Introduction
This project includes gunsmiths who may have been incorrectly identified as working within the present bounds of Somerset and Bedford counties, to promote additional study. The 1983 booklet "Gunsmiths and Gunmakers of Bedford and Somerset Counties Pennsylvania 1770-1900" identifies Peter Engle as a Somerset County gunsmith, puts him in Brothersvalley Township circa 1800, and puts him in Maryland and another part of Pennsylvania in other years. The authors of the 1983 booklet did not include Peter Engle in their 1991 book "Gunsmiths of Bedford, Somerset, and Fulton Counties" or in their 2017 book "Gunsmiths of Somerset County, Pennsylvania". This may suggest they changed their minds about Peter Engle ever working as a gunsmith in Somerset County. He did work as a gunsmith in Maryland before moving to Greene County, Pennsylvania.
I am related to Peter Engles through my ancestor Clemens Engle, who was a pioneer in Elk Lick Township, Somerset County. Peter and Clemens are said to be cousins or brothers. I haven't found anything that identifies Peter Engle as a circa 1800 resident of Somerset County. Instead, Peter Engles was living southwest of Clemens Engle in western Maryland, four miles south of the Mason-Dixon line. Peter Engles purchased grain multiple times in what is now Elk Lick Township in 1797, but (in my opinion) these purchases are not enough to prove residency.
Peter Engles received a substantial payment from the Maryland Committee of Safety in 1776 that may have been for gun-related work. He was appointed to be the Armourer at the magazine in Frederick Town in 1786 and served in that capacity until at least 1794. In the 1795 to 1800 timeframe he was living in what was then Allegany County, Maryland. By 1803 he was living in Greene County, Pennsylvania. His death occurred in 1833. Gunsmithing continued in the family for at least two more generations.
This study provides limited glimpses of three relatives who seem to have influenced Peter Engles: Abraham Faw, Clemens Engle, and Michael Engle. Abraham Faw recommended Peter Engles for the job of Commissary of Military Stores, and owned property relatively near Peter Engles' residences in western Maryland and western Pennsylvania. Clemens and Michael Engle had property relatively near Peter Engles' western Maryland residence.
Although not detailed in this study, genealogists report that Peter and Clemens Engels are descended from cutlers working in Solingen Germany as far back as the 1600s, and then working in Klingenthal, Alsace, France beginning in 1730.
Timeline
1747: The following excerpt is from the 1902 book "Historical and Biographical Record of Southern California", "Ezra, who was born December 13, 1790, was a son of Peter Engle, who was born in Ghent, Belgium, August 17, 1747. The latter's father, John P. Engle, a native of Saxony, brought his wife and family to America in 1749, settling in Frederick, Md. During the Revolutionary war Peter Engle was with General Washington and took part in the capture of the Hessians at Trenton, also spent the winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge, where he suffered all the horrors of cold and hunger. He died in Greensburg, Pa., as did also his wife, Susanna (Bugh) Engle, who was born in Maryland in 1750. At Harper's Ferry Ezra Engle learned the gunsmith's trade, and later engaged in business at Greensburg, then at Sisterville. Such was the quality of his work that people came to him from miles away in order to purchase one of his guns."
One has to realize that much of the family information in such history books is often based on traditions, which can morph over time. For example, Ezra worked in Greensboro, not Greensburg.
The 1891 book "History of the Upper Ohio Valley" also indicates that Peter Engle came to America in 1749, stating, "C. Engle, the present efficient circuit clerk of Tyler county, is a native of Green county, Penn., where he was born in 1817, his parents being Ezra and Nancy (Black) Engle. The father was born in Fredricktown, Md., the son of Peter Engle, a native of Saxony, who came to North America in 1749. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, after which great event he settled temporarily at Fredericktown, but soon afterward removed across the Cumberland mountains. Subsequently he returned to Fredericktown, where he remained about two years, and then removed to Greene county, Penn., which was the scene of his death. Our subject's father was raised in Pennsylvania, and was drafted during the war of 1812, but being a fine gunsmith was left at work in the shop, where he remained until the close of the war. ..."
