I would hope that if the short starter broke he just dumped it back out... I would really think you are dealing with just the ram rod... I am also thinking in those days the rr did not come with a cleaning jag, just a cupped end to allow the seating of a round ball. Again I am assuming the end in that you have probably does not have the cupped end on it. I can not remember if the original rods had a threaded female reciever in them to allow the installation of a jag. The other end did for a patch puller and bullet screw. It is possible he broke the rod trying to remover a projectile. Which end do you have?

And then of course your assumption that it stuck while cleaning is also a very viable one - which might help the other problem if he was cleaning it probably was unloaded

My only thought is if it were not seated you could inster a wooden dowel the size of the bore and strike it with a hammer to help break the contact of the rod to the barrel.

Another thought fill the barrel with penetrating oil (Kroll is anecellent product) from the muzzle stand it up in a bucket in the corner and walk away from it for a few days, then start the removal process again.

Actually I am glad it is not one of mine but I do find the whole process a challenge - and I do love mechanical challenges....