By John McKee
Here's a brief introduction to our gunsmiths here in the county. First of all Hampshire County was formed from Frederick Co. in 1754. In 1786 Hardy Co. was formed from Hampshire Co. Morgan Co. was formed in 1822 from Hampshire Co. Mineral Co. came along in 1866. This is to give you a general idea of how large in size Hampshire County was at this time.
Here's a brief introduction to our gunsmiths here in the county. First of all Hampshire County was formed from Frederick Co. in 1754. In 1786 Hardy Co. was formed from Hampshire Co. Morgan Co. was formed in 1822 from Hampshire Co. Mineral Co. came along in 1866. This is to give you a general idea of how large in size Hampshire County was at this time.
Now I'll give you
some idea of the settlement of this part of Virginia. Port of entry to our
country at this time, 1735 to 1800 can generally be considered to be Philadelphia.
Baltimore and Williamsburg were also
ports of entry, but for this time frame Philadelphia saw the most movement to
this area. So for the most part we were seeing the movement of people from the
North to the South traveling the great wagon road down the Shenandoah Valley.
This influx of people populated areas we know as Martinsburg, Harper's
Ferry,Winchester, Woodstock, New Market and so on. The important factor here is
Winchester. From there our area gunsmiths migrated to Romney and other out laying
areas.
The earliest known
gunsmith was Jacob Reed. In 1751 he was found in South Fork of the South Branch area, South of present
day Moorefield. This area at that time was Augusta county Va., but by 1754 was a
portion of Hampshire county. The next early smith that would be close to this area
was George Glaze senior of Springfield, settling there around 1768. Then we
have Rudolph Rinehart, around 1785 he
was established near Augusta in or near Bear Wallow Hollow. Frederick Sheetz
set up shop around present day Fort Ashby around 1790.
No examples exist of
the work that Reed, G. Glaze senior or R. Rinehart produced. So to study their
work to see who influenced them is not possible. However we can surmise that
their work was heavily influenced by builders from Lancaster ,York and the surrounding
areas.
Adam Haymaker and
Simon Lauck Sr. both of Pa. establish shops in the Winchester Va. area around
1780 or a little earlier. We know that George W Glaze Jr. and Frederick Sheetz
of Hampshire county both apprenticed under Simon Lauck of Winchester Va. and
their work reflect that of the Lauck shop. Frederick finished his
apprenticeship just prior to establishing his own shop in present day Fort
Ashby,(1790) and later Headsville, near the confluence of Beaver run and
Pattersons creek. This is where he produced his 1812 contract rifles for the
state of Virginia. However his normal work reflected that of the Lauck shop,
with low relief carving and silver inlays found on many of his Golden Age guns.
G. W. Glaze Jr.
apprenticed a little later with Lauck and his work also reflects that of the
Winchester School.
Gunsmiths here in the county were numerous, numbering up
into the 40's. All moving in and out of the county going to Ohio, Indiana and
further points West.
For a more in depth study on the individual smith's . I
suggest reading " Early Gunsmiths of Hampshire County" by William H.
Ansel, Jr. and the ( Hampshire County Longrifle blog) both sources have a
wealth of knowledge for those who want to learn more about the Hampshire county
rifle. Known locally for years as the (home rifle.)
Thanks to John McKee for sharing this article with us.
Thanks to John McKee for sharing this article with us.