The biography of Alpheus Garrison in the 1885 book "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Monongalia, Marion and Taylor Counties, West Virginia" includes the statement, "Peter Engel, the maternal grandfather of Alpheus Garrison, was a native of Germany, a skilled gunsmith by trade; he came to the United States prior to the Revolutionary War, and served in that historic conflict in the capacity of inspector of arms. He had sons, Ezra, Emmanuel, Christopher and Barnett, who were also skilled gunsmiths and were employed at one time in the arsenal at Harper's Ferry."
1749: Donald S. Miner (hereafter "Miner") reports that the gunsmith Peter Engels was born on September 17, 1749 in Klingenthal, France, the son of another Peter Engels.
Circa 1755-1833: The 1983 booklet describes the lifetime of Peter Engle as approximately 1755 to 1833. This is in tension with the birth and immigration dates quoted above.
1767: The 1983 booklet indicates that Peter Engle was confirmed in Frederick County of Maryland in 1767. Miner reports that Peter Engle and (my ancestor) Clemons Engle were confirmed at the same church on the on the same day (February 9, 1767) according to the records of the German Reformed church at Frederick, Maryland.
1773: Miner reports that Maria Engels took communion and was confirmed on February 22, 1773. I suspect that the source of all the church records is the Reformed Church in Frederick, Maryland.
1773: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Anna Maria Faw had a child named Maria Catherina or Magdalena who was born September 27, 1773.
1775: The July 2003 issue of "The Historian" reports that Clemens Engle purchased a tract east of the present location of Salisbury, Pennsylvania in 1775 that was named "Negro Cabin". Miner reports that the "Negro Cabin" property was purchased from John Rice Junior and Senior with a deed dated September 26, 1775 that indicates Clemens Engle was from Frederick County, Maryland. Click here for Eber Cockley's 1969 research on Clemens Engle (1,261 KB pdf).
Circa 1775: The following composite image is from Volume XI of the "Maryland Historical Magazine" (March, 1916), and indicates that Peter Engels and Abraham Faw were Associators of the Committee of Observation. I suspect the list is from 1775, but no date is given. Abraham Faw is believed to be a brother-in-law of the gunsmith Peter Engle. The well-known surveyor Francis Deakins is also on the list, and Peter eventually purchased property from him.
1776: The following excerpt from Volume I of the "History of Western Maryland" indicates that Abraham Faw served as a state senator in 1776:
1776: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Anna Maria Faw had a child named Elizabeth Engels who was born July 5, 1776, was confirmed on Good Friday in 1791, and died after 1854.
1776-1778: The following excerpt from the "Pennsylvania Archives", Fifth Series, Volume III shows that Peter Engel joined the military on August 30, 1776 and was serving in Captain Baltzer's Company of the German Regiment on September 9, 1778. The German Regiment included men from Frederick County, Maryland, and was at Valley Forge and the battle of Trenton. These facts help to substantiate the above-quoted statement that "During the Revolutionary war Peter Engle was with General Washington and took part in the capture of the Hessians at Trenton, also spent the winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge, where he suffered all the horrors of cold and hunger."
1776: The following excerpt is from page 525 of the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Safety of Maryland. 1776--1777." It documents a substantial payment to Peter Engels by the Maryland Council of Safety.
1776: The battle of Trenton occurred on December 26, 1776, and Peter Engle was a member of the German Regiment that participated in the battle.
1778: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Anna Maria Faw had a child named John Jacob Engels who was born February 15, 1778.
1778: The following extract is from Volume VI of the "Maryland Historical Magazine" (March, 1911). It indicates that Peter Engle secured a substitute on April 21, 1778 to serve in the German Regiment in his place for a three year term that would have ended April 21, 1781. Abraham Faw is also identified on this list as having secured a substitute. Since a Peter Engle appears in the roster of Captain Baltzer's Company of the German Regiment on September 8, 1778 (see above), I wonder if his substitute deserted.
1777-1778: The encampment of the Continental Army at Valley Forge occurred during the winter of 1777-1778. Peter Engels was a member of the German Regiment, which wintered at Valley Forge. The Artillery Artificer Michael Engle who was at Valley Forge was from Reading; see Pennsylvania Archives, Fifth Series, Volume III, Page 1134.
1779: The following composite image is from Volume 18 of the Archives of Maryland, "Records of Maryland Troops in the Continental Service". It indicates that a Peter Angel was discharged from the German Regiment on August 14, 1779.
1779: My ancestor Clemens Engle appears in the list of 1779 property holders in Brothersvalley Township, Bedford County with 150 acres. This was in the area that eventually became Somerset County.
