Old break-action shotgun

We were doing some digging today in my dad's house and we found an old family heirloom: an old break-action, single shot, hammer-fired 12 gauge. We know it's pretty much worthless and it's unsafe to shoot due to its age and some dim wit trying to fire it with a partially obstructed barrel and wound up bulging it. It's rusted and the finish on the metal is pretty much gone but we can see some markings.

"Victor L Dewey" on the sideplate

"Patented Aug 11, 1886" on the top of the barrel near the reciever

And a serial number of "7xxx" both just aft of the trigger guard and on the barrel under the forearm.

As mentioned earlier, we know it's practically worthless, but we've had it in the family for a couple generations and we'd like to know anything we can about its history.