The North Devon Militia was a regiment of militia formed from men resident in the north part of the county of Devon, England. It was disbanded in 1853 when it became the Devon Artillery.
One of the Ordinances and Acts of the Parliament of England, 1642–60 was the Ordinance to settle the Militia of Devon (7 June 1648). According to "Herber": "The Militia Act of 1757 established militia regiments for each county and required each parish to provide a number of able-bodied men, aged between 18 and 50 (reduced to 45 in 1762) for military training...Militia regiments served in Britain or Ireland but not overseas. Men had to serve for three years (for five years after 1786). In peacetime the men spent just a few weeks at a military camp... During the French wars of 1793-1815, some other auxiliary troops, known as yeomanry (which were cavalry), volunteers or fencible infantry or cavalry were raised in each county". From 1759-63 it was stationed in Cornwall to assist Revenue Officers in the suppression of smuggling. Detachments were stationed at Mevagissey, Padstow and many other places. In 1853 the records of the disbanded regiment were destroyed, thus few records survive from which its history could be written.
The following persons were Colonel of the North Devon Militia:
(1758-1779) Sir Bourchier Wrey, 6th Baronet (c. 1715-1784) of Tawstock Court, "nineteen Years Colonel of the North-Devon Regiment of Militia", as states the inscription on his monument in Tawstock Church. He resigned in 1779.
(28/1/1779-1792) Paul II Orchard (1739–1812) of Hartland Abbey. He had previously served as Lt.Col. of 1st Devon Militia (1773-9). Resigned 1792. A portrait by Joshua Reynolds survives of him dressed in military uniform.
(28/9/1792-1799) Hugh Fortescue, 1st Earl Fortescue (1753-1841) of Castle Hill, Filleigh. Resigned 1799.
(1/11/1799-1830) John Parker, 2nd Baron Borringdon (1772–1840) (after 1815 1st Earl of Morley) of Saltram and North Molton. He had previously served as Lt.Col. from 1/6/1794. resigned/died 1830.
(6/12/1830-1852) Sir George Warwick Bampfylde, 6th Baronet (1786–1858) (after 1831 1st Baron Poltimore, of Poltimore and North Molton. resigned 1852, prior to disbandment of regiment.
The following persons were Lieutenant Colonel of the North Devon Militia:
(1758-1778) George II Buck (1731–1794) of Affeton and Moreton House, Bideford. he was the brother-in-law of Paul II Orchard (1739–1812) of Hartland Abbey, Colonel of the regiment from 1779. He resigned in 1778.
(30/8/1778-78/9) Redmond Kelly. Transferred to 1st Devon Regiment.
(28/1/1779-1793) Francis Bassett (c.1740-1802) of Heanton Court, Heanton Punchardon. He had been a captain in 1763. Resigned 1793. Master of the Devon and Somerset Staghounds.
(9/12/1793-1794) Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 9th Baronet (1752–1794), of Killerton. He had been Captain, 4/8/1787 & Major 13/8/1790). Died in office. He also succeeded Col Basset as Master of the Devon and Somerset Staghounds, who had succeeded his father the 7th Baronet in that office.
(25/11/1799-1821) Charles II Hayne (1747-1821) of Fuge House, Blackawton, formerly of Lupton House, Brixham, High Sheriff of Devon in 1872 He had been Captain 18/2/1794,& Major 17/2/1795. Died in office. His father Charles I Hayne (d.1769), of Lupton and Fuge, Sheriff of Devon, had been Colonel of the 4th Battalion Devon Militia.
(27/11/1821-?) William Bruton. He had been Captain 29/9/1792 & Major 8/8/1815.
Col. Augustus II Saltren-Willett (1781-1849), of Tapeley. He had fought at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons.
(30/7/1846-1853) Sir George Stucley Buck Stucley, 1st Baronet (1812–1900), of Affeton, Moreton House, Bideford and Hartland Abbey. Resigned on disbanding of regiment in 1853.
Captains in the North Devon Militia included:
Charles Henry Webber (1810-1883) of Buckland House, Braunton, JP for Devon and also Lieutenant in the North Devon Yeomanry Cavalry.
Colonels of the "Devon Militia" included:
John Dyke Acland (1746-1778) ), of Tetton and Pixton in Somerset, eldest son and heir apparent of Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 7th Baronet (1722-1785) of Killerton in Devon. "Colonel of the 1st Battalion, Devon Militia,
Hugh Fortescue, 2nd Earl Fortescue KG, PC (1783-1861), "Colonel of the 1st Devon Militia".