1780: The tombstone of Clemens Engle's son Peter indicates that Peter died on April 18, 1854 at the age of 74 years, 6 months, and 27 days. That means Clemens' son Peter was born in 1780, and also means that he would have been a young adult in 1800, when the 1983 booklet claims that the gunsmith Peter Engle was living in Brothersvalley Township.
1780: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Anna Maria Faw had a child named George Engels who was born May 9, 1780 and Christened on December 23, 1780.
1781: The three year term of Peter Engels' substitute in the German Regiment would have ended April 21, 1781.
1782: Peter Engle Junior and Senior appear on the 1782 Frederick Town Hundred list.
1783: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Anna Maria Faw had a child named Peter Engels who was born January 12, 1783 and died December 19, 1849.
1784: In the Brothersvalley Assessment list for 1784, my ancestor Clemens Ingle is listed with five people in his household.
1784: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Anna Maria Faw had a child named Abraham Faw Engels who was born January 12, 1784 and died May 8, 1875. This suggests that Abraham Faw was an important individual in the lives of Peter and Marsia Engels.
1785-1789: The following composite image from Volume I of the book "History of Western Maryland" indicates that Abraham Faw was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1785 through 1789.
1786: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Anna Maria Faw had a child named Julianna Engels who was born March 11, 1786 and died February 18, 1869.
1786: In a March 12, 1786 letter to the Governor of Maryland, Abraham Faw and John Cary recommended that Peter Engels be appointed to serve as the Commissary of Military Stores (MDHR 6636-59-9, Location 1/7/3/63). A few weeks later, Peter Engels was appointed to serve as the Armourer at the Frederick Town magazine.
1786: The following composite image is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1784-1789" is one of many records establishing Peter Engels as a Maryland gunsmith:
1786: Peter Engels prepared a receipt to Adam Fox for firearms on May 20, 1786 (MSA S 1004-84-20410, MDHR 6636-61-18/7B, Location 1/7/3/64).
1786: Peter Engels prepared a receipt for firearms to Jacob Crist on May 6, 1786.
1786: Peter Engels prepared a receipt for firearms to Henry Hildenbrand on June 26, 1786 (MSA S 1004-84-20496, MDHR 6636-61-18/7D, Location 1/7/3/64).
1786: Peter Engels prepared a receipt for firearms to John Bear on August 28, 1786 (MSA S 1004-84-20624, MDHR 6636-61-18/7A, Location 1/7/3/64).
1786: The following composite image is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1784-1789":
1787: The following excerpt is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1784-1789":
1787: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Anna Maria Faw had a child named Curtis who was born June 25, 1787.
1787: The following composite image is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1784-1789":
1787: A December 19, 1787 Council order to Colonel Thomas instructed him to deliver brimstone (Sulphur) and powder to Engels at the magazine in Frederick (MSA S 1004-89-21122, MDHR 6636-64-140 Location 1/7/3/66).
1788: The following excerpt is from Volume I of the book "History of Western Maryland", and is included to show that Abraham Faw was one of Maryland's movers and shakers, so to speak. According to Appendix J the 1849 book "History of Maryland", Abraham Faw is one of the signers of the ratification document.
1788: The following composite image is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1784-1789":
1788: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Anna Maria Faw had a child named Anna Maria Engels who was born July 15, 1788.
1788: The following excerpt is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1784-1789":
1788: The following excerpt is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1784-1789":
1788: The following excerpt is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1784-1789":
1789: Peter Engels, Jr. purchased town lots 13 and 14 in Frederick Town from Conrad Grosh for £225 on March 2, 1789 (Deed Book WR-8 Pages 358-359) and was identified as a gunsmith when he sold the lots on August 20, 1795. The fact that he owned these lots for 11 years suggests that he may have lived on one or both of them. Click here to see a copy of the 1782 map of Frederick Town (MSA SE34-143) that has been annotated to identify lots (10, 11, 13, 14, and 50) that were owned by Peter Engels. Lot 14 (39.41199728, -77.41109957) is at the northeast corner of Market Street and All Saints Street.
1789: The Council wrote a March 6, 1789 letter to Peter Engel requesting a status report (MSA S 1004-92-21635, MDHR 6636-67-16, Location 1/7/3/68).
