SIMEON AND EVAN P WARD GUNSMITHS

SIMEON WARD PREACHER AND GUNSMITH

SON

EVAN P WARD

GUNSMITH AND CONFEDERATE SOLDIER

CLICK PICTURES FOR

LARGER VIEW

                             

SIMEON WARD was born in Frederick County Virginia in 1804. Simeon Ward lived near Lehew in Hampshire County. His first wife was Sarah Johnson , she died in 1857.  Simeon married again in 1869 to Sarah Racey  who died in 1886. Simeon died January 8 1877.

Simeon was a gunsmith and is stated as such in the 1850 census. He also preached the gospel and belonged to the Timber Ridge Christian Church near High View . He even traveled with Rev. Christy Sine ( 1798-1858) spreading the message of salvation and the word of God.  In the 1860 census Simeon is living with his son Evan P Ward. Evan is listed as a Gunsmith and Simeon is noted as a " Minister of the Gospel".

In the 1870 Census Simeon is listed as a Gunsmith.

After some searching and talking to several collectors and students of the Hampshire County Long Rifle there is currently no known examples' of Simeon's work. Of course the work could be unsigned and we may never know who made it. If you know of Simeon's work please contact us.  We have been more fortunate in the search of Evan P Wards' work. We have seen a few rifles made by Evan, some are signed E P W & a couple are signed E P Ward, all in script.  

Evan was born September 29 1827. Evan married Margaret Spaid (1837-1910).  Early on in the Civil War, Evan joined the 114 TH Virginia Militia. Later on he went into the 18TH Virginia Cavalry.

During the Battle of Lynchburg on June 17 1864 Evan was wounded.

Evan died from the results of that wound several months later on February 2 1865. Evan is buried near his parents,  in Timber Ridge Christian Church Cemetery.

Signed E P Ward

Signed E P W

You can also find his name on the Confederate Memorial in the Indian Mound Cemetery in Romney.

Many of the guns made in Hampshire County went to war during the Civil War. Recently a attributed Evan P Ward Rifle was located in Tennessee . The family who had the rifle said one of their ancestors carried the rifle during some of the Civil War. 

 We have noticed,  on all of Evans rifles,  the hinges on both the patchbox and the capbox are flat. We have not seen this on any other Hampshire County rifles.

If You have  any additional information or questions on the Ward's and their rifles ,  please contact us .

For more information on Evan and his Father read.

Frederick County Virginia

Settlement and Some Families of

Back Creek Valley

1730-1830.

by Wilmer L Kerns PH.D.

You can find this book in the Hampshire County Library

THANKS TO THE OWNERS OF THESE RIFLES THAT ALLOWED US TO PHOTOGRAPH AND POST THEM.

PLEASE DO NOT COPY PICTURES.

CHARCTERISTICS OF A HAMPSHIRE COUNTY RIFLE

The Hampshire County Rifle

The Hampshire County Rifle is a muzzle loading long rifle that was made in the boundaries of Hampshire County from the late 1700's, though the late 1800's. I think it is possible that a few could have been made as late as 1900. The Hampshire County Rifle is a Kentucky Rifle such as the one Daniel Boone carried. The Kentucky Rifle is truly the first American Rifle. These long rifles with beautiful maple stocks and stunning patch boxes were first made by German immigrants in Pennsylvania. The Germans were already familiar with rifling firearms in the Jaeger Rifles from their homeland.

The German Jaeger had a large caliber and short rifled barrel. The rifles they made here had long barrels with smaller calibers. Calibers seen on Hampshire Co. rifles range from about  36 to 50, with the larger calibers on earlier rifles and smaller calibers on later rifles. Barrels on Hampshire Co. guns seem to range between 30" to 46" in length. Typically the early rifles had longer barrels and the later ones shorter. These barrels were also mostly octagon shaped. Most Hampshire County rifles have Double Triggers, one being a set trigger as these rifles were made for accurate shooting. Hampshire County Rifle's are almost always stocked in Maple and some have wonderful Curl & Tiger stripe. Most Hampshire County rifles are full stock, though a few guns 1850's and later are halfstocks.

