F&I War / Revolutionary War Musket (ca 1750) carried by Captain Thomas Buck, Sr, Shenandoah County, Virginia

F&I War / Revolutionary War Musket (ca 1750) carried by Captain Thomas Buck, Sr, Shenandoah County, Virginia

Wonderful pre-Revolutionary War American stocked musket carried by Captain Thomas Buck, Sr during the Revolutionary War. This musket is ca 1750 and remains in  original flint with wonderful brown patina. It is stocked with cherry wood with a superb early profile. The butt plate, trigger guard, side plate, and ramrod pipes are cast brass and appear to have been made by an American gunsmith. This beautiful musket has an unusual barrel band at the muzzle that serves as the entry point for an original iron ramrod. The original flintlock is hand forged and has no makings on the exterior or the interior. The barrel is hand forged and is 44 ½” long. It is octagon to round stamped with a ‘V’ and is .75 caliber. Hard to find an early musket in this condition with a family history such as that of Captain Thomas Buck, Sr.

Thomas inherited the musket from his father, Charles Buck while living inn Dunmore County, Virginia (Shenandoah County, today). Charles Buck (Lieutenant of Militia) used the musket in the F&I War era against Native American raids while an officer with the Dunmore County Militia.

Captain Thomas Buck, Sr

Captain Thomas Buck, Sr lived in Dunmore County, Virginia (Shenandoah County after the Revolutionary War, then moved to Frederck County, Virginia). He was born January 9, 1756 and died June 4, 1842 in Front Royal, Virginia and is buried at Buck Cemetery, Waterlick, Warren County, Virginia. At the age of 21 Thomas Buck was a Lieutenant of Virginia Militia in Dunmore County, Virginia ad was county Magistrate. Captain in the 8th Virginia Regiment during the Revolution, one of the original trustees of the town of Front Royal, and a leading citizen for a number of years. In 1797 – 98 he built the home “Bel Air” on Happy Creek in Front Royal, where it still stands although no longer in the possession of the Buck family.

He served as an officer in the Dunmore County Militia (Shenandoah County in 1778) which became a part of the 8^th Virginia Regiment at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. In 1777, his company marched to Fort Pitt to defend the fort against Native American raids and the British. While at Fort Pitt he served under Colonel John Gibson. While at Fort Pitt his company embarked on board of boats to Wheeling called (Fort Henry) then proceeded to the mouth of the Kanawha River having skirmishes with the Native Americans. Captain Thomas Buck, Sr return to Winchester and helped move prisoners under guard on their way to Winchester.  He and his company were requested to proceed to Fredericksburg as it was not known what point the British would advance into Virginia. They proceeded to Falmouth, in the neighborhood of Fredericksburg, and reported themselves to General Peter Muhlenberg then in command at Fredericksburg. Captain Buck, Sr and his company continued to the capes of Virginia and garrisoned themselves at Little York and participated in the regional skirmishes until the British Surrender at Yorktown after which he and his volunteers were discharged.

This is to Certify that we the subscribers have apprised Sundrie Articles as hereafter mentioned the same being the property of Capt Thomas Buck, the Officers & souldiers under his Command being one of the Volenteer Companies from Dunmore County against the Indians September 17th 1777. Viz.

Capt. Thos. Buck one Rifell }

Gun, shot pouch & Horn 230/ }. . . . . 11.10

One blanket 45/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. 5 13.15

One smooth bore Gun 50/. . . . . . . . . . . . 2.10

Given from under our hands the date as above we being duly sworn apprisers for the same. Morning Retun of Capt’n Thos. Bucks Company of Dunmore. Volunteers                 8 Oct’r, 1777

Bel Air – Home of Captain Thomas Buck, Sr (near Front Royal, Virginia in Shenandoah County, Virginia                                      (Warren County, Virginia after 1839).

Bel Air, located on Happy Creek Road within the Warren County town of Front Royal, was built in the late-18th century and likely is one of the oldest brick homes in the area.

The picturesque property occupies one of the largest lots within the town and contains several outbuildings; it also includes an open lot south of the house which was the site of military encampments during the Civil War. Bel Air was originally constructed by Captain Thomas Buck, one of the founders of Front Royal, Virginia.

Provenance:

• Mary Rebekah (Major) DeBergh, Warren County, Virginia – Descendant of Captain Thomas Buck, Sr.
• John Wimmer, Front Royal, Virginia
• Gordon Barlow, Swoope, Virginia (1982)