An Act for Forming and Regulating the Militia within the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, and for Repealing All the Laws Heretofore Made for That Purpose, ch. 1, §§ 1, 7, & 9, 1775 Mass. Acts 15, 15–18 (Benjamin Edes 1776).

"CHAP. I.

An Act for forming and regulating the Militia within the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, and for repealing all the Laws heretofore made for that Purpose…

    ...1. It is therefore enacted by the Council, and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the Authority of the same...That that Part of the Militia of this Colony, commonly called the Training-Band, shall be constituted of all the able-bodied Male Persons therein, from sixteen Years old to fifty, excepting Members of the American Congress, Members of the Council, and of the House of Representatives for the Time being, the Secretary of the Colony, all Civil Officers that have been, or shall be appointed by the General Court, or either Branch of it, Officers and Students of Harvard-College, Ministers of the Gospel, Elders and Deacons of Churches, Church-Wardens, Grammar School-Masters, Masters of Arts, the Denomination of Christians called Quakers, Select-Men for the Time being, those who have by Commission under any Government or Congress, or by Election in Pursuance of the Vote of any Congress of the Continent, or of this, or any other Colony, held the Post of a Subaltern, or higher Officer, Persons while actually employed as Masters of Vessels of more than thirty Tons Burthen, other than Fishing Vessels, and Vessels coasting in this Colony, and to and from this Colony to the other New-England Governments, Constables, and Deputy-Sheriffs, Negroes, Indians and Mulattoes,^[1] and shall be under the Command of such Officers as shall be chosen, impowered and commissioned^[2] over them, as is by this Act provided...
    ...7. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That each and every Officer, and private Soldier of said Nilitia, not under the Control^[3] of Parents, Masters, or Guardians, and being of sufficient Ability therefor, in the Judgment of the Select-Men if the Town wherein he has his usual Place of Abode, shall equip himself, and be constantly provided with a good Fire-Arm, with a Steel or Iron Ramrod, and a Spring to retain the same, a Worm, Priming Wire and Brush, and a Bayonet fixed to his Gun, a Scabbard and Belt therefor, and a Cutting Sword, or a Tomahawk or Hatchet, a Pouch containing a Cartridge Box, that will hold fifteen Rounds of Cartridges at least, a Hundred Buck Shot, a Jack-Knife and Tow for Wadding, six Flints, one Pound of Powder, forty Leaden-Balls fitted to his Gun, a Knapsack and Blanket, a Canteen or Wooden Bottle sufficient to hold one Quart...
    ...9. And be it further enacted, That the Clerk of each and every Company of said Militia, shall once every six Months after the Time of his Choice or Appointment, take an exact List of his Company and of each Man’s Equipments respectively, and present the same to the Captain or commanding Officer thereof; a Copy whereof the Captain or commanding Officer of the Regiment he belongs to; and the Colonel shall, without Delay, return the Number therein contained to the Brigadier, and the Brigadier shall as soon as may be, return the same to the first Major-General, and he shall forthwith return the same to the Council."