1789: Peter Engels provided a report titled "Return of Arms and Military Stores in the Frederick Town Arsenal, Maryland, May 6, 1789".
1789: The following excerpt is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1789-1793":
1789: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Anna Maria Faw had a child named Susanna Engels who was born July 7, 1789 and was baptized on September 25, 1789.
1789: The following excerpt is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1789-1793":
1790: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Susanna Bugh had a child named Ezra Engels who was born in 1790 and died in 1869. As reported above, the 1902 book "Historical and Biographical Record of Southern California" reports that Ezra was born on December 13, 1790. Ezra Engle is buried in the Stealey Cemetery (39.49098056, -80.90512323) in Tyler County, West Virginia.
1790: The following composite image is from the 1907 book "First Census of the United States 1790 Maryland" (23 MB). The two Peter Engle households are believed to represent father and son.
1790: The following composite image is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1789-1793":
1790: The following excerpt is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1789-1793":
1790: Although I don't have any evidence that he ever lived there, in 1790 Abraham Faw purchased property in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, as indicated by the following excerpt from the book "History of Uniontown, Pennsylvania". By 1803, Peter Engels was living within about 12.7-miles of Uniontown, in Greene County.
1791: The following excerpt is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1789-1793":
1791: The following excerpt is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1789-1793":
1791: The following composite image is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1789-1793":
1791-1800: The following excerpts about Cumberland, Maryland are from Volume 2 of the book "History of Western Maryland". I wonder if Abraham Faw moved to Cumberland, and then encouraged Peter Engels to move to western Maryland.
1792: The following excerpt is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1789-1793":
1792: The following excerpt is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1789-1793":
1792: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Susanna Bugh had a child named Charlotta Engels who was born August 26, 1792.
1792: The following excerpt is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1789-1793":
1793: The following excerpt is from the book "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, 1789-1793":
1793: A web page about Peter Engels, Sr. (father of the gunsmith) indicates he was born on November 2, 1705, married Maria Magdalena Frey, and died on November 5, 1793 in Frederick County, Maryland.
1793-1795: The image below is a portion of a patent survey (patented certificate 2948) that was based on a July 15, 1793 warrant to Peter Engles. The text of the survey indicates that Peter Engle was living in Frederick County, Maryland on May 10, 1794 but had already been contemplating obtaining property in western Maryland in 1793. The patent was issued to Peter Engles on October 9, 1795.
The following image from the "Mount Airy" survey is included so you can see its fifth line and visualize generally where the "What You Please" tract was located (The location of the "Mount Airy" tract is detailed below). Beware that north is not at the top of the following image from the "Mount Airy" survey.
1794: Michael Havaner (son of Frederick) conveyed the property "Resurvey on Havener's Fancy" to Peter Engle on July 28, 1794 (WR-12 Pages 512-513). The "Resurvey on Havener's Fancy" (Patent Certificate 3497) was for 695 acres. It was surveyed for Frederick Havaner on December 10, 1761 and patented to him on September 29, 1762.
1794: Peter Engels wrote a letter to Governor Thomas S. Lee on August 20, 1794 (during the Whiskey Rebellion) stating his concern for the safety of the Frederick Town magazine. Peter Engels wrote that he had heard that people who were opposed to the excise tax were forming in small groups. Peter Engels also wrote that all the lead and gunpowder in the area had been bought up. The letter closes with the suggestion that a guard should be posted at the magazine.
Page 231 of the 1955 book "Calendar of Maryland State Papers Number 4 Part 3 The Red Books" provides a synopsis of an August 21, 1794 letter that Peter Engels of Frederick wrote to Governor Thomas Sim Lee. Peter Engels stated his concern for the safety of the magazines. He indicated there were people who were very opposed to the excise law, and that he was worried they might rise up as Pennsylvanians had done. He also stated his opinion that a guard was necessary, and that he was waiting for instructions. The 1955 book references this letter as "1515" and as "XXXIII, 44". The latter seems to be a volume number and a page number, but I haven't been able to decipher which book set the volume (33) belongs to.
According to Volume XVII of the 1972 book "The Papers of Alexander Hamilton", Colonel Thomas Sprigg wrote a letter to Thomas S. Lee on September 11, 1794 to warn that individuals at and near Hagerstown were agitating to plunder the magazine and raise a Liberty Pole at Frederick Town. In the letter, Sprigg wrote that he was on his way to Frederick Town to provide a warning and encourage them to provide increased security. The letter is reportedly at the Maryland Hall of Records.
