JAMES SIMS

James Sims (1754-1845), Gunsmith of Nicholas County

James Sims, my 5th great-grandfather, was a gunsmith and blacksmith. The Sims rifle was praised for its accuracy.[1]In his book Gunsmiths of West Virginia, on p. 105, James P. Whisker wrote he had never seen a Sims rifle. Several descendants of James Sims owned rifles in 1947 when interviewed by William H. Maginnis and in 1993 as related to me in 2002 by Rose Mary Sims Rudy. William Sims, who made the rifle, was a gunsmith of wide fame according to J.T. Peters and H.B. Carden.

I used to correspond with a "relative" who has since died (1998). He sent me this photograph of the "Mountain Rifle that William (Billy Gunsmith) Sims made." It was in his possession at the time the photo was made in 1993. We talked just before he died and he was giving it to his son!! He was responsible for securing a grave marker for our ancestor James - the date was assumed to be 1838.  In correspondence he stated "his great uncle Eugene Simms reported that James was still drawing his RW pension when he died."  He says that the Mountain Rifle has been in the family for many years passed to him by his grandfather and father. William Sims is written on the barrel. His father once told him of a wild hog chasing him up a tree and his brother coming to his rescue with this gun.

                                                              

Nicholas County was the early stomping ground of the Sims family. When James Sims settled there with his large family the county had not yet been formed from Kanawha County. James brought his Negro slaves and the tools of his blacksmith and gunsmith trades with him. Rev. Shirley Donelly, well-known for his column "Yesterday and Today" in the Beckley Post- Herald, wrote, "His rifles became noted and won an enviable reputation. Some years ago, one of these guns was shown to me but they now have all but disappeared from local circles. The Simms rifle ranked with the fine rifles produced in Raleigh County by James A. Honaker, J. B. Honaker, Joseph Carper, and Samuel Carper, as well as the Henderson rifles of Summers County and the Miller rifles of Monroe County."[2]

                                                                     

James Sims, a native of Culpeper County, may have learned the blacksmith and gunsmith trades before 1780 in Falmouth or Fredericksburg, both in Stafford County. Fredericksburg was a center of the iron industry in colonial times.[3]

James moved to Lowmoor, then Bath County, Virginia, about 1787 where he engaged in rifle making.[4]

A family tradition tells of James Sims, learning of the illness of his dear cousin Frances Sims Morris, wife of Joshua Morris, going to Kanawha Valley:

Following her death (Phebe), James Sims married Nancy (sic, Elizabeth) Cotton. Soon after this marriage, he went to Kanawha Valley to visit a cousin and also visited the Henry Morris home on Peter’s Creek. Henry tried to persuade him to buy near him, but James being a great hunter, said, “No, this section is too thickly settled.” So Henry took him on a hunting expedition down Peter’s Creek, out across the Little Elk Mountain and started down Little Elk Creek where they found signs of bear, deer and wild turkey. James Sims then said, “Henry, if I can buy land on this creek, I’ll be your neighbor soon.” The land belonged to John Jones who lived at what is now Pratt. He had married a Morris and had purchased thousands of acres of land. He at once went to see Mr. Jones and they soon agreed on a price for 500 acres on Little Elk Creek: a plug horse and a flint lock rifle. As soon as he could make arrangements, he moved his family there.”[5]

This colorful family history must be taken with a grain of salt. No court record of the above transaction has been found. The Kanawha County Clerk's office has a deed dated 8 April 1800 in Deed Book A page 391 in which John Jones conveyed 123 acres of land on Gauley to James Sims for the sum of five shilling.

                                                                     

In 1926 Peters and Carden were given a similar account of the story. The old plug horse and rifle were still part of the deal but the tract of land was 600 acres.

