Quite generally speaking, in virtually all colonial militia organizations, the county (and very rarely, a parish) was the political subdivision from which those who were to serve were drawn, and the Col. and often other high officers - Lt. Col., Majors, even sometimes Captains - were elected by the men who served, OR the Col. was elected and the lesser officers were appointed by him. The militia units typically were formed to fight any wars that came through the extended neighborhood, as opposed to the Continental Line units which, in theory at least, were "Regulars" and served the Continental govt. wherever those men were needed.
Then too - and similar in duties to local militiamen - often in the 17th- and early 18th-centuries (and even through the Civil War) men of local prominence took the title Col. and outfitted and paid the men they recruited for service, exactly as such men pf wealth and position had done since time immemorial. Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
.... I've been meaning to write in and ask about "colonial militia" or "county
militia" designations like mjr & col. for my old CLAYTONS, Mjr. Philip
[more likely 1712 than 1702-1786] and his son "Col." Samuel [abt
1739-1798] and what they got these titles for.
I have never found a scrap of what "Col" Sam of Culpeper might have done
in 1775 in the Revolution except wine and dine those first Va. minutemen
at the old Clayton farm. I think about all that was happening was the
march down to Williamsburg from there wearing those rattlesnake t-shirts
that scared everybody. James Slaughter, Sam's sister Susannah's husband
was Col. of that.
Gwathmey, who lists him as "Col. of Culpeper 1775 in his book, Hist. of
Virginians in the Rev, as well as the DAR does in their red books) - was
related down the road apiece and I can't help but wonder if it was just a
term of endearment. I sure would like to know what he actually DID, if
anything.
Anyway, while no Claytons applied for pensions, I've also not come across
him mentioned as a commanding officer in any of the remembrances of
applicants I've read either. So I guess if I'm not looking for something
"burnt", that leaves the county militia, no? or am I just totally
bewildered with all the military stuff.
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html
|