The 1972 book "The Papers of Alexander Hamilton" includes a transcript of a September 12, 1794 letter Hamilton (then Secretary of the Treasury) received from Thomas S. Lee. Lee's letter to Hamilton was accompanied by a letter that was written by the Armourer at Frederick Town, Peter Engels, and confirms Engels' assertion that all the lead and gunpowder in neighboring towns had been bought. The letter also indicates that Lee is taking action to help to ensure the security of the magazine at Frederick Town.
1794: An October 4, 1794 agreement (WR-12 Pages 570-571) mentions that Peter Engle and Frederick Kolise, farmers, jointly purchased Frederick County property (50-acre tracts called Vulfershum and The Bule Frog) from the estate of Michael Hefner, and were agreeing to divide the property between them.
1795: A March 30, 1795 Frederick County deed (WR-13 Page 176) records the purchase of a tract called "Cloms Chance" by Peter Engles, farmer.
1795: On April 13, 1795 Peter Engels (and other heirs of Peter Engels, Sr.) sold 3/4 of town lot 50 in Frederick Town to Valentin Matter, Sr. for £165 (WR-13 pages 206-207). The fact that Clemens Engle is not listed as an heir suggests that he is not a son of Peter Engels, Sr. (Clemens Engle is believed to be a cousin of Peter Engels, Jr.) The remaining 1/4 of lot 50 was sold to Michael Kirschner for £25 (WR-13 Pages 207-208).
1795: A May 30, 1795 Frederick County deed (WR-13 Pages 303-305) records Peter Engels' purchase of Michael Hefner's undivided fourth part of the tracts called Vulversham and the Bull Frogg.
1795: On August 15, 1795 "Peter Engles of Frederick Town Gunsmith" purchased lots 11 and 12 in Frederick Town for £25 (Deed Book WR-13 pages 554 to 555).
1795: George Bentz purchased portions of lots 11 and 12 from Peter Engels for £36 on August 19, 1795 (Deed Book WR-13 pages 500 to 501).
1795: "Peter Engles of Frederick County and State of Maryland Gunsmith" sold property to John Gombar on August 20, 1795 for £375 consisting of lots 13 and 14 and the remaining parts of lots 11 and 12 (W-14 15-16).
1795: The image below is a portion of the survey that was awarded unpatented certificate 137, meaning the patent application was rejected. The survey proves that Peter Engle was living in Allegany County, Maryland by April 1, 1795, stating: "By Virtue of three acres part of a common Warrant granted out of the law office for the Western Shore to Peter Engles and John Jacob Bugh of Allegany County for ten acres bearing Date the 28th day of May 1794 --- I certify that I have carefully surveyed for and in the name of them the said Peter Engles and John Jacob Bugh all that tract or parcel of land lying and being in Allegany County Beginning at Bounded white Oak it being the Beginning of a tract of land called Valantines Addition and running thence south four degrees ... Containing two thousand Eight Hundred Acres called Bughs Manor Surveyed April 1st 1795."
1796: The 1983 booklet puts Peter Engle in Allegany County of Maryland in 1796, which is accurate. On April 2, 1796 Peter Engels and Peter Bugh of Allegany County purchased the 380-acre Allegany County, Maryland "Mount Airy" tract from Francis Deakins. On modern roads, the tract is about 31.5 miles west of Cumberland, where Abraham Faw's tavern was located. A copy of the deed (Deed book B pages 176-178) follows:
The following excerpt from Francis Deakins' immense 1787 survey of lots westward of Fort Cumberland shows the location of the "Mount Airy" tract. The numbers at the upper edge are Mason-Dixon mile markers on the state line. As close as I can estimate from the map below, the tract was located approximately at 39.66454856120093, -79.21469176248596. "Mount Airy" isn't very far from where Clemens and Michael Engle settled (near Salisbury, Pennsylvania).
To the best of my ability, the red star on the following 2019 topographic map shows the approximate location of Mount Airy relative to Grantsville, Maryland. The basis for the location of the red star is scaling the above excerpt from Francis Deakins' 1787 survey of lots westward of Fort Cumberland.
