Introduction: Several individuals named Thomas Oldham lived in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, which complicates research. The Whiskers' 1983 booklet "Gunsmiths and Gunmakers of Bedford and Somerset Counties Pennsylvania 1770-1900" reports that in the 1800 to 1900 timeframe there were five men named Thomas Oldham in Bedford County, but the one who died circa 1811 and the one who died during the 1920s can be eliminated. After the gunsmith Thomas Oldham reportedly left Bedford County for Iowa, another Thomas Oldham appears several times in Bedford County newspapers. As detailed below, I believe the gunsmith Thomas Oldham was the son of William Oldham, Sr.
1809: Calculating from the information on his tombstone, the gunsmith Thomas Oldham who is buried in Iowa was born in 1809.
1810: In a transcript of the St. Clair Township portion of the 1810 census records of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, a William Oldham household has one male in the 26 to 45 age group, one female in the 16 to 26 age group, and one male and one female in the up to age 10 group. As detailed below, I believe this William Oldham is the father of the gunsmith Thomas Oldham.
1812: The 1978 book "Blackburn and Allied Descendants of John Blackburn, Sr., who came from Ireland to Pennsylvania in 1736" indicates that there is a Bedford County will for a Thomas Oldham that was probated on September 26, 1812. In the will, this Thomas Oldham mentions a wife named Lydia, a son Thomas who was the stepson of his wife Lydia, a son William, a daughter Alice Garretson, a brother John, and John's daughter Mary Oldham. Clearly, the Thomas Oldham whose will was probated in 1812 is not the gunsmith Thomas Oldham who was born in 1809.
1820: A Thomas Oldham household in a transcript of the St. Clair Township, Bedford County portion of the 1820 census records of Bedford County, Pennsylvania has one male and one female in the 16 to 26 age group and one male and two females in the up to ten age group. One individual in the household was engaged in manufacturing. Obviously, the Thomas Oldham born in 1809 was not in the 16 to 26 age group 11 years later, in 1820.
1820: In a transcript of the 1820 census of St. Clair Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, a William Oldham household has one male and one female in the 26 to 45 age group, and two males and four females in the up to ten age group. One individual in the household was engaged in agriculture. I believe this William Oldham was the father of the gunsmith Thomas Oldham, as detailed below.
1827: The excerpt from the 1884 book "History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania" that is included farther below indicates that William Oldham, Sr. had a son named Jethro. The following obituary of Jethro Oldham is from the July 14, 1902 issue of the "Johnstown Daily Tribune", and indicates that Jethro was a son of William Oldham, Sr. and was born in Bedford County in 1827. This suggests that that William Oldham, Sr. — who I believe was the father of the gunsmith Thomas Oldham — was still living in Bedford County in 1827.
1829: In an article that was published in the October, 2009 "Muzzle Blasts" magazine, James B. Whisker reports that Thomas Oldham was identified as a gunsmith in the 1829 tax records of Greenfield Township.
1830: In a transcript of the St. Clair Township portion of the 1830 census records of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, a Thomas Oldman (sic) household has one male in the 40 to 50 age range, one female in the 30 to 40 age range, one female in the 15 to 20 age range, one male and one female in the 10 to 15 age range, two males in the five to ten age range, and one male in the up to five age range. The only candidate to be the named head of this household was in the 40 to 50 age group, which is too old to be the Thomas Oldham who was born in 1809.
1830: In a transcript of the Shade Township portion of the 1830 census records of Somerset County, Pennsylvania the William Olaham household has one male and one female in the 40 to 50 age group, one male and two females in the 10 to 15 age group, one male and one female in the 5 to 10 age group, and two males in the up to five age group.
1829-1833: The 2001 book "Gunsmiths of Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, and Somerset Counties" by Whisker & Yantz identifies this gunsmith as Thomas Oldham, Jr., who was working as a gunsmith in Greenfield Township (now part of Blair County) in 1829 and moved near his father in St. Clair Township in 1833. As detailed below, I believe that the gunsmith Thomas Oldham's father was William Oldham, Sr., who had already moved to Somerset County by the time of the 1830 census.
