Yardley Militia lists 1816 and 1831, analysis

These figures were compiled by the Discovering Yardley project in the 1960s.

 

Lists of men in Yardley liable for service in the militia, 1816 and 1831

Two lists showing men in Yardley parish liable to serve in the local Militia in 1816 and 1831 are available for study.

 

The 1816 list gives details by parish Quarters and refers to men aged 18 to 45. The 1831 list is in alphabetical order for the parish as a whole and gives particulars of men between 18 and 47.

 

In 1816, 250 men in 26 classes of occupation were liable, and in 1831 there were 372 in 60 classes of occupation. Exemption from the draw was claimed by 78 (31.2%) and 150 (40.32%) respectively.

 

Of those exempt, 43 (55.12%) and 101 (67.33%) were said to be ‘poor’; but with the Act of 1802-3 (43 Geo: C47) "for relieving families of militia men" authority undoubtedly had an eye on the possible cost of taking low-wage workers.

 

Physical unfitness accounted for 3 (1.28%) in 1816, and 16 (10.6%) in 1831. Substitutes were obtained by or for 14 (17.94%) in the former year and by 5 men (3.3%) in the latter.

 

It is of interest to note that in 1831 two men were exempt because they were too short – 5 feet 4 inches apparently being the minimum height.

 

From both lists it is evident that farming was the main occupation, being spread fairly evenly over the whole parish. It is true that the 16% so occupied in 1816 is halved by 1831 (8.33%). However we have to set against this the number described as labourers, from 21.6% in 1816 to 30.1% in 1831. Not all these men were farm labourers perhaps (some may have worked on the roads or in building) but most of them probably still were.

 

The number of men who gained a living by service is surprising – 53 (21.2%) in 1816, and 59 (15.86%) in 1831.

 

In 1816 the list includes 3 cordwainers, 1 shoemaker and 4 tanners; tilemaking is the occupation of 13 (5.2%) of the men listed. By 1831 the shoemakers had increased to 9 and there were now 4 cordwainers. Tilemakers had also increased, to 15, while brickmaking (7) and bricklaying (3) suggest mounting building activity. The number of maltsters is worth noting: 6 (2.4%) in 1816, 15 (4%) in 1831.

 

Finally attention may be drawn to the high numbers engaged in the metal trades. The first list gives 12 grinders, 2 gunmakers, 4 nailers and 11 whitesmiths. Collectively these account for 11.6% of the manpower. In 1831 there are 3 brass founders, 1 firearm maker, 1 goldsmith, 7 grinders, 1 nail factor, 1 locksmith, 14 whitesmiths, 4 wire drawers and 1 wire roller. The overall percentage is now just under 9%.

 

List of persons in the parish of Yardley in the county of Worcester between the ages of 18 and 45 years liable to serve in the local Militia. 1816 8th Dec.

 

Distribution of occupation by Quarters

 

Occupation

Church End

Greet

Broomhall

Swanshurst

Parish total

Perc.

Bailiff

0

1

0

0

1

0.4%

Blacksmith

3

2

3

0

8

3.2%

Carpenter

2

0

1

0

3

1.2%

Carter

0

6

3

0

9

3.6%

Cowman

0

1

0

0

1

0.4%

Cordwainer

0

0

1

3

4

1.6%

Farmer

11

8

10

11

40

16.0%

Gardener

1

0

0

0

1

0.4%

Gentleman

1

1

1

1

4

1.6%

Grinder

3

4

0

5

12

4.8%

Gunmaker

0

0

1

1

2

0.8%

Hostler

0

0

1

0

1

0.4%

Labourer

24

8

8

14

54

21.6%

Maltster

4

2

0

0

6

2.4%

Miller

0

0

0

2

2

0.8%

Nailer

1

0

2

1

4

1.6%

Schoolmaster

0

0

1

1

2

0.8%

Servant

23

4

10

16

53

21.1%

Shoemaker

1

0

0

0

1

0.4%

Sougher (drain maker)

0

1

0

0

1

0.4%

Tanner

0

4

0

0

4

1.6%

Tailor

0

2

1

0

3

1.2%

Tilemaker

10

3

0

0

13

5.2%

Victualler

0

1

2

0

3

1.2%

Wheelwright

3

0

3

0

6

2.4%

Whitesmith

0

1

1

9

11

4.4%

Woodturner

0

0

0

1

1

0.4%

26 trades etc 1 gent

87

49

49

65

250

100.0%

             

Of 250 persons (males) in the age groups 18 to 45 years 78 of them (31.2%) were exempt on the following grounds and in the numbers shown

Poor

15

10

3

15

43

55.12%

Served in local Militia

8

4

2

0

14

17.94%

Serving by substitute

5

3

1

2

11

14.1%

Lame leg

1

0

0

0

1

1.28%

Apprentice

0

1

1

1

3

3.84%

Served in Yeomanry

0

1

0

3

4

5.13%

Lame arm

0

0

1

0

1

1.28%

Lame

0

0

1

0

1

1.28%

Total

29

19

9

21

78

99.98%

 


 

List of persons in the parish of Yardley liable to serve in the militia, 1831

 

Note: the particulars are not given by Quarters of the parish

 

Occupation

 

Number

 

Percentage

 

Articled Clerk

 

2

 

0.54%

 

Blacksmith

 

10

 

0.27%

 

Boatman

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Brass founder

 

3

 

0.81%

 

Bricklayer

 

3

 

0.81%

 

Brickmaker

 

7

 

1.88%

 

Butcher

 

4

 

1.08%

 