A star inlayed with coin silver on the cheek piece was common on Hampshire rifles

The first guns made here were flintlock; then around 1830 percussions started to show up, and probably from 1835 on, most rifles made here had the percussion lock. The earlier Hampshire County rifle had a wider, taller butt on the stock, and many of these were carved, some incised, and some relief. These are the most sought after rifles, and they rarely ever surface. On these rifles you will typically find a star inlayed on the cheek piece made from coin silver.

The early Hampshire County rifle looked the same as the Winchester Virginia, Charles Town, and Shepherdstown West Virginia rifles. Probably about the time that the percussion lock came into use, maybe even a little before Hampshire County makers began to develop a unique style of rifles. Today collectors call it a "School". In this case, the Hampshire County "School" rifle had the famous Roman Nose Stock. This is also about the time that carving on guns was replaced by coin silver inlays: hearts, weeping hearts, stars, fish, ovals, crecent moons, etc. Most of these inlays had some Christian meaning, which now collectors call symbolism. From this time on the acorn also began to dominate the finial on the engraved brass patch boxes. This is not to say the flower or pointed finial was not used anymore, just not as much. Another thing almost unique to the Hampshire County rifle is that once percussion locks dominated our area rifles, there were small brass lid boxes on the cheek piece side that were used for percussion caps. Naturally, these are called "Cap Boxes." You do see a few of these on Ohio guns, but not many.

Many, but not all, of our Hampshire County Rifles are signed by the maker on the octagon barrel between the breech and the rear sight. It is nice when you can find a signature whether initials or the entire name as this leaves no doubt as to who made the rifle. But through careful study and comparison to other signed pieces, you can usually determine who made the rifle. This should give you some idea of what a Hampshire County Rifle is.

JAMES RINEHART

JAMES EDWARD NELSON

                                                       ATTRIBUTED JACOB SHEETZ

TOP TO BOTTOM

ATTRIBUTED JACOB SHEETZ

ATTRIBUTED JACOB SHEETZ

ATTRIBUTED ROLAND SAVAGE DAYTON

                                                                 TOP GEORGE YOUNG
                                                          BOTTOM JOHN W RINEHART
                                                                                   

JACOB KLINE

BRASS BARRELED PISTOL

JOHN "HENRY" TOPPER

WANTED HENRY TOPPER RIFLES PLEASE USE CONTACT FORM IF YOU HAVE ONE OR KNOW OF ONE FOR SALE.

                                                               HENRY TOPPER
                                                          Click For Larger View                       

John "Henry" Topper born 1777 in Northampton Pennsylvania, son of Andrew Topper 1747-1831. Andrew was son of Christian Topper 1715-1789. Christian left Germany in 1748 to settle in America.

Henry Topper can be found in early 1800 records of Cumberland Township, Adams County PA. Henry may have learned the trade of gunsmith near Gettysburg PA and may have had a gun shop there.

In the 1810 and 1820 census Topper is found in Hampshire County Virginia, now West Virginia.

1810 Census

1820 Census

In the 1820 Census of Industry, Henry states that he is engaged in the gun making business, and has one employee. Indicating that he had purchased wood and iron.  The previous year he made twelve guns. Toppers Gun shop was on Cold Stream Road not far from where the Edwards Run Public Hunting & Fishing area is today. Probably not much more than a stones throw from where the gun shop of Zebulon Sheetz' was located. With running water from the waters of Edwards Run and the Cacapon River combined with Iron from near by Bloomery, this was an ideal location. Some years later, Benjamin F Shane, James Rinehart and Christopher Sloanaker would find this area just as suitable for making guns as their predecessors.

A few years back I read in "Historical Records of Old Frederick and Hampshire Counties Virginia" By Wilmer L. Kerns, of a cemetery where the daughters of Henry and Maria Topper where buried. In another source I had read that MR Kerns had indicated that the engraving on the headstones were probably that of Henry Topper himself. The precision and skill required for such results, were the reason for this conclusion.  Recently I became aware of a rifle signed H T that was attributed to Henry Topper. Upon inspection of the rifle and comparing it with the one on page 98 of " Long Rifles of Virginia" by James T. Butler and James B.Whisker, I concluded the same. To our knowledge these two Topper rifles are the only surviving guns made by him. 

