Thomas Simpson

[bama]

The Mansker rifle by Thomas Simpson was at the KRA show thanks to Mel Hankla with an original Powder Horn by Simpson. What a great rifle. Mel also gave a great talk on the progression of rifle builders into Kentucky and Tennessee.

I also had the pleasure of talking to Frank House some about the relationship between Thomas Simpson and Jacob Young. It is very evident that there was some kind of working relationship because of the similarities in there work.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Gill Sherrill at WKU this hear. Gill has done a great deal of research on Simpson and Young and he has written an article that is going to be published on his research. This article will shed a lot of light on these two great builders.

I had tried to do some research on Thomas Simpson myself because I have the "Ridgill" rifle made by him. The "Ridgill" rifle has many of the same features as the "Mansker" rifle. After talking with Gill I realized I was looking at the wrong Thomas Simpson. There are a number of Thomas Simpson's around the timeframe that Thomas was working so it is easy to get off on the wrong Simpson.

All I know is that Simpson was a fantastic builder and engraver as was Jacob Young and I am looking forward to this research being published.

[Dennis Glazener]

Gill Sherrill at WKU this hear. Gill has done a great deal of research on Simpson and Young and he has written an article that is going to be published on his research. This article will shed a lot of light on these two great builders.

This is interesting to me as well. My 4th G GF, William Gillespie shows up on the Cowpasture River in the early 1740's with his land being surveyed in March of 1746 (see below). William Gillespie's next door neighbor was James Simpson who's son was one of the principles in the Augusta County VA (near Staunton VA) Rev War gun factory's (according to Wallace Gusler). James Simpson probably was a gun maker but no hard documentation has been found (many courthouse records lost, burned if I remember correctly). There is good circumstantial evidence that William Gillespie was married to either James Simpson's sister or his daughter. William was not a gunmaker but several of his children were.

"On the last day of March, 1746, …the surveyors returned to the Cowpasture …
and laid out parcels for Joseph Watson, Andrew Muldrock and William Daugherty.
The next day, they continued down the river…surveying for John Walker, James
Mayse and Robert Crockett. Meanwhile a detachment of the surveying party was
at work far above, laying off selections for James Scott, John McCreery,
William Gillespie, William Lewis, James Jackson, James Simpson, William Black,
Robert Abercrombie…." (from the Annals of Bath County VA).

[WElliott]

Jim, I'm glad to learn someone is doing an article on Simpson and Young. Do you know where/when it will be published?  I don't want to miss it.

[bama]

Wayne the article has been submitted to the "Muzzleloader" magazine. I am not sure when it will be published. I think it is going to be a 2 part article. Hopefully the first part will be in the next issue. I know in talking with Gill he has done some very extensive research and has documentation to back it up. It should help open the door and shed more light on two very talented southern gun builders.

[WElliott]

Great.  I look forward to reading the article, Jim.

[Don Stith]

You Simpson and Young fans might enjoy looking at the JNO Wilson pictured on Aspenshadeltd.com

[WElliott]

The Wilson rifle is a nice discovery.

[Dennis Glazener]

The Wilson rifle is a nice discovery.

Mark,
I think the "recent discovery" was a different rifle from this. If I am correct, I would be very interested in seeing the recently discovered rifle with "Jno Wilson Craigs Creek BC" on the barrel. Is anyone familiar with this rifle.
Dennis

[eddillon]

Any images of a Thomas Simpson available on ALR?

[bgf]

Any images of a Thomas Simpson available on ALR?

Not a museum entry, for sure, possibly a picture of bama's Ridgill rifle on a rack at a show, but not sure about that.  The Mansker rifle is on cover of July 2010 "American Tradition" (CLA publication), and there are other pictures of it and a close copy on pp. 6-7, if you have that magazine. 

[Mel Hankla]

The Jno Wilson rifle mentioned above signed, "Jno Wilson Craigs Creek BC" is rather late. Probably 1835 to 45 and has classic Botetourt County architecture, nothing like the Wilson on Aspen Shade site.  However it is obviously the same hand as the signature is an almost identical silver inlay as the AspenShade rifle.   

[Jim Kibler]

One thing that hasn't been touched on a great deal in this thread is how good the Simpson rifle is.  In my view it's a masterpiece and very few others are in it's league.  There's harmony and beauty throughout the entire piece.  The few photos that have been available up to this point, don't do it justice.  The showing at the KRA was from what I understand the first it's been out for the masses to see.  A GREAT rifle for sure.

Jim

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Is there a link to view this rifle?

[Dennis Glazener]

Here is a link to the one at Aspenshade LTD
http://www.aspenshadeltd.com/inventory.html

[bama]

I think Wallace published a article in MB that had a few pictures of the Mansker rifle a few years back. I heard that Wallace may be putting a article together comparing the similarities of the Simpson and Jacob Young rifles.  I am not sure about this and do not know if or when it would be published. I just hope that it does happen. I do know that Wallace has studied both makers.