1827-1833: I believe the 2001 Whisker & Yantz book is wrong about the gunsmith Thomas Oldham being the son of a Thomas Oldham who lived in St. Clair Township. I believe the gunsmith Thomas Oldham was the son of William Oldham, and the grandson of a Thomas Oldham who lived in St. Clair Township. Bear with me as I present the following information from the 1884 book "History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania", which indicates that William Oldham, Sr. had a son named Thomas. The 1884 book also names other children of William Oldham, Sr., and these names are useful in untangling the genealogy of the gunsmith Thomas Oldham.
Now have a look at the following excerpt from Volume III of the 1906 book "History of Bedford and Somerset Counties Pennsylvania", which indicates that William Oldham's son Thomas was born around 1810, married a woman named Elizabeth Bone, and had five children (which is harmonious with the 1850 census). I believe the name "Elizabeth Bone" is what someone heard and wrote down when they heard the name "Elizabeth Bowen".
The circa 1810 birth date is harmonious with the 1809 birth date calculated from the tombstone of the gunsmith Thomas Oldham who is buried in Iowa.
A web page about Thomas Oldham's wife identifies her as Elizabeth (Bowen) Oldham, and gives the names of Thomas Oldham's parents as William and Elizabeth Oldham, who are buried in Shade Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
1832-1852: The Whiskers' 1983 booklet identifies Thomas Oldham as a gunsmith of St. Clair Township, Bedford County, from 1832 to 1852.
1832: A Thomas Oldham appears in the 1832 tax list of St. Clair Township with 95 acres, one horse, three cows, and a property valuation of $225.
Circa 1833: The 1850 census suggests that Thomas Oldham had a daughter named Elmira who was born circa 1833.
1834: The 1850 census suggests that Thomas Oldham had a daughter named Mary E. who was born circa 1835. Mary Oldham died in 1856 and is buried in the Brown Cemetery in Clayton County, Iowa, where she shares a tombstone with Thomas Oldham's wife and her mother Elizabeth, who died shortly before Mary. The tombstone indicates that Mary is the daughter of Thomas and Eliz. Oldham and was born in 1834.
Circa 1840-1841: The 1850 and 1860 federal censuses and 1856 Iowa census suggest that Thomas Oldham had a son named Enoch who was born circa 1840-1841. A web page about Enoch F. Oldham indicates he was a son of Thomas Oldham and Elizabeth (Bowen) Oldham, was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania in 1837, and died in Minnesota on November 13, 1920.
1840: I could not find a Thomas Oldham in the 1840 census records of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. By my reckoning, Thomas Oldham would have been about 31 years old in 1840.
1840: In the Shade Township portion of the 1840 census records of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, the listing for the William Oldham household has one male and one female in the 50 to 60 age group, one male in the 20 to 30 age group, two males and one female in the 15 to 20 age group, and one male in the 10 to 15 age group.
Circa 1841-1844: The 1860 and 1870 censuses suggest that Thomas Oldham had a son named Homer who was born circa 1841-1844.
1844: The 1850 federal census and 1856 Iowa census indicate that Thomas Oldham had a child named Omar who was born circa 1843-1844. An Omar B. Oldham is buried in the Brown Cemetery in Clayton County, Iowa, where his tombstone indicates he was born in 1844 and died in 1937. A website indicates he is a son of Thomas Oldham and Elizabeth (Bowen) Oldham, and was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania.
Circa 1845: According to A. Merwyn Carey's 1953 book "American Firearms Makers" Thomas Oldham was a maker of percussion rifles in St. Clair Township of Bedford County circa 1845.
1847: Sellers' 2008 book "American Gunsmiths" puts the gunsmith Thomas C. Oldham in Bedford (presumably meaning Bedford County) in 1847 based on a tax record, and reports his source as Hetrick. Kauffman's 1952 book "Early American Gunsmiths 1650-1850" indicates that Thomas Oldham, Jr. is identified as a gunsmith in an 1847 St. Clair Township, Bedford County tax list.
