In north-East England there were a number of regiments of militia,whose records must be sought in the Public Record Office (see Journal, Vol .3, No .2, pp 48-51, Military Records and Family History').  Those who were exempt from service in the Militia were formed into companies of Volunteers.  The Muster Rolls of the Northumberland Volunteers are now in Newcastle Central Library.

They were originally housed at Alnwick Castle - the Duke of Northumberland would have received the muster rolls in his capacity as Lord Lieutenant of the County - but were transferred to Newcastle Library some time ago, together with fourteen bulky volumes of letters and other MSS which, together with the seven volumes of Muster Rolls, form the collection known as the Lieutenancy Papers.  Each of the volumes is extremely bulky and some are in poor condition, in need of re-binding.  Although each volume has a contents list at the beginning, there is, as far as I know, no contents list for the public to consult, and the main aim of this article is to provide such a list.

2.  GENERAL CONTENTS

The companies of volunteer E were formed, with one notable exception, on a parish basis, with a number of parishes grouping together within an area.  For instance, the Glendale Volunteers were recruited mainly from the four parishes of Chillingham Doddington, Ilderton, and Wooler.  The officers would be recruited from the local Gentry, a uniform chosen, and the men armed as best as possible, although many could have had nothing more lethal than a pike or an antiquated match-lock.  Those who could provide a horse were formed into troops of cavalry, and the Duke himself provided two three-pounder guns the sole volunteer artillery for the county.

The companies paraded every Sunday and further three times a year, the commanding officers authorised a muster in which heads were counted, names listed, and new additions and leavers noted.

These lists, duly certified, were then sent to Alnwick Castle.  A number have been lost, but in general they are reasonably complete, and date mostly from 1803 to 1812, with two or three rolls for each year.

In addition, there are a few listings from the emergency 'levee' of 1798 and some of the cavalry rolls continue to the early 1820s.  Each bound volume contains a large number of these lists, with thousands of names.  Most lists give the name, rank, date of enrolment and parish of each man.  However, there are important variations within each volume, and these will be mentioned below.

3.  GENEALOGICAL VALUE OF THE MUSTER ROLLS

How useful is it to know a man's name and parish of residence?  At first I did not think the muster Rolls would be of much use, for they never mention any direct genealogical relationships.  However, the following points should be born in mind:

AGE: A man was eligible for service from his fifteenth birthday until he was 60.

Thus if a man is noted as having quitted, it could be because he reached 60 in that year.

Hence, a "quitter" in 1811 could indicate a baptism in 1751 or thereabouts.  He may, however, have quitted because of a change of abode.  Likewise, as I found in one or two cases that I tested in the Prudhoe Company, a new entry may lead to a baptism fifteen years earlier.

CHANGE OF ABODE: Volumes 1 and 2 could be particularly valuable, listing as they do, all the Percy Tenantry Volunteers.  Supposing a man enters the Prudhoe Company in 1806, this could indicate a move from another parish, perhaps far to the North, in which he was a tenant of His Grace.  A full list of the main 'Percy Tenantry' parishes is given below (Volume 1).  See also the introduction to Volume 5.

OCCUPATION: Some rolls mention this important detail, leading perhaps to Newcastle guild and apprenticeship records, or indicating an area search for a person whose occupation would force him and his family to live in a particular area.

DESCRIPTION : Only about two hundred men are described in full, but the fortunate searcher will learn not only his ancestor's age on a specific date, but will also gain some idea of what he looked like (see description of Volume 6, below).  Other uses may suggest themselves to readers; in general, I would say that the Muster Rolls are a useful secondary source of information for researchers interested in Northumberland and Newcastle families from 1797 to 1872.

4.  DETAILED CONTENTS LIST WITH TERMINAL DATES

4 .1 Volume 1

The Percy Tenant Volunteer Infantry and Cavalry 1798 Southern Division, 1799 Northern Division, then 1803-1809.  Roughly 1200 Infantry, 280 Cavalry.

