May 27, 2020 Founders & Patriots
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/27/2020
This musket is shown and discussed on pages 116-119 of "For Liberty I Live" by Al Benting. This musket came from the Robbin's homestead in Acton when Al Benting's aunt Ethel Robbins died in 1967. Captain Joseph Robins lived between 1728-1800. He was a blacksmith and was the father of four children. Robins was the company commander of one of Acton's three partially filled companies, which were being reorganized into two units, Minute Alarm on April 19th. On April 19th Doctor Samuel Prescott reportedly pounded on the corner of Robin's house "Captain Robins, Captain Robins! The regulars are coming!". After being alerted, he rushed from the house with his musket and rapidly fired three shots as fast as he could, signaling the Acton militia men to report to his home. Robin's unit reached the North Bridge area around 9am, where several other militia and Minute Man companies of about five hundred men total were gathered from Concord, Lincoln, and Bedford. Family lore indictated that Captain Robins, Benting's ancestor, was standing behind and just to the left of Davis when the firing started, and Davis was killed. Robins was demoted to Sergeant a week after Concord Bridge, and the reasoning is unknown. The musket itself is manufactured of mostly of early French components along with American blacksmith made ramrod ferrules. The barrel appears to be a French Model 1728 barrel and has a 5 - 1/2" faceted breech section with no visible markings. The flat lockplate also appears to be from a French Model 1728 musket and has a fleur-de-lis over the letters "SE" for Saint Etienne. Beneath that, the lockplate is stamped "BARALLON". The furniture is all iron and appears to be French with the exception of the ramrod ferrules. The full length stock is of maple and is in the New England form. Complete with a blacksmith forged American period ramrod. CONDITION: In as found and untouched condition, showing heavy use. The barrel retains a dark and heavy brown patina. The lock has a matching patina and is in its original flintlock configuration, and functions well. The frizzen is loose from extensive use and wear to the spur, which places pressure on the frizzen spring. The mounts retain a matching heavy patina and the buttplate shows losses and heavy wear. The stock has had the comb altered during the period of use, and shows scattered cracks, marks from battle, splintering along the forend on both sides, and some minor slivers missing at the tip of the forend. A very interesting and important American assembled Revolutionary War musket.
Caliber/Bore
.75 Smoothbore