In 1780, during the American Revolution, the Massachusetts General Court passed a Militia Act. This early act, regularly revised and updated, established two kinds of militia: the “training band” who met and drilled regularly and the “alarm list” to appear, with arms, once a year. Under the 1784 Massachusetts Act for Regulating and Governing the Militia, all male residents between the ages of 16 and 40 were required to come to regular militia training days with a musket and bayonet in good working order, and ammunition. In August, 1792, Captain David Hoyt of Deerfield ordered Mr. Elihu Hoyt (who also happened to be his son) to notify all eligible men in his district to muster at the parade ground near the meetinghouse for training days on September 3, September 12, and September 13. Each man was to appear “as the law directs” with a working firearm, bayonet, cartridge box, and 20 rounds of blank ammunition cartridges. Elihu Hoyt was later promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Massachusetts militia.
Williams, Solomon (1700-1799). Colonel Elihu Hoyt notification to appear at military parade. August 25, 1792. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, American Centuries. https://americancenturies.org/collection/l99-094/. Accessed on October 18, 2026.
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