own their own muskets, too, and evidently often more than one, since it was thought worthwhile to send people around to buy the spare ones for the use of the Army as this excerpt from the historical record (Documents of the Colonial History of New York, vol. 15, p. 103) of 1776 attests:
Ordered, that Captain John Titus in the Township of Bushwick Capt. Ferdinandus Sydam and Capt. Barent Johnson in the Township of Brooklyn, Capt. Cornelius Vanderveer in the Township of Flat Bush, Capt. Jeremiah Vanderbilt in the Township of Flat Lands, Captain Aaron Van Brunt in New Utright and Capt. ... in Gravesend be respectively authorized in the respective Townships and Districts in which they respectively reside to proceed from House to House thro' their respective districts and purchase at the cheapest Rate they can be obtained for ready money all such good musketts and firelocks fit for the use of Soldiers, as can be spared by the Inhabitants of the Townships -- That those Gentlemen respectively be requested not only to purchase arms as cheap as they reasonably can, but in no case to exceed the price of four pounds for any one Gun Muskett or Firelock -- That those Gentlement respectively as soon as they can conveniently send those arms to Colo. Curtenius in New York and transmit the account of the price of the Arms so purchased to this Congress or to the Auditors thereby appointed that the same together with a reasonable reward for the Trouble of purchasing them may be paid.
And ordered that Colonel McDougall be requested to send such proper Officers or persons to assist the Gentlement above named in the purchase aforesaid, as are acquainted with good arms. -- And it is hereby recommended to the Inhabitants of the said Townships to sell such musketts or firelocks as they can spare retaining arms for their own use.
Ordered, that Colo. Ritzema send such prudent Officer as he shall think proper to Westchester County to apply to the Chairman of the County Committee and to the respective Subcommittees in that County for such good Arms fit for soldiers use as they may have collected by disarming disaffected persons in that County. -- And the respective Committees are hereby requested to deliver such of those Arms as are fit for the Army to such officer taking and preserving his receipts for the same. ... And such Officer as Colonel Ritzema shall send to collect those Arms is hereby directed to deliver all such Arms as he shall so receive to Colo. Curtenius, that they may be repaired where it may be necessary.
So it looks like your fact-checking didn't go anywhere near far enough.
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