The militia was an armed force raised by the county for national
defence. During the Middle Ages all local men aged between 16 and
60 were liable to perform this military service. Their arms and
equipment were provided by landowners, and formal inspections of
the men were known as musters. In 1660 the militia forces were
placed under the command of the county's Lord Lieutenant, and in
1757 the organisation of the militia was updated. There are two
Gibson Guides, Tudor and Stuart Muster Rolls and Militia Lists and
Musters, which provide useful background information.
Militia muster rolls for 1522-1640 are held at the National
Archives in Kew. Photocopies of the muster rolls for 1595 and 1607
are available at Huntingdon Record Office (accession 2474/1-6).
There are some militia records within Northamptonshire's Quarter
Session Records which include information on the Peterborough
subdivision.
See also Army
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