WILLIAM REYNOLDS OF GREENBRIER COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA

               WILLIAM REYNOLDS - ONE OF WEST VIRGINIA'S FINEST GUNSMITH'S

                                                                      

 

SIGNED ON PATCHBOX LID

WM REYNOLDS & CO

   
                                                                              

 

CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VIEW

 

WILLIAM REYNOLDS WAS BORN IN NORTH CAROLINA IN ABOUT 1787.  HE PROBABLY LEARNED THE TRADE OF GUNSMITHING BEFORE HE CAME TO GREENBRIER COUNTY.  THE FIRST CENSUS THAT WE FOUND HIM IN GREENBRIER COUNTY WAS 1840. IN THE 1850 & 1860 CENSUS HE IS LISTED AS A GUNSMITH.  IT IS VERY POSSIBLE HE WAS THERE BEFORE THAT, AND IF YOU HAVE FACTUAL INFORMATION ON THIS PLEASE SHARE IT WITH US.

 

 

BEING AN EARLY MAKER, A LARGE AMOUNT OF HIS RIFLES WERE MADE USING THE FLINTLOCK.  MOST OF THE RIFLES HE  MADE FROM 1835 HAD  THE PERCUSSION LOCK.  MOST OF THE SURVIVING RIFLES WE SEE ARE PERCUSSION, BUT MANY OF THESE WERE CONVERTED FLINTLOCKS.  HIS WORK IS EXCEPTIONAL; HIS ENGRAVING AND INCISE CARVING IS MASTERFUL AND UNIQUE.  HE LEARNED HIS TRADE DURING THE GOLDEN AGE OF RIFLEMAKING AND HELD ON TO MANY OF THOSE TRADITIONS.  GUNSMITHS TRAINED IN THE 1820'S AND LATER TENDED TO USE INLAYS TO DECORATE THEIR RIFLES OR MADE PLAIN UTILITARIAN RIFLES WITH LITTLE OR NO DECORATION.

                                                            

CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGE VIEW

 

IN THE BOOK  " GREENBRIER PIONEERS AND THEIR HOMES" BY RUTH WOODS DAYTON , ON PAGE 199. THE AUTHOR STATES " THE TOWN OF ALDERSON HAD A FAMOUS AND EXPERT GUNMAKER NAMED REYNOLDS.  AT THE TIME OF THE CIVIL WAR THE FEDERAL SOLDIERS TOOK FROM HIM HIS TOOLS AND SUPPLIES, AND FORCED HIM TO DISCONTINUE HIS TRADE FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR.  MANY OF HIS GUNS  ARE STILL IN GREENBRIER TODAY AND ARE GREATLY PRIZED FOR THIER FINE WORKMANSHIP ".

 

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WILLIAM REYNOLDS, GREENBRIER'S FINEST GUNSMITH DIED  IN 1868. HIS WIFE JUDITH DIED  IN 1881.  ON THE OTHER SIDE  OF WILLIAM AND JUDITH'S  HEADSTONE IS BENJ. F BROWN AND AMANDA. AMANDA IS WILLIAMS DAUGHTER.

 

 

C S A

 

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BROWN WAS A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER AND SERVED IN  COMPANY D  27TH VIRGINIA INFANTRY. ALSO CALLED THE "MONROE GUARD".

HE SERVED THE ENTIRE WAR AND WAS TAKEN PRISONER IN 1864.

 

 

CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VIEW

 

 

 

 

 

IN 1866 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BROWN MARRIED WILLIAM REYNOLDS'S DAUGHTER, AMANDA. IN THE 1870 CENSUS BENJAMIN F BROWN IS LISTED AS A GUNSMITH. NO DOUBT HE LEARNED THE TRADE FROM HIS FATHER IN LAW. BENJAMIN DIED 1874. WE HAVE NOT HEARD OF, OR SEEN ANY GUNS HE MADE.

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WE APPRECIATE DEBORAH F. PHILLIPS FOR ALLOWING US TO USE HER PHOTO OF THE REYNOLD'S AND BROWN'S HEADSTONE.

WITH THIS PHOTO WE LEARNED OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BROWN, A WEST VIRGINIA GUNSMITH WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT.

THANK YOU.

 

THANKS TO THE TWO COLLECTORS WHO SHARED PICTURES OF THEIR SIGNED REYNOLDS RIFLE. PLEASE DO NOT COPY PICTURES, THEY BELONG TO THE OWNERS.

 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA GUNSMITHS SEE:

 

"GUNSMITHS OF WEST VIRGINIA" BY JAMES B. WHISKER & FRED R. LAMBERT

 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GREENBRIER COUNTY SEE:

"GREENBRIER PIONEERS AND THEIR HOMES" BY RUTH WOODS DAYTON

 

IF YOU HAVE ANYMORE FACTUAL INFORMATION ON WILLIAM REYNOLDS GUNSMITH , PLEASE FORWARD TO US.

THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS AND  WE APPRECIATE HELP.

BMS

 

 

POCAHONTAS COUNTY GUNSMITH JOSHUA BUCKLEY KEE

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. 

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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 17^th 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 20^th 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

History of Pocahontas County

ANOTHER INTERESTING LINK

Pocahontas County Historical Society

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

William Reynolds & Sons Greenbrier County

 We have seen a few William Reynold's rifles and have always enjoyed seeing his unique patchboxes & the cheekpiece with the mirror.  Most of his rifles we viewed had his name engraved onto the patchbox lid. Some also have his name engraved into the barrel flat between the rear sight and breech, as most signed American Longrifles do. We have seen "Wm Reynolds, Wm Reynolds & Co., and on this one pictured below, we find engraved on the patchbox lid, Wm Reynolds & Sons.

                                                                             

Circa 1840

Who were the sons? We know William had a son-in-law Benjamin Franklin Brown who was a gunsmith from previous research.  While researching to find his sons, we recalled a few years back, we took some photos of an old collection of West Virginia rifles. In those photos, we found the image below. The rifle had a Reynolds-style patchbox and incised carving on the cheek side.  The picture is poor but reads F H Reynolds. There may be another letter or letters behind the name, maybe Jr.  Hopefully, someone will have a rifle signed by F H Reynolds and share better photos with us. 

                                                                          F H Reynolds

                                                                                  

                                                          1850 Monroe County Census

Francis H Reynolds was born in 1822 in North Carolina. In the 1850 census, he is listed as a gunsmith in Monroe County, Virginia, present-day WV.  On at least one genealogy site, they indicate he is the son of William, but another site suggests his father was named Francis. This could confirm the "Jr" behind his name on the rifle barrel.  In the 1870 & 1880 census, Francis is listed as a blacksmith in Putnam County. He died in 1900 at age 78.  He is buried in the Old Hurricane Baptist Church Cemetery. 

We are looking forward to more information on William Reynolds and sons.  We need more clarity on this one. Thanks, BMS & JDM

Earlier Post on William Reynolds

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