1775 Mass. Acts 15
| dc.coverage.spatial | Massachusetts | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-10-24T01:55:25Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-11-12T13:54:23Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-03-17T02:21:41Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1775 | |
| dc.description.abstract | An Act For Forming And Regulating The Militia Within The Colony Of The Massachusetts Bay, In New England, And For Repealing All The Laws Heretofore Made For That Purpose, ch. 1, §§ 1,7,9: § 1. . . That that part of the militia of this Colony, commonly called the Training-Band, shall be constituted of all the able-bodied male persons therein, from sixteen years old to fifty [excepting Quakers and others]. . . § 7. . . That each and every officer, and private soldier of said militia, not under the controul of parents, master, or gaurdians, and being of sufficient ability therefor, in the judgement of the select-men if the town wherein he has his usual place of abode, shall equip himself, and be constantly provided with a good firearm. . . § 9 . . . That the clerk of each and every company of said militia, shall . . . take an exact list of his company, and of each man's equipment respectively. . | |
| dc.description.lawtext | § 1 [...] That that part of the militia of this Colony, commonly called the Training-Band, shall be constituted of all the able-bodied male persons therein, from sixteen years old to fifty, excepting members of the American Congress, Members of the Council, and of the House of Representatives for the Time Being, the Secretary of the Colony, all civil officers that have been, or shall be appointed by the General COurt, or either Branch of it, Officers and Students of Harvard-College, Ministers of the Gospel, Elders and Deacons of Churches, Church-Wardens, Grammar School-Masters, Masters of Arts, The Denomination of Christians called Quakers, Select-Men for the Time being, those who have by Commission under any Government or Congress, or by Election in Pursuance of the Vote of any Congress of the Continent, or of this or any other Colony, held the Post of Subaltern or higher Officer, Persons while actually employed as masters of Vessels of more than Thirty Tons other than fishing Vessels, and Vessells coasting in this colony, and to and from this colony to the other New-England Governments, Constables, and Deputy-Sheriffs, Negroes, Indians and Mulatoes, [...] § 7 [...] That each and every officer, and private soldier of said militia, not under the control of parents, master, or gaurdians, and being of sufficient ability therefor, in the judgement of the select-men if the town wherein he has his usual place of abode, shall equip himself, and be constantly provided with a good firearm [...] § 9 [...]That the clerk of each and every company of said militia, shall [...] take an exact list of his company, and of each man’s equipment respectively. | |
| dc.description.summary | This colonial statute dictates that the local militia's "Training-Band" must consist of all able-bodied male residents between the ages of sixteen and fifty. However, the law explicitly exempts a wide array of individuals from service, including government officials, church leaders, Harvard students and officers, schoolmasters, Quakers, certain mariners, and specific racial groups. For those required to serve who are independent of a parent or guardian, they must equip themselves and remain constantly provided with a functional firearm. Finally, to ensure compliance and accountability, the clerk of each militia company is required to maintain an exact roster of the men and their respective equipment. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.firearmsresearchcenter.org/id/frc0001/4170 | |
| dc.relation.isreferencedby | https://heinonline-org.libproxy.uwyo.edu/HOL/Page?handle=hein.ssl/ssma0202&id=1&size=2&collection=ssl&index=ssl/ssma | |
| dc.subject | ARMED FORCES | |
| dc.title | 1775 Mass. Acts 15 |