and 81 censi?
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Morning, I didn't think anyone would be up this time on a Monday morning, but yes he is listed on the 1871 and 1881 census as occupation "Drummer"
David
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Would anyone happen to know if there was any significance in living at 11 Militia Stores, Northampton and where that might have been in 1877.
My Great-Great-Grandfather resigned from the Army after serving for just over 21 years. His papers show him heading for Northampton. He died about four years later in 1877 and his death certificate records him as living at 11 Militia Stores, Northampton and his Occupation being Staff Sergeant of Militia.
Would Staff sergeant have been a voluntary post in 1877 ?
Would the accommodation be for ex-soldiers or might it have been linked to the post?
thanks to anyone who can enlighten me
The Militia were the forerunners of todays Territorial Army...
Here is the timeline for them...
1833. 48th, or Northampton and Rutland Militia
1874. reorganised as two bns: 1st Battalion, 48th, or Northampton and Rutland Militia
2nd Battalion, 48th, or Northampton and Rutland Militia
1881 3rd Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment
HQ at Northampton
4th Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment
HQ at Northampton
1899. 3rd Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment
formed by amalgamation of 3rd Bn and 4th Bn
1908. transferred to Special Reserve at formation of Territorial Force
1921 Special Reserve ,redesignated Militia
1924 Transferred to Supplementary Reserve
1953 Disbanded
The oldest of the auxiliary forces was the Militia which first appeared in the statute books in 1558, but traced something of a legislative continuity back to the Anglo-Saxon fyrd as constituted by King Alfred in the 9th century. Some modern militia regiments traced their corporate ancestry to the 12th century. The Militia had a formal statutory existence from 1558 to 1604, 1648 to 1735, 1757 to 1831, and from 1852 to 1908. The term "trained bands" was used to describe the more elite militia from 1573 to 1663, and continued to be used to describe the militia of London until 1793.
The Militia have always been a "territorial" force (not to be confused with the "Territorial Force"), answering to the county High Sheriff and later the Lord Lieutenant. Officers' qualifications included the provision that they be local land owners. Service in the Militia was usually voluntary, but where recruitment failed the ranks could be filled by ballot. Many classes were exempt from service in the Militia, including peers, soldiers, clergy, etc. An Act of 1662 formed the basis for Militia law until 1908.
A series of further Militia Acts, notably in 1761, 1768 and 1802 had the effect of transforming the Militia from a local police and and national defence force into a reserve for the Regular Army. Those earlier functions were now filled by the Volunteers. Between 1808 and 1812 another series of Acts made Militia service compulsory for men between the ages of 18 and 30. In the 1850s, almost every Militia regiment was mobilised for home defence in order to release the whole Regular Army to cope with the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny.
In 1881 Militia battalions were redesignated as the 3rd (and sometimes 4th) Battalion of regular infantry regiments, but without changing their Militia status. (In the case of Ireland, ten regiments had to accommodate thirty-two battalions of militia, giving regiments up to four militia battalions.) In 1908 the Militia ceased to exist, and its units were transferred to the Special Reserve, but they retained their battalion designations in the regimental system. The Special Reserve was renamed the "Militia" in 1921, but all its units quietly went into suspended animation. Militia battalions were last embodied in the First World War, when they served to provide drafts for their regular counterparts. The Militia was not reactivated during the Second World War, and it was formally disbanded in 1953.
The late 1960s witnessed the first use of the "3rd Battalion" designator for non-Militia units. Two old Militia units survive in the 1990s: (1) The Royal Monmouthshire Militia, raised in 1539 and converted to engineers in 1877, transferred to the Territorial Army in 1953 where it has the honoured position of senior unit since the Militia took precedence over the Volunteers; (2) The Royal Militia of the Island of Jersey (which dates from the 13th century, but cannot claim seniority due to its broken history), was embodied in 1939 and became the 11th Battalion of The Hampshire Regiment. Disbanded in 1946, it was reactivated in 1987 as Jersey Field Squadron (The Royal Militia Island of Jersey) in 111 Engineer Regiment.
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Hi Robert.
Welcome to Rootschat. :)
The Militia Stores was near Great Russell Street in Northampton.
It was in the area known as St.Andrews.
If you are able to view the census in 1871 it was here.
Rg 10/1484/ Page 19 Folio 43.
Hopefully you will see it will answer some of your question above.
Sandy
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Sandy,
Thanks for the help - appreciated
Robert
Hi Robert.
Welcome to Rootschat. :)
The Militia Stores was near Great Russell Street in Northampton.
It was in the area known as St.Andrews.
If you are able to view the census in 1871 it was here.
Rg 10/1484/ Page 19 Folio 43.
Hopefully you will see it will answer some of your question above.
Sandy
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I appreciate that this thread has been going a while but I have only just found it in searching for some info on the 4th Btn Norhtamptonshire Reg. Both my wife's great grand father and his brother seem to have started their militay careers with this militia and was was wondering if any pay book or the equivalent survive? The gentlement in question are Jack (christened Joh) Bedford - in the mililia prior to enlistment in the58th Reg of Foot in 1877 and Ellis Bedford - in the militian prior to enlisting in the Duke of Cornwalls LI 1882. Both later transferred/were transfered to the 2nd Btn.
Northamptonshire Regiment.
Any help much appreciated
Merve