On the 6th of March 1829, the Saint-Barthelemy’s government publishes new rules for the local militias as given by Royal decree and, on the 8th of April, new set of regulations. This list is not just a list of rules for the militia, it let us understand a bit better how the people were living or thinking, their sens of justice and community during the 1800’s in Saint-Barth.

1 The militia is divided in four companies, 2 companies for the town, and 2 for the countryside. Militia is made of free inhabitants born or naturalized in the colony that have given the oath of fidelity to the King of Sweden. The place Major is the commander in chief.

2 Officers of each company are elected by the troop and it has to be ratified by the government. The Aide de Camp are engaged by the place Major and are confirmed by the government. The Major is nominated by the King alone.

3 The Major of the militia has to provide a roll of the militia at the end of each year

4 The uniform of the militia is blue with yellow ornaments and the Swedish cockade, blue and yellow at the hat are to be provided by every militia man at his own expense. Muskets and swords for the troop is at the charge of the government

5 Officers alos must provide themselves the uniform with additional buttons holding the crowned initial letters of the name of the King and epaulets assorted, same as the militia in Sweden

6 Officers of the militia may, on some conditions, get a a commission and get the same rank in the King’s army.

7 By means of applying said measures, the king has deigned to be confering unto Mr Peter PETERSEN the letter of commission as Major, and to Messieurs TREFFENBERG, Thomas DINZEY and John Louis L’ORANGE the commission patent as Captains in the militia.

Saint-Barthelemy, 6th march 1829, in behalf of government,

James H.HAASUM,   L.G. MORSING,    J.LEURÉN,    G.RÖHL,    P.BERTIN,   W.H.COCK,   Geo. EKHOLTZ

FRANOM_FSB_282_ALVIN page 365 proclamation milices 1829 english PAGE 1

The regulations of 8th of April 1829 will bring some precisions and some changes compared to the previously known rules of 1809.

Unless exempted, all males from eighteen years old until 45 years old must be enrolled in the militia with the risk of a 5 Dollars fine for every month of absence.

One can be replaced for a specific duty by someone else if agreed upon by the company’s Captain.

Exercise, order and regulation in the militia shall, in every respect be conformable to the practice rules and regulations in place in his majesty’s regular troops

30 days after having been enrolled everyone, when summoned, shall appear fully equiped in the manner prescribed by his Majesty’s decree under penalty of 5 Dollars

Any person failing at the calling of the roll, when summoned to parade, review, guard or other duty shall be liable to a fine, privates of two current Dollars and officers and under officers as per #14 unless of sickness or legal matter.

When summoned, one must appear clean with uniform and arms in good order. It is not allowed to talk or laugh or jest in the ranks under penalty of a one Dollar fine.

Quitting a guard or a parade without regular permission may be fined from three to five Dollars depending on the circumstances … beside being put under arrest until a report is made.

Abuses, insults and ill-treatments will be punished

Misusing, destroying, selling or making away with any kind of arms and accoutrements, the double of their value will be charged to the offender

In every instance of neglect or insubordination on the part of officers or under-officers, the former will be subject to double the penalty incurred by privates in any of the preceeding and the later in one half more than the privates

In case of any iminent danger, and that it is needed to assemble the militia, a general alarm will be fired from the battery Gustaf III : Four heavy guns discharged, two and two in rapid succession, the drum, at the same time beating the alarm. On such occasions, every militiaman is to report to the post of his company in uniform with his arms and accoutrements to await orders.

Militamen have 40 minutes after the alarm has been fired (in the country, the alarm is repeated by three musket shots). In case of being in default, officers will be fined up to 40 Dollars and obliged to serve as privates in the rank, under officers will be fined up to 30 Dollars and be degraded, privates will be fined up to 20 dollars.

In case of emergency or partial alarm (in case of fire in town) the heavy guns will shoot two in rapid succession and a third one after a short pause with the drum beating the alarm at the same time. Those in duty will be fined if they are not showing up in the manner and time specified.

Any person quittin his company without due permission or regularly discharged will be liable to the penalties.

Those that have been fined three successive times for the same offense will have to pay twice the amount of the fine,

Fines may be commuted to imprisonment and imprisonment to fines according to circumstances, at the rate of two and half current Dollars for every twenty four hours of confinement.

All defaulters sentenced to confinment shall be conducted by a guard of the company to which they belong, to the arrest room in the battery Gustaf III. A personn so confined will not be permitted to have company but will be allowed to communicate for a short moment with any of his friends who may desire to see him.

FRANOM_FSB_282_ALVIN page 376 additional proclmation milice 1829 english PAGE 1

Catégories :milice, Milices, militia, Uncategorized