French W Thornhill

A well-used two-hundred-year-old long rifle bearing the characteristics of those crafted in the Valley of Virginia and the surrounding hills of Western Virginia is the subject of this post.  The engraved name on the barrel is F W Thornhill. 

                                                                      

 This is the first Thornhill rifle we have seen, and we had no knowledge of him.  Our quest for the rifle maker's identity led us to search all the reference books on early Virginia and West Virginia gunsmiths and consult with experienced collectors and long rifle historians. Despite the initial lack of information on Thornhill, our research eventually led us to the discovery of our maker, French W. Thornhill. 

French W. Thornhill was born in 1804 in Culpepper, Virginia, the son of Reuben and Catherine (Payne) Thornhill. In the 1810 Federal Census, the Thornhills lived in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Virginia.  

After finishing school at 16, French briefly studied law and then medicine. At seventeen, he ended his medical education to study the art and mysteries of gunsmithing.  French apprenticed with Alexander McGilvray Gunsmith of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and remained in the McGilvray shop for nearly ten years. (1)

                                           Click for Larger Image

                                 200-Year-Old F W Thornhill Rifle

The four-petal flower finial brass patch box, with one large piercing in the finial panel and a push-button lid release, was quite popular with makers in Virginia. Alexander McGilvray frequently used the brass trigger guard with a tight curl on the spur and the long cheekpiece. 

                                                                             

                                                                           

Tight Curl Trigger Guard Spur & Long Cheek Piece 

Alexander McGilvray

                                            Gunsmiths of Virginia

                                                                            

 

                                                                            

                                45 Caliber 42 Inch Long Rifled Barrel

1828, French married Sarah Wolfenbarger in present-day Pocahontas County, West Virginia.  His brother Reuben Jr. married Sarah's sister, Nancy.  Thornhill may have worked in Pocahontas County after his marriage. A bit of information puts French in Pocahontas County; he was a buyer at the 1828 estate auction of Andrew S Warwick of Clover Lick, Pocahontas County. The sale consisted of several blacksmith tools, vises, bellows, etc. 

                                                               

                               Andrew S Warwick Estate Sale

In 1830, French & Sarah migrated to Coshocton, Ohio.  French and his brother were manufacturing bricks.  After a couple years of sickness and poor health, he moved to West Carlisle and started a mercantile business. He moved several times, spending thirty years in the mercantile business and being a politician. In 1836, he was elected to the House of Representatives for Coshocton. (1)

                                                                          

                                                                  1865

July 9, 1867, Coshocton Democrat

1868

 In 1842, his wife Sarah died. In 1843, he married Eleanor Renfrew. In 1844, he was elected to the state senate. He also served as a justice of the peace and, in 1875, was appointed a probate judge by the governor.  The newspaper article below provides more on his elected offices and life in Ohio. 

                                                                             

                                Democrat Standard January 1, 1892

                                                                      

                                Cincinnati Enquirer December 26, 1891

                                       

Please contact us if you have a signed rifle made by French W Thornhill. It is possible that he signed some guns, F.W.T. As of now, this is the only known surviving rifle. Hopefully, more will surface.

(1)  The Biographical Encyclopedia of Ohio of the Nineteenth Century 1876 by Charles Robson, 1876. See pages 163 & 164. 

Thanks to James Whisker for the use of photo from Gunsmiths of Virginia

                                                                     FB

BMS & JDM

                                                               

James Merrick

This James Merrick rifle is similar to most other Hampshire County style rifles of the period. To date this is the only rifle we have seen made by Merrick. The stock is plain maple with a limited figure. The hardware needed to finish the stocking was easily procured at most hardware stores. However, the one bolt lock appears to be handmade by Merrick.  Merrick probably made the thimbles and patch box as well.  The rifle also has a cap box on the cheek side of the gun. It looks like an afterthought since its construction is fairly crude. The barrel is 42 inches long by 15/16" straight octagon and about .42 caliber with forged percussion bolster. Signed on top of rifle barrel in bold block letters James Merrick. 

Circa 1850

                                                                             

                                        Signed in Block Letters James Merrick

In the 1810 Minutes book for Jefferson County, John Merrick was bound to gunsmith Jacob Sheetz to learn the art of gunsmithing.  This may be gunsmith John Jacob Sheetz.  We need further evidence to confirm that this John Merrick could be James. But seems to be a fit.  James Merrick was an armorer at Harpers Ferry Arsenal in 1830, 1840 & 1850.  He may have worked there after that, but we are unable to find any census records with him after 1850.  We do see him on the personal property tax list as late as 1868.  His son Shadrack, born in 1829, worked at the arsenal, and so did his son James, born in 1827. It is possible that James Jr could be the maker of this rifle.  James Jr moved to New Haven, Connecticut, and worked at Winchester Repeating Arms until he died in 1913. 

The study of the American Long Rifle is continuous, and hopefully, we will find more information on James Merrick Gunsmith and the maker of this rifle. 

JDM & BMS

Ellis Houchin Pocahontas County Gunsmith

 Ellish Houchin was born in 1815.  Died December 15, 1882, in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. 

                                                              Click image for larger view

Ellis Houchin is listed in the 1870 census as a farmer and gunsmith in Bartow, WV.  Ellis owned several thousand acres of property north of Bartow and supposedly sold it and then later returned to the community and bought it back. A portion of this property is locally known as Houchin Hollow.

