Womelsdorf

John Bonewitz

School: Berks Womelsdorf (Pennsylvania/PA)

John Bonewitz [B 1758 – D 1828] worked as Master Gunsmith in Womelsdorf, Pa. from approx. 1778 until 1809. Moved to Pine Grove, Pa. in 1809 and continued the trade there until his death.
Bonewitz first appears in the Womelsdorf tax records in 1780 as a single freeman. In 1781 he appears in York, Pa for a short period of time and then again in Womelsdorf estate records in 1783 and as a tax payer from 1784 thru 1809.
Largely credited with training Leonard Reedy while in Womelsdorf who remained with Bonewitz in the Womelsdorf shop after his apprenticeship and moved with him to Pine Grove in 1809.
Bonewitz and Reedy also are credited with training Andrew Fichthorn Jr. in the mysteries and art of gun making up until 1802-1803 when Fichthorn Jr. returned to Reading, Pa. and established his own shop. [See Andrew Fichthorn Jr.]

Further information available:
– John Bonewitz, Womelsdorf, Pa., by Henry Bishop
– KRA Bulletin: Vol. 29 No. 2 Winter 2002
– Selected KRA Bulletin Articles-KRA 2005 Published by Kentucky Rifle Foundation
– High Resolution Photos of Bonewitz’ Work – Kentucky Rifle Photographs 2005 Volume I, Issue I
Bonewitz1

Filed Under: Berks, Pennsylvania, Riflemakers, Womelsdorf

Andrew Fichthorn Jr.

School: Womelsdorf, Reading and Berks (Pennsylvania/PA)

Andrew [Andreas] Fichthorn [Figthorn] Jr. [B 1779 – D 1822] was the son of Andrew Fichthorn Sr., a Rev War veteran, Reading land owner/speculator, Reading banker and Bond holder and some believe a gunsmith at various times in his life.
Andrew Fichthorn Jr., however, was a full time Master Gunsmith in Reading, Pa. from 1803 until his death in 1822. He positively spent time in the Bonewitz/Reedy Womelsdorf shop as an apprentice or journeyman until 1802 or 1803 when tax records indicated he returned to Reading, Pa. and set up his own gunsmith business. He signed his work A+F near the breech on the third flat opposite the lock.
Careful examination of his early guns show he spent equal amounts of time with Bonewitz and Reedy while in the Womelsdorf shop. The majority of his later work does not carry the same sophistication of his experience and training in Womelsdorf or his early years in Reading.
He died, after a short illness, and is buried in the family cemetery plot in Reading, Pa.

Further Reference material:
– The ‘Andrew Fichthorn Family, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania’ KRA Vol. 28 , No 1., 2001
– Selected Articles form the KRA Bulletin, Published by the Kentucky Rifle Foundation 2005.

See a listing for Andrew Fichthorn Sr.
FitchhornJr FitchhornJr2

Filed Under: Berks, Pennsylvania, Reading, Riflemakers, Womelsdorf

Jacob Palm

School: Womelsdorf (Pennsylvania/PA)

Jacob Palm of Womelsdorf, Berks Co., appears in the U. S. Census of 1850 as a gunsmith. According to the business directory, he was still working ten years later in the same trade. (Kauffman)

Filed Under: Pennsylvania, Riflemakers, Womelsdorf

Leonard Reedy

School: Berks Womelsdorf (Pennsylvania/PA)

Leonard Reedy [B 1776 – D 1837] , Master Gunsmith, Womelsdorf, Pine Grove and Gratz, Pa.
Leonard Reedy learned the gunsmith trade while an apprentice to John Bonewitz in Womelsdorf, Berks Co., Pa. It is estimated he joined Bonewitz as an apprentice in 1790, at age 14, and achieved Master Gunsmith status 7 or 8 years later. He remained in the Bonewitz, Womelsdorf shop after completing his apprenticeship and moved with the Bonewitz family to Pine Grove, Pa. in 1809. Sometime after the conclusion of the War of 1812 he moved to Gratz, Pa. where he continued as a Master Gunsmith and also became a local Justice of the Peace.

Both Bonewitz and Reedy are credited with teaching the mysteries of the gunsmith trade to Andrew Fichthorn Jr. who returned to Reading in 1802-1803 and established his own shop.

Leonard Reedy’s account journals, while in Gratz, are the subject of 10 pages [13-22] in Joe Kindig’s famous book ‘Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in its Golden Age’ printed in 1960. His Gratz account journals are also reviewed in an article published by the Gratz Historical Society. ‘The Lost Years of Leonard Reedy’ were the subject of a private research effort by KRA member H. I. Bishop presented to KRA members in 2004.

Further information available:

– Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in its Golden Age, Joe Kindig, p 13-22

– Gratz Historical Society-Leonard Reedy

– ‘The Lost Years of Leonard Reedy’, Private manuscript H.I. Bishop

– ‘Master, Apprentice, Master’ American Tradition Vol. I, No. I 2010 Bishop

Leonard Reedy overall