OK, I give up on that one. I was merely tossing out a suggestion, given that no time frame was offered. Mea Culpa, it was earlier. But I wonder if cows were called "Bessie" back then. Now for further speculations, I assume we are open to possibilities.
It is reasonably documented that the WWI great gun, the Big Bertha, came from the name of a Krupp daughter. Reasonable, but not sure. So who knows where Brown Bess came from, let the speculations begin. Best, Jon PS, it is well known in NYC that "Staten Island" was named by a Dutch lookout on Henry Hudson's ship who said "is dat an Island?" Despite the Staten Island by Tierra del Fuego also named by the Dutch after the Stadt. But it is also well known in NYC that Staten Island is a part of New Jersey, despite the boundaries of the States. Best, Jon
