Hi Catt It was the fear of war or invasion by the French due to revolution in France and unrest in Europe Various measures were taken to try and make sure that preparations were in place for defence and to establish what was available in the way of men, arms, transport etc Amongst other things there was a militia Act in Scotland in 1797 Various listings were made to establish what people had to help defend or help the military Over the next few years there were lists drawn up of who had arms or weapons of any sort, what transport was available, horses, animals, feed and crops Some survive some don't, some name names, others are just a count, I can't see anything listed in Colin Chapmans pre - 1841 censuses & population listings for Lanarkshire or Renfrewshire So the pledging to supply horses or transport was just that, a pledge should it be needed From the same newspaper, and gives a little more of the flavour of the events reported and the state of flux around the UK Caledonian Mercury February 25, 1797 The terror with which the Irish were filled by the late visit of the Sans Culottes, seems by no means as yet to be subsided - they are making very great exertions, however, to give them a warm reception should they again make their appearance - they have at present for their defence 30,000 effective Yeomanry, besides their Militia, who are in general the finest troops in the three kingdoms, and some regiments of fencibles - also a considerable body of artillery. To every militia regiment are attached two six pounders, which some of their own men have of late been taught to work. We hear that of eighty thousand colliers and keelmen in the vicinity of Newcastle, no less than sixty thousand have offered their services in case of invasion. A letter was received in town yesterday, from the Cape of Good Hope, dated the 30th November, which mentions, that we have taken four French frigates, and a rich storeship. ================ How much of the above was bluster or propaganda to try and demoralise the French I can't say NB Sans Culottes = name used for the French left wing revolutionaries, mostly working class, the common man , you would presume from the above that some French raided some port or other in Ireland Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 12/09/2013 17:33, Catt wrote: > Now what would the farmers in Lesmahagow use to farm their land? People pulling > plows or ? > I guess they would have to cut down more trees to make new carts and wagons and > make new wheels? > Which War was in 1797?