This is a page from the Naval Quota of 1795 relating to Ovingham. The man nominated to serve in the Navy was Alexander Ogilbie, native of Dissington. Alexander would be paid £40 [approximately equivalent to £1150 at today's value] when he entered Naval service.
As a result of the Napoleonic War, the British Government needed to raise additional seamen to assist in Naval activities. Each parish had to nominate men to serve in the Navy. These lists are commonly found amongst Quarter Sessions records. The Quarter Sessions were the quarterly meetings of Justices of the Peace who met to hear some criminal cases and to deal with some local administrative issues. These, and other records of the Northumberland Quarter Sessions are held by Northumberland Archives Service.
