AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: Tanselman on January 02, 2023, 11:10:10 PM
-
I recently acquired a full-stocked rifle from Georgia that I believe was made by a man named Joseph Vann. I have Jim Whisker's soft bound book, "Gunsmiths of Tennessee" with a brief mention of Joseph Vann in the "James Vann" listing [James was Joseph's father], but Joseph lived primarily in Georgia. I don't have any reference on Georgia gunsmiths.
If anyone has Whisker's paperback book, "Gunsmiths of Georgia," would you mind checking for a listing on "Joseph Vann" and let me know what it says, and the source [if one is provided] for the information.
Thanks,
Shelby Gallien
-
Have the book. But no listings for Vann.
-
Shelby, wish I had some useful information for you about Vann the gunsmith, but I do not. What I do know is that the Vanns are an old family in Georgia that includes both the Scotch/Irish settlers, but also a portion of the Cherokee folks that lived there. Chief James Vann was a prominent Cherokee leader in the early 1800s until his murder one evening. His home still stands and is celebrated today for its freestanding stair case which is/was a marvel of engineering. I have a very nice contemporary print of Plains Indians painted by Donald Vann who is of the Cherokee side. Your fellow could be from either group. Good luck finding him!
Dick
-
In Jerry Nobel's book, Gun Trade in America, he lists Joseph the Younger Vann in Ga to Tn to Webbers Falls on the Arkansas River, AR, but no dates. The source is Whisker - Gunsmiths and Allied Tradesmen of Georgia. He also lists Joseph Vann, part Cherokee, gunsmith of East Tn and Ga, 1780. The source is Whisker - Gunsmiths and Allied Tradesmen of Tennessee. Would be interested in seeing a picture of it.
-
These may be helpful. As today, the newpapers often get some of the details wrong though, so I would try to confirm the details elsewhere as well if you can.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115716439/joseph-vann/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115716629/vann-family/
-
Eric and Seth, thanks for taking the time to locate the material you posted. Your replies are appreciated. Jim Whisker did not provide a source, and Jerry Noble simply picked up what Whisker had put in his TN book. I corresponded with Jim recently to see if he still might have the source of his entries, but he hasn't worked with that material for years, and I think he donated much of his material to the University of West Virginia a few years ago, where he had worked. I plan on researching both James and Joseph more deeply, to see if I can find any reference to their being trained as gunsmiths, or ever doing any related types of work, or possibly having slaves on their plantations doing this type of work. They would have probably done smithing work in their younger years before they became land barons in Georgia. When I get a little more work done on this rifle, I'll post pictures of it so we can all discuss its details... and its signature.
Shelby Gallien