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     LOT 3085
Revolutionary War Era 1779 Dated East India Company Wilson Windus Pattern 1771 Brown Bess
Flintlock Musket and Bayonet with Massachusetts Militia Markings - NSN, 75 cal., 38 3/4 inch round bbl.,
bright finish, walnut stock. Richard Wilson’s first contracts with the East India Company date back to 1733, and business with the company was carried on by the firm
long after his death. These “Windus” muskets
were manufactured for the EIC before the
British military adopted the similar sized
India Pattern. Aside from the configuration,
these muskets have EIC markings and Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Windus’s “crown/W”
inspection marks on the barrels and locks. Some of these 1779 dated muskets are known to have ended up with New England militia units after likely being captured from EIC ships. The East India Company used the short Model
1771 (Windus Pattern) muskets to arm their infantry in the late 18th century. Some of these muskets were taken from an East India Company ship captured by American privateers. The Smithsonian included one of these muskets in their “On the Water” exhibit as part of a discussion of American privateers attacking East India Company ships during the War of 1812. Given that these muskets all seem to date to the late 1770s, they may have even been captured during the American Revolution and used by the Massachusetts militia during both the fight for independence and the War of 1812. Privateers were more important to the American war effort than they are often given credit for. Gunpowder, firearms, and other scarce and crucial supplies were captured from British supply ships and merchant vessels by privateers. Over 3,000 British vessels are believed to have been captured during the war. The Continental Army and various militia units depended on captured goods, especially early in the war. New England and the East India Company had a contentious relationship in the Revolution and War of 1812. The patriots that participated in the Boston Tea Party dumped over 340 crates of EIC tea into the harbor in response to the Tea Act which gave the company a monopoly on the tea trade with the colonies and the taxes on that tea that were part of the Townsend Act. Their ships, laden with valuable cargo including firearms and gunpowder, were prime targets for American privateers during both wars. The markings on this one indicate it was used by Massachusetts. The barrel has the East India Company heart bale mark on top along with “WILSON 1779” followed by “to MS,” London proof and view marks flanking Wilson’s “*/RW” maker’s mark on the left at the breech, “1779” over the EIC bale mark on the tail of
the lock and “WILSON” at the center, brass furniture, EIC bale mark on the right side of the butt, a brown leather sling, and a socket bayonet with the EIC bale mark, “WILSON 1779”, “MS,” and the “Baker” spring catch and a leather scabbard. The spring is also known as the “Indian Spring” and has been credited to Ezekiel Baker of Baker Rifle fame. George Moller’s discreet “GDM” collection mark is by the toe.
CONDITION: Fine with mostly silver-gray patina on the lock and barrel along with some light speckled oxidation and brown patina, repaired cock, light aged patina on the brass furniture, and fairly minor overall wear. The re-oiled stock is very good and has mild scrapes and dings throughout, some small flakes at the edges, and general mild wear. The bayonet is in matching
condition to the lock and barrel, and the scabbard is good with mild wear including some cracks. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The George Moller Collection.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 3086
Historic 1775 Dated Revolutionary War Era Engraved Large Powder Horn with Dual Inscriptions for Israel Potters and Ephraim
Munson - This larger carved powder horn has a rounded base plug, engraving consisting of simple floral designs and a single masted ship
with five guns, and octagonal throat with a scalloped edge and a raised ring before the octagonal spout. It is inscribed: “Israel Potters horn
June th 1775/Branford May th 27 AD 1775/Ephraim Munson his horn.” No documented provenance is included with the horn, but a letter
from Walter O’Connor in 1999 discussing possible men is included. Another very similar horn inscribed for a “Ephraim Monson” and dated
August 21, 1775, is also documented in “Engraved Powder Horns of the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War Era” by Nathan L.
Swayze (copy of the page included), and there is also another horn inscribed for an Israel Potter. Swayze notes that while there is no documented
provenance with the other “Monson” horn as well, “’Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War’ shows quite a record on an Ephraim
Munson of Granville, beginning with his participation in the Alarm of April 19, 1775, through 1777.” The entry reads: “Munson, Ephraim, Granville. Private,
Capt. Lebbeus Ball’s co. of Minute-men, which marched April 20, 1775, in response to the alarm of April 19, 1775; service, 9 days; reported enlisted into the army
April 29, 1775; also, Capt. Lebbeus Ball’s co.. Col. Timothy Danielson’s regt. muster roll dated Aug. 1, 1775; enlisted April 29, 1775; service, 3 mos. 10 days; also, company
return dated Roxbury, Oct. 6, 1775; also, order for bounty coat or its equivalent in money dated Roxbury, Dec. 22, 1775; also, Private, Capt. William Cooley’s Co., Col. John
Mosley’s (Hampshire Co.) regt.; enlisted July 9, 1777; discharged July 30, 1777 ; service, 27 days, including travel (100 miles) home; company marched to reinforce Northern army.”
Ephraim Munson (1744 - 1809) was born in Branford, Massachusetts, and later lived to the north in Granville, Connecticut. Among the possible Israel Potters in the region at the time who could have also used this horn is Israel R. Potter (1754–1826), something of a mythical figure from the American Revolution. His life story has been told and retold with plenty of heroic embellishments as “The Life and Remarkable Adventures of Israel R. Potter” by Henry Trumbull (written largely in an attempt to secure Potter a pension) and Herman Melville’s novel “Israel Potter: His Fifty Years of Exile.” He was reportedly a “bastard” born in Cranston, Rhode Island, as Israel Ralph but was raised largely by John Potter, possibly his actual father according to some sources. He later ran away from an apprenticeship and became a fur trapper, hunter, and sailor. He served in the Rhode Island militia which was stationed at Roxbury during the Battle of Bunker Hill. He then served on-board the brigantine USS Washington which was captured on December 3, 1775, by the HMS Fowey and taken to Boston. After being transported to England as a prisoner, he reportedly escaped and worked in King George III and Princess ‘s Amelia’s gardens as a laborer before being forced to flee again. A letter of introduction for him delivered to the Franklin still exists, but it is doubtful that he actually acted as a spy and courier for Franklin as he later claimed. However, it is documented that Franklin assisted Potter with funds to return to American, but he instead returned to England where he married and had children, is said to have spent roughly 45 years in exile before returning to the United States and died in 1826 in poverty.
CONDITION: Very good overall. The horn shows moderate wear and aging overall, light but distinct designs and markings, and some faint cracks. This is definitely an interesting horn dated to early in
the struggle for American independence.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
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