First Model 1756 British Brown Bess Musket

Rare First Model 1756 British Brown Bess Musket used in the Revolutionary War from Lexington/Concord (1775) to Yorktown (1781).

Rare First Model 1756 Brown Bess musket with ‘Royal Welch Fusiliers’ engraved on the 42” barrel. This important 1^st Model Brown Bess musket was ordered by the British Ordinance from the Thomas Ketland & Company, Birmingham, England. The maker, ‘T Ketland & Co’ is engraved on the tail on the lock.  British Ordinance ordered First Model Brown Bess muskets from many contractors, including Thomas Ketland & Company, when the British arsenal could not meet the demand for Brown Bess muskets. This Brown Bess was issued the British 23^rd Regiment of Foot (known as the Royal Welch Fusiliers) for service in the British Army (ca 1760 – 1768). Engraved on the top of the butt plate is the name “Lt. Colo White”. This musket descended through the Lt Colonel Joseph Waite Family in Claremont, New Hampshire. Lt Colonel Waite served in the New Hampshire Militia under Colonel Timothy Bedel. Lt Colonel Waite was with the New Hampshire Militia that participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill. The British 23rd Regiment of Foot (Royal Welch Fusiliers) played a crucial role in at the Battle of Lexington and Concord, where they were part of Lord Percy’s relief column.

Provenance;

Lt Colonel White’s Family;

Red Jackson Firearms, Dallas, TX;

Al Parr Collection, Durant, OK;

Gordon Barlow Collection, Swoope, VA.