Kerry,
Regarding the militia, these were local defence forces, created because of the threat of a French invasion, and were to be used to if the principal regular army regiments were unavailable or under strength. (They could well be away in another part of the world). The militia were comprised of local people and were part-time and voluntary. There was no conscription, because there were plenty of volunteers and also because loyalty was important. Their officers were usually the big local landowners. I found this description of the arrangements for Magherafelt:
“The Nationalists throughout Ireland also
formed Volunteer Clubs and drilled. The
formation of these corps naturally recalls to
memory the Volunteers of former days, when
Ulstermen nocked to the standard in a time
of National danger. The first occasion on
which we find the word "Volunteers"
specially applied to military force, raised for
such purposes, was is 1715, when "The Stuart
Pretender" landed in Scotland. The- next was
in 1745, when a second "Pretender scare" took
place; then in 17G0, when the report was
circulated that "The French are in the Bay-"
It was about this time that the people of
Magherafelt considered they should do their
part in making provision for the protection
of their hearth and homes, and also to assist
the Government in every way possible
when attacked, and with those, objects
Volunteer Corps were formed, and the "First
Magherafelt Volunteers" were amongst the
first in Ireland to become association, which
took place in June, 1773, their uniform being
scarlet, faced with black. The officers were: —
Captain, A- Tracy ; lieutenant, Richard
Dawson ; ensign, R. Montgomery. The fact
that there was a "First Company," shows that
Magherafelt possessed at least a second com-
pany. That they were skilful and able to hold
their own in competition with the other Corps,
is evidenced by the fact that they possessed
two silver medals — a no mean achievement — ■
both obtained in the year 1781 — one for skill
with broadsword, and the other for the best
target shot at 100 yards. This latter modal
was won by a Patrick Fagan. The former
modal was oval shaped and contained the
following engravement : — Obverse side — Two
Cavalrv swords in Saltire over the letters
M.I.V.Y. (Magherafelt Independent Volunteer
Yeomary). 1781. for skill with Broadsword.
Reverse' side— Pro Regia et Patria— below two
sprays of Shamrock in the field and a harp
royally crowned. The rim was raised, and
there "was a ring suspender. This medal,
is at present in the Belfast Museum, situated
in portion of the Free Library.' It seems that
in 1782 the Volunteers were organised into
Battalions and Brigades, and it i s probable
that the Magherafelt Companies formed part
of the Loughinshollin Battalion, commanded
by Colonel .Staples and Lieutenant-Colonel
Dawson. The Volunteer Regiments would be
composed of from ten to twelve companies in
each Regiment, and the number of men per
Company varied from 60 to 100- Generally
a Company was raised in each Parish
where tho number of Protestants rendered
such possible, and where necessary two and in
some cases three Parishes combined to form a
Company- In towns it was usual to form one
or more town Companies in addition to a
Parish Company.
Source is: https://archive.org/stream/historyofmaghera00mait/historyofmaghera00mai…
I had a look in the e-catalogue for PRONI (the public record office in Belfast) to see if there are any surviving papers for the Magherafelt militia but don’t see any.
The date of David’s trial, and the criminal charge he faced, would suggest he had been involved with the United Irishmen who rose against the Crown in June 1798. There was some fighting in Magherafelt on 8th June 1798.
You haven’t said what denomination he was. You might be able to find David’s baptism or marriage, plus the baptisms of his children. If Church of Ireland, Magherafelt baptisms cover 1718 – 1793 & 1799 - 1895, marriages 1720 – 1845. If Presbyterian, then Magherafelt 1sts baptisms start in 1771, marriages 1769-82 and then 1819 onwards. RC records don’t start till 1834. There’s copies of the Church of Ireland and Presbyterian records in PRONI.
In the mid 1700s, the Church of Ireland Minister noted that there were 625 families in Magherfelt. 148 were Churhc of Ireland, 274 Presbyterian and 203 Roman Catholic.
There is a book “History of Magherafelt” by WH Maitland which is quite detailed and mentions many local businesses and event sin the town. It’s possible that your family might be mentioned in it. You should be able to buy it on the internet.
Maghera Genealogical Society (whose catchment area includes Magherafelt) is very active and they may know of some sources that would help you:
http://www.magheragenealogy.org
