Kentucky had two known Tilford gunsmiths: James Tilford working in Ballard County in 1860 (census), and Jeremiah M. Tilford in Ohio County in 1820 (industrial census). Interestingly, Jeremiah Tilford had a brother named Andrew Tilford (1795-1847) who lived first in Shelby County and later Ohio County, Kentucky. With a brother being a known gunsmith, this Andrew Tilford is a good candidate. He was not in the 1820 Industrial Census, and died before the 1850 census where occupations were first given.
If you could post pictures of your rifle, showing both the front and the back sides from the butt plate out to about 10 inches past the lock plate area, we may be able to tell where the gun was most likely made. The length and shape of the tang at the back or breech end of the barrel often times gives us clues to the origin of a rifle as well. If for some reason you cannot post pictures here, I would be glad to look at them by e-mail at sgallien@comcast.net and give a response back on this site as to what the gun shows us and where its most probably place of manufacture might be.
More information on early Kentucky gunsmiths can be found at
www.kentuckygunmakers.com.
Shelby Gallien