Circa 1847-1848: The 1850 and 1860 federal censuses and 1856 Iowa census suggest that Thomas Oldham had a child named Unah or Uriah who was born circa 1847-1848.
1850: The 1953 edition of the book "American Gun Makers" places Thomas Oldham in East St. Clair Township of Bedford County in 1850. The census record below indicates that the township was actually just St. Clair Township in 1850, rather than East St. Clair Township. Thomas Oldham is the only gun maker in the entire 1953 book with the initials "T. O."
1850: Thomas Oldham was enumerated as a 42-year-old gunsmith in the 1850 federal census of St. Clair Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Living with him were 44-year-old Elizabeth Oldham, 17-year-old Elmira Oldham, 15-year-old Mary E Oldham, 10-year-old Enoch Oldham, 6-year-old Oma Oldham, and 2-year-old Unah Oldham. This is harmonious with the circa-1810 birth date, five children, and wife Elizabeth that are mentioned in the 1906 history book (see above).
1850: In a transcript of the the 1850 census of Shade Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania William Oloham is enumerated as a 70-year-old Pennsylvania-born farmer with a value of $2,500.00. Living in the same household are 65-year-old Pennsylvania-born Elizabeth Oloham, 29-year-old Pennsylvania-born laborer William Oloham, Jr., 26-year-old Pennsylvania-born laborer John Oloham, 24-year-old Pennsylvania-born laborer Jethro Oloham, 21-year-old Pennsylvania-born Mary Oloham, and 1-year-old Pennsylvania-born Emily Oloham.
1853: The Whiskers' 1983 booklet indicates that a Thomas Oldham died in 1853, but the inventory of the estate reveals nothing related to gunsmithing. At the time the booklet was published, the authors (mistakenly) thought this might be the gunsmith. That misimpression is understandable, because the gunsmith would have disappeared from the Bedford County records at about the same time.
1854: The 2001 Whisker & Yantz book indicates that Thomas Oldham moved on to Iowa in 1854.
1855: William Oldham, Sr. died in 1855 and is buried in the Crum-Oldham Cemetery in Shade Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. A web page about him indicates he was the father of Thomas Oldham, Mary (Oldham) Jones, Nathan Oldham, Hester Ann (Olham) Hare, William Oldham, Jr., Jehu Oldham, and Jethro Oldham.
1855: The following excerpt from Volume 1 of the 1904 book "History of South Dakota" (page 764) indicates that Thomas Oldham moved to Iowa in 1855. Referring to the excerpted text, the Whiskers' 2017 book "Gunsmiths of Bedford County, Pennsylvania" incorrectly applies the statement, "...was a Whig until the dissolution of the party, when he joined the ranks of the Republican party" to Thomas Oldham. That statement clearly applies to Philip H. Risling .
1856: Thomas Oldham's first wife Elizabeth is buried in the Brown Cemetery (42.65294915, -91.20086792), Colesburg, Clayton County, Iowa (where Thomas is also buried). Her tombstone indicates she is the wife of Thomas Oldham, was born in 1806, and died March 26, 1856. This birth date is harmonious with the age of 44 that was given in the 1850 census (see above)
1856: In the 1856 state census of Mallory Township, Clayton County, Iowa, Thomas Oldham is enumerated as a 47-year-old widower, living with 16 -year-old Enoch Oldham, 13-year-old Omer Oldham, and 8-year-old Uriah Oldham. The 2001 Whisker & Yantz book indicates that Thomas Oldham is identified in the 1856 Iowa state census as a 47-year-old gunsmith who resided in Mallory Township, Clayton County, Iowa.
1860: By 1860, Thomas Oldham had remarried. In the federal census of Mallory Township that year, Thomas Oldham is enumerated as a 54-year-old individual living with 50-year-old Elisabeth Oldham, 19-year-old Enoch Oldham, 19-year-old Homer Oldham, and 13-year-old Uriah Oldham.
