Name Index

To

Notes on Totnes Trained Bands and Volunteers

Trans. Devon. Assoc. vol. 32 (1900), pp. 93-105.

by

T.W. Windeatt

Prepared by Michael Steer

The Trained Bands were local militia regiments organised on a county basis. The system was inaugurated during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I for the defence of the realm. It was controlled by the Lords-Lieutenant of counties who were expected to appoint professional soldiers to drill the militia and teach them to use the pike and musket. Membership of the Trained Bands was compulsory for freeholders, householders and their sons, i.e. men who had a stake in the country and were therefore expected to defend it from foreign invasion or local rebellion. In practice, servants and hired substitutes were often sent to attend the training sessions, which were held once a month during the summer. Google with the Archive Organization has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. The Internet Archive makes available, in its Community Texts Collection (originally known as Open Source Books), books that have been digitised by Google from a number of libraries. These are books on which copyright has expired, and are available free for educational and research use. This rare book was produced from a copy held by the New York Public Library, and is available from the Internet Archive.