The militia represents the group of habitants or settlers that lived and worked in the village of Novelle Chartres and were a part of Ste. Anne’s Parish.
During the period, Ste. Anne’s parish encompassed the village at the fort and satellite churches in Prairie du Rocher and Ste. Philippe. The majority of members were engaged in agriculture and trade as well as some craftsmen.
While the majority of our members dress and appear in typical French Colonial civilian dress, some military accoutrements and coats can be seen in our ranks when depicting the military aspects of the militia.
Documentary sources from the parish church records indicate that a militia company from the village at Fort de Chartres was in existence from the time of the first fort in the 1720s.
The recreated militia company represents the unit as it may have looked in the mid 1750s soon after the new stone fort was largely completed. By this time, the Illinois Country was thriving economically. Fort de Chartres was the seat of government for Upper Louisiana and the center of a large agricultural production economy.
Given this, the population of the village numbered several hundred people. Being that all males old enough to bear arms were required to be a part of the militia, the numbers in ranks at any given time could number as high as one hundred or more men.
The obvious function of the militia during the period was to act as a support for the Companies Franches de la Marine troops. Additionally, the militia worked to maintain roads, bridges, and other public works.
Aside from military and work details, the militia also functioned at a social level. Militia musters were social events and provided diverse refreshment and entertainment.
