Militia_6Panel_proof The Militia in Col. Chisholm of the Northumberland Militia to L. Governor Gore To His Excellency Francis Gore Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Upper Canada. May it please your Excellency, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's orders of the 26th, the 29th. November last, I this day assembled the Militia of Northumberland from which I have formed the following Detachment, very readily without a Ballot, that is to say, Two Captains, two Lieutenants, two ensigns, three Sergeants, and Seventy Five Rank and file: The Officers are Captain Elias Jones and John Spencer, Lieutenant Joel Parker, and Zacheus Burnham, Ensigns Roger Woolcut and William H. Walbridge. The Militia of Northumberland have never received any Arms from Government, and are destitute of any that are worth mentioning, I hope your Excellency will be pleased to give directions where I may obtain the necessary Arms, and Accoutrements for the Detachment who are to remain in readiness at an Hours Notice. I beg leave to make a tender of my own Actual Service when your Excellency may think proper, and my Country requires it. I have the honour to be your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant, Alexander Chisholm Of the County of Northumberland Cramahe 5th December 1807. To his Excellency, Francis Gore Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, York Material prepared by Ben Burd. Design provided by Steve Smiley, RGD, Quench Design & Communications, Port Hope. Northumberland 1793-1868 1807 - 1st Northumberland Regiment Formed Militia Act - �rst business of the second session of the �rst parliament of Upper Canada, all men over the age of 16 and under 50 must serve for three years and provide their own arms and uniforms - 4,213 men are enrolled. 1794 - Parliament amends the Act; all men over the age of 16 and under 60 must serve. 1807 - 4,000 arms are issued to the Militia and the men are told to "Stand Ready" 652 O�cers and 7,947 other ranks. 1808 - New Militia Act Each District of Upper Canada was to raise its own Regiment and be prepared to defend the Country. 1812 - population of Upper Canada is less than 84,000 1,500 enrolled in Militia 1812 - Parliament amends the Act. "Flank Companies" are established - one in each Regiment - to �ght alongside the Regular British Army. 1812 - The �rst year of the War sees the rolls expand to over 13,000, of which, as one Commander observes, "Less than a third are quali�ed to bear arms." Militia Acts of Parliament Upper Canada in 1800