GUNSMITHS OF PEN-MAR-VA 1790-1840 by William S. Bowers

Irwinton Publishers R. 2 Mercersburg, Penna. 17236

THE MARKER FAMILY The gunsmithing Markers continued their work for three generations. Starting out in Frederick County, Maryland, moved to Washington County, Maryland, then Berkeley County, Virginia, and the last generation settling in Darke County, Ohio. We know little about them, the Court records and newspaper advertisements are the only evidence we have of a prolific and artistic group of gunsmiths. Their work is rather scarce, exceptional examples very rare. We have evidence of six Markers working in this area, there could be more. We have no proof, but George Marker of Frederick County, Maryland was probably the first of the family in this area. It is not certain if he was a gunsmith. George Marker is listed in the 1790 Census as two males, 16 years, and four females, including head of family three males under 16 years, and four females, including head of family. A deed is recorded at Frederick, Maryland that George Marker took up 296 acres in 1795 and named it MARKERS DELIGHT. This is near Myersville, Maryland. Scharff, in his History of Western Maryland says that Middletown and its invirons was largely represented in camp and field during the war of 1812. Among those who raised companies and participated in the battle of Bladensburg were: Capt. Daniel Marker. Daniel was supposed to be the oldest son of George Marker and born in 1774. Daniel married a Christina Beckenbaugh of Sharpsburg, Maryland in May 1797. She died in April 1835 and buried in Sharpsburg district. They had three sons - Daniel Jr., James, and Paul that were gunsmiths and worked in this area. I am sure if George Marker, Jr. was Daniel's son. He evidently stayed and worked in Frederick County, Maryland on 4/20/1824, "whereas Daniel Marker of Washington County, Maryland agrees to sell to George Jr. for $250.00 a long list of household goods and gunsmiths tools." This is an indication that Daniel was borrowing $250.00 and putting up his goods as security. A very common practice at that time when money was scarce. A deed recorded in Frederick County, Maryland 5/1803 shows Daniel Marker taking title to three tracts of land in Frederick County for E55. Daniel was still in Frederick County for George Gaver had a bill of sale recorded 3/3/1814 that he took title to the following goods for $400.00: 1 black mare about 141/2 hands high, 7 to 8 years old, 3 cows, 4 beds and bedsteads, 1 case drawers, 1 corner cupboard, 1 kitchen cupboard, 1 chest, 2 tables, 2 rifles, I ten plate stove, 7 chairs, 3 iron kettles, 100 lbs. salt petre, 150lbs. powder, 15 pounds brimstone, together with all my household and kitchen furniture. Also one full set of Coopers tools, and one full set of Gun-Smith tools, all of which are now in my possession. The above shows Marker was manufacturing and selling gunpowder. George Gaver gave a release for the above goods 2/29/1816 that Daniel Marker has fully paid the sum of money recorded. Perhaps the deed recorded 5/31/1814 where as Daniel Marker of Frederick County, Maryland sells to George Gaver for $200.00 three tracts of land in Frederick County, helped Marker regain his solvency. Christina Marker, wife of Daniel, confirms the sale. The Markers were still in Frederick County, Maryland in 1817 for we find Daniel now giving a bill of sale to Paul Marker. Daniel sells to Paul for $100.00 - 1 ten plate stove and pipe, 1 chest drawers, 1 kitchen cupboard, I corner cupboard, 1 chest, 2 bedsteads, 8 common chairs, 2 rifles, 1 red Heifer, 1 black Heifer, 1 black Mare, 1 saddle, 1 set blacksmiths tools, one of gunsmith tools. The Martinsburg Gazette for July 10, 1817 carried an ad for Daniel Marker's gun powder - 200 lbs assorted gun powder - rifle, shotgun, and cannon, for sale by Daniel Zinn, Martinsburg A deed recorded 9/13/1817 shows John Marker taking title for $2,000.00 to two tracts of land in Frederick County from Daniel Marker, both of Frederick County, Maryland. Just when Daniel Marker moved to Martinsburg, Virginia is not known, but by his ad in the Martinsburg Gazette we find him selling:

