The Hertfordshire Militia Ballot Lists (1758-1786) not only provide a list of men available to serve in the militia - but also provides a useful way of identifying occupations. The list on the right of this page represents the men whose occupation is given as "paper maker" in the list for Hemel Hempstead.

In looking at the lists there are a number of points to take into consideration:

• The original lists are held at the HALS and have been indexed by the Herts Family History Society and published on CD.

• The lists for Hemel Hempstead cover the years 1758 1759 1760 1761 1762 (February & July) 1763 1764 1765 1768 1769 1772 1778A (April & December) 1781 1782 1784 1785 1786

• In indexing the lists the names have been "standardised" to bring references to the same surname together. This means that the spelling of the name in this list may not be the same as on the original manuscript.

• If the same name occurs in adjacent lists it is likely that the references are to the same person, but in some cases there may have been several people in Hemel Hempstead with the same name.

• The dates given are either the only year the person is listed or it represents the first and last dates they are recorded as paper makers. In at least some cases the individual was recorded in other years with a different occupation - usually labourer.

Hemel Hempstead 1806-7

Adapted from History of Hemel Hempstead

The canal was not built at the time the Militia Lists were drawn up

It is clear that the hand made paper making industry was highly localised. Of the 56 names 49 are associated with the Two Waters area, and 6 with Burymill End (on the River Gade at the top of the map). Two are identified as master paper makers.  Leonard Barker of Two Waters was described as such in one of two entries while John Spicer was described as a "paperman" at High Street Side in 1764, "At the Paper Mills" at Boxted Side in 1765, and "Master. Paper Maker" at Two Waters in 1768. In 1769 he was recorded as the "Constable" who drew up the militia list. I wonder about the status of Roger Greatraks, who was listed as a paper maker in 1772 and as a gentleman in 1778.

It is interesting that no paper makers are listed in the seven lists before 1764. In 1764 John Spicer appears and the following year he is joined by Joseph Side. The first references to the Two Waters area in 1768.

If you can add to the information given above tell me.