A Milita Act was passed by Parliament to ballot (conscript) people into militias to free up and support the regular British armed forces during conflicts with France and Spain in North America and India (later know as the "Seven Years' War" of 1754-1763). In 1761 the process of gathering names for the ballots began for the North East of England. Hexham was one of the main recruiting centres in the region and the first enlistments were to take place on 9th March 1761. Large numbers of protesters came from Hexham, Slaley, Broomley, Corbridge, Chollerton, Stamfordham, and other neighbouring parishes. The Riot Act was read and fighting broke out. The militia opened fire on the crowd, and around 50 people were killed, and many more wounded.
Co-Curate is a project which brings together online collections, museums, universities, schools
and community groups to make and re-make stories and images from North East England and Cumbria.
Co-Curate
is a trans-disciplinary project that will open up 'official' museum and 'un-officia'l co-created
community-based collections and archives through innovative collaborative approaches using
social media and open archives/data.