Royal Westminster Militia 1797 - 1812

[sedgarwilliams]

My G3Grandfather Thomas WILLIAMS was born in St George's Hanover Square in 1787. He volunteered and enrolled on 25 October 1797 and was appointed drummer on 25 October 1799 - these dates I have from hand-written notes from a search over 30 years ago at Kew but I couldn't find the records again at a recent visit. The next I have is him joining the 9th company, 1st battalion of 20th Foot at Newry on 7th May 1812; presumably he was already there with the Royal Westminster as his first muster roll record with 20th Foot states that he was indeed a volunteer from that militia. I can trace his life thereafter but this period from 1797 to 1812 is a mystery. Can anybody throw any light on this please.

[km1971]

The musters for the 3rd Middlesex or Royal Westminster Militia are in WO13 in Kew. Not available online. They appear to cover one year each, so should give you where he was each month.

They were Regular Militia so almost certainly served away from their home county. You should also check the Middlesex Record Office as someone may have written a history, which will save you a lot of work at Kew.

His first muster with the 20th Foot should have told you how much bounty he received for transferring to the Regular Army. This to allow him to be sent overseas.

Ken

[sedgarwilliams]

Thanks for that Ken; I'll have to make an expedition to Kew again sometime. The musters do not mention a bounty at all - here's the first for information.

[km1971]

There is usually a section towards the back that summarises every soldier joining and every soldier leaving. Did you see that?

WO 13/1469   3rd (Westminster) Middlesex   1780 - 1797
WO 13/1470   3rd (Westminster) Middlesex   1798
WO 13/1471   3rd (Westminster) Middlesex   1799
WO 13/1472   3rd (Westminster) Middlesex   1800
WO 13/1473   3rd (Westminster) Middlesex   1801
WO 13/1474   3rd (Westminster) Middlesex   1802
WO 13/1475   3rd (Westminster) Middlesex   1803
WO 13/1476   3rd (Westminster) Middlesex   1804
WO 13/1477   3rd (Westminster) Middlesex   1805
WO 13/1478   3rd (Westminster) Middlesex   1806
WO 13/1479   3rd (Westminster) Middlesex   1807
WO 13/1480   3rd (Westminster) Middlesex   1808
WO 13/1481   3rd (Westminster) Middlesex   1809
WO 13/1482   3rd (Westminster) Middlesex   1810
WO 13/1483   3rd (Westminster) Middlesex   1811
WO 13/1484   3rd (Westminster) Middlesex   1812

The first one probably covers a six month period rather than monthly musters. So less information.

Ken

[sedgarwilliams]

No, I didn't see that. Next time I go I'll get to look at that one again. Thanks - it looks promising ...