Virginia Militia - 17th Century

17th Century

In 1623, the year following the outbreak of the first major Anglo-Powhatan War in Virginia, the Virginia General Assembly commanded, "that men go not to work in the ground without their arms; That no man go or send abroad without a sufficient partie well armed." In 1661 Governor William Berkeley stated, "All our freemen are bound to be trained every month in their particular counties." The British county lieutenant system was employed as the population grew and every county had a lieutenant appointed who became the chief militia officer of the county. The militia system was originally used to defend against Native American tribes of the Tidewater area of Virginia. As the slave population grew in Virginia the militia played a role in keeping slaves from running away or from revolting through the use of militia patrollers. This Virginia militia system was put to the test in 1676 during Bacon's Rebellion. The Crown's militia was victorious over Nathaniel Bacon who tried to seize power. The English Bill of Rights of 1689 guaranteed Virginians as loyal British subjects the following:

• That the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with consent of Parliament, is against law;
• That the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defence suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law;