Category: Maryland

School: Maryland Learned gunsmithing in Lancaster Pennsylvania. Worked in Frederick Maryland.

School: Maryland Baltimore James Haslett was born in 1773 in Ireland. Haslett was apprenticed int eh gunsmithing business in Europe to one of the most renowned lines of gunmakers. He came to America about 1798. His wife’s name was Mary and they settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They had three daughters and one son, who was his […]

School: Maryland Baltimore Alexander McComas was born near Bel Air in Harford County on February 27, 1821, a son of Preston McComas and was named after his grandfather. At the age of 13 his father brought him to Baltimore and placed him with Charles C.C. O’Brien to learn arms manufacturing. He remained with O’Brien for six […]

School: Maryland Hagerstown There are two mwn by the name of George Hawken during this period in Washington County and at least one was a gunsmith. George of Christian Sr. was born July 16, 1782. George of Christian Sr. was born Febuary 19, 1781. Both are recorded in the 1810 Federal census as residing in Elizabeth […]

School: Maryland Hagerstown William Kreps had six transactions of property, one mortage, one release, the purchase of one slave and one bill of sale in the Washington County Courthouse during his lifetime. He also participated in the purchase of ground for the Mount Zion Reform Church. His first deed for $260 current money on April 2, […]

School: Maryland Sharpsburg He was born in 1810 the fourth child of Daniel Sr. and Christina Beckenbaugh Marker. Daniel Jr. probably began learning the gunsmith trade under his father. when Daniel, Sr., moved to Martinsburg, (West) Virginia, Daniel Jr. would have been 12 years old. Therefore, he probably continued his training under either his grandfather, if […]

School: Maryland Emmitsburg William Armstrong was a son of the well-known gun and whitesmith John Armstrong. A Frederick County history states that William Armstrong was an inspector of arms at Harpers Ferry for many years. In 1822 he was a master armorer at the Marine Barracks in the Washington Naval Yard. A William Armstrong is […]

School: Maryland Cumberland Leonard was the son of Charles A. Pagenhardt who made guns and pistols at Westernport. After the War Between the States, Leonard advertised as a gun and locksmith at 62 North Mechanic Street in Cumberland. For additional information see Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.

School: Maryland Taneytown Daniel Creamer learned the gunsmith trade from his brother Philip and in the summer of 1805 he and Philip went west. In 1809 he is shown in the day book of the Cahokia, Illinois, store of Bryan & Morrison as purchasing articles on his brother’s account. In 1816 Daniel and his brother, […]

School: Maryland Frederick The 1860 federal census showed Samuel Ebert as a gunsmith working in Frederick, aged 27. He was a son of Henry and Polly Tice Ebert, who were married in November of 1822 and both were from Frederick. He may have been related to and the mentor of Benjamin Ebert. For additional information […]

School: Maryland Baltimore Peter A. Favier advertised at three different locations in Baltimore from 1837 until 1853. In 1852 he stated he was a gun, rifle and pistol maker, having constantly on hand a large and general assortment of doubles and single barrelled bird and ducking guns, rifle and pistols made to order. For further […]

School: Maryland Hagerstown Maryland. See “Maryland Longrifles” by Hartzler

School: Maryland Baltimore The 1860 Baltimore census lists him as being a gunsmith, 37 years of age, and residing at 710 Baltimore St. For additional information see Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.

School: Maryland Abraham Johnson (1793-1866). There are several superb guns known marked, “A. Johnson,” including a box-lock, pill-lock gun. The U.S. Census of 1850 showed Abram Johnson in Nottingham Township, Harrison County, Ohio, age 57, born in Maryland, gunsmith, with real estate valued at $3000. The estate of Abiram Johnson was appraised on 25 June 1866 […]

School: Maryland Hagerstown Jacob was born in 1785 or 1786, the third son of Christian Hawken Sr. He was employed at the National Armory at Harpers Ferry and after the War of 1812 he proceeded west and by 1818 was in St. Louis. With the death of his father in 1821 he returned to Hagerstown and […]

School: Maryland Baltimore Lewis Ealer was born in 1791 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was in business for himself as a master lock and gunsmith in the Fell’s Point section of Baltimore in 1822. In 1827 he moved to Oldtown. He returned to Philadelphia in 1837 where he continued to follow the trade. In 1857 he […]

School: Maryland Cumberland Amos Fisher advertised in the 1880s as a gun and locksmith at 36 Polk Street, Cumberland. For further reference, see Arms Makers of Maryland. For additional information see Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.

School: Maryland Frederick County Jacob Ernst may have been a relative of the gunsmith Adam Ernst. A Jacob Ernst married Mary Smith on June 21, 1758. Jacob the gunsmith was a resident of Frederick County and is included in the 1790 federal census. In July of 1803 a letter was awaiting him at the Frederick-town […]

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 […]

School: Maryland Emmitsburg Blackburn was born October 17, 1786, and was a son of Alexander Blackburn, He was apprenticed to John Armstrong to learn the gunsmith trade on April 15, 1804, for a term of three years. During the War of 1812 Blackburn was in Hagerstown and served as a private of infantry in a […]