Can anyone please give me information of the position of "County Lieutenant" in the Virginia Militia during the 1770s and 1780s. Was it a position of power or more ceremonial? Apparently most who held the job were previous ranked at colonels or were made such at the time of their installation. In Henry County two or three resigned after very short tenures. Was it a holdover from the Colonial times? Larry
Virtually every county had a militia - "guard" - of sorts, and your Lt. was appointed by the county judge to oversee and to "train" that unit. His job was something of a small honor, however there was work involved, since all farmers, young men, and everyone's son were supposed to be prepared to fight off Indians and other hostiles. He was paid for that effort, and usually had some minimal experience at military activities. They met, usually on "Court Days," drilled, and all armed themselves. Other titles,. such as Col., Major, etc., were achieved quite usually by self-appointment through supplying, arming, and sending a number of men to "defend" the county or colony. Just as prominent citizens until recently yet were known as Colonels, so too in the early days. Remember there was NO standing army anywhere here, other than such units as the British sent and posted here now and again. ----- Original Message ----- From: <LCandBC@aol.com> To: <VA-SOUTHSIDE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2001 7:32 AM Subject: [VA-SOUTHSIDE-L] Position of "County Lieutenant" in the Virginia Militia > Can anyone please give me information of the position of "County Lieutenant" > in the Virginia Militia during the 1770s and 1780s. Was it a position of > power or more ceremonial? Apparently most who held the job were previous > ranked at colonels or were made such at the time of their installation. In > Henry County two or three resigned after very short tenures. Was it a > holdover from the Colonial times? > Larry > > > ==== VA-SOUTHSIDE Mailing List ==== > USGenWeb Archives Digital Maps Project > http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/maps/ > > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F1 1HB >