Contributed by Whisker:
Lydick (Lydig, Lidig), Peter (1743- ). arms contractor and gunsmith. Baltimore. Peter was a son of Peter Littig, Sr., and brother of Philip and Jost Lydick. He was born December 10, 1754 and died April 3, 1799 in Maryland. Married to Magdalena. [DAR Patriot Index, 2: 1661]. He was a gunsmith, crafting and repairing muskets, and also repaired wagons for the American military during the Revolutionary War. He was under contract on September 17, 1777, to make 150 muskets and was still making muskets in 1781. [Peden, Revolutionary Patriots of Baltimore Town and County 1775-1783,162]. A smith named Peter Ladig, age 20 years, with brown hair, black eyes, and standing 5'6" tall, arrived in Philadelphia in 1763 [5 Pa Arch 1 at 321]. He moved to Maryland before the Revolution and was an arms contractor during the Revolution. On 13 February 1776 Peter Lydick supplied Council with 72 muskets, of which 64 were proved good and 8 bad [11 Md Arch 155]. On 27 April 1776 Council paid him ,65 on his account for good muskets delivered [11 Md Arch 392]. On 31 May 1776 Council sent him another ,50 on account [4 Amer Arch 6 at 1466]. On 17 September 1777 Council paid "Peter Littig" ,281/5/0 on his account for gun making. He agreed to make 150 standard pattern muskets at the delivery rate of 20 per month. [16 Md Arch 379]. On 22 April 1776 the Maryland Council of Safety paid Philip Littig ,65 for having made and delivered muskets for the militia [4 Amer Arch 5 at 1567]. On 17 September 1777,
Peter Littig agrees with the Governor and Council to make and in a Workman like manner complete and finish 150 Musquets fixed with Bayonets, Steel Rammers, Swivels, priming wires and brushes at -3/15/0 each, the mounting to be of brass or Iron, the breech pin to be let into the solid so that in reboring the threads of the Screws shall not be injured; that he will enter on the said work within one Month from the Date hereof, and within two Months from the Date hereof will deliver Twenty and so from Month to Month thereafter, at least twenty of the said Musquets completely finished as aforesaid, the said deliveries to be at Baltimore Town to Gerrard Hopkins or other such Person as shall be appointed by the Governor and Council. The Governor and Council to furnish Locks and such barrels and Bayonets as were furnished to Nicholas White and also to advance to the said Peter Littig ,281/5/0, part of the price on giving Bond with good security to comply with this Contract.
[16 Md Arch 377]
1776 -- February 12, 1776, Baltimore. Mr. Keener after seeing the rest try'd refus'd to have his proved but upon my threatning him a good deal he comply'd. We charg'd all the guns with one ounce of powder and two Balls. I have a proof stamp with which I stamp'd all that prov'd good, which stamp I will not deliver to any without your orders …
Feb. 7 -- Peter Lydick .......... 72 guns ......... 64 good ........ 8 bad.
Feb. 7 -- Sam Missersmith..... 27 guns ......... 23 good ........ 4 bad
Feb. 7 -- Sam Keener ........... 32 guns ......... 13 good ........ 19 bad.
.
1776 -- April 27, 1776. Ordered that the Treasurer of the Western Shore pay to Mr. Peter Littig £65.
1776 -- May 31, 1776. Ordered that the Treasurer of the Western Shore pay to Peter Littig fifty Pounds common Money on Account of his Contract for making Musquets."
1776 -- May 31, 1776, Baltimore. General, I have sent by the Bearer John Payne Twenty musquets with Bayonets and seventeen without, fourteen of which I received of Peter Littig, the others being some of the Province Arms Received of Captain Smith, and also six Reams Cartridge paper which I had an order for some time ago and had not then Received it. I am General your most Humble Servant Gerard Hopkins son Rd.
1776 -- August 27, 1776. Peter Littig, gunsmith. Verification of account; receipt for payment from Col. Thomas Ewing. Account for repairs for guns. [An Inventory of American State Papers, 1: 54].
1777 -- Tuesday, July 8, 1777. Ordered that the said (sic, Western Shore) Treasurer pay to Peter Littig seventeen Pounds sixteen Shillings and six Pence and also the further sum of £1/5/6 due on accounts passed by the board of accounts."
1777 -- Wednesday, September 17, 1777. In minutes from the Council of Maryland: That the said [Western Shore] Treasurer pay to Peter Littig £281/5/0 on Contract for making Arms ......... Peter Littig agrees with the Governor and Council to make and in a Workmanlike manner compleat and finish one hundred and fifty Musquets fixed with Bayonets, Steel Rammers, Swivels priming wires and brushes at three pounds fifteen shillings each the mounting to be of brass or Iron the breech pin to be let into the solid so that in reboring the threads of the Screws shall not be injured that he will enter on the said Work within one Month from the Date hereof and within two Months from the Date hereof will deliver Twenty and so from Month to Month thereafter at least twenty of the said Musquets Compleatly finished as aforesaid, the said deliveries to be at Baltimore Town to Gerrard Hopkins or such other person as shall be appointed by the Governor and Council. The Governor and Council to furnish Locks and such barrels and Bayonets as were furnished to Nicholas White and also to advance to the said Peter Littig £281/5/0 part of the price on giving Bond with good security to comply with this Contract.
1777 -- Thursday, October 23, 1777. That the said (sic, Western Shore) Treasurer pay to Peter Littig one hundred sixty Pounds and fifteen Shillings per account passed. That the said Treasurer pay to Samuel Messersmith one hundred fifty nine Pounds six Shillings and ten Pence per account passed.
1778 -- Friday June 5, 1778. Ordered that the western shore Treasurer pay to Peter Littig £179/14/ due per Account passed by the A. G.
1779 -- July 29, 1779. Peter Lettig to George P. Keeports. Account and receipt for blacksmith work
1781 -- "Capt. George Hunter (Fells Point) to Peter Littig. April 26, 1781. Receipt for muskets." [An Inventory of American State Papers, 1: 387]
Lydig (Littig), Philip ( -1779). arms contractor. On 27 April 1776 the Maryland Council of Safety paid £65 on his account for arms making [4 Amer Arch 5 at 1567]. Philip was a son of Peter Littig, Sr., and brother to Jost and Pete Lydig. He was a private in the Baltimore Artillery Company on October 16, 1775. Private in Capt. Sheaff's Company, June 16, 1777 [Peden, Revolutionary Patriots of Baltimore Town and County, 1775-1783, 162]. He made his will on October 27th, 1779 and he died soon after.