Cabinetmaker

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Carpenter

 

3

 

0.81%

 

Carter

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Clergyman

 

3

 

0.81%

 

Clerk

 

2

 

0.54%

 

Commission agent

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Cordwainer

 

4

 

1.08%

 

Cork cutter

 

2

 

0.54%

 

Cowman

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Cutter

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Dancing master

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Excise Officer

 

2

 

0.54%

 

Farmer

 

31

 

8.03%

 

Fireiron maker

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Goldsmith

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Grinder

 

7

 

1.88%

 

Hay dealer

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Husbandman

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Labourer

 

112

 

30.11%

 

Leather seller

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Locksmith

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Maltster

 

15

 

4.03%

 

Merchant

 

2

 

0.54%

 

Miller

 

2

 

0.54%

 

Miller and farmer

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Milkman

 

2

 

0.54%

 

Nail factor

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Not stated

 

3

 

0.81%

 

Nurseryman

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Optician

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Pensioner

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Pearl button maker

 

2

 

0.54%

 

Polisher

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Relation of Mr Dyott

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Relation of Mr John Kennedy

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Rope maker

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Sawyer

 

4

 

1.08%

 

Schoolmaster

 

2

 

0.54%

 

Servant

 

59

 

15.09%

 

Shoemaker

 

9

 

2.04%

 

Solicitor

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Stonebreaker

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Tailor

 

3

 

0.81%

 

Tilemaker

 

15

 

4.03%

 

Timber dealer

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Trace maker

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Waggoner

 

2

 

0.54%

 

Wheelwright

 

5

 

1.34%

 

Whitesmith

 

14

 

3.08%

 

Wire drawer

 

4

 

1.08%

 

Wire roller

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Writing master

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Umbrella maker

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Usher

 

1

 

0.27%

 

Victualler

 

2

 

0.54%

 

Yeoman

 

2

 

0.54%

 

Total

 

372

 

 

 

 

Of 372 men between 18 years and 47 years 150 are recorded as exempt for the following reasons and in the numbers shown. 

 

Articled clerk

 

2

 

Apprentice

 

8

 

Bad eyes

 

1

 

Clergyman

 

3

 

Deaf

 

2

 

Discharge from Militia

 

1

 

Discharge knee and foot

 

1

 

Fits

 

1

 

Headboro

 

1

 

King’s Officer (excise)

 

2

 

Lame

 

8

 

Lame knee

 

1

 

Lost one eye

 

1

 

One arm

 

1

 

One hand

 

1

 

Pensioner

 

2

 

Poor

 

101 (67.33%)

 

Rupture

 

1

 

Serving in Militia

 

2

 

Serving in Yeomanry Staffs

 

1

 

Served by substitute

 

5

 

Set down in B’ham 2/2/31

 

1

 

Set down in Shrops

 

1

 

Too short 5ft 2½inches

 

1

 

Under 5ft 4 inches

 

1

 

25 reasons

 

150

 

   

Considered physically unfit 10.6%

 

 

Exempt by job 14%

 

 

By substitute 3.3%

 

 

The exempt men had 356 children between them, and other children shown = 150.

 

 

Ages by years in parish Quarters, December 1816 

 

Age

 

Church End

 

Greet

 

Broomhall

 

Swanshurst

 

Total

 

18

 

3

 

0

 

3

 

2

 

8

 

19

 

2

 

3

 

3

 

1

 

9

 

20

 

7

 

2

 

4

 

6

 

19

 

21

 

2

 

2

 

0

 

2

 

6

 

22

 

4

 

2

 

3

 

7

 

16

 

23

 

2

 

1

 

2

 

2

 

7

 

24

 

5

 

1

 

0

 

0

 

6

 

25

 

9

 

6

 

6

 

3

 

24

 

26

 

4

 

2

 

0

 

1

 

7

 

27

 

3

 

1

 

4

 

5

 

13

 

28

 

5

 

4

 

5

 

9

 

23

 

29

 

1

 

2

 

0

 

1

 

4

 

30

 

10

 

1

 

4

 

1

 

16

 

31

 

0

 

1

 

0

 

1

 

2

 

32

 

3

 

4

 

1

 

8

 

16

 

33

 

2

 

0

 

0

 

1

 

3

 

34

 

2

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

2

 

35

 

5

 

6

 

6

 

2

 

19

 

36

 

2

 

3

 

1

 

3

 

9

 

37

 

1

 

0

 

1

 

1

 

3

 

38

 

5

 

1

 

3

 

5

 

14

 

39

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

40

 

9

 

2

 

2

 

1

 

14

 

41

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

42

 

0

 

2

 

1

 

2

 

5

 

43

 

0

 

3

 

0

 

1

 

4

 

44

 

1

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

1

 

45

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

0

 

Totals

 

87

 

49

 

49

 

65

 

250

 

 

  

Ages by years, parish totals 1831

 

18

 

8

 

19

 

17

 

20

 

23

 

21

 

8

 

22

 

15

 

23

 

14

 

24

 

22

 

25

 

12

 

26

 

18

 

27

 

6

 

28

 

15

 

29

 

19

 

30

 

19

 

31

 

13

 

32

 

13

 

33

 

17

 

34

 

15

 

35

 

13

 

36

 

9

 

37

 

5

 

38

 

11

 

39

 

10

 

30

 

24

 

41

 

8

 

42

 

13

 

43

 

8

 

44

 

9

 

45

 

2

 

46

 

1

 

47

 

2

 

Not stated

 

2

 

Total

 

371

 

 

 

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