THE MILITARY As early as 1777, on account of the threat from the American Revolutionary War, a company of soldiers was raised for the defense of the Island. James Curtis and William Burke of Stanhope were on the 1784 muster roll of "His Majesty's Loyal Company of Saint John's Volunteers". A Militia Act passed in 1780 required every man ill \ Sword used by the first David Lawson 's grandson David Lawson - a captain in the St. John's Volunteers 1813. A. Lawson coll. 166