RIFLE POWDER Marksmen and others can be supplied with any quantity of Warrented Rifle Powder, on application at the subscribers Gun-smith shop, in Martinsburg. It will be sold low for cash - October 17, 1822. Daniel Marker

Perhaps Marker had relatives there early in the century for we find an ad placed in The Potomac Guardian 4/1799 that Elizabeth Marker, living at Henry Small's place, found near the Dutch Church on Easter Sunday, a black silk handkerchief and a pair of long leather blue gloves, the owner pays for the advertisement. This bill of sale shows yet another Marker, Peter, back in Frederick County, Maryland. It was recorded 6/15/1822 whereas George Marker, Sr. of Frederick County for $100.00 paid by Peter Marker takes title to 1 distilling kettle, 3 beds, all kitchen furniture, 1 brindle Heifer and a kitchen cupboard. A mortgage recorded in 5/1823, Frederick County, Maryland shows a Jacob Burns bound to George Marker (or Daniel) for $200.00. An ad placed in the Martinsburg Gazette April 29, 1824 advises:

RIFLE GUN FACTORY REMOVED D. MARKER respectfully informs his friends and the public generally, that he has removed his rifle gun factory to SHARPSBURG, in Maryland - where he proposes to execute all orders in his line of business with a elegance and dispatch. We find Christian Beek, gunsmith, opening up a gunsmith shop in Martinsburg in 1827, perhaps he was there earlier with Marker and is now on his own. There is a lot of similarities in Beek's and Marker's work. The Martinsburg Gazette carried this notice for Sharpsburg, March 2, 1826: Marksmen! Attention! Daniel Marker, Sr., Daniel Marker, Jr., George Marker and Peter Marker will shoot with rifles, offhand, against any four men in Washington County, for, from 50 to 100 dollars. The time, place, and manner of shooting, to be agreed on when the challenge is accepted. We find Daniel Marker having a deed recorded in Washington County, Maryland 3/15/1825 where he sells a tract of land to Daniel Bowlus and John Herring of Frederick County, Maryland for $10.00. Another transaction that ins't clear is the indenture made 4/2/1828 whereas Peter Marker of Bedford County and Mary Hatter of Washington County, Maryland, sell to Jacob Miller of Washington County for $20.00 2/9 part of a tract of land called Pile's Delight in Washington County near Sharpsburg. Formerly the property of Michael Marker, deceased. On 5/9/1832 John Hedrich of Washington County, Maryland for $100.00 sells to Paul Marker a lot of ground in Sharpsburg, being lot no.159. An indenture made 12/22/1832 Paul Marker, and wife Mary Ann for $70.00 sells to James Marker lot - of ground in Sharpsburg, being lot no.160. next few years shows Paul Marker selling other lots in Sharpsburg. The Martinsburg Gazette on July 7, 1831 carried the following advertisement: Lock and Gunsmithing DANIEL MARKER, Jun. Having commenced the above business on Queen Street, a few doors below the Market House, would respectfully inform the public that he is now ready to fill any orders where with he may be furnished in the above brances of the business. He will make and repair guns of every description - Make and repair Door Locks of all kinds, besides all the various branches appertaining to the Locksmith business -Being determined to attend strictly to business and do his work in the best style, he hopes to receive (as he intends to merit) a share of Public patronage. The Virginia Republican on May 29, 1833 carries a listing of Martinsburg manufacturers showing del Marker, Gun and Lock - smithing and E. A. Gibbs brass foundry. The Virginia Republican advertises:

