School: Maryland
Funkstown Dr. Christian Boerstler in 1784 left Bavaria because of German tyranny and disembarked in Baltimore with only a single shilling in his possession. In September of that year he and his wife and six children settled in Jerusalem Town. The name was later changed to Funkstown. One of his sons, Daniel was a gunsmith who advertised in 1808 “Rifle, gun and cannon powder” at the bend of the waters of the Antietam on the National Pike at Funkstown. By 1812 the business was known as Boerstler and Son and in 1816 Jerusalem Manufacturing Company. For further reference, see Arms Makers of Maryland. For additional information see, Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.