James Sims, great-grandfather of Miletus Sims (who is now living at Swiss and is 94 years of age), came from Culpepper county, Virginia, in 1795, and bought a 600-acre tract of land from Morris and Jones for which he paid on (sic, one) old plug horse and a muzzle-loading rifle. This tract of land was partly in Nicholas and partly in Fayette county.[6]

Col. Edward Campbell, author of a series of articles which appeared in the Chronicle in 1883, wrote about James Sims:

Going up Gauley River to the mouth of Little Elk, which empties into the river two miles above the ford, we come to the settlement made by J. Windsor. James Sims also made a small improvement at this place. He came from Jackson’s River in Bath County, Virginia. He was a gunsmith and blacksmith, and did but little farming. He had a large family of children, both male and female. Mr. Sims also brought the first darkies that were ever seen in these parts. He had two sons that were also gunsmiths and made the best of rifle guns. As these guns were much in demand with the increasing settlers they did a lucrative business. They both married young, and settled near their father and did some farming in addition to their work on guns. James lived to see his family settled here and elsewhere. His sons, William and Martin, remained here until they were old men and died leaving large families. James Sims was said to be 90 years old when he died.[7]

Col. Edward Campbell, the son of John Campbell and Nancy Hughes, was born in 1800 and acquired the basics of an education from his parents. Shortly after the formation of Nicholas County in 1818, he was appointed a justice of the peace and travelled throughout the county performing legal services for many of the outlying settlers who found it inconvenient if not impossible to make the long trip into Summersville. Campbell possessed an extraordinary memory for names and facts about the earliest inhabitants of Nicholas County, and some sixty years following his days as a travelling justice, he wrote down his reminiscences of the early settlers and the way in which they lived. Campbell’s memoirs have always been held in high esteem by historians, and where validation is possible he has seldom been found in error in any of his remarks.[8]

After Indians were driven away from the Kanawha valley about 1794, gunsmiths and hunters were still in demand in this region because of the abundance of wolves, bears and other wild beasts. Among the gunsmiths and hunters of the period were James Sims of Gauley river and his son, William.[9]

When William H. Maginnis wrote this statement in 1947 several guns made by William Sims were known to still be in existence. William learned his trade from his father James who turned the business over to his son. No known gun made by James has been preserved.

                                                                         

On 8 June 1802 James Sims and his son William were seen on a list of men to whom $2.50 was paid for each wolf-scalp presented. Part of the routine work, as seen in the minute-book, of the Kanawha County court was the payment of bounties for scalps of wolves.

Miletus Sims (1831-1927), who was about 14 years old when his great-grandfather James Sims died, described him as "a physical giant, fair of complexion, a great hunter and woodsman and inclined to thrift. He built the best house on Gauley in those days - two story, hewn oak logs and a massive chimney."[10]

Mrs. Ruberta Malva "Bertie" Simms Wicker, a daughter of Miletus, wrote a three-page missile to Rev. Shirley Donnelly in 1969. "His (Miletus) grandfather, William Sims, was a fine gunsmith and lived at the mouth of Little Elk, now Swiss, W. Va. There the family built a log cabin that was two stories high. It had a little ladder arrangement in one corner, where they could climb up to shoot at the wolves which prowled through there at that time. I remember the house very well as I am now 97 years old."

                                                                       

In 1835 James Sims was 80 years old when he sent this statement or letter of reply to the Pension Bureau following  questions of the authenticity of his claim to be a veteran of the Revolution. James mentions he gave a new rifle and $500 in continental money to one William Noll (?) whom he hired as a substitute, most likely about 1775. Was this new rifle one of the first he manufactured? [11]

                                                                         

James Sims Pensioner Serv 9 mo. Receives $30 pension. I the undersigned James Sims in pursuance of the requisites of the Secretary of the War gives the following narrative ________ services as a Soldier in the War of the Revolution & statement of my age to-wit. I am in my 79th year of age. I am a native of Culpepper County & lived in that county during the War of the Revolution. In my nieneteenth or twentieth year of age (I cant tell in what year) I was drafted for 3 mo. & marched from Cupepper Country under Capt. John Tults (?) (don’t recollect the names of his subaltern officers) Capt Tults company was attached to a Regt commanded by Col Jno Slaughter which went from Culpepper. The Regt. Marched to Norfolk. Can’t recollect the names of any towns through which we marched on going to Norfolk. We were discharged at Norfolk in time to get home before the three months expired. In less than one year after the preceding term, (I cant tell in what year) I was drafted again for 3 mo. And hired a substitute whose name was William Noll (?) gave him $500 in continental money and a new rifle gun. In the year in which Cornwallis was captured at Yorktown I was drafted again for 3 mo. Set out from Culpepper under a Capt. Whose name I have forgotten. We were preparing to set out on the march for nearly one week, when the news of Cornwallis’ defeat was received & we were ordered to return home & done so, having been in service this latter term about one week – I was a Sergeant & they ended my services — Saml Price wrote my Declaration to whom I gave this same narrative of my service. That I now give. I agreed to give him $20 if he brought me my money In ______________of all which I hereto subscribe my name. Jany 10, 1835
His
James      X      Sims
Mark

The original Revolutionary War application papers were sent to W. G. Singleton, U.S. District Attorney, at Winchester, Virginia, on 13 March 1835. Upon an examination of his claim by the U.S. District Attorney, James Sims' name was dropped from the pension rolls, 21 March 1835, as it was shown that he did not render the alleged service.

