Riflemakers List

Kennedy, John II

School: Bear Creek School (North Carolina/NC)

Born in 1766 in what was Orange County, now Moore County. Part of the well known, Kennedy family of gunsmiths of Mechanics Hill, North Carolina. A known longrifle has a captured patchbox lid, that is all four sides of the lid are surrounded the brass “box.”
Source:
Ivey, William. North

Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865. Thomasville, NC: Published by the Author, 2010. Print.

Dietz, Ernst

School: Maryland

Hagerstown Ernst Dietz was active in the German Reformed Church where the only language used was German. On March 15, 1786, an indenture in the land records between Jonathan Hager Jr., son and heir at law of the estate of his father, sold to Ernst Dietz of Elizabeth Town of Washington County aforesaid gunsmith lot No. 358. This was signed and sealed by another gunsmith, Alexander Clagett. On April 2, 1789, Dietz sold this house and lot to John Sleigh and the same day, what was probably his shop on lot No. 90, to William Kreps. The April 19 Maryland Herald and Hagerstown Advertiser stated that William Kreps has removed his shop and place of abode to the house formerly occupied by Rust Dietz, gunsmith. In the fall of 1799 a letter awaited him at the Hagerstown Post Office which means that he was probably no longer a resident. For additional information see, Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.