Thomas Bennett gunsmith South Carolina

[auntlouisa]

I am a great, great granddaughter of Thomas Bennett...a gunsmith that worked around the Chester, South Carolina area.  He made long rifles and other firearms.  He was born 1812 and died 1861.  I would love to have a long rifle made by him.  Condition is not important as I could have it restored and I know I will have to pay a good price.  If anyone has any information I would surely appreciate it.  It has been a pleasure to find a site with so many knowledgeable and passionate antique fire arms  collectors.  Hope someone out there can help me....thank you!

[Avlrc]

Is he the same Thomas Bennett that was in Missouri?  Father Richard and Brother James? There is a fellow on this site,( username mbriggs) that is a North Carolina Gunsmith expert. He may know something about this Thomas. Do you have  pictures of any guns he made? Do you know how he signed his guns?

[auntlouisa]

Thanks so much for your reply....I am not sure about the Missouri issue....will look into it with a cousin who has been doing research... but I do have some photos that I think I can share.  The Chester Historical Society, Chester, SC has one of his rifles. I believe it will be or is already on display.  I am new to this sort of site so have to figure out the attaching of photos but will do in the near future.  Again thank you and my best to you...Louisa

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Here is a tutorial for posting pictures. Or you can email them to me and I will post them for you.
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=10.0

my email is   tim dot boone at gtri dot gatech dot edu

[JTR]

Auntlouisa,

I googled the name and found this link;

http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.usa.states.southcarolina.counties.chester/4091.1.1/mb.ashx

I don't know if this is an earlier search of yours, or maybe some useful info. It sounds like the poster has, or was working on one of Bennetts rifles.

John