If anyone knows more about items as such as this, lemme know.
Here's a thread I started on it on another forum:
http://www.universalshootingsports.com/index.php/topic,1443.msg19751.html#msg19751
As well as the last update I recieved
Update: I was contacted by the National Register of Archives for Scotland. Seems they are still researching this and are going to write a article about the history of paisley rifle corps. they asked permission to use my medallion in their article.
Dear Mr. ****,
I have recently received the request below from Mr. Andrew Eadie, a local historian in Paisley, regarding your shooting medal. Mr. David Weir, Heritage Officer at Renfrewshire Local Studies Library, consulted with Mr. Eadie last December when you were looking for information about the medal.
As you will see from Mr. Eadie's message, he is currently researching for an article about the progression from the Paisley Militia through to the Rifle Volunteers and hopes to publish an article for the Renfrewshire Local History Forum Journal and for the Scottish Local History Forum Journal. He would like permission to include an image of your shooting medal in these articles, if possible.
I'd be happy to convey your response to Mr. Eadie or you may prefer to contact him direct. Should you choose the latter course, it would be very helpful if you could copy me into your reply for our files.
Thank you in advance for your help with this request.
Yours sincerely,
Miss Tessa Spencer
Assistant Registrar
National Register of Archives for Scotland
H M General Register House
Dear Tessa,
Following on the request David Weir has recently sent you, I wish to give you some background to my request.
I became interested when David Weir asked me if I knew anything relating to this shooting prize back in December last year.
In the last few years I have researched the formation of the Rifle Volunteers in Scotland in 1859 with particular reference to Stirling and Paisley. This research started as I have a photo a rifle volunteer in Stirling taken in 1859. I also looked at the rifle volunteers in Paisley and unfortunately found that their Minute Book that had been held by a firm of solicitors had been destroyed some years ago.
I also have information relating to the Paisley Militia from the Napoleonic War period. I was very surprised to find that there was a Paisley Volunteer Rifle Corps in existence in the 1820s and am planning to research this further in the local newspapers. The surprising part is that there were called "rifle" corps as the British Army at this time were still generally using the smooth bore musket and only certain units, e.g. the Rifles, used a rifled musket. The rifled musket was far more accurate than the old smooth bore musket and was used by sharp shooters, hence the shooting competitions. When the Volunteer Rifle Companies were formed in 1859 the units were issued with rifles as these had started to be used by the British Army.
My article, once I have completed some further research, will be looking at the progression from the Paisley Militia in the late 18th century through to the Rifle Volunteers starting in 1859 and highlighting this very early use of rifles in the 1820s. I am aware that the Paisley Volunteer Rifle Corps was called out during the "political riots" in Renfrewshire in 1820. I plan to prepare an article initially for the Renfrewshire Local History Forum Journal that is published every 12 - 18 months (the Forum's website is http://www.rlhf.info). I would also possible submit a longer article for publishing in the Scottish Local History Forum Journal. I believe incorporating a picture of the Glenarbuck Shooting Medal awarded 30 July 1824 will significantly add to the piece I intend to write.
I hope this explains the reason for my request and look forward to hearing from you. I am not working to any time limits.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Eadie
