School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)

Listed in the North Carolina census as a gunsmith in Moore County.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.

School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)

Born in 1780 in Chatham County, died 1857. He worked a few miles away from Mechanics Hill, North Carolina near present day Harpers Cross Roads. He was the father of gunsmith John Harper. Both father and son are considered provincial or back-country gun makers. While they were influenced by the Kennedys, they were not restricted to conform to any shop standards.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.

School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)

Born in 1815 in Chatham County, died 1857. He worked a few miles away from Mechanics Hill, North Carolina near present day Harpers Cross Roads. He was the son of gunsmith Edward Harper. Both father and son are considered provincial or back-country gun makers. While they were influenced by the Kennedys, they were not restricted to conform to any shop standards.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.

School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)

Alexander Kennedy the Earlier born 1738 and died 1805. He was the head of the well known, Kennedy family of gunsmiths of Mechanics Hill, North Carolina. Father of gunsmiths David Kennedy (1768-1837), Alexander Kennedy II (1772-1828) and John Kennedy II (born 1766, died ?).
Source:
Ivey, William. North

Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.

School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)

Born in 1768 (died 1828) in what was Orange County, now Moore County. Part of the well known, Kennedy family of gunsmiths of Mechanics Hill, North Carolina. A known rifle bears a coin silver flower similar to those on some Virginia rifles.
Source:
Ivey, William. North

Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.

School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)

Born in 1768 in what was Orange County, now Moore County. Part of the well known, Kennedy family of gunsmiths of Mechanics Hill, North Carolina. David Kennedy supplied some arms to the US government for the war of 1812. Known rifles usually bear a star finial, which is said to be based on the flower finial found on Lancaster, Pennsylvania rifles. Other patchbox finials exist, such as a bird and a coin silver flower similar to those on some Virginia rifles.
Source:
Ivey, William. North

Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.

School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)

Born in 1805 in Moore County, died 1835. Part of the well known, Kennedy family of gunsmiths of Mechanics Hill, North Carolina. Son of David Kennedy. A known coin silver mounted flintlock pistol bears identical engraving found on other Kennedy made rifles. The pistol is signed in script “ES Kennedy” on a silver plate inlayed in the top flat of the barrel.
Source:
Ivey, William. North

Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.

School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)

Born in 1792 in Moore County, died 1862. Part of the well known, Kennedy family of gunsmiths of Mechanics Hill, North Carolina. Son of David Kennedy. A known coin silver mounted flintlock pistol has signed in script “H Kennedy” on a silver plate inlayed in the top flat of the barrel.
Source:
Ivey, William. North

Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.

School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)

Born in 1766 in what was Orange County, now Moore County. Part of the well known, Kennedy family of gunsmiths of Mechanics Hill, North Carolina. A known longrifle has a captured patchbox lid, that is all four sides of the lid are surrounded the brass “box.”
Source:
Ivey, William. North

Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.

School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)

Born in 1790 in Moore County. Part of the well known, Kennedy family of gunsmiths of Mechanics Hill, North Carolina. Son of David Kennedy. An existing very plain rifle without a patchbox is signed in script (not stamped) “J*K” for John Kennedy.
Source:
Ivey, William. North

Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.

School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)

Listed in the Moore County North Carolina census in 1840. Only one longrifle is known to this maker, but it bears the tradition of Bear Creek and Moore County gunsmiths.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.

School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)

A known rifle, signed “B. Martindale” is engraved differently and in a higher quality than most Kennedy rifles.
Source:
Ivey, William. North

Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.

School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)

B. L. Sanders worked in the David Kennedy shop in Mechanics Hill, North Carolina. He later became the Sheriff of Montgomery County.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.

School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)

Born in 1795. A known rifle is signed “J. S.” He probably worked in southeastern Randolph or Moore County.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.

School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)

Listed in the North Carolina census as a gunsmith in Moore County.
Source:
Ivey, William. North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.