John Hilton Militia Man 1810

[roytonlad]

I'm trying to get a lead on a John Hilton from the Shaw/Newhey area. He was a militia man and fathered a child in 1810(William-my great great grandfather) by a Esther Brearley/Brierley. The child was baptised at Ogden Particular Baptist Church in 1811. They didn't marry and it looks like Esther died in 1814 and was buried at Shaw Chapel.

Has anyone please got any suggestions on how I can track this John Hilton. Hilton is a common local name amongst the weavers of this area and so there are numerous John Hiltons.

[Luzzu]

Hi,

Just been having a look at the Lancashire Parish Clerks website:-

www.lan-opc.org.uk

I can see Esther's burial:-

Burial: 3 Apr 1814 Shaw Chapel, Oldham, Lancashire, England
Esther Brierley -
    Age: 24
    Abode: Nook
    Buried by: J.Hordern
    Register: Burials 1813 - 1828, Page 19, Entry 149
    Source: Bishops Transcripts LDS Film 1545719

There are quite a few John Hiltons on Lancashire Parish Clerks too but no way of knowing which is the right one.

Lancashire Records Office might hold information about the Lancashire Militia - you could send an email to see what they have.  The email address is:-

record.office@ed.lancscc.gov.uk

There is this website too:-

http://www.gmcro.co.uk/sources/mindex.htm

and .... there is a John Hilton listed who was born in Oldham  .

Not sure if any of this is helpful .

Best of luck,

Luzzu
 

[charlotteCH]

Hi, There are Militia Muster Rolls that have the names and occupation of men in the militia at the time of the rolls compilation.
 
Luzzu pints you to a source for info on the Militia and this would seem to me to be a good way to go as a start.

Good hunting and let us know how you get on,
charlotte

[km1971]

Here is the NA link to researching the Militia - http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=26

In this period the Militia came under the Lord Lt of their county, so you should try local records offices as well. You face two problems. One is that there were two Militias. The 'normal' one and the Local Militia raised during the wars against the French. The other is that you cannot assume he was in a Lancashire Militia. They served for months or years at a time, and were often sent to guard the coast. So he may have been in a Militia from another county. Because of the time they were away, it was common for wives to follow the men.

Ken

[roytonlad]

Thanks for that. I’ve had a look at the GMRCO Militia Records. They appear to cover the recruitment into the militia for the hostilities with France from 1778 until their disembodiment in March 1783. These records do include a John Hilton (listed as a 16 year old collier from Oldham who joined up on 3rd August 1779).

If this John Hilton was my Great great great grandfather he would have been 47 when my Great great grandfather William was conceived with the 20 year old Esther Brearley/Brierley.

Although not out of the question it is more likely that the John Hilton I’m seeking was in one of the later recruitments/embodiments 1793 (Preston) or 1803.

Does anyone have access to these list?

[roytonlad]

Hi again,

Following Luzzu's suggestion I contacted the Lancashire Record Office. They question whether John Hilton was local to the Shaw/Ogden area if he was on active service there at the time. Apparently conscripts did not normally spend time on active service in the county they came from. So if he was posted to the area he would have come from somewhere else. If he was local he would not have been on active service whilst he was in the area.

If he was local he would probably have been in the 5th Regiment of The Royal Lancashire Militia which recruited from the Oldham area.

If he was posted to the area and was therefore in some other militia regiment his records would either be in the area he was conscripted from or in the national archives.

It might be possible to find out which militia regiments were in the area in 1810 by browsing 19th century newspapers at the local library or for a fee on-line at http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs/.

Any further suggestions welcome.

John
(from Durham)

[charlotteCH]

Hi, The newspaper browsing seems a good idea. I'd go with that.

In the Leeds Advertiser[? name? as it was 12 yrs ago I did it] there was a regular update on which Militia was around there and where they were going etc, thus tracing the 1st WRY militia and explaining the birth/baptism of one of mine so far from home.  The private's wife must have been a camp follower and given birth enroute- lovely thought .

charlotte

[km1971]

I think the 5th (Royal) Lancashire Militia were disbanded by 1800, not to be re-established until the 1850s.

Ken