The student of the American Long Rifle may think they know of every gunsmith who operated in their area or state of interest. However, from time to time a signed rifle shows up that is signed by a maker that is not known to them.
Recently, we received the following pictures of an antique long rifle. The rifle is signed J B Kee in script on the top flat of the octagon barrel between the rear sight and the breech.
Signed J B Kee
Click picture for larger image.
The person who sent the pictures thought the rifle was made in West Virginia & stated there could be some association with Evick’s of Pendleton County WV, or McGilvray in Rockingham County VA. Both famous gun making families of "Old Virginia". Consulting with other persons more knowledgeable than myself, as well as looking through every book I own on early gunsmiths, I could not find anything on J B Kee. Finally, searching the 1850 Census I found a Joshua B Kee listed as a farmer in Pocahontas County. Census records from 1850 list occupations. Checking census records from 1860 - 1880 still had him listed as a farmer. I even found him in the 1840 census. I found a few other persons named Kee, with the same initials, but none were gunsmiths.
Engraved Brass Patchbox
With Push Button Release
Percussion Lock
Incised Line Along Forestock
Brass Entry Pipe
44 Cal 44 Inch Rifled Barrel
Hunters Star
Made of Coin Silver
Very Nice Tiger Stripe Maple Stock
So following the Pocahontas lead, we finally obtained the proof that it was indeed Joshua B Kee, who was the gunsmith. In the book “Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County, West Virginia,” by William Thomas Price, published in 1901, starting on page 292, you can find a biography of the Kee family. The following paragraph is an excerpt from that biography
“Joshua B Kee, the eldest son of the Kee family, married Rebecca Stevenson, of Bath County, and settled on the Greenbrier a mile below Marlinton. Esther and Rachel were the names of his daughters, and they both died when about grown. Joshua Kee was a person of remarkable mechanical skill. He could work in stone, iron, and wood, as well as farm. His specialty was gunsmithing, in which he excelled, and in his time when so much hunting was done this was of great service to the people.”
Joshua was the son of George Kee, an Irish immigrant. George was born 1776 in Ireland, and died 1863 in Pocahontas County. Joshua's mother was Esther Hetta Buckley, born 1779 died 1850. Joshua was born in 1807.
In the will of George Kee, he leaves to his eldest son Joshua, 100 acres & one still.
Kee Log Cabin Built About 1830
You Can Visit This Cabin At The Pocahontas County Historical Society
Museum In Marlinton.
While it is very possible there may be more surviving rifles that Joshua made, this is the only one that we have knowledge of.
_______________________
NEW UPDATE 10/12/2014
Kee Guns
Recent discovery and identification of rifles made by Joshua Buckley Kee (J B Kee) has resulted in a reuniting of weapons of the Kee family. The Pocahontas County museum has in its collection a signed rifle of J B Kee and a rifle attributed by family descendents to his nephew Samuel Kee. Samuel gave this rifle to his brother James B. Kee for his use as a soldier in the Union army.
While James was serving with the Union, his first cousin, George M. Kee was a member of the 17th Va. Cavalry fighting for the Confederacy. During his service, he carried an Adams model revolver manufactured by Webley and Sons of London, England. This pistol is in the care of George’s great grand-son, Robert Sheets of Green Bank, WV.
Top to Bottom
Rifle Made by Samuel Kee
Webley Revolver
Rifle Made by Joshua B Kee
Click Pictures For Larger View
All of these weapons were recently reunited and pictured at the Pocahontas County museum. They will be available for viewing at the October 20th meeting of the Pocahontas County Historical Society at the Marlinton Presbyterian Church.
Signed J B Kee
Nicely Engraved Iron Patchbox
Engraved Iron Toe Plate
Engraved Trigger guard Finial
Back Action Percussion Lock
Iron Trigger Guard
Silver Inlay Surrounding The Barrel Wedge
Brass Nose Cap
Finial On Iron Patchbox
Engraved Iron Patchbox
Work is Similar to Guns Made By Alexander McGilvray
Samuel Kee
Joshua B Kee
Samuel Kee
Joshua B Kee
Joshua Buckley Kee
Died 1885
Kee Family Cemetery
Pocahontas County
West Virginia
Below is a list of gunsmiths who operated in Pocahontas County before 1900.
1. Joshua Buckley Kee
2.Samuel Kee
3.Nathan Burgess
4.John Dilley
5. Ellis Houchin
6.George Curry
7.William Reynolds
8.William H. Reynolds
The William Reynolds gunsmiths of Pocahontas are not to be confused with William Reynolds of Greenbrier County.
FOR THE ENTIRE KEE FAMILY BIOGRAPHY & MORE HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK
ANOTHER INTERESTING LINK
SPECIAL THANKS FOR EVERYONE WHO ALLOWED US THE USE OF THEIR PICTURES.
PLEASE DO NOT COPY PICTURES WITHOUT PERMISSION.
AS WITH ALL OF OUR BLOGS, THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS AS WE GET MORE INFORMATION ON JOSHUA BUCKLEY KEE & HIS RIFLES WE WILL UPDATE.
BMS
I went down to the museum to check and the rifle we have was made by Samuel Kee (son of John and nephew of Joshua). It was carried by his (Samuel's) brother James B. Kee, fighting for the North during the Civil War. It says here that he died at Petersburg.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see