Category: Bear Creek School

Harper, Edward

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 […]

Kennedy, John III

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 […]

Lett, James

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.

Kennedy, Alexander (the Earlier)

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 […]

Harper, John

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 […]