1861: A tombstone in the Crum-Oldham Cemetery Shade Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania includes the words, "Elizabeth, wife of William Oldham died April 17, 1861 aged 77 yrs. ..." A web page about her indicates she is the mother of Thomas Oldham, Mary (Oldham) Jones, Nathan Oldham, Hester Ann (Olham) Hare, William Oldham, Jr., Jehu Oldham, and Jethro Oldham.
1870: In the 1870 federal census of Mallory Township, Thomas Oldham is enumerated as a 61-year-old individual living with 58-year-old Eliza Oldham, 26-year-old Homer Oldham, and 16-year-old Rachel Harbaugh.
1880: In a transcript of the 1880 federal census records of Mallory Township that I reviewed, Thomas Oldham is enumerated as a 71-year-old gunsmith from Pennsylvania who was living with his 68-year-old wife Eliza, also from Pennsylvania. This indicates that in addition to having been a Pennsylvania gunsmith, Thomas Oldham was also an Iowa gunsmith. Here is a blurry copy of the manuscript census record:
1885: In the 1885 state census of Mallory Township, Thomas Oldham is enumerated as a 76-year-old individual living with 73-year-old Eliza Oldham.
1886: The following excerpt from the Mallory township portion of the 1886 "Plat Book of Clayton County, Iowa" identifies the location of Thomas Oldham's residence and blacksmith shop. The blacksmith shop was located approximately at 42.688709441, -91.21571229.
1889: The following studio portrait of Thomas Oldham was taken and printed in Colesburg, Iowa in 1889.
1891: Thomas Oldham died in Mallory Township at the age of 82 on June 17, 1891 and is buried in the Brown Cemetery (42.65294915, -91.20086792), Colesburg, Clayton County, Iowa. The tombstone gives his age as 82 years, one month, and I can't read how many days. This puts his birth in the year 1809.
1893: The excerpt from the 1884 book "History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania" that is included above indicates that William Oldham, Sr. had a daughter named Mary Jones. The excerpt from the 1906 book "History of Bedford and Somerset Counties Pennsylvania" that is included above indicates that William Oldham, Sr. had a daughter named Polly who married Harrison Jones. A web page about the Mary Jones who is buried in the Brown Cemetery in Clayton County, Ohio indicates she was the wife of Harrison Jones, the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Callihan) Oldham, and the sister of Thomas Oldham, Nathan Oldham, Hester Ann (Olham) Hare, William Oldham, Jr., Jehu Oldham, and Jethro Oldham. Her tombstone states, "Mary Wife of Harrison Jones, born Feb. 14, 1811 died Dec. 18 1893."
1908: The following obituary of William Oldham, Jr. is from the August 14, 1908 issue of the Johnstown Daily Tribune. It includes a brief biography of William Oldham, Sr., who I believe was the father of the gunsmith Thomas Oldham.
Misc: The 1953 edition of "American Gun Makers" describes Thomas Oldham as a rifle maker who is known for producing excellent full-stock double barreled guns with well-proportioned locks.
In his book "The Bedford County Rifle and its Makers", Calvin Hetrick reported that he knew of six double rifles that were made by Thomas Oldham, which was the most Hetrick was aware of that were made by any gunsmith in Bedford County. Hetrick describes Thomas Oldham as being in East St. Clair township before moving west.
The 2001 Whisker & Yantz book shows various rifles made by Oldham, and all have rat tail locks with classic Bedford County hammers. Pag 101 of Kauffman's 1960 book "The Pennsylvania-Kentucky Rifle" shows percussion double rifle by Thomas Oldham. The stock has a patchbox with a typical Bedford County Q-type finial. The rat-tail locks have Bedford County-style hammers. If you have a single or double barrel muzzle loader rifle that was made by Thomas Oldham, please consider donating photographs of it to this website.
The Whiskers' 1983 booklet indicates that Thomas Oldham learned gunsmithing from George Slonaker. The Whiskers' 2017 book provides a more nuanced statement, indicating that George Slonaker and Thomas Oldham were in Greenfield township at the same time, George Slonaker was older than Thomas Oldham by approximately 10 years, and Thomas Oldham may have learned gunsmithing from George Slonaker.
Thomas Oldham work product
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