AMERICAN STOCKED REVOLUTIONARY WAR MUSKET – MARTIN

AMERICAN STOCKED REVOLUTIONARY WAR MUSKET CARRIED  BY HUDSON MARTIN

American stocked Revolutionary War musket. Stocked using European barrel and with a combination of European and gunsmith made hardware. It has an original flintlock that is probably made by an American blacksmith. The wood appears to be American cherry with an original iron ramrod. The musket is 54” overall with a 38” barrel that is approximately .62 caliber. There is a beavertail carving around the tang. This musket descended through the Hudson Martin Family in Nelson County, VA.

Hudson Martin was from Nelson County ( Nelson County formed from Amhurst County in 1807) when the application was filed. Martin entered the Virginia continental as an Ensign with 9th Va Reg’t commanded by Col. Thomas Fleming. He took part in several of the memorable battles there fought in the north such as the Battle of Germantown [4 Oct 1777]. Martin re-entered the service of the United States February the 15th , 1779 as a Militia soldier under Lieutenant Goodwin of the County of Amherst and marched to the Albemarle Barracks near Charlottesville Albemarle County Virginia as guard to prisoner.

In 1780 November 3rd he was commissioned Ensign and under Captain James McAlexander and Lieutenant Tilman Walton [W4373] they marched to Richmond, Virginia. Martin was drafted in the County of Fluvanna, Virginia as a militiaman on May 19^th, 1781 May under Colonel Francis Taylor and marched through Louisa County Va. where they joined General Lafayette’s army.

They went to Burnt Ordinary and from thence to a large old field a few miles from Old James Town where an engagement took place near Old James Town in a few days after their arrival Battle of Green Springs Plantation, 6 Jul 1781. After the British surrender following the Siege of Yorktown he was discharge and returned home to Amhurst County, Virginia.

This is a wonderful American stocked musket that follows the 1777 Brown Bess pattern with an exceptional raised area at the rear ramrod pipe.  Nice overall condition showing only minor handling marks to the uncleaned wood. There is a small chip of wood missing on both sides at the pin holding the rear of the trigger guard. The brass hardware and iron barrel have excellent original patina. Purchased in 1977 as part of the collection of Charlie Yost, Albemarle County, Virginia. Mr. Yost purchased from the Martin Family.

Hard to find these original Revolutionary War muskets especially with the 250^th anniversary celebration of the American Revolutionary War only a couple of years away.

From Margie and Gordon Barlow Collection  – See – “Virginia in the Revolutionary War” by Margie and Gordon Barlow