I think the Young family has the potential to be one of the more interesting gunsmithing families in NH county, probably comparable to the Molls. I have not "dug into" them, however, as I have with the Molls. They certainly worked within a unique style that seems reminiscent of NH county but yet not reliant upon the Christian's Spring - Neihart - Moll triangle which seems to have been the most influential in the region, stylistically.
The founder of the workshop at Easton would appear to be Henry Young (the elder) but I do not believe he was professionally trained as a gunsmith. He was always noted as a locksmith. I do periodically come across a modern reference to him listed as a gunsmith during a specific war-years tax list (Julia auctions, probably relying upon Ron Gabels old white paper), but if in fact a documented notation, was likely due to war necessity and I personally have not been able to find this list first-hand. Possibly it is repetitively repeated after mention in one of the county history books, which I have found to be unreliable and undocumented (of course nothing was in the 19th century when they were written, based largely on oral traditions). For example, Jacob Berlin (Issac Berlin's brother) was always listed as a blacksmith, but for a short period during the war he was noted as being involved in gun production, only to be listed as a blacksmith once more after the war. I believe the real gunsmiths in the Young family were John Sr., John Jr. and a younger (no pun intended) Henery Young who I think was another son of John Sr. I'd like to find a really detailed genealogy of this family, not based on the old sometimes-inaccurate county history books but documented with first hand references to tax lists, warrants etc. It might help to straighten all of them out in my mind. I think I'll have to dig more deeply into them sometime soon!
When you consider that the carving work in particular upon the KRA disc John Young rifle is extremely professional in nature, as is the carving upon the Aspen Shade rifle which I am positive is also a Young rifle, and you also consider the extremely professional nature of the carving upon the two Isaac Berlin rifles assumed to have been made in Easton as well, it raises some very interesting questions. Here you have at least two (Berlin and Young Sr. (
assumed Sr., although could be Jr.)) very accomplished gun stockers in Easton, but no indication to my way of thinking as to who taught them. It *appears* that both men, in the same area, may have been taught by someone who might have had a professional European guild background to some extent. Yet, Abraham Berlin (Isaac's father) was not a gunsmith, or at the least, has not to my knowledge ever been referenced as one in any first-hand document. Henry Young was always noted as a locksmith, which may explain the subsequent Youngs fine abilities with metal work and engraving, but does not explain the extremely fine ability in carving.
I think I officially may have a fever, and the only prescription is more Young(Jung) investigation!
I'm pretty sure I have some notes found in various tax lists etc. from my time spent investigating the microfilmed NH Co. records, but I'm going to have to take the time to dig them all out and go through them; that's a job and a half, let me tell you.
