What is or who was a fencible?

Answer 1

Fencibles were a type of military unit in the 18th and 19th centuries, primarily in British territories, composed of local volunteers who were not regular soldiers but were trained to defend their home areas. They were often intended for local defense and were typically raised in response to threats, such as during the Napoleonic Wars. Fencibles usually served in their home region and were distinguished from regular army units by their focus on local security rather than overseas deployment.