1757, 3 Bush 502, 503
BE IT ENACTED by the Governor, Council and General Assembly of this Colony, and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the same, That every Captain within this Colony who already is, or hereafter shall be appointed, shall make a true and perfect List of all the Men that now do, or hereafter shall dwell, within the Districts or Divisions of which they are or shall be Captains, between the Age of Sixteen and Fifty Years (except the Gentlemen of his Majesty's Council, the Representatives of the General Assembly, Protestant Ministers of the Gospel of every Denomination and Persuasion, Magistrates, Sheriffs, Coroners, Constables, and all Field Officers, and Captains, who heretofore have, now do, or hereafter shall bear such Commissions; Ferry Men, one Miller to each Grist Mill, bought Servants, and Slaves) and all and every Person and Persons, so enlisted as aforesaid, shall appear upon the Parade appointed by their Captains or Superior Officers, three Times in the Year, to wit on the second Monday in April, on the first Monday in October, and on the first Monday in November, where they shall be tauht the Use of their Arms by their shall be completely armed with one good Musquet or Fusee well fixed, a Sword or Bayonet, a Cartouch Box or Powder Horn, three charges of Powder, and three sizeable Bullets, and the said Persons shall continue under Arms but one Day at each Time; besides at such other Times when they may be called together by an Order in writing under the Hand of the Captain General, or Commander in Chief for the Time being, at such Places in each respective County as shall be by him appointed, to be taught the Use of their Arms; PROVIDED ALWAYS that such Calling together in writing as aforesaid shall not exceed once in a Year, and said Persons to be kept in Arms but one Day at such Time, except in case of Alarms.