School: Maryland
Wills Town and Cumberland The second Martin Rizer was born before 1755 a son of Martin I and Anna Rizer. He or his father was connected in the gunmaking business with Philip Sheetz in Martinsburg, (West) Virginia, and there were legal actions against him in 1789. He or his father was then imprisoned for eight days. After disposing of his 400 acres of Berkeley County property he settled in the Wills Town area. He was recorded as having personal assets of $135.00 in Cumberland – Its Foundation and Growth. Daniel Sells was apprenticed to him to learn the art or trade of gunsmith on August 13, 1799. John Riley was also bound for the gunsmith trade on December 13, 1803 and Bazel Smith Jr. on August 31, 1805. On January 22, 1814, John Cumberly Jr. became his student to learn blacksmithing. Martin II died in 1815 and his estate was appraised on January 4, 1816. For further reference, see Arms Makers of Maryland. For additional information see Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.
