Description

[004482] [Militia Substitute] Substitute Certificate for the Norfolk Militia. No Place: No Publisher, 1808. First Edition. 4to. Unbound. Ephemera. Good. Part printed part manuscript broadside, approximately 205mm x 270mm in size

Lightly browned, creased from old folds, but generally fairly bright

A substitute certificate, dated 14th January 1808, for William Packer of Snettisham, who had been chosen by ballot to serve in the Norfolk militia, but had provided a substitute in the form of ?Barbor Goddard to serve in his stead

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