Description

[004475] [Militia Substitute] Substitute Certificate for the Royal Surrey Militia (First Regiment). London: Hartnell [Printer], 1821. First Edition. 32mo (Oblong). Unbound. Ephemera. Good. Part printed part manuscript certificate, approximately 195mm x 125mm in size

Lightly browned, lightly creased from old folds, one spot of foxing, otherwise fairly clean

Certificate issued by the Royal Surrey Militia (First Regiment), declaring that Richard Wright of Lambeth, who had “been ballotted to serve in the said militia” had found and provided a John Lewin as his substitute

The 1757 Militia Act meant that men were selected by ballot to serve for three years in a local militia, which was an attempt to create a national military reserve. If you were selected, but did not want to serve, you could pay someone else to do the service for you