Sea Fencibles

Located at Alnmouth, Beadnel, Berwick, Blyth, Bulmer, Craster, Cresswell, Cullercoats, Eymouth, Hauxley, Holy Island, Newbiggin, Newton, Seaton Sluice, Sunderland, Shields, Whitburn

During the Napoleonic wars a voluntary corps of Sea Fencibles was
organised around the coastline of Britain and Ireland. Defence of the
Coast included such men to use cannon and pikes, these men to be
commanded by Royal Naval Officers.

'None shall be enrolled except inhabitants of the district, and who are
settled and have families in it, and who are exempted from being impressed'.

Those exempt...
Watermen, belonging to the insurance companies, within the cities of London.
Men of the age 55 yrs and upwards.
Youths not having attained the full age of 18 yrs.
Masters of fishing vessels employed in the fishery on any of the sea
coasts, or in any of the navigable rivers, with one or more apprentices
under 16 yrs of age and bound for 5 yrs or more.
Masters of merchant ships or vessels.
First mates of merchant ships or vessels upwards of 50 ton.
Boatswains and carpenters of merchant ships and vessels upwards of 100 ton.
Pilots
Masters of barges
Seamen and seafaring men, who have 5 or more children under the age of
15 yrs, residing with, and dependent on the fathers.

The Sea Fencibles were exercised on one day per month for which they
would be paid 1 shilling a day. They would not be required to leave
their own coast. They would be expected to watch the beaches whenever
weather conditions were favorable for the enemy to attempt a landing.
Exercises took place on those days that least interfered with the
volunteers other occupations. The men were taught to charge the enemy,
to receive the charge of horse or foot, and to storm batteries and to
defend them.

Four out of every hundred men were appointed as Petty Officers and were
paid 2 shillings and 6 pence a day. The POs had to assemble the men,
distribute arms and return them to the store.

In the PRO are records of monthly pay lists for Sea Fencibles ADM28.
The majority are for the period from 1803 - 1810, although there are
some dating from 1793.