Riflemakers List

School: Maryland

Sharpsburg Hundred At the request of Andrew Eavey, the following deed was recorded on the 25th day of June, 1770. “Towits, this indenture made the 20th day of June in the year of our Lord 1770, between Jacob French of the County of Frederick and the Province of Maryland of the one part, to Andrew Eavey of the County and Province aforesaid, of the other part… In consideration of the sum 150 pounds current money…part of a tract of land called Huckleberry Hill situated and being in the county and Province aforesaid on a draft of Antietam called Dicktons.” {Frederick County Courthouse, Liber N, Folil 207-207} Patriotic people from this area were some of the first to demonstrate on a county-wide basis for independence. On January 4, 1775, Andrew Eaby represented the Conoccocheague Hundred at a meeting held in Fredericktown concerning the formation and arming of militia. Andrew may have been related to an armorer from the French and Indian Wars named Thomas Eaby. That man was active from Fort Cumberland, west to Fort Ligonier and Fort Pitt. On 22 May 1780 Thomas Eaby “produced a discharge signed by Adam Stephen, Colonel of the First Virginia Regiment, for the Service of Thomas Eaby as an artificer for the time of his enlistment in the late War between Great Britain and France.” {Yohogania County, Virginia Court Records, p.410}. For additional information see, Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.

School: Maryland

John Hawken was born March 19, 1784, second son of Christian Hawken, while his parents were on the frontier in North Carolina for a short period of time. The October 4, 1809, local Hagerstown paper records “married last evening by Rev. Rotroff John Hawken to Miss Hannah Long, daughter of John Long of this county. “He was not listed in the equity case for the estate of his father in 1821, so apparently he was deceased. For further reference, see Arms Makers of Maryland. For additional information see Maryland Longrifles Hartzler/Whisker.

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.