Boy o Boy would I love to get photos of a McNaught or Denoon gun!
Daniel Denoon (1804-1826). gunshop foreman. Richmond. James Denoon married Elizabeth Forsyth of Philadelphia, and they had three sons, John, Daniel, and Samuel. Daniel was a gunsmith in Richmond, Virginia, who was shot to death, at age 22, by his employer in an argument. Samuel was a brass founder and politician in Richmond, and was the one who made the arrangements after Charles's death for the disposition of the soldier's body and effects. James M誰aught murdered Denoon in March 1826. Name also seen as Denune, the original Scottish spelling.
On Monday last about two o団lock P.M. some of our citizens were alarmed by the report of a pistol in the house of James M誰ought, gunsmith of this city. On entering the house, they found upon the stairs mortally wounded the amiable and ingenious Daniel Deanon, NcNoughton痴 foreman, in the agonies of death.Penetrating intro the room at the top of the stairs they found M誰oughton, extended on the floor, slightly wounded. The history of the case, so far as is known, appears to be the following.
About 8 or 9 years ago, J. M誰ought, a native of Scotland, came to this city and set up his business as a Gunsmith.His pretensions at first were very humble, though he was in fact a superior workman. His skill soon rendered hin famous in his line, and was the means of affording him a profitable business. He took several apprentices into his shop, who promised to become excellent workmen, and useful and respected members of society. The finest among these was the above mentioned Daniel Denoon, at his death a little more than 22 years of age. This young an was placed with M誰ought in 1817. By his superior ingenuity and uncommon diligent attention to business, he acquired a degree of skill in his art, nit exceeded by any man in this country. We have seen many excellent specimens of his workmanship, and it is said that a gun of his manufacture was sent to Birmingham, where it was pronounced a superior piece of its kind.
Danoon痴 activity in business and amiable manners, secured the confidence and respect, not only of M誰ought, but of all who knew him. The business might be at all times, as it frequently was, left to the care of Deneen, with perfect safety, nor to all appearances, did ever two men live together in greater harmony. Denoon soon called M誰ought his friend even as his death had, Denoon however had lately talked of going into business for himself, in the brass foundry, a short time since vacated by the death of his brother-in-law, in which his only brother was an apprentice, where he anticipated the pleasure of contributing to the comfort and support of his aged mother and disconsolate widowed sister. This was the first thing in Danoon痴 conduct which M誰ought appeared to dislike. He proposed a partnership, which Danoon did not positively refused, but endeavored to discourage, being aware that M誰ought had become fond of certain vices, which though too often esteened innocent in their beginnings, are ruinous in their consequences. Alas! He had become too fond of idle company, the social glass, and the innocent game, while his affairs being left to themselves, soon presented themselves before him in such a deranged state, as to induce him to commit the horrid deed of whioch he has been guilty.
. . . On Monday, after dining with his family and with Denoon, seemingly in good humor, and in good spirits, he [McNaught] retired to the next room, and requested of the apprentices to ask Denoon to walk up stairs. Asd the poor fellow set his foot at the top of the stairs, M誰ought approached him from the room and discharged a pistol loaded with buckshot into the abdomen; and immediately after fired another pistol, which grazed his own cheek and drew blood from it. When the agitated neighbors and family arrived at the scene, they found Denoon had arisen and was making his way down the stairs; while M誰ought was lying on the floor. The wound of Denoon was mortal; he have a description of the scene to his attendants and lingered three or four hours. [Christian Secretary {Hartford, CT} 3/20/1826]
Here lies the body of/ Mr. Daniel DENOON/gunmaker of this city/ Who was shot by James McNaught/ 27th Feb., 1826/ after being in his employ 8 years/ Aged 22 years, 2 mos. 15 days/ Lament, o ye his friends, his loss deplore/ For virtuous Daniel is/ alas, no more/ And you to whom each social merit's dear/ Drop o'er his grave a tributary tear/ For each loved attribute his soul possessed/ And now in Heaven enjoys eternal rest.
