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This handsome rifle has double-set triggers, iron trigger guard, four octagon iron thimbles, and four iron keys passing through iron escutcheons. The original flintlock is in place and is secured with two lockbolts with oval and round iron side washers. The iron patchbox is two pieces with a spade shaped finial, and a release in the center of the buttplate. The ramrod is old and has an iron tip. The tang is 3” with a single screw threading into the trigger plate.
Overall length 61”; octagon barrel 44 ½”, caliber .46
Barrel held with four iron keys
- Lock, English marked “Ketland & Co” 4 ¾” x 1”, attached with two bolts
- All iron mounted; width of butt plate 1 11/16”wide; 4 9/16” tall.
- Length of pull 13 ¾”
The overall architecture of the rifle reflects a strong lower Valley of Virginia influence. A silver plate on the top barrel flat is signed “Jos Bogle” in script. At the time the rifle was collected from the original family, the sear was broken and it is likely that helped to preserve the rifle in untouched, unaltered condition, for it apparently was retired from use before it was converted to percussion or misused.
The Joseph Bogle who made this rifle was Joseph Bogle, Jr. His father, Joseph Sr., was born about 1730 in either Scotland or Pennsylvania, married Jean McAntyres in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1752, lived in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania from 1771-1779, was in Rockbridge County, Virginia by 1782 and died in what later became Blount County, Tennessee in 1795. Joseph Sr.’s will lists numerous articles connected with the weaver’s trade, and it is assumed that in addition to farming he worked as a weaver during the winter months. There is no evidence that he was a gunsmith. Joseph Bogle, Sr., and his wife Jean (who died June 14, 1797) are buried in Eusebia Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Knox County, Tennessee.
Their son Joseph, Jr., was born July 5, 1759 in York County, Pennsylvania. In January 1777, at 18 years of age, he enlisted in Capt. Gibson’s company, 4th Battalion Pennsylvania Militia. In 1778, he served under Capt. Robeson, also in the 4th Battalion.
Apparently the Bogles left Pennsylvania and moved to Virginia in 1779, for in 1779 the Bogles sold their land on Shade Mountain at the head of Lost Creek and in the fall of 1779 Joseph enlisted from Augusta County, Virginia (from the south end of the county, now Rockbridge County), as a private in Capt. Gray’s Company, Col. Boyer’s Virginia Regiment. That is the same regiment in which the Virginia gunsmith John Davidson served. Joseph Bogle, Sr., received a patent for land in Augusta County, Virginia in 1780 and in that year was on the tax list for Rockbridge (Augusta) County.
In 1781, Joseph Bogle, Jr., enlisted in Capt. Charles Campbell’s Virginia Company, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. Therefore, it appears that Joseph served in the Revolution in various units from 1777 until his discharge in 1782. And it appears that Joseph Bogle was in what is now Rockbridge County, Virginia (apart from his military service) from 1779 to about 1784 or 1785.
No record of Joseph Bogle’s apprenticeship as a rifle maker has surfaced. He was old enough at the time he left his native Pennsylvania to have already served several years as an apprentice. Yet, the rifle shows such strong Virginia influence that it has been presumed by some to have been made in Virginia. It is probable that, when not serving on active duty, Bogle was engaged in the gunsmith trade in Virginia. Whether as an apprentice or journeyman we do not know. It is interesting to speculate that he and John Davidson may have been apprenticed to, or at least worked with or been influenced by, the same master gunsmith in the Rockbridge County area.
The earliest record found for Joseph Bogle, Jr., in Tennessee is his marriage bond, dated January 1786 and found in the Greene County records. He signed his bond “Jos Bogle”, just as he signed the rifle. Joseph was married in what is now Green County, Tennessee, on January 3, 1786, to Margaret (Peggy) Houston, the daughter of Sam Houston and his wife Margaret McCroskey. Margaret was born in 1764 in Augusta County, Virginia, and lived until 1843.
Joseph Bogle (Jr.) died in Blount County, Tennessee on April 1, 1811 (or 1814) The sale inventory for his estate shows that one rifle gun, including a shot bag, was sold to Andrew Caswell for $15.00. The estate also included four slaves, a woman, one boy and two girls. It appears that Bogle earned his living primarily as a farmer. He may have instructed his nephew and namesake, Joseph Bogle (1778-1853) in the gunsmith trade and himself retired from gunmaking some years before his death.
From the research of Wayne Elliott - Georgia
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