It bordered the property owned by Abraham Burner, an ancestor of this writer. Abraham was a Revolutionary War veteran and owned over 8000 acres.

Thus, the Houchin and Burner families were neighbors. I point this out because of what follows.

Ellis Houchin had eight children. They youngest was a male named Jefferson Lee Houchin who was born in 1861. You might surmise Ellis’s political sympathies from the name chosen for his son during this period in our nation’s history. 

Jefferson Lee was reputedly one of the finest shots in the county and a good father and husband, unless he was “in liquor” . He was drinking on July 6, 1900 in Durbin, WV and Constable C. L. Burner told Houchin to get out of town or he would arrest him.

Jeff Houchin did leave town, but on the way out of town, he told John Townsend that he was going home to get his 45/90 and take care of “Bud”Burner. 

He did get his rifle, and return to Durbin, but Constable Burner saw him first and Jeff Houchin died of three gunshots, two to the heart.

An inquest held the next day by Justice Gillispie exonerated Constable Burner.

Besides this story that relates to my family’s history, I have also been informed of a possible connection by the maker of this rifle to Pocahontas County Civil War History.

Ellis Houchin may have been involved in the “Hanging Rock”ambush of Union Cavalry at Durbin in July of 1861. This was a classic “bushwackers” affair carried out by a group led by a “local gunsmith”. 

The ambush resulted in the death of seven Union scouts from Burdsal’s troop of Ohio Cavalry that were watering their horses in the Greenbrier River. One rider escaped. Read Rebels at the Gate by Hunter Lesser.

                                                                         

                                                                                    

                                                               Signed Ellis Houchin

                                                                                

                                                   October 23,1852 Parkersburg Gazette

                                                                               

                                                      Highland Recorder April 10, 1896

             Special thanks to Robert Sheets for sharing this rifle and story on Ellis Houchin. 

William Britton

           William Britton was born in Maryland in 1794.  Worked at Harpers Ferry Arsenal. In the 1850 Hampshire County census, present-day Mineral, near Ft Ashby, we find Britton listed as a Gunsmith 56 years old, living with a family of 12; he was the only Britton on that record. Pictured in the (1) Gunsmiths of Maryland book on page 115 is a rifle by Martin Rizer. Martin was a gunsmith in Cumberland, Maryland, from the late 1700s till his death in 1815. This Martin Rizer rifle uses the same butt plate return, toe plate, and patch box finial as this Britton rifle. With these features on both rifles, William Britton most likely apprenticed with Martin Rizer II.  If not, there was a close association between the two individuals. As far as we know, only half a dozen of Britton's rifles still exists. 

                                                                Signed W. Britton

                                                        

Click to enlarge.

                                

The above rifle was made circa 1820.  It was a flintlock and, during the percussion period, was converted to percussion using the original lockplate.  It has deep relief Rococo carving and artistically engraved brass furnishings.  

                                                                               

Signed, W. Britton

  The above William Britton rifle was made circa 1840.  The overall length is 57 inches & the 38-cal rifled barrel is 42 inches long.  G Moyer, a lockmaker in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, signed the percussion lock.  

Thanks to the owner of these rifles who allow us to photograph & post pictures of their rifles.  Thanks to  Aspenshadeltd for sharing photos with us.  BMS & JDM

1 Gunsmith of Maryland by Daniel D Hartzler & James B. Whisker

                                                   

Bits & Pieces

  Many of the gunsmiths in the 1800s made approximately 20 rifles a year.  We believe some of the bigger shops in Hampshire County, such as Sheetz & Rinehart shops, produced more.   Where did they go? 

Some of the early Glaze rifles made near Springfield on Springfield Pike near Milleson's Bridge saw service in the American Revolution.  However, most of the makers here & the vicinity were active in their trade post-Revolution. The War of 1812 probably contributed to the demise of many.  However, the Civil War was the most efficient eliminator of Virginia-made rifles.  Many were destroyed in battles and horrible conditions, and others were confiscated from Rebels & citizens by Union Troops.   

Immediately after the Civil War, the old American Long rifle was nearly forgotten.  The birth of cartridge guns and war surplus was more than it could handle. 

So, where did the rest go?   As the stock became damaged with age and abuse, some were discarded, but parts that could be used for other tools were saved.  I believe a lot was lost to house fires that were so common until fairly recently.

Many old barrels, locks & brass parts also went into WWI and WWII war efforts.  During both wars, Americans actively sought and donated scrap metals to meet the massive demand for metals. 

While Bits & Pieces are not as desirable to a collector or student of the long rifle as the complete rifle would be, they are still a handy tool in studying the work of our early gunmakers.   

  All of the following relics are remnants of rifles made here in Hampshire County. 

Attributed to Zebulon Sheetz 1793-1867

                                                           Frederick Sheetz 1774-1861

                                                     Made by someone in the Sheetz Family 

                                                             George Young 1802-1875

                                                                                   

                                                             This Rifle Exploded in Half

                                                                                   

                                               George Young Rifle Barrel Signed G Young

                                                                            41" .45 cal.

                                                                               
                                                                      For More Info 

George Young

Frederick Sheetz

Zebulon Sheetz