Richard Wilson of England  had a contract with the Colony of New Jersey for about 1000 of these muskets in 1755 &1757 . They were all engraved New Jersey on their butt tangs ,Wilson locks and 46" barrels.  This musket has the original markings and has been modified over it’s years of use.  It now has an American half stock and the barrel is 33". The fizzen appears to be a replacement but musket is still an original Flintlock.  These rare muskets were carried by the New Jersey Blues and saw much action . They were Ambushed by Indians at Sabbath Bay Point (Massacre) on Lake George, N.Y and 200 were captured . They were taken to Ft. William Henry.  The French agreed to release them and grant them safe passage home but this was not to be the case.  Shortly after the Americans were released the French sent their Indian Allies after the unarmed Americans were most of them were cut to piece. Most of the fighting that the New Jersey troops were involved in took place in upstate N.Y. This musket has one of the original soldiers initials stamped into the barrel tang and also another set of intials on a heart shaped wrist escutcheon. These rare muskets rarely surface in any shape.
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