The following patchbox rubbings were taken from rifles made by Benjamin Franklin Shane.
The following patchbox rubbings were taken from rifles made by Benjamin Franklin Shane.
The following group of rubbings were taken from rifles made by the Lauck Gunsmiths of Winchester Virginia. The Lauck family were active in the gunmaking trade in Winchester from 1788-1875. Simon Lauck was born 1760 in Pennsylvania and became a gunsmith while living there. He opened his shop in Winchester in 1788 and died in 1815. Several of his sons were trained gunsmiths and worked in the Lauck shop until about 1875. Simon trained many apprentices and employeed journeymen gunsmiths that carried his style throughout the valley and westward. Hampshire County gunsmiths, Frederick Sheetz and George W Glaze worked in Lauck's shop. (1) Nicholas Chisler from Morgantown, Monongalia County also worked in Laucks shop. (1) Other Virginia makers who were at Lauck's shop before going to other areas of Virginia to practice the art of gunsmithing, were John Sheets, Augusta County, Jacob Funk and Henry Stair.
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Zebulon Sheetz was one of Hampshire County's finest gunsmiths. We have seen his rifles and we know them well, we hope the following will shed some light on Zebulon the man. The following pages came from "Pedestrain Tour of A Scottish Emigrant" , describing his visit to Hampshire County in 1826.
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In the mid-1830s
Zebulon Sheetz family moved West. Zebulon and his family were given a letter of
dismissal from their church at Cold Stream to move "to any Presbyterian church
in the West, whose neighborhood God might cast his lot. “He was given a testimonial of appreciation of
the high community regard for his church service.
BMS
One of the best gifts I have been blessed with is a collection of patchbox rubbings from an old friend. Fortunately for us our friend pursued this interest with vigor and we have several Virginia related images from these efforts. The Opportunity to view and study these rubbings are a blessing to those who want to get a better understanding of rifles built in the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding areas. The percussion era pieces by gunsmiths who apprenticed to and influenced by these same people that came before them can be seen in their work. These rubbings gathered from the 1950's through the early 2000's are an affectionate study of valley pieces, painstakingly made using onion skin paper to garner these renderings. We will try to post at least one or more each Sunday for a few weeks.
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A man named Joe Young, a gunsmith by trade, and lately living near East Liberty, recently constructed a boat for the purpose of transporting his family and effects to some point on the Ohio River. The boat was built at the mouth of Dickerson Run, and on Friday last was successfully launched. Mr Young and his family and all their goods moved in, and with the help of the good people of the vicinity of East Liberty and Dawson, the boat was pushed off and committed to the turbulent waters of the "Dare Devil Yough" and was soon gliding smoothly and swiftly down the river out of sight with it's precious freight...
(Uniontown Genius of Liberty, 8 March 1877)
Roland Savage Dayton, Gunsmith, Blacksmith, Farmer, County commissioner, and preacher, was born in 1815. In the 1850 census, he lived just ...