Although James Sims' service during the Revolutionary War was not accepted as proof for a pension, the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) have accepted his "providing supplies" and approved him as a Revolutionary War patriot. How I would love to find a document showing he provided arms of his own making.

© 2015 Cathy Meder-Dempsey  

See Updated Article Here

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[1] William Griffee Brown, History of Nicholas County, West Virginia, Dietz Press, 1954, p.375

[2] Rev. Shirley Donnelly, "Nicholas County Had Fine Gunsmith, Too," Beckley Post Herald, 24 September 1965 p. 4.

[3] William H. Maginnis, "Guns Made by Pioneer on Gauley River," The Charleston Gazette, Sunday, 10 August 1947 p. 20.

[4] George R. Penick Jr., comp., The Penick Papers (a Sims family compilation) (compiled in 1978-1980).

[5] Lela Wolfe Prewitt, “James Sims of Culpeper, Fayette & Nicholas Cos., (W) Va.,” Ancestors & Descendants of Thomas Sims of Culpeper County, Virgina Edmund Butler of Virginia and Kentucky with Allied Families & Other Culpeper Data, Compiled and published by Lela Wolfe Prewitt, Fairfield, Iowa, 1972, p. 156.

[6] J.T. Peters and H.B. Carden, History of Fayette County, published by the Fayette County Historical Society, Inc., 1926, page 610.

[7] Edward Campbell, “Early Settlers of Nicholas County, Virginia,” Nicholas County, (West) Virginia Records of the Pioneers 1818-1860, p. 63

[8] Ibid., p. 54

[9] "Guns Made by Pioneer on Gauley River"

[10] Ibid.

[11] James Sims, Revolutionary War Pension Application papers, File No. S.19494

Illustrations by Jeff Prechtel

We are grateful and very pleased with this wonderful article  Cathy Meder-Dempsey shared with us. 

SAMUEL K. NELSON GUNSMITH, CIVILIAN CIVIL WAR PRISONER and ADAM KELLER'S RIFLE MEMBER OF THE "SWAMP DRAGONS"

 A while back, I got a call from James Whisker, saying he was looking at two rifles, and he was sure they were from West Virginia. However, the signature on both of them, he had not encountered before.  He said the fellow that had them would be heading my way in a few days, and I should look at them.  Well, to make a long story short, we inspected the rifles and had to agree with James, that they were made somewhere  around  these parts.

Click image for larger view

 Both rifles were signed "S K N," in script. Well, a friend and fellow student of West Virginia Rifles from the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, as well as myself started going through the census records.  

 When we found  a Samuel K Nelson listed as gunsmith in the 1860 census, we knew we had the maker of these rifles.

Samuel K. Nelson , was born in 1811, in Greenbrier County, WV. He moved to Pendleton County with his parents.  There, he was a Farmer, mill owner, and gunsmith.  Engraved on silver inlay, under the cheek piece of one rifle, is the name Adam Keller.  During our research, we found that  Adam Keller was born 1818 in Pendleton County.  Adam and Samuel were married to sisters.  During the Civil War, Adam joined the Swamp Dragons, a Union Guerilla group, or militia.  Samuel was accused of helping the Confederates and making statements against the Union.  He was arrested and spent some time in a Wheeling, WV Prison.  The prison was in a hotel, called Athenaeum.  We found copies of  letters from him and the Union officials relating to this matter. He finally obtained his freedom by posting  bond and pledging his allegiance to the Union.

                                                             

                          SIGNED AFFIDAVIT BY SAMUEL NELSON'S ACCUSERS

              (partial excerpt)                                                          " Post Head Quarter,  Petersburg, VA  27 June 1862

     Deposition of Amos Shirk,

I Amos Shirk do solemnly swear that I heard Samuel K. Nelson say if any man reported him to the "Union Forces" and he should be ---- or have the opportunity he would kill the one who reported him and further that he would rejoice in the opportunity of shooting or stoning the Yankees and that from his whole conversation that he appears a very strong secession's  Amos Shirk.