1796: Clemens and Michael Angle appear as taxables in Elk Lick township (which was formed circa 1785 from what had been Brothersvalley Township). They settled just west of the Allegheny Mountain, not all that far from the Mount Airy tract. For Clemens Engle's survey, see Book C-60 page 75.
1796: My ancestor Peter Livengood was an early settler near what is now Salisbury, Elk Lick Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. A September 7, 1796 entry in Peter Livengood's business journal mentions doing business with the gunsmith Peter Engle, specifically describing Peter Engle as a gunsmith. The business transaction was the sale of 30 bushels of wheat to Peter Engle with what seems like a down payment, with only two bushels being taken that day. Peter Engle received three more bushels of wheat on September 17, 1796, three bushels of rye on September 24, 1796, two bushels of wheat on October 4, 1796, and three bushels of wheat on October 8, 1796. In view of the repeated small purchases, I wonder if Peter Engle was taking this grain to a nearby mill by packhorse for grinding, and then packing it back to his home in Maryland. On modern roads, it is approximately 11.2 miles from the Mount Airy tract to Peter Livengood's property.
The following image from the W.P.A. warrant survey map of Elk Lick Township shows the relative positions of properties of Peter Livengood, Clemens Engle, and Michael Engle. I wonder if Peter Engle was having his grain ground by Clemens before returning to Maryland. Volume II, page 652 of the 1906 book "History of Bedford and Somerset Counties Pennsylvania" states, "Engle's mill was built by Clement Engle in 1807", which would have been when Clemens was about 59-years-old, and had already been living in the area at least 28 years. This is a reference to the mill that was still standing in 1906, but I doubt that structure was Clemens' first mill. In any case, there were other mills in the area where Peter could have had his grain ground, as described on page 652 of the above-referenced 1906 book.
1797: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Susanna Bugh had a child named Marium Engels who was born in 1797.
1797: Peter and Catherine Bugh of Allegany County purchased 197-1/2-acres of the Mount Airy property from Peter and Susannah Engels of Allegany County for £100 on June 28, 1797 (Allegany County Deed Book B Pages 363-364). This shows that Peter Engels was still living in Allegany County, Maryland on June 28, 1797.
1799: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Susanna Bugh had a child named Emanuel Engels who was born in 1799.
1800: On April 25, 1800, Peter Bugh of Allegany County sold 187-1/2-acres of the Mount Airy property to Peter Engels of Allegany county for £150 (Allegany County Deed Book C Pages 182-183).
1800: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Susanna Bugh had a child named Christian Engels who was born circa 1800 in Frederick.
Circa 1800: The 1983 booklet puts Peter Engle in Brothersvalley Township of Somerset County circa 1800. I don't know the basis of this information, but the authors of the 1983 booklet may have seen some yet-unidentified reference to Clemens Engle's son Peter, who was born in 1780.
1800: There is no Engle, Angle, or Ingle in the 1800 federal census of Brothersvalley Township. The only Engle I can find in the 1800 federal census of Somerset County is "Clemmence", with a household of 11 individuals in Elk Lick Township.
1800: A Peter Engels is enumerated in the Sandy Creek portion of the 1800 census of Allegany County, Maryland. The following image is a composite, made with tabular entries from one page of the census records, and a header from another page.
1801: The 1983 booklet puts the gunsmith Peter Engle in Springhill Township of Fayette County in 1801. I have not been able to determine the basis for this assertion.
1802: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Susanna Bugh had a child named Theresa Engels who was born in 1802.
1802-1833: Kaufman's 1960 book "The Pennsylvania-Kentucky Rifle" indicates that Peter Engle appears in the tax lists of Greene Township of Greene County, Pennsylvania in 1803, 1809, 1817, and 1823. The 1983 booklet puts Peter Engle in Greene County from 1802 to 1833.
1804: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Susanna Bugh had a child named Catherine Engels who was born in 1804 and died July 17, 1891.
1806: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Susanna Bugh had a child named Rebecca Engels who was born October 7, 1806 and died April 21, 1889.
1807: Rudolph Haberstick purchased part of the Mount Airy property from Pennsylvanian Peter Engles on October 5, 1807 (Allegany County Deed Book E Pages 212-214). Miner reports that after the sale, the Allegany County Sheriff became involved in Peter Engles' attempt to collect the money from Rudolph Haberstick.
