Cat and Mouse: Recruiting Militia Men
The Militia Act of 1797 provides clear and specific directions on the balloting procedure: After gathering from the lists of 'lyable men' provided by the schoolmasters, and having been notified as to the number of men from each parish to be balloted, the committee should proceed in the following manner:
... the Names of all the Militia Men in each Parish, written or printed on distinct Pieces of Paper, being all as near as may be of equal Size, and rolled up in the same Manner, shall be put into a Box or other Vessel, and shall there be shaken together, and then a Number of Names equal to the Number apportioned by the Order in Council aforesaid, shall be drawn out and opened by the Person presiding at the meeting.... (Section XVIII)
However, it is never as easy as planned. Take the following process, intended to fill ONE of a total of six slots for the Parish of South Knapdale:
John McFarlane, Shengarth Upper, Shepherd
1797, September 20: lyable to be balloted
1798 - 12- 01: He is already in the Kintyre Regiment, and so he is exempt.
HE IS REPLACED BY JOHN MCFARLANE, GLENRALLOCHJohn McFarlane, Glenralloch, fisher
1797, September 20: lyable to be balloted
1798, May 15: On second ballot
1798 - 12 - 10:
Balloted as a substitute for John McFarlane, Shengarth, Shepherd
He must be notified of this event.
1799, February 6:
Did not appear at meeting, has not paid penalty, therefore: DESERTER
HE IS REPLACED BY ALEXANDER MCMILLAN, BALLIMOREAlexander McMillan, Weaver, Ballimore Knap
1797, September 20: lyable to be balloted
1799 - 05 - 14: Balloted to replace John McFarlane, Glenralloch
1799 - 06 - 12: Notify Alexander McMillan
1799 - 06 - 22 Didn't come to meeting: DESERTER
(No mention made of Alex McMillan through this half-year)
1800 - 01 - 09 Substituted by Hugh Bell, Muckroy
1800 - 01 - 10 Replaced by Hugh Bell, Muckroy
HE IS REPLACED BY HUGH BELL, MUCKROY
1803 -01 - 01: Lyable to be balloted.
Between 1804 and 1827, he and his wife, Margaret, have several children, while resident in Ballimore Knap.Hugh Bell, Muckroy, Shepherd
1797, September 20: lyable to be balloted
1800 - 01 - 09: Substituted for Alexander McMillan, a deserter
1800 - 01 - 10: Substitute to replace Alexander McMillan
1800 - 01 -22 Fails to come to Meeting: DESERTER
HE IS REPLACED BY DUNCAN MCMILLAN, WEAVER, SHENGARTHDuncan McMillan, Weaver, Shengarth
1799 - 01 - 01: Lyable to be balloted;
1800 - 06 - 05: Substitute for Hugh Bell
1800 - 06 - 20: Already Volunteer since October 19, 1799
on word of Captain Hector McNiel of Argyleshire Volunteers, since 19 Oct 1799
HE IS REPLACED BY MALCOLM MCFARLANE, DRIMRIAUCHMalcolm McFarlane, Drimriauch
1797, September 20: lyable to be balloted; noted: serving in the Low Country
1800 - 07 - 23: to substitute for Duncan McMillan
1800 - 08 - 07: Certificate from Parish Elders, has been gone for 6 years in Low Country Militia
HE IS REPLACED BY JOHN MCCORQUADALE, ARDRISHAIGJohn McCorquadale, Ardrishaig, Labourer
1797, September 20: lyable to be balloted
1800 - 08 - 14: to substitute for Malcolm McFarlane, Drimriauch
1800 - 08 - 27: Certificate from Surgeon, Unfit to serve.
1801 - 09 - 05: On List as "a sore leg" HE IS REPLACED BY DUNCAN MACDONALD IN ATTICHUANDuncan MacDonald. Attichuan
1799 -01 - 01: Lyable to be balloted
1800 - 08 - 28: Balloted, must notify him
1800 - 09 - 05: certificate from Col Campbell of the Militia,
Duncan MacDonald had produced ALLAN GRANT, as his substitute 1803 - 01 - 01: Lyable to be balloted!Allan Grant: there is not other "Grant" on my lists for that time period;
I would guess he is not native to Knapdale.
