Presented by: Jessi White, MTSU Center for Historic Preservation

MESDA Summer Institute 2012

e Lure of the Great Smokies f

The descendants who filled the Virginia valleys and the beautiful big blue hills of North Carolina and spilled over the high dam of the Smokies were almost literally born with long rifles upon their shoulders Almost from the time a boy was able to shoulder one of these deadly, heavy shooting weapons of the Decherd, or Leaman of Charlottesville, North Carolina or of the Bean or Duncan type, he was learning how to fire with pin-blank (point-blank) aim. e Robert Lindsey Masons f

 Early 19th century- emergence

of distinctive long rifle style in Upper East Tennessee. Rifles served a functional purpose as a hunting device and means of protection.

Patch box

Tang

Rear sight

Front sight

Ramrod Set triggers Stock Butt plate Cock Flint Frizzen

Pan Lock plate

 1820-1830 construction date Cigar- shaped patch box 64 long Extended heel on the butt plate Full-length iron octagon barrel ( suggesting that it Set Triggers is a smooth bore rifle) Molded cheek piece Curly maple stock Minimal decorative Iron mounts engraving

Banana patch box

Scrolled trigger guard Elongated heel plate

Molded cheek piece

Set Triggers

Rice Duncan (1775-1831)

Washington Co.

Alfred Duncan (1804-1852)

Sullivan Co.

George Rice Duncan (1813-1847)

Sullivan Co.

Charles Russell Bean Sr. (1820)

Charles Russell Bean, Jr. (1835-1919)

 Established mid-1790s by Colonel James King

Located on the Southeast side of the Beaver Creek

Knobs where the Steele Creek Empties into the Beaver Creek Produced bar iron Distributed bar iron to local merchants. Bar iron from Beaver Creek could have been used to construct the guns parts.

George Rice Duncan Beaver Creek Iron Works