first post, newbie questions to follow

[tom coffey]

Being a new, old guy here, I'm not sure where to ask this first question. Moderator feel free to move it if need be. My great, great, grandfather's name was George Washington Nichols. He lived in Virginia and in West Virginia during his life from the late 1700s to the mid 1800s. I am told he was a gun maker. Is anyone familiar with him or his work? Thanks.

[Ky-Flinter]

Hi Tom,

Welcome to ALR.  I looked for George Washington Nichols in some books I have, American Firearms Makers by A. M. Carey and American Gunsmithsby F.M. Sellers, and Kentucky Rifle Patchboxes Vols. 1 and 2, plus 2 websites, the Database of USA Gunmakers (http://www.earmi.it/USA%20Gunmakers/USA%20Gunmakers.html) and the Index of American Gunmakers (https://archive.org/stream/gunmaker00satt/gunmaker00satt_djvu.txt), but had no luck.  Found no one with last name Nichols in WV or VA.

But that doesn't mean your ggg-father wasn't a gunmaker.  Keep searching!  Maybe someone with more reference material will chime in.

-Ron