Yup, 1797. There was an enumeration carried out in Perth in 1802 for all men eligible to serve - the following is from a dissertation I did last year for a university course:
At a time when radical publications such as Thomas Paine’s “Rights of Man” were seeding disquiet amongst the lower classes yearning political reform, the Militia Act of 1797 had been passed by the Government in order to raise some 6000 men into local defence militias and fencible units. These would be ready to keep any likely outbreaks of revolt in check by the various secret societies in operation at the time, such as the United Scotsman, which had been formed in Perth and heavily supported by the town’s weavers and shoemakers.
The act, when introduced, was deeply unpopular in Perth, as noted by George Penny in his 1832 publication “Traditions of Perth”:
“The Militia Act was the cause of much disturbance in the country, when it came into operation. The parish schoolmasters were attacked in various quarters; attempts were made to burn the session books, some of which were destroyed. Two troops of the Ayrshire Cavalry were lying here at the time; and every day expresses arrived from different quarters for troops to keep down riots and quell disorders. The Gentleman Volunteers were ordered to wear their side arms when they went out, and a captain’s guard was mounted every day in the Council Room”.”
Five years after the passing of the Act, a census was carried out in Perth to ascertain which of the town’s male population were eligible to join the militias, as hostilities with France intensified. A printed form was duly sent by schoolmaster Peter McCraw, constable, to every householder in the town, ordering the following:
TAKE Notice that you are hereby required within Fourteen Days from the Date hereof, to prepare or produce a Lift in Writing, to the best of your Belief, of the Christian and Surname of each and every Man resident in your Dwelling House, from and after the age of Eighteen Years complete, and not exceeding the Age of Forty-five years complete, distinguishing every Person in your Dwelling House of such age as aforesaid, claiming to be exempt from serving in the Militia, together with the Ground of every such Claim delivered to my house at South Street Perth.
The form required the occupiers to name all those in the house liable to serve in the Militia between the ages of 18 and 45, to list how many dependant children they had, whether they owned property to the value of at least £50, or whether they had any other reason for exemption from service. Failure to fill out the document would result in a penalty payment of ten pounds sterling, and anybody wishing to appeal for exemption with regard to service in the militia would have to do so November 4th 1802.
Chris
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Topic: Militia (Scotland) Act 1803 (Read 2110 times)