     

Sworn before me this 27th day of June 1862  

        C.W. Sheaver Capt

          ? counseling ? Post

                      Deposition # 2

Deposition of William Shreve,

    I Wm Shreve do solemnly  swear that I was in the confederate camp, in the "Upper Tract" Pendleton Co. VA with Samuel K. Nelson, and heard him report one Adam Carr, as being a dangerous Union man and proposed to lead the rebels to the house of said Carr for the purpose of arresting him and that he expressed his regret that John Carr son of Adam Carr who had been arrested by the rebels had been released declaring that if he had been in camp sooner he would have been retained and further that the said Sam K. Nelson expressed the opinion that the "Black Flag" should be raised in Virginia and every Union man should be put to death."

                                     

        (signed)                                  William Shreve

                                                       X  his mark

Sworn before me this 27th day of June 1862

                                          C.W. Sheaver, Capt

                                            ?  Counsel? Post

                                                                   

         LETTERS FROM SAMUEL REQUESTING HIS RELEASE AND HIS DEFENSE,                                             WHILE  HE WAS IMPRISONED  IN WHEELING.

                                                                     

 Maj Gen Halleck                                                July 14, 1862

     "Dear Sir I thank your honor of communicating to me the charges against me it is the most notorious false hood that man ever was charged with    I am able to prove by my neighbors that I am falsely accused and if you will please allow me the liberty of hiring a man to go to my neighborhood I can convince you and all who may desire of my innocence   I can prove I have kept my Union neighbors hid from the secesh and knew where they were all the time and I can prove that I was not for war in no respect and that it would be wisdom to ???? our new president   now the fact is that I can get every person

in my neighborhood to sign a petition for me as a peaceable citizen  I can hire a man here to go for me if you will be so kind as to let me have the chance  Now I will inform you the nature of that report of me threatening -- it was a company of what we call Swamp dragons who was some that belonged to the south and run off and joined the north and is new so -- of them at home in army against both sides and a man named Isaac Carr who was mad at me before the war was thought of said he would give them fifty dollars if they would catch me so I said if they came to disturb I would shoot some of them  they are not Union me but terrorists to all and my Union neighbors? they not suffer it done ? to me  Now this man is not believed on oath and is always been called a busy body  if you will give me the liberty to send I will bring certification enough to convince you that I am clear of any such thing as to disturb any Union   I beg of your ? excell?? the honor of letting me know if you will give me a chance or not  

   I am your very respectful servant

            Sam K. Nelson

   To the Hon Major Darr provost"

                                       RECOMMENDATION FOR HIS RELEASE

SAMUEL'S  RELEASE

                                                        

Adam Keller  left here before the conflict ended.  Adam was  in Missouri for a while, but things there must have been as bad as here. He finally settled in Iowa.  In Iowa, he spent the rest of his days as a farmer.  Dying there in 1888.

Samuel K. Nelson died May 22 1880.

 After consulting with several collectors and students of the longrifle,  these two rifles currently are the only known work of Samuel K. Nelson. If you have a rifle signed "S K N," or "S Nelson," please contact us. We would like to see more of his work.
Note, Samuel K Nelson can be found in Pendleton, Hardy & Grant County Census. For some reason he is actually in both  the Pendleton & Grant County in 1870. Reporting at Upper Tract for Pendleton, and Milroy District for Grant.

Special thanks to James Whisker for bringing these rifles to our attention. 

Thanks to  Billie Jane McInernery  a descendant of Adam Keller for helping us with the research & helping us put the puzzle together. 

These blogs are a work in progress, new info will be added or removed as we learn  more.

                                                  

* One more Samuel K Nelson rifle has been found since we first posted this.  We are alway looking for more rifles made by him, if you have one , please contact us, we would be pleased to see it.  Thanks.

                                                                           

                                                                                  

    

   

Another Great Hampshire County Rifle

It has been awhile since we added anything to this blog, however with the holidays behind us we will try to get some more stuff on here. As I have said many times we are always looking for pictures of antique long rifles made in the great state of West Virginia. To all of you who have provided pictures, history and other help we are greatly appreciative.

