County militias could be raised and called out to march together
in order to be better prepared to suppress insurrections or
invasions. Their horsemen were to be provided with broad sword, a
case of pistols with 12 inch barrels, a carabine with belt and
bucket, a saddle, and a bit and bridle. The foot soldiers were to
be provided with a bayonet, a cartouch-box, and a sword. In the
militia act of 1757, there were quotas for each parish, to be
chosen by lot from lists of men 18-50 years old. After militia
service for three years, one could not be called again until by
rotation, and, if married, was allowed to practice any trade in
which he was able in any town or place. While he was in the
militia, his parish had to pay an allowance to his family, if
distressed, the usual price of an agricultural laborer, according
to the number and ages of the children. Quakers could provide a
substitute or pay money to defray expenses of a substitute for
three years. Exempt were peers, commissioned officers in royal
army or royal castle, other military personnel, members of either
university, clergymen, teachers of any separate congregation,
constables and peace officers, and watermen of the Thames River.
This militia act was due to an invasion scare in 1756 because
Great Britain then had no allies on the continent. The old
strategy of maintaining a small army of 17,000 men and relying on
volunteers had really depended on England's allies to tie down
France's land forces.
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