Rifle
- Title:
- Musket Stock
- Object Name:
- Rifle
- Creator:
- Unknown
- Date:
- 1775
- Material:
- Wood
- Dimensions:
- H-4.75 L-21 Dia-7 inches
- Description:
- Musket stock with inscription: "1775/June 17,/ B. Hill. It has a small painting of a musket and bayonet on the side. Stock was clearly removed from a musket, and there is none of the original metal furniture remaining. As there is no visible evidence that there ever was a butt plate, the musket was probably American in origin.
- Provenance:
- General Michael McClary (1753-1824) was appointed ensign to Captain Dearborn's company in John Stark's First New Hampshire Regiment, where he fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He was in the army for four years and saw service in some of the heaviest engagments of the American Revolution. After leaving the army, McClary aided in forming the New Hampshire state government, and held the office of Adjustant General for twenty-one years. It was largely through his influence that the New Hampshire chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati was formed, of which he was treasurer for twenty-five years.
This musket may have been taken as a souvenir of the Battle of Bunker Hill; according to family tradition, it was given to Michael McClary, then an ensign, by a James Morrison of Epsom, New Hampshire.
John Stark and his First New Hampshire Regiment played a significant role in the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Americans' subsequent retreat; New Hampshire had more men at the battle than any other colony (though many of them served in Massachusetts regiments). - Subjects:
- Guns, Weapons, American Revolution, Muskets
- People:
- McClary, Michael, Stark, John
- Place of Origin:
- Possibly New England
- Collection Name:
- Society of the Cincinnati in the State of New Hampshire
- Item Number:
- 1990.040
- Accession Number:
- 1990.040
- Type of Material:
- Objects
- Copyright Statement:
- For information regarding copyright, permissions, and reproductions contact the American Independence Museum
- Credit Line:
- American Independence Museum
- Participating Organization:
- American Independence Museum
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