Two Hundred and fifteen years ago today, the estate sale of Martin Sheetz was held. This marked the conclusion of the life and career of one of Virginia's prominent gunmakers. While his life here on earth was short, his fingerprints on the gun-making industry and historic town of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, will not be erased, nor will his contribution be forgotten.
Martin was a gunsmith in Shepherdstown in the late 1700s to early 1800s. He was born on March 30, 1776. Martin was the son of gunsmith Philip Sheetz and the older brother of gunsmith John Jacob Sheetz. Philip was from Pennsylvania and served his apprenticeship under George Unkafer of Hanover, Pennsylvania. Brothers Philip & (1) Henry Sheetz settled in Mecklenburg, Berkeley County, Virginia, in 1772, present-day Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, West Virginia. Philip purchased lot 1, Northwest corner of German & King Streets, in 1788. (2) This is the shop where Martin served his apprenticeship and built his guns.
Philip Sheetz died in 1793 at 55 years old, and his son Martin was 17 years old. In Philip's will, he states,
"I will that my gunsmith tools of every kind be and remain in the possession of my wife until my son Martin Sheetz shall arrive at full age. Should my son Martin Sheetz continue to work at the trade of gunsmith until the period at which he shall arrive at full age & should desire to keep the said tools in case my executors are ordered to have all the tools appraised and my said son Martin Sheetz may take them at the appraisement the amount whereof he shall be charged with so that no injustice may be done to my son Jacob Sheetz and my daughter Margaret Hanes."
Martin continued the art of gunsmithing and acquired his father's tools. The few surviving guns he built are works of art and are sought by collectors. This well-used, simple but elegant fowling piece is attributed to Martin Sheetz. This gun has all the typical features and furnishings of a fowling piece; fowler trigger-guard, butt plate, no cheekpiece, no patchbox, and a smooth bore barrel; where it differs is the two-piece stock. On page 158 of "Battle Weapons of The American Revolution," George C. Neumann said, "A new form of private light hunting gun gaining acceptance among well-to-do Colonist after 1750 was the "take-down" design." These could be taken down into two pieces for convenient travel. This gun is signed M. Sheetz in script between the rear sight and the hooked breech on top of the 39-inch long, 22-gauge, octagon-to-round barrel. A hooked breech aided the quick disassembly and re-assembly utilizing the take-down feature. This gun was originally flintlock; during the percussion era, it was converted to percussion using the original lock plate. The trigger guard, butt plate, side plate & breech tang are engraved. There is a relief carving of a Rococo shell design at the tang area. The brass furnishings are artistically engraved. We were pleased to see it show up, we don't see many fowlers from West Virginia, and surviving guns with the "take-down" feature is a rarity for any American-made gun of that era. This fast-handling 5.5-pound, overall length 50-inch gun was built for a "well-to-do" person to carry on bird hunting trips or similar excursions. The addition of the rear sight made it more versatile and adaptable to buck & ball.
* Inventory of the Personal Estate of Martin Sheetz, Deceased, and appraisal by the undersigned being duly qualified. Order of Jefferson County 29th January 1808 –
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4 vices 21.29 Gun locks 21.75
6 gun locks 14.00 3 gun locks 3.75
2 pistol locks .67 2 pistol locks
and 3 plates of cocks 2.14
Screws and very good chargers
$1.50
1 pair unfinished pistols $12.00
4hand vices $1.50
175 rasps and files $29.49 1 rifle
leader $5.00
142 rasps and files with handles
$20.29
11 drawn saw blades $1.00
3 hand saws $2.00 4 drawing knives
$1.121/2 2 spoke shaves .75
62 chisels and gouges assorted