REMOVAL The subscriber has removed his shop to the house on the corner of Burke and Queen Streets formerly occupied by James S. Boyd as a cabinet maker shop where his is prepared to execute all orders in his line of business, such as Gun and Lock - Smithing, Brazing, etc. ect He returns his thanks to the public for past favors, and asks a continuance of the same. April 4, 1833 Daniel Marker The reader will note he doesn't style himself Junior. One wonders if Daniel Marker, Sr. came back to Martinsburg to work? In September 1833, the local paper noted the passing of Jane Marker, wife of Daniel Marker of this place. Daniel Markers ties seem to be strongest in Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Virginia. An indenture recorded there January 1823 shows Daniel indebted to different people for various sums of money. One Joseph McFeeleg for consideration of one dollar will stand good these debts where as Daniel Marker secures this trust with 4 beds, bedsteads and bedding, 1 ten plate stove, 1 set of drawers, 10 chairs, one rifle gun, one smooth bore gun, 6 gun barrels, 4 iron pots and all my kitchen furniture. Daniel Marker is to satisfy all claims by November 1, next. A list of taxable town lots in the County of Berkeley shows Daniel Marker, Sr. from 1836 to 1842 paying tax on at least a dozen town lots. Daniel, Junior in 1840 was taxed for one lot no.32 in Martinsburg. Marker sold this lot 4/30/1841 which he had bought in 1837. >From 1840 to 1855 we find Daniel Marker Senior selling off his property in Martinsburg, the indentures too numerous to mention. I have no further information on Daniel Marker, Senior or Junior. The 1850 Census for Washington County, Maryland shows James Marker, 40 years old, and Jacob Marker, 18 years living with him, both listed as gunsmiths and born in Maryland. Scharffs History of Washington County, Maryland page 986 Volume 11 mentions "on the lands of James Marker, 3 miles South East of Sharpsburg, there is a cave where many Indian artifacts are to be found!" James Marker, aged 75, died 5/8/1883, buried in The Methodist graveyard on Hall Street in Sharpsburg. A History of Darke County, Ohio, by W. H. Beers & Company, 1880 has the following to say about the Marker's - Van Buren Township - George Marker, farmer and gunsmith; P.O. Gettysburg; was born in Montgomery County, Ohio. His parents were Jacob and Sarah Marker. Jacob was born in Maryland in 1803 and came to Darke County in 1835. (Wayne Township) - George Marker was born in Frederick County, Maryland June 19, 1782, emigrated to Montgomery County, Ohio in 1823 and died there November 20, 1850. His son Martin was born in Frederick County, Maryland in 1815. A George Marker is listed as gunsmith in Darke County, Ohio in 1844. These Markers of the third generation that emigrated and those born in Ohio, are of another school and no doubt sometime will be studied. The Shepherdstown, Virginia Register carried the following ad September 24, 1850: DON'T SHOOT Five new rifles of very superior quality - Jas. Marker's make - for sale and warrented to be good. The rifles will be bartered for produce. Apply to Jos. Entler.

The above paper also carried advertisements of current commercial firearms of Colt, Remington, and Allen. Of all the Marker's work known, I suppose Daniel Sr. produced the best rifle. The P. Marker in the Kindig collection exhibits fine work, it shows him to be a better engraver than a wood carver; the architecture of the stock could be better. I surmise the small round eagle touch mark between the D and M is the elder Marker's work. Not many examples known. His best work was no doubt done in Frederick or Washington Counties. It certainly shows the influence of the Kopp, Kreps, Armstrong School of Gunsmithing. Of course this is open to conjecture as to who was responsible for a good design, or originated it? Daniel Marker the younger's signature is a bit different than his father. These, rifle's do not carry the eagle touch mark. A D. and P. Marker is know, presumed to be Daniel and Peter, of very good workmanship. It is hard to say where it was made as it shows many influences. These Markers worked in a relatively small Area. If one looks at his map the distance between Frederick, Maryland, by way of Sharpsburg to Martinsburg, Virginia is not great. A lot of good gunsmiths were working in this area, and not far beyond, giving the Markers an opportunity to study a wealth of designs, We haven't many gunsmithing families that carried on their profession into the fourth generation and still preserved individuality in their work.

Thank you Marvin and others for forwarding/scanning/transcribing this information.