Danish Military Levying Rolls: When was a person registered in the Lægdsruller

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The age when a male was registered in the Lægdsruller.

The table below, shows when a person would be added to lægdsrullen, and when he would be removed. Inclusion in the roll was determined by the so-called lægdsrullealder, ie. the age of the conscript as of the beginning of a year. Until 1862, the confirmation of the individual was the criteria for inclusion in the lægdsruller and therefore the lower age could vary. The upper limit shows the latest that an individual would be deleted. In many cases, however, they were removed much earlier, for example, at the end of their 20s.

* The year, the boy was comfirmed

** The year, the boy turned 18 years of age

If you were declared unfit for military service, or if for other reasons were exempted, you could be removed from the roll before the upper limit was reached. A farmer or a peasant would often remain on the rolls, but could by presentation of a freedom letter or deed avoid being called up for military service.

By the late 1800s the pattern for most conscripts was:

Was admitted to the roll as an 18 year old

Come to the session as a 20 year old

Completed his military service as a 22 year old

Especially for market towns

Market towns were originally not in the lægds districts. But since many recruits from the countryside moved to the city, market towns were, starting in 1843, their own lægd. Before this year they were recorded in the adjacent landlægd. For example, conscripts in Copenhagen before 1833 were recorded in Copenhagen County 1st lægd (Hvidovre) and from the 1833-1843 with the War Commissioner for 1st Zealand District.