New England Colonial Militia and its English Heritage

The threefold purpose of this thesis is to examine the evolution of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay militias in relationship to the English militia; to trace their establishment in colonial law; and to describe how a changing New World environment altered the colonial militias during the period 1620-1675. Research indicates that the New England colonial militias did bear an outward resemblance to the English militia. Both institutions were established on the principle, enforced by law, that every adult male had an inherent obligation to protect and defend his country and its government. Included in that obligation was the requirement to maintain and bear arms at one's own expense. However, while there were similarities between the two militia systems, the resemblance was more apparent than real. While the English militia rapidly declined in importance during the seventeenth century, the New England militias remained the cornerstone of the colonial military establishments until the American Revolutionary War. Another important difference between the two institutions pertained to control of the militia. In England the Crown controlled the militia through its royal prerogative. In New England control of the militias rested in the legislative bodies. In these and other essential characteristics, the New England colonial militias evolved differently from their English counterpart.