3229

HISTORIC AMERICAN COLONIAL MILITARY FOWLER OF

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:10,000.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
HISTORIC AMERICAN COLONIAL MILITARY FOWLER OF

MARVEN BECKWITH WHO FOUGHT AT BUNKER HILL. Cal. 70. NSN. Bbl. 41 1/2". This musket is in remarkable condition, after seeing both French & Indian and Revolutionary Wars. This military fowler is pictured & described in 2005 text by Tom Grinslade “Flintlock Fowlers; The First Guns Made in America”. This fowler was assembled in America circa 1740 from circa 1720 fur trade era European components including brass hardware & bbl. mounted on a gorgeous curly maple stock w/ exception of cast figural American sideplate. The owner was obviously proud of this gun as two 1.5" engraved plaques are mounted on either side of buttstock w/ his name “MARVEN” & “BECKWITH”. Marven Beckwith (1736-1812) from Southington, CT saw service in the French & Indian Wars (1756-1758), listed on the rolls at Fort William Henry of the 2nd Regt CT, 5th company. In 1761 he is listed again in the 5th company under a different captain at Crown Point. With the alarm of Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775), Marven once again took down his ancestral fowler. It has been updated w/ a bayonet, to meet the British on their own terms. Although CT had been alarmed w/ in two days of Lexington & Concord, Marven & Abigail now had seven children, & it took a while to arrange another military absence. He marched to Boston on May 16 & would be away for six months. He was there on June 14, when Congress adopted his old 2nd CT regiment as one of the very first in what was declared to be the Continental Army, & Marven was one of the very first soldiers in that new US National Army. No one was there ahead of him! Marven was there on June 17, when his regiment participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. And he was there when George Washington took command of the new National Army on July 3, 1775. A 6 page monograph details Marven Beckwith’s history w/ this military fowler he carried during the French & Indian and Revolutionary Wars. The 2nd CT became the 22nd Continental regt. just prior to Bunker Hill when Congress created the first National Army. George Washington would take command July 3rd when he arrived in Cambridge. With Marven’s enlistment expiring in December, along w/ the other men of the 2nd CT/22nd Continental, Washington ordered no serviceable arms were to leave the army w/ departing soldiers. On Dec. 9th Washington confiscated the parading CT troop's arms, including this one. They were marked for identification for potential return to their owners. This musket has a number “34” thinly & precisely carved on right side of buttstock making it among the first National arms of the United States. It is not known how much longer this musket remained in service, but we know it was at least used during the siege of Boston & at Bunker Hill. There are a pair of heavily worn initials above the plaque on right side of buttplate that could possibly denote a soldier carrying this arm after Beckwith. The next year, 1776, was the minimum period for which Washington impressed Beckwith's gun. In that year, Washington's Continental Army drove the British from Boston, then famously crossed the Delaware and won victory at Trenton. The history of this musket is unknown after that, but was in the collection of pioneer collector Jim Dressler for many years. This musket has the feel of a fine piece of furniture from the 18th century, especially in the finish of the wood showing long service on the American frontier but obviously revered and cared for over 250 years. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: copy of Grinslade’s book “Flintlock Fowlers: The First Guns Made in America” where pictured pgs. 38, 39, and 114. Photocopied paperwork on Beckwith & 6 page detailed monograph concerning this musket by Prof. Charles W. Thayer. CONDITION: very good overall, stock is sound w/ overall hand worn patina w/ only noted restoration being thin inset around tail of lock. There is a long sliver missing from left side of forestock near muzzle & about 6” hairline on same side. Bbl. & lock have smooth iron patina. Brass mountings & plaques have light to medium mustard patina. Buttplate is worn through at top & has contemporary nailed period repairs to hold pieces in place. Ramrod pipes have heavy wear. Mechanically functional w/ clear bore. (01-19994/JS). ANTIQUE. $20,000-30,000.