Name/Title
1803/Vaughan: Stockport militiasDescription
This document was amongst the antiquarian papers kept by Augustus Fossett Vaughan. There does not seem to be any direct connection to his genealogical researches other that an intriguing reference to Major Samuel Lees as living in Tiviot Dale, which is where Augustus had his solicitors' office.
This is a fascinating little glimpse into a particularly dramatic period of English history. The main invasion scare during the Napoleonic wars was between 1803–1805, when an invasion from across the Channel appeared to be imminent. This two-year period saw intense public and governmental preparations for an invasion, including the creation of local militias manned by volunteers, hence the Stockport Loyal Volunteers, the Stockport Volunteers. the Stockport Riflemen, and others listed in this document. The fear of invasion would die down after the battle of Trafalgar in October 1805, when Nelson and the Royal Navy crippled Napoleon's fleet.
It is not known whether this is an original document or a slightly later copy. There are some similarities with the handwriting of Augustus Fossett Vaughan but on balance it would not seem to be his handwriting and it has been too neatly and artistically done for his usual style of notes. If it is his work, it was early on in his life as a researcher before his handwriting got very scrawled and rushed.
Some of the wording does suggest that this was a list compiled after 1803. The occupations of the volunteers are all given, but some are marked "not known", and one of the Ensigns, Thomas with an unreadable surname, is marked as "probably was landlord of the Red Lion", suggesting a later date of compilation.
