Hi,
I believe it is the product of the Hills family in Goshen in western CT and I also believe it could easily be of Rev War vintage. Being near the New York border, the Hills' often used curly maple stocks and sometimes Dutch "Hudson River" style trigger guards. Several Hills' guns shown in Grinslade's book have identical guards and butt plates. Moreover, the stock design also suggests Hills. At least 3 of the family were gunsmiths. The patriarch was Benoni Hills. He was probably born about 1700 and apprenticed to Ebenezor Pomeroy sometime before 1720. Benoni died in 1793 so he lived a very long life for the 18th century. His second son, Medad, was born in 1729, and John came along in 1732. They established their gun shop in Goshen, CT in 1740 and the boys were apprenticed to their father. They made fowlers, rifles, and pistols during their long careers. They also made muskets during the F&I war and Rev War. The gun business at Goshen grew to employ 28 blacksmiths and gunsmiths during the Rev War and they forged their own locks and barrels. John and Benoni eventually moved to Winchester, CT and later John moved to Pomfret, Vermont and then Charlotte, VT. He is the first documented gunsmith in Vermont. Both Medad and John died in 1808.
dave