The following  pictures came to us in the mail. The owner found our blog and was much interested in this regions gun makers, rifles & history. They just happened to be the fortunate caretaker of a Frederick Sheetz rifle. I was going to add these pictures of the rifle to an earlier blog on Frederick Sheetz, but since we have not posted anything for awhile I thought we would put them on. Not to mention that it really deserves its own billing. I hope you enjoy seeing this rifle as much as we have.




Click to see:      Earlier Post on Frederick Sheetz



             CLICK ON PICTURES AND SCROLL TO SEE LARGER IMAGES AND VIEW ALL                                                                        PICTURES
                                                             

                                                                     
                                                                       

                                                                     

Click on the following pictures for a larger view and slide show.

For more information on Frederick Sheetz, see our earlier post, click:

Frederick Sheetz

JOEL ELLIS LETTERS

A few years back while researching gunsmiths in Hampshire County, I ran across the following record.

Recorded in Book 13, page 390, Hampshire County, Romney WV

This is a  list of buyers from the estate sale  of Joel Ellis, Eastern Hampshire County,  Samuel Baumgarner, executor,  Nov. 2, 1846

Thomas Crawford, razor strap, whip, books, 40 lbs wool

Jeremiah Hiett, pair spoon moulds

James Slane, pr tooth drawers

Jacob Cooper, pair silver spectacles

Samuel Baumgarner, shot gun, and flax, books, weaver's need

Nimrod Ward, rifle gun

Joseph Asbury, shot pouch-horn

John W. Rinehart, pair silver spurs, spy glass

Jacob Cooper, horse pistol, steam canister, hides

John Zahn, horse pistol and pr moulds and book

James Powell, 7 yards twilled bagging

Hugh Slane, Bible and hymn book and books

James Rinehart, books

James Foreman, book on French Revolution

John B. Sherrard, vols. on agriculture

Daniel Anderson, books

Robert Kidwell, books

William Largent, family Bible, pr shoes

Samuel Davis, piece cast steel, broad axe, old plains, saw

Eli Beale, crow bar

Thomas Duncan, old saddle and bridle, black horse

Thomas Reily, lot of iron, oats

James Bennet, bay mare,10 bu oats

Simion Ward, carryall and harness

Nathaniel Offutt, pr saddle bags

John Barr, moulding plains, pr spectacles

Frederick Secrist, match plains and bits, blacksmith vice

J. Waddle, pr side leather & chairs

Jacob McElwee, pr haines

John Spaid, bench

Abraham Secrist, old wagon, rugs, iron

Samuel Davis, loom, log chain, plaster mill, weaver's reed

William Davis, pr Haines, clock

Samuel Davis, tubs, iron pot, big wheel, chairs, looking glass

Isaac Brill, chest, bureau

Silas Grove, bottles

John Dunlap, bottles

Samuel Baumgarner, tin plate stove, brass box, weights

Jacob Kump, razors and case

Silas Brooks, two pocketbooks

Jacob Cooper, horse hide

Samuel Davis, black steer, mousetrap, bedsted & cord

Francis Perrille, pair steel yards

What caught my eye at that time was that James Rinehart, John W. Rinehart, Simeon Ward, and *Nathaniel Offutt, successful bidders at that  sale, were gun makers in Hampshire County. I had forgotten about Joel Ellis until these letters came to my attention.

I suppose I used the gunsmiths at the above estate sale as an excuse to share the content of these recently uncovered letters. The following does not consist of the  subject matter you  expect to find on  our blogs. These letters tell an important & interesting story from the Antebellum period in America,  originating from Hampshire County.

                                                                 

 

 1820 Hampshire County Census

   Click Image for larger View

I have not found a date of birth for Joel Ellis, but in the 1840 Census he is listed in the 70-79 age bracket, so he must have been  born before 1771. In this census, he has listed 6 slaves.

                                                             

1840 Hampshire County Census

                                           

The first letter was written from Joel Ellis of Hampshire County to his niece Lucinda Dunlop  in Campbell County Kentucky dated 1841. The following three letters mostly contain his wish to visit, his declining health, & best wishes to Lucinda and the rest of their family.

When I have added any excerpt from the letters, I tried to put it down  as it was written. I did not correct spelling or punctuation. 

 If you zoom in, you may be able read much of these letters.

