1886 N.Y. Laws 94
Abstract
Established "a night watch in the counties of Ulster, Tryon,Charlotte, Dutchess, and Albany." Service on the watch was required of "every able bodied male inhabitant, Indians and slaves excepted…from sixteen years of age till sixty."
Summary
Every able-bodied male residing in the state aged sixteen to fifty (excluding Native Americans, slaves, and specified exempt groups) must immediately present himself for militia enrollment to his local beat commander, who will otherwise enroll and notify him. Company commanders are tasked with continually enrolling new residents and young men as they reach age sixteen, with any disputes regarding age or physical fitness ultimately settled on appeal by the regimental colonel. Within twenty days of notification, enrolled individuals must personally equip themselves with a musket or firelock, bayonet, belt, sixteen rounds of ammunition (or an equivalent powder horn and shot bag), flints, a blanket, and a knapsack to bring when called to duty. For those judged too poor to afford their own equipment, arms and accoutrements will be supplied using collected regimental fines or drawn directly from state magazines.
Law Text
That every able bodied male person Indians and slaves excepted residing within this State from sixteen years of age to fifty (except such persons as are herein after excepted) shall immediately after the passing of this act tender himself to be enrolled as of the militia to the captain or in his absence the next commanding officer of the beat wherein he shall reside who shall inrol him accordingly and in case of delay, or neglect to make such tender as aforesaid the said captain or commanding officer shall cause such person to be en-rolled and to be duly warned thereof. In order that the militia may receive augmentation from the annual increase of the number of the inhabitants of this State that every captain or other commanding officer of a company shall from time to time enter on the said roll every male person able bodied and free (except as herein before and after excepted) who shall from time to time arrive at the age of sixteen years or come to reside or sojourn within his beat and without delay notify such inrollment to each person so inrolled respectively, by sonic inferior officer of the company who on oath shall be a competent witness to prove such notice. That if any dispute should arise how to be with respect to the age or ability to bear arms of any person it shall be determined by the captain or commanding officer of the company, with right of appeal to any person who may conceive himself aggrieved, to the colonel or commanding officer of the regiment whose determination in the case shall be final. That every person so inrolled and notified shall within twenty days thereafter respectively furnish and provide himself at his own expence with a good musket or firelock fit for service a sufficient bayonet with a good belt, a pouch or cartouch box containing not less than sixteen cartridges suited to the bore of the musket or firelock each cartridge containing a proper quantity of powder and ball or in lieu of such pouch or cartouch box and cartriges with a quantity of powder and ball respectivel, disposed of in a powder horn and shot bag and wadding equivalent to such cartriges, and two spare flints a blanket and a knapsack and shall appear, so armed accoutred and provided when called out to exercise or duty as herein after directed except that when called out to exercise only he may appear without blanket or knapsack. And if any such person shall appear to the captain or commanding officer to be too poor to arm accoutre and provide himself in manner aforesaid he shall be supplied for the purpose out of the monies to arise from the lines from time to time to accrue in the regiment to which he shall belong; and in case of deficiency thereof out of the public magazines of stores of this State by order of the person administering the government of this State for the time being.
Description
Categories
MILITIAS