1808: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Susanna Bugh had a child named Barney Engels who was born 1808 and died January 24, 1887. Barney is buried in the Donham Cemetery (39.78559538, -79.95358952) in Greene County, where his tombstone states, "Barnett Engals 1808-1887".
1808: The following image is from the W.P.A. survey warrant map of Monongahela Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania. On March 21, 1808 Peter Engels bought a 100-acre parcel from the tract of Noah Long that was surveyed as the "Square" in 1786 (Book A-67, Page 196) and patented as the "Ark" in 1787. The approximate location of the tract can be determined based on the distinctive horseshoe curve in the Monongahela River, and the distinctive curve in Whiteley Creek that are located nearby.
The following excerpt from a 1900 topographic map is included to show the terrain of the "Ark" tract and the location of Greensboro:
1810: Miner reports that Peter Engels and Susanna Bugh had a child named Neucessa Engels who was born in 1810.
1810: The Peter Engles household appears in the 1810 census of Greene Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania with one male and one female over 45 years old, one male in the 16 to 26 age group, one male and one female in the 10 to 16 age group, and two males and three females under the age of ten. The following image is a composite, made with tabular entries from one page of the census records, and a header from another page.
1814: Miner reports that Ezra Engels of Greene Township, Green County purchased 1-1/4-acres from Peter and Susannah Engles of the same township and county for $10.00 on June 16, 1814.
1817-1838: Kauffman's 1960 book "The Pennsylvania-Kentucky Rifle" reports that the gunsmith Ezra Engle is on the tax lists of Greene Township in Greene County for the years 1817, 1820, 1821, 1835, and 1838 and is on the tax lists of Monongahela Township in Greene County for the years 1824, 1829, 1835, and 1838. I don't understand the entries in both townships for the years 1835 and 1838.
1820: The following excerpt is from the 1820 census records of Greene Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania. The table header from Greene County was too faded to include.
1824-1833: The 1983 booklet puts Peter Engle in Monongahela Township of Greene County from 1824-1833.
1824-1845: Kauffman's 1960 book "The Pennsylvania-Kentucky Rifle" reports that the gunsmith Christian Engles is on the tax lists of Monongahela Township, Greene County for the years 1824, 1829, and 1833 and is on the tax list of Morris Township, Washington County for the year 1845.
1824: The 1824 estate records of my Southampton Township, Somerset County ancestor Michael Korn (prepared by the gunsmith Adam Lepey II) indicate that a Peter Engle owed the Michael Korn estate $2.00, but that was probably Clemens Engle's son Peter who was born in 1780 and died in 1854.
1829: Miner reports that David Core of Monongahela Township, Greene County purchased 100-acres from Peter and Susannah Engels of the same township and county on July 10, 1829 for $1,000.00.
1830: Miner reports that Peter and Susannah Engels purchased 96 acres of the "Vermont" tract in Monongahela Township, Greene County from Enoch and Mary Rutter for $800.00 on January 21, 1830. The following image from the W.P.A. warrant survey map of Monongahela Township uses a red star to identify Peter and Susannah Engels' "The Ark" tract and uses an orange star to identify Peter and Susannah Engels' "Vermount" tract.
1830: Miner reports that Ezra Engle purchased nine acres and twenty-seven perches of property in Monongahela Township, Greene County from Peter and Susannah Engle on April 21, 1830 for 98 dollars and 68-3/4 cents.
1833-1878: Kauffman's 1960 book "The Pennsylvania-Kentucky Rifle" reports that the gunsmith Barnet "Barney" Engle is on the tax lists of Monongahela Township in Greene County for the years 1833-1836, 1838, 1848, 1860, 1875, 1876, and 1878.
Miner reports that George and Sarah Hartter of Washington County sold 114 acres in Greene County to Peter Engles of Greene County for $285.00, and reports that this was the last property transaction of Peter Engels. The date of the transaction was not reported.
1833: In his will (Page 17 of Green County Will Book No. 2) which was registered February 22, 1833, Peter Engle's gunsmith tools were bequeathed to his son Barney. The following transcription of the will is by Donna Clark, and is missing the fifth clause, which relates to daughters.
"I Peter Engle of Monongahela township, Greene County and State of Pennsylvania considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament in the manner and form following (hereby revoking any former Will or Wills that may have been made by me) Firstly, It is my will and desire that after my death, all my just debts be paid, together with all charges and expences in relation to my funeral and the execution of this my last Will and Testament.