The Other Surviving " Henry Topper Rifle" Pictured on page 163 "Gunsmiths of Bedford, Fulton, Huntington & Somerset Counties" by James Whisker & Larry W Yantz also pictured on page  98 " Long Rifles of Virginia" by James Butler & James Whisker" 

I  happened to recollect the mention of the Topper Graves in the book by Wilmer L. Kerns. I decided to find out where this cemetery was. After a little online researching we found the cemetery and obtained permission to visit the graves. The cemetery is on private property. After visiting the graves and inspecting the rifle, I have come to the conclusion that Wilmer L. Kerns had came to three decades earlier. While we were aided with the help of the  Henry Topper Rifle. I feel that Henry engraved the headstones for his daughters. You will see that in the following pictures that they are "Asterisk Like" symbols on the headstones as well as on this rifle. On the rifle there are three on the barrel, four on the cheek piece inlay and four on the toe plate.

Maria Ann Topper

Born 1807

Died 1809

Susanna Topper

Born 1809

Died 1810

* H * T * on top flat of octagon barrel & asterisk to the right.

Click Pictures For larger View

               

While many gunsmiths have used symbols such as stars, pinwheels, fish, and even the asterisk.  It is very possible that since the deaths of his baby daughters, that his use of the symbols was done in remembrance of them. The asterisk in Greek means little star. This symbol is also close to the ancient christian symbol spelling fish in Greek, only lacking the circle that surrounds that symbol.

The flintlock rifle made by Henry Topper has a 44 inch long rifled 50 cal barrel.

Even on the side plate below there is a design that closely resembles the etching on the bottom of  Maria's headstone.

Similar design on both the sideplate above & the headstone below.

In 1827 Henry Topper sold his gun shop, house and land to Christopher Slonaker another Hampshire County Gunsmith. In the 1830 Census, Henry Topper is in Napier, Bedford County Pennsylvania. A few years later he is found living in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania.  He dies there and is buried in Saint Vincent Cemetery in Latrobe in 1839.

 Any information on John "Henry" Topper or guns made by him would be appreciated.

For more information on Topper or other Hampshire County gunsmiths see;

'West Virginia History Volume XLV 1984"   William H.Ansel, James B.Whisker

"Gunsmiths of West Virginia" , James B.Whisker, Fred R. Lambert

"Historical Records of Old Frederick and Hampshire Counties Virginia" Wilmer L Kerns

THANKS TO THE COLLECTORS WHO ALLOWED US TO POST PICTURES OF THEIR RIFLES.   DO NOT COPY PICTURES.

WILLIAM BRITTON

                                                           WILLIAM BRITTON
                                                   Click on Pictures for Large View

Little seems to be known of William Britton. In "Gunsmiths of Maryland" by Hartzler & Whisker , He is listed as a Armorer at Harper's Ferry Arsenal. In the 1850 census he is living in Hampshire County, with a family by the name of Baker. If I am following the census taker correctly he was a mile or so down Dans Run Road from the stop light in present day Fort Ashby, Mineral County WV.  He gives 1794 as his year of birth and Maryland his birthplace. His occupation listed as a Gunsmith. We have found  no land records for Britton.

In William H Ansels article "Gunsmiths of Hampshire County" he states that in the "Manufactures Census" that the census taker indicated  Britton was illiterate. William Britton was a skilled gunsmith and his rifles are above average. He did relief and incise carving. His  best known  relief work can be seen on  page 173 in Bowers  "Gunsmiths of Pen-MAR-VA 1790-1840.  Many of his rifles  were originally flintlock. We have seen a few  original percussion.

                                                                                  

                            More Pictures of This Rifle can bee seen on Page 154 of

                    "Virginia Gunsmiths and Allied Professions" by James B. Whisker.

After the 1850 census , we  lose  track of William Britton.  We would appreciate any information that you may have on this excellent gunsmith.

                       This Rifle is Pictured on Page 64 of "Gunsmiths of  West Virginia"

   For more pictures of Brittons work see James B. Whiskers " Gunsmiths of West Virginia" Page 62.

Thanks to the collectors who allowed us to enjoy their rifles. We thank Mark Elliott for the top and bottom three photos. Here is a link to Mark Elliotts site to see more of his work.

                                     http://www.markelliottva.com/wordpress/intro/

                                                                                  
                                                                           
                                                                           

WEST VIRGINIA GUNSMITH LIST BY COUNTY

Click here to download WV Gunsmith List by County