AN EXPLANATION OF THE MILITIA LISTS

Until the mid 19th century, all able bodied men between certain ages were liable for a form of conscription to a part-time armed service called the militia and may figure in the Militia Returns.
The idea was that when an emergency arose those selected or chosen abandoned their civilian occupations and became part time defensive soldiers. Until the first regiments of the regular army were formed in the 1650s and 1660s, the militia was the only way in which armed forces could be raised. During the first half of the 18th century, the militia almost disappeared until the country was threatened by France (the Seven Years War of 1756-1783). Then the Militia Act of 1757 re-established militia regiments throughout England and Wales and from 1758-62 parish constables drew up annual lists of all men aged from 18 to 50 and thereafter from 18 to 45, then drew ballots to select some men for compulsory militia service.
Those selected, the "drawn men", could delegate their militia obligation to paid substitutes. These lists of adult males by parish are known as Militia Ballot Lists and where they survive can be a most useful records for family historians. Surviving Militia Muster Rolls for the period before 1757 are generally found in the Public Record Office, London, while Militia Ballot Lists and Musters since 1757 are usually found in the appropriate county record office, at Lincoln in the case of Bourne.
Men served three years from 1757-1786 and later five, but their role was purely defensive and they did not serve overseas, apart from Ireland. In peace time they lived at home, only spending two or three weeks annually away on training.
Militia records are usually sporadic and their survival rate varies considerably. In some counties, Militia Ballot Lists were never compiled. In 1757, peers, the clergy, teachers, apprentices and peace officers were exempt from the Militia Ballot Lists but from 1758 there were no exclusions on the grounds of status or occupation. There were, however, other reasons which could exempt certain men from militia service. Men with children "born in wedlock", mostly three or four aged under 10 years before 1802, and those with any children under 14 years thereafter, were exempt. Servicemen were also exempt, as were the sick or those "labouring under infirmities". Also exempt were small men, mostly those under 5 feet 4 inches. Such "excuses" may be documented in the Militia Ballot Lists. From 1806, the ages of all men were also to be shown in addition to their occupations.
The method of selecting men by ballot was very unpopular and the cause of riots in the 1750s and the 1790s when the country was on a war footing with France. In 1829, the ballot was suspended and from 1831, the militia carried on by voluntary enlistment only.
Reorganisation of the army in the 1870s and 1880s meant that militia units were attached to the local county regiments as their third or fourth battalions. In Lincolnshire, the Royal North Lincoln Militia became the 3rd Battalion and the Royal South Lincoln Militia became the 4th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment. The militia finally petered out around 1907 being converted into the Territorial Force or Army.

Names returned & rank or occupation

Age

Infirmity likely to incapacitate from serving

Grounds of exemption claimed

John MAWBY, grocer

William CURTIS, grocer

William EMMIT, grocer

-

Thomas GLENN, groom

-

Matthew ELLISS*, druggist

Henry B BOUSFIELD, accomptant ¹

William BEDFORD, tailor

Richard THOMPSON, cooper

William PARNAM, weaver

John DOVE, farmer

William REDMILE, cadger