This is the second letter written from Joel Ellis to his niece in Kentucky.

Top Half

Notice in the top line, he uses "Pleasant Retreat." In the first letter, he used " Home Place."

Note the Cold Stream  return address

on the lettersheet

Below is the third letter from Joel to his niece. The letter is dated October 26, 1843." Dr Niece Pleasant Retreat Hampshire Cty Va". While some of the following is hard for me to read, one line is fairly clear and goes like this, " I do not know if any person can escape the wrath to come without obeying the gospel which is to believe Jesus christ is the son of god repent and be baptised"

Top line "Dr Niece pleasant retreat Hampshire C'ty Va October 26, 1843"

This next letter was written from Samuel Bumgarner from Yellow Spring Hampshire County, to William Dunlop of Campbell County New Richmond KY. The letter is dated March 14, 1846.

Remnants of the wax seal on this 168 year old lettersheet.

"Capecapon"

To add a little background as to help us understand these letters, Dudley Brown Ellis 1760-1837, was a brother to Joel Ellis. Dudley Brown Ellis was a Revolutionary War veteran and had several children, including, Ira, David, John, Nelson W, Lucinda Dunlop (wife of William Dunlop), & Mahala Clift. While I suspect "Dick" is also one of his children, I have not found positive proof of that yet. In all of the records I have see so far, Dudley had no son named Richard.  Joel had no children.  Dudley, Dick and Joel were slave holders. At the time of Joel's death he owned 4 slaves. 

The above  letter is basically a  notification to the Ellis Family of the death of Joel Ellis & how Joel wanted his earthly possessions to be divided. You should be able to read it, however here is some of the content. 

 “Capecapon Hampshire Co., Va. March 13th 1846” 

 “Dear Sir: It has fallin to my lot (though an entire stranger in person to you,) to communicate intelligence to you of a matter painful in itself and especially so to friends and aquaintinces? It has been made my duty to inform you that your friend and relation Mr. Joel Ellis has departed this life on the 26th day of January last, he was taken ill some time early last fall having suffered very much with the dropsy and athsma and though he used all means he could they failed to give any permanent relief…I must likewise inform you of the disposition he made of his earthly estate and in doing so I will endeavor to give you an outline of his will, first he wills that all his slaves named Thomas, Carolina, Abram and Virginia Clay are to be free from and after his decease and he wills them a wagon and two horses and all the use of the stock on his home farm and all the farming utensils and house and kitchen furniture belonging to the same which they are to have and hold until Virginia Clay, the youngest of the blacks arrives at twenty one years of age and likewise the use of all his other land till that time, and after that time all the property that remains except the home farm are to be sold. The home farm is not to be sold til after the death of Thomas--- his wife he further gives to you his cloak. To John Ellis his nephew his vest and ??? and to Nelson W. Ellis his coat and to Jso Ellis his silver watch and to each of his deceased brothers Dudley Brown Ellis’s children not named above ten dollars in cash and to the son of his deceased niece Mahala Clift the sum of one hundred dollars subject to the order of his guardian and which sum is to be applied to his education by the said guardian. He further gives to his nieces Lucinda Dunlop and Nancy E. Clift his silver plate except the silver ladle which he gives to Dorothy Craves Daughter of George Ceaves and his two silver Tumblers he gives to john Ellis & Nelson Ellis one to each and to their heirs for ever. He directs that all the notes, bond and bank accounts of his standing out to be Collected and invested until all his affairs are settled up and then to be divided between his deceased brother Dudley Brown Ellis’s children and those slaves which he has set free share and share alike to each. I would just state that Virginia Clay the youngest of the blacks us about seven or eight years old, and the bonds for the farm which he sold will not all be due for six years so that there will not likely be any partition of his estate made for some six or eight years except those expressed legacy’s which he has bequeathed. I would further inform you that I have entered upon the duties of Executor of the said estate and have taken an inventory of the property according to law and desire you to inform those to whom are willed those things before named that they would come or send for them save as to the cash willed to some I would inform them that there is none at present ------ as there will be some debts to ---0- deal of expenses on that it will ----- before they can get theirs. I would just state to you the reason I did not write sooner is that I live about 15 or 16 miles off and that I has no means of finding out whare to direct a letter to until I got hold of the papers belonging to the estate among which I found one letter from you by which I was enabled to know whare to direct my letter. I would like for you to answer this letter soon, direct your letter to Yellow Springs Post Office Hampshire County, Va.. nothing more but I remain your humble Servant Samuel Bumgarner”. 

