1770 N.C. Sess. Laws 787-88
| dc.coverage.spatial | North Carolina | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-10-24T17:17:00Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-11-12T15:34:33Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-03-17T03:42:19Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1770 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Eliminated a conscientious objector exemption and ordered "all Male Persons of the people called Quakers, between the age of Sixteen and Sixty" to enlist in the militia. Additionally, the act provided that "the Father or where there is no Father living, the Mother of each and every Person under the age of Twenty One Years, shall be liable to the Payment of the Fines becoming due from their respective sons so under age." | |
| dc.description.lawtext | I. Whereas there are in divers parts of this Province several of the People called Quakers, who demean themselves in a quiet and Peaceable Manner, and from a religious Principle, are conscientiously scrupulous of bearing Arms, or appearing or answering to their Names in Muster Fields, and therefore subject to many Fines and Distresses to be made upon their Goods, to their great Hurt and Prejudice: For the Relief of such, II. Be it Enacted by the Governor, Council, and Assembly, and by the Authority of the same, That from and after the passing of this Act, the People called Quakers shall not be obliged to appear and muster at any general or Private Muster within this Province, nor be liable to any Fines or Penalties for not appearing and mustering; any Law, Usage, or Custom to the contrary, notwithstanding. III. Provided nevertheless, and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Colonel or Chief Commanding Officer of the Militia in every County shall list all Male Persons of the people called Quakers, between the age of Sixteen and Sixty, within his County, under the Command of such Captain as the Governor, or Commander in Chief for the Time Being, shall think fit: And if upon any Invasion or Insurrection, the Militia of the Counties to which such Quakers belong shall be drawn out into actual service, and any Quakers so enlisted shall refuse to serve, or provide an able and sufficient Substitute in his Room, if thereto required by the Colonel, or Chief Officer of the Militia of his County; in such Case, every Quaker so refusing to serve, or provide a Substitute as aforesaid, shall forfeit and pay Ten Pounds; to be recovered before any Justice of the Peace of the County, upon Complaint of the Colonel or Chief Officer; and to be levied by Distress and Sale of the Estate of the Quaker so refusing; which Sum shall be applied, by the said Colonel or Chief Officer, towards providing a Substitute in the Room of such Quaker, upon whom the same shall be levied as aforesaid. IV. Provided always, That the Number of Quakers required by the Colonel or Chief Officer of any County to serve, or find Substitutes as aforesaid, shall not exceed the Proportion the whole Number of Quakers bear to the whole Number of Militia upon the Muster Rolls of the said County. V. Provided also, and be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That no man under the Denomination of a Quaker shall be exempted from Musters and bearing Arms, or from paying such Fines and Forfeitures as by Law inflicted, in Case of Refusal or Neglect, without producing, if required by the Colonel or Chief Officer of the Militia, a Testimonial or Certificate from the Monthly Meeting, that he is considered and excepted a Member of that Society. | |
| dc.description.summary | This law exempts Quakers from mandatory militia musters and from bearing arms due to their religious beliefs, protecting them from fines for non-attendance. However, during an invasion or insurrection, Quakers are still listed on militia rolls and must either serve or provide an able substitute; if they refuse, a £10 fine is levied by property distress to hire a substitute on their behalf. To claim exemption from bearing arms, individuals must present an official certificate of membership from their Quaker Monthly Meeting. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.firearmsresearchcenter.org/id/frc0001/4852 | |
| dc.relation.isreferencedby | http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr23-0051 | |
| dc.subject | MILITIAS | |
| dc.title | 1770 N.C. Sess. Laws 787-88 |