The 1798 and 1799 rolls give only a man's name.  From 1803, each company is given with the name, parish, and date of enrolment of the men.  Parishes covered: Alnwick, Bamburgh, Chatton, Chollerton, Embleton, Felton, Kirkwhelpington, Lesbury, Longhoughton, Newburn, Ovingham, Rothbury, Shilbottle, Simonburn, Stamfordham, Tynemouth, Wallsend, and Warkworth.  There are a few men resident in other parishes.

Each infantry company and cavalry troop had its own name, e.g. the "1st and 2nd Barrisford Companies", which comprised some130 men from the three parishes of Simonburn, Stamfordham, and Kirkwhelpington.  Another example is the "Guyzance and Thirston Company", comprising men from Felton parish.

4.2 Volume 2

The Percy Tenantry Volunteer Infantry and Cavalry 1810 – 1814.  Information is similar to Volume 1.

The Percy Tenant Volunteer Horse Artillery 180*-181*, men all from Alnwick.  Each company was kept reasonably up to strength throughout the period.  It is an amazing fact that one landowner could raise nearly 1,500 able-bodied men; but there seems little doubt that they were poorly equipped, at least at first.  At the end of the September 1803 Roll is a complaining note from the Duke: "I do certify . . . that I have not inserted . . . the name of any Person who has not duly attended properly armed and equipped, (as far as was possible, Government not having issued the arms, although' applied for on the 1st of August last).”

4.3 Volume 3

Morpeth, Volunteer Infantry 1799-1801 contains about 120 names, no parish is mentioned and date of death is given.

The Seaton Delaval Volunteer Infantry 1800 roll contains about 90 names including a few additional lists of men who quitted or died.

North Shields and Tynemouth is about 160 names in alphabetical order.  Place of within the parish is given, plus occupation of men who quitted together with reason, e.g. John Frazer “In the Navy"; John Coats "Gone to America”.

Wallsend Volunteer Rifle Corps 1804 – 1812 About 160 names, parish and occupation, mentioned up to 1809.  Parish only from 1810

First South Shields Volunteer Infantry 1806-1812 only five or six names of Northumberland residents serving in this Durham regiment.  See Volume 5.

4 .4 Volume 4

Newcastle on Tyne Volunteer Infantry 1803-1812, 385 names, falling to 240 by 1812.  Rolls in alphabetical order, deaths mentioned                                       

Loyal Newcastle Armed Association, renamed Loyal Newcastle Associated Volunteer Infantry 1803 – 1812, about 1300 names, in alphabetical order, falling to 600 by 1812.  From 1807, the occupation of men discharged or quitted is mentioned, as many as fifty names in any one return, from butchers to sailcloth manufacturers, and anchor smiths to potters.  For older men who quitted, this may be the only record in existence that mentions their occupation, despite this being a very informative period in parish registers.  There are separate lists of effectives, non-effectives, new enrolments, and men discharged or quitted.

Northumberland and Newcastle-on-Tyne Volunteer Cavalry 1820-1823, about 250 names, with parish, date of enrolment, and by whom the mount was supplied.  In addition, there are about 100 names of dismounted men, with parish mentioned.  There must have been a shortage of horses!  This unit was formed by men from the Newcastle parishes and adjoining Northumberland parishes, namely: Earsdon, Gosforth, Long Benton, Ponteland, and Wallsend, with a few men from more outlying areas.

4.5 Volume 5

This volume is devoted entirely to listing men who were resident in Newcastle and Northumberland, but entitled to serve in County Durham regiments.  This seems to me to indicate men whose home parish lay south of the Tyne, and these rolls may therefore prove valuable in indicating a change of abode.

Gateshead Volunteer Infantry 1803-1812 About 550 names, with parish and date of enrolment. No quitters.

Usworth Legion Infantry and Cavalry 1805-1807 About 150 names in infantry and cavalry together.  The earliest roll, for April 1805, gives the exact place of residence, for instance: "John Bell, Head of The Side, St. John's Parish, Newcastle”.  Thereafter, only the parish of residence is given.

South Tyne Volunteer Infantry and Cavalry, contains about 225 names, mostly from Newcastle and adjoining parishes.