The bottom of the letter signed "Samuel Bumgarner"

The following letter was written by David Ellis to his sister Lucinda Dunlop. Dated August 20 , 1846

Here is an excerpt from this letter.

"I suppose I am also sorry to hear of the death of uncle Joel. You wished to know of me if I was in favor of breaking the will and enslaving the blacks for life. I plainly assure you that I would be the last person that would go in for a measure of that kind. What uncle has done I am perfectly satisfied with; if he had have willed it to them for ever I should have said nothing against it and dick should be ashamed of him self for wishing to un do what the old man has done and if he is not, I think he will be before he is threw with it. I did not think that he would lose his religion so soon as it is impossible for a religious person to hold slaves. They cost him nothing not any of the balance of the property and think he ought to be perfectly satisfied with things as uncle has left them…” 

The following is an affidavit signed by David Ellis stating his interest in estate of Joel Ellis. This is dated 1847.

The following letter is the last letter in this collection of letters. This one is from Samuel Bumgarner of Hampshire County to John H Nelson of Campbell County Kentucky. October 23, 1848.

Most of this letter from Samuel Bumgarner is discussing the estate and his desire to have it finalized. Here is a part of it.

 Dear Sir: I received your letter dated Sept. the 10th which gave me the information that Mr. Dunlop was dead which I regretted to hear. In reply to your letter I would just say that there has nothing been done towards the arrangement with the blacks. I have talked with them about it but when I spoke to them last about the matter they had come to no decision upon the matter and all that they would say upon the subject was that they would do it if they could see it to be to their interest to do so. I did not try to persuade them to it but advised them get some one to investigate the matter and give them advise accordingly but I do not think that they will agree to take the home farm for their shear as it would not be more then their proportion of the land exclusive of the other property. I should be very glad if something of the kind could be effected to close the whole business as soon as possible"

From reading these letters, it is obvious that Joel Ellis was not your average  slave holder. While old records and history reveal, some slave holders did bequeath freedom for their slaves in their wills; it had to be most unusual that any slaves would have inherited so much property.  The letters show that some of his brother’s children had very different opinions of his will. This strong division about slavery was mirrored by much of America during this period just prior to Americas Civil War.

On Page 164 of Wilmer Kerns " Historical Records of Old Frederick and Hampshire Counties" (revised) , he writes,

" There were two sets of legatees; white heirs & black heirs. First the Whites; John Ellis, Nelson W. Ellis, Ira Ellis, sons of my deceased brother , Dudley Brown Ellis, of Kentucky; David Ellis, Jr.; Lucinda Dunlap, niece in Kentucky.  Presumably Joel's sister married a William Dunlap; Mahala Clift ( possibly a deceased sister) whose daughter Mary Clift was a ( niece)  was to receive the silver.  

The black heirs; Judith was a slave to Joel Ellis, and she had Caroline, Abram, and Virginia Clay.  Their father was a servant of Joel Ellis, but was freed and went to Alexandria, VA.  Judith ( the female slave) died before Joel Ellis died.  Celia was a servant of Joel and she became free and married Thomas Duncan. 

This case was kept open for many years, possibly of the reluctance to turn over an estate to former slaves or servants.  In 1868 Thomas Duncan gave a deposition that he was 70 years old.  The name of the Ellis estate was called "Pleasant Retreat" . The Court finally agreed to give the white and black legatees equal shares. Source; Papers in Box 165, Circuit of Hampshire County, W.Va., dated June 27, 1848. In Box 232, dated march 1872, it shows that Samuel Bumgarner , Executor, had died and his widow, Ellen, was called Mrs. Racey. A tombstone inscribtion at Intermont, W. Va. shows that Samuel Bumgarner was born on Oct. 1800 and died 1864."


Note: Click below to see these letters in their entirety.
WV Culture Archive

*Nathaniel Offutt is listed as gunsmith in some of the West Virginia gunsmith books & articles.  There has been some debate if Nathaniel Offutt was actually a gunmaker. All records indicate he was a saddle maker and lender. However, he had very close association with some of the gunsmiths in Hampshire County. I do believe that many of the guns attributed to him signed N. O., were actually made by Nathaniel Oats.