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Archiver > ENG-KENT-NWKFHS > 2000-10 > 0971124788


From: "Chris Sanham" <>
Subject: Re: [NWKFHS] West Kent Militia
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 2000 21:53:08 +0100
References: <002c01c03229$c9aed4e0$c46560cb@patmccar>


Pat

I do not pretend to be an expert, but I can tell you that the Militia were a
form of conscripted service, where people were drawn by lot in each Parish
and either had to serve in the Militia themselves for a fixed period or had
to find a substitute willing to serve in their place I.e they had to pay
someone else to fulfil their obligation - perhaps not surprisingly there
were a lot of deserters.

I think that I am correct in saying that they were only required to serve at
Home, not overseas, and were one means, along with the various Volunteer
Forces, by which the Civil Power were able to provide for Home Defence and
to enforce the rule of law in the UK, whilst the Regular Army were overseas
prosecuting the war against Napoleon and elsewhere.

I see from the NWKFHS publication "West Kent Sources" that the Centre for
Kentish Studies at Maidstone holds some Militia records, as well as some of
the individual Local Studies Libraries.

Hope this helps

Chris SANHAM
Researching SANHAM Worldwide


----- Original Message -----
From: Pat McCarthy <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, October 09, 2000 8:46 PM
Subject: [NWKFHS] West Kent Militia


> I am completely ignorant of all things militiary, and I was wondering if
> anyone could help please.
>
> I have discovered an ancestor's sister Elizabeth Blackman, who married
> "Joseph Coulter, a Private in the West Kent Militia" in Hartley in 1809
> (November 13th)
>
> I presume he would have been stationed there at the time - I think he was
> born in West Peckham - and was wondering if they were a permanent force,
did
> they move around to other places? such as? anything at all about this.
> Was this a branch of a different force - how did it work. (I said I was
> ignorant).
>
> Any help, gratefully received.
>
> With thanks Pat(ricia) McCarthy mailto:
>
>
>
>
>
> ==============================
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