Middlesex Militia + Berkshire Family

[chapmag]

Hi, I have an ancestor who married in Newbury in 1809, I believe he and his wife produced a child in Plymouth in 1816 whilst he was a Private in the Middlesex Militia before they returned to Berkshire in approx 1818 to parent another 5 children.
I am seeking help (read education) on how the Militia recruited and how (if it all) I can track my 4 x Gt Grandfathers movements to and from Plymouth!
I've scrabbled around at the National Archives at Kew on a single, first occasion... but feel I need some advice/guidance/education before continuing there!
Thanks in anticipation of any assistance you are able to provide and happy hunting! G

[Valda]

The research guide for the militia records at The National Archives is on their website at

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/researchguidesindex.asp?j=1

scroll down the list until you get to

British Army: Auxiliary Forces (Volunteers, Yeomanry, Territorials and Home Guard), 1769-1945

and click on it. Read through until you come to the militia section and it lists the class of records that are available. Militia records that earlier are not going to be tremendously detailed.

There is a National Archives book produced on Militia records which you can purchase from their shop (though I can't see it in their shop online)
I think its called

Militia and volunteer forces 1755-1945 - Spenser

Or if you want to get to grips with records at TNA in general then

'Tracing your ancestors in TNA' by Amanda Bevan is the book.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/bookshop/title_show.asp?title_id=225

Like all TNA books it doesn't come cheap.

Regards

Valda

[chapmag]

Thanks Valda.... I'm really just trying to read up and learn about Militia so your pointers are very welcome.Thanks and happy hunting. G.