$3.00 5 bench hammers .75
3 pair pliers 2 pair nippers $2.50
2 pair shears $2.00
2 candle sticks $1.50 14 bullet
mold cherry and counter sink $3.85
Chisels and punches assorted $1.50
2 braces $1.50
3 anvil bows stock and drill $1.75
1 lot punches screwdriver $1.50
2 screw plates taps & breech
plated $2.25 2 stocks 7 screw plates $3.00
`1 stake, 1 horn $1.25 box and
contents .25 powder horn & shot pouch .75
1 upright drill 13 pieces $2.75
81/2 H wire 4 rifle barrels $10.70
1 smooth gun barrel 1 box old iron
$2.50 1 ox old files $2.00
1 oil stone .15 old brass $4.50 2
pistol barrels, 5 ¾ old copper $3.20
1 lot old iron 1 bottle varnish
$1.371/2 1 hold fast $3.60
Brass $16.25
2 pair shoe brushes $1.00 1
grindstone & frame $1.00
6 bottles oil ladz, 1 hand ax
$1.75 gun mounting patterns. 50
3 augers 3 bowes 1 bottle Aqua
Fortis $1.25 1 pair bellows
1 anvil $8.00 2 cast anvils $5.00
1 vice $6.00
1 lot old iron .75 smith tongs
hammer and lets $3.00
1 gun barrel float mandrel $1.00,
75 old files & iron .25
2 boxes old iron .25, 1 grindstone
& frame shop tub $2.50
232 maple & walnut gunstocks
$58.00, boring machine $10.00
350 bushels coals $21.00, 3
shovels $1.00, 1 frame saw $1.00
2 axes, 1 mattock $2.50, 11 short
walnut stocks $2.30
6 pair pistol stocks, 1 pair
skeets $1.25, 4 gun barrels .25
2 auger 3 chisels .11, 1 box and
contents 2 fish lines hooks $1.12 1/2
2 smoothbore guns $12.00, 1 small
cupboard .50
1 fish net $1.00, 1 mare saddle
bridals and halter chain .01
1 sow and pigs $4.00, 3 hogs
$8.00, 3 beehives $2.75
1 koop $2.50, 1 heffer $5.00, 1
grindstone $10.00
1 grindstone $4.00, 1 canoe $1.50,
1 fish net $4.00
1 pidging net $1.50, 1 ten plate
stove $14.00
2 fire buckets 1 coffee pot 1 tea
kettle 2 iron pots $4.00
1 bake oven 1 skillet 1 brass
shovel 1 bake iron $1.50
2 frying pans with feet 1 coffee
mill, 1 morter, 2 chafing dishes $2.75
3 ladels 1 scimmer 2 pewter dishes
1 bason 1 white dish $3.00
1 dresser $7.00, 1 negro boy $150.00,
1 large iron pot $2.50
2 wash tubs 1 bedstead 1 old
basket 1 tub 3 wire cages $7.08 ½
1 hoisting block, 1 chopping
bench, 1 backgammon table $6.25
5 pictures, 2 brass candlesticks,
3 scrivers, 6 Windsor chairs $16.60
1 tea table, 1 corner cupboard, 3
chairs, 2 leather buckets
1 table, 1 ten plate stove, 5
tight barrels, 2 ½ barrells $26.50
56 black bottles, 1 chest, 1 small
tub, 1 meat tub, 16 gal. gin $26.58
2 ½ bbl vinegar, 5 gal. whiskey
$29.00
2 rifle guns, 3 smooth rifle guns,
3 shot guns, 1 eating table $105.00
1 mockingbird cage, 1 feather bed
and steed and bedding $21.00
1 shot pouch and belt, 3 chairs, 1
chest, 3 Winsor chairs $5.75
1 desk bookcase, 6 vol.
Washington’s life and 2 razors and strap $39.75
2 feather beds, bedding and stead,
1 trunk, 1 chest $53.25
23 ½ bu. Corn, 1 bedstead, 4 old
barrels, 1 dough tray $12.84
6 bread baskets, 1 meal sieve, 1
electrifty machine .75
1 pair fire tongs and shovel, 1
ten plate stove, 1 pair steelyards $10.50
105 lb. pork, 1 pair saddle bags, baskets,
kegs and pitchers $942
1 old wheat barrel .75
512 feet maple plank $20.33, 23
bu. Wheat $15.33 1/3
2 bu. Salt $2.00, 1 lock $1.50, 1
graz hook .33 1/3’
* Sale
of good and chattels of Martin Sheetz, deceased, on Friday 19 February 1808.
Jacob
Entler bought boring machine, 5 gun barrels, cherries, springs and hooks.
Sale
amounted to $1,713.95 ½.
William
Butz (?) for making Sheetz’ coffin at $3.25.
Paid
Rev. Mr. Matthews for preaching funeral sermon $2.00
Credit of $600.00, being ½ part of $1,800.00.
Martin's wife, Eva, died in January 1809.
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(1) Henry Sheetz was the father of Hampshire County Gunsmiths, Frederick, Otho, Henry Jr., and Zebulon. Henry's son Michael was a gunsmith in Charles Town & his son was Jacob Sheetz of Hampshire County.
(2) Sheetz House Shepherdstown
Oh, well, while we are on the subject of fowling pieces:
Martinsburg Gazette August 24, 1843
Hope You enjoyed this post, BMS & JDM
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