Secondly, It is my will and desire that after the debts and expenses above mentioned are paid, that the residue of my estate both real and personal excepting my Gunsmith tools shall remain in the hands of my beloved wife Susannah during her natural lifetime to use and enjoy the same in any manner she may see proper, in order to promote her comfort and convienience, and for her use and benefit alone over which she shall have full and eclusive control, with privlege to sell any part or parts that she may deem proper or best. Thirdly, I hereby will and bequeath unto my son Barney all my Gunsmith tools to be delivered to him by my executors herein after named as early as practicable after my death.
Fourthly, I hereby will and bequeath unto my sons, Jacob, George, Peter, Abraham, Ezra, Samuel and Christian and unto my daughters, Mary Bugh, Elizabeth (Kromer) Julia Piatt, Milly Ziegler, Marriam (Bell) Catherine Garrison, and Rebeckah Donham to them or in the case of their death then to their children, the sum of One dollar each to be paid to each of them respectively as early as practicable by my said Executors share and share alike, as early as practicable after the death of my wife, Susannah. ...
Sixthly, I hereby nominate and appoint my friends Lewis Lantz and Benjamin F. Black Executors to this my last will and testament--In the witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this the first day of February one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. Signed, published, pronounced and declared by the above named Peter Engle to be his last Will and testament in the presence of us who at his request, and now in his presence have subscribed our names as Witness thereof.
Peter Engle
John Gapen
Benjamin Freeland.
Greene County SS
Before me Jesse Lazear Register for the probate of Wills and granting letters of Administration in and for said County this day came John Gapen and Benjamin Freeland the two subscribing witnesses to the within instrument of writing and on their solemn oaths did say that that they were present and saw and heard Peter Engle the testator within named sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare the same to be his last Will and testament: and that at the time of doing thereof he was of sound and disposing mind and memory according to the best of their knowledge, observation and belief.
Sworn and subscribed before me Feby 22nd 1833
Jesse Lazear Register
John Gapen
Benjamin Freeland"
1870s: The 1953 edition of "American Gun Makers" indicates that that E.L. Pancost and Barney Engle's nephew Lewis N. Donham apprenticed with Barney Engle of Greensboro, Greene County, Pennsylvania early in the 1870s. The book also indicates that Barney Engle used the script initials "B.E."
1876: The following image from the Greensboro section of the 1876 "Atlas of Greene County, Pennsylvania" identifies the location of Barney Engle's residence and gun shop.
1897: Click here for an entertaining tradition-based story about the Engle gunsmiths from the April 10, 1897 issue of "Forest and Stream".
1922: The following obituary from the February 2, 1922 issue of the "Tyler County Journal" newspaper indicates that Peter Engle's son Ezra and grandson James were gunsmiths: "James Engle -- Tyler County's noted gunsmith, died at his home at Luzon, WV on 30 January 1922, age 90. He was a son of Ezra and Nancy Black Engle, who came to Tyler from Greene Co., Pa. in 1832. They lived at Pursley and he married Elizabeth Holmes, whose parents, also pioneer residents of Pursley, lived at the place where the schoolhouse and bridge now stand. They had two children. A son died in infancy and the daughter, Mrs. G. C. Fetty, survives. His wife died about six years ago. James Engle, like his father, Ezra Engle, and his grand-father, was an expert and noted gunsmith and many of the guns in this section bear the initials of either the father, "E.E." or the son, "J. E." During the years that Luzon was a post office, he was the postmaster. Their home, with the excellent cool water, was the mecca for the great traveling public, along the S&S Turnpike, during the many years before the trolley was started and including the great travel during the oil activities in Tyler. Burial was beside his wife in the Greenwood Cemetery. He is survived by a large family. A sister, Mrs. Nancy Lacy, died in California last year. The late Christian Engle of Middlebourne, WV was a brother." James E. Engle is buried at the Middlebourne Cemetery (39.49859948, -80.90137928) in Middlebourne, Tyler County, West Virginia. His tombstone indicates he was born in 1833 and died in 1922.
1970: Here is what Eber Cockley wrote about Peter Engle in the February, 1970 issue of the "Laurel Messenger".
See the Gunsmith Index for biographies of other early American gunsmiths and pictures of guns they made.
