Joel,
Thanks for the kudos re the Shell genealogy. I'm related to the Dauphin County Shells through my father's mother's side. This discovery a couple years ago is what led to refocussing my collecting from Civil War Navy firearms to longrifles. It also prompted me to further research the Shells and begin building my first (of many, I hope) longrifle. While I find building a rifle to be a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding challenge, I don't think the Shell gunbuilding gene made it down the generations to me. Just makes all the more a challenge.
I should add that I'm working on an updated Shell genealogy for the Museum, reflecting my ongoing research. The problem is that the more I learn, the more I discover the holes in my research!
Bill