South Tyne Yeomanry Cavalry 1819-1825, renamed South Tyne Yeomanry Hussars in 1820.  There are about 110 names, mostly from Newcastle and adjoining parishes.

Derwent Legion Infantry Whickham 1806-1812, 3 names only.

Gibside Troop of Cavalry 1820-1821, 5 names only.

Ravensworth Yeomanry Cavalry 1820-1825 8 names only, except for the first roll, dated Dec. 1820.  This seems to be a "stray" from the Durham records, listing 93 names by parish, mainly Lamesley, Hyton, Tanfield, Washington, and Whickham.

Sunderland Volunteer Infantry 1801-812, two names only.

Durham_Volunteer_Infantry, 1807-1810, one name only.

4.6 Volume 6

Berwick-on-Tweed Provisional Cavalry 1797.  Lists about 600 names from all over Northumberland, by ward.  There are separate lists of exemptions, and descriptions of new enrolments.  Exemptions give reasons, for example: (from Bambrough Ward); Thomas Dickman, charged with one horse, exempt as a constable."  Even more interesting are the 189 descriptions, for instance, in Berwick-on-Tweed: "Thomas Spence of Berwick - flaxdresser - aged 17 - height 5'4" -short brown hair - fair complexion ."  The descriptions in some wards give even the colour of the man's eyes.

Loyal Berwick Volunteers (no start date)-1807  About 360 names, no mention of parish - presumably mostly Berwick and Tweedmouth.  There is also a list dated 1808 of men "late belonging to the Loyal Berwick Volunteers, enrolled to serve in the Militia of the County of Northumberland" - about 190 men, nearly all from Berwick and Tweedmouth.

Berwick Volunteer Artillery Co. 1807-1813.  About 80 names with parish, and lists of men discharged.

Glendale Volunteer Cavalry and Infantry 1801-1812, about 120 names mainly from: Chillingham, Doddington, Ilderton, and Wooler .

Royal Cheviot Legion (Wooler) An undated roll. About 670 names with occupation, place of residence, date of enrolment.  The majority are from the following parishes: Alnwick, Bambrough, Belford, Embleton, Felton,Kirknewton, Lowick, Warkworth, and Wooler.

Cheviot Yeomanry Cavalry (no date)-1808, about 100 names with detailed place of residence and occupation given, up to 1803.  For example: "George Renton, farmer, Shawdon Wood House, Shawdon, Whittingham."  From 1804, occupation and residence are not mentioned.  Many North Northumberland parishes are mentioned.

Coquetdale Rangers Cavalry Troop 1805-1812 Coquetdale Volunteer Yeomanry Cavalry 1819-1827 about 50 names, increasing to 180.  Parish and date of enrolment are given.

North Durham Yeomanry Cavalry 1807-1810  An extract, about 25 names from various Northumberland parishes.

4 .7 Volume 7 (This is in poor condition)

Wallington and Lirkharle Volunteer Cavalry 1801.  One list only, about 40 names mainly from Chollerton, Hartburn, and Kirkharle.

Bywell Volunteer Yeomanry Cavalry 1803, 1813, 1819-1827, 60 names with exact residence and parish, Bywell and area, particularly Ovingham.

Slaley and Bywell St.Andrews Volunteer Infantry 1803, one list, 140 names.  Parish only.

Corbridge Volunteer Infantry 1804-1808, 65 names.  The 1804 list gives occupation, thereafter name and parish only.

Hexham Volunteer Infantry 1803-1808, 115 names, with occupation and "constabulary" which seems to mean one particular street in Hexham.  The final, 1808 list also includes the Corbridge Volunteers.

DNAR Editors Comments

Often when tracing your ancestry before 1841 we need to rely upon Parish records, but this need not be the case.  As Mr Bunting’s detailed research shows Militia records can provide details that other records may not reveal about your ancestors.  For example colour of hair, eyes, height and complexion of the skin can not be found on a census record and the records may be more accurate than the census.

For further information contact Newcastle Local Studies at

http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/librarylocalstudies#contactus