Napoleonic Militia

During the Napoleonic wars (1799-1815) each parish had to supply men for the Militia. The system was that all the eligible men in the parish had their names put in a barrel and the required number were drawn out.

The person whose name was drawn had to appear at the appointed date and time or supply a substitute. There were many 'insurance schemes', where a group would pay a sum of money to a willing volunteer who would serve as the 'substitute' if one of the names was drawn out. As you can see, the actual number required for each parish was quite low.

There are some records relating to the men who served, but with few confirming details. Most just give a name. A few parishes do have the original list that went into the ballot, but to be honest it is difficult to derive any genealogical data. Most of the eligible men were the young unmarried ones and when only the name is given it is difficult to place the family.

Wigtownshire men were mostly under the command of the Earl of Stair.