Nicholson, John

Name	Street	Town	State	From	To
Nicholson, John	Front Street	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	1774	1806

Patent	Date	Remarks

Contract	for

Product
There must have been two John Nicholson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at that time. One was John Nicholson 1757-1800, Nicholson was a financier and land speculator who was elected Comptroller General of Pennsylvania from 1782 to 1794. He was impeached for mismanaging state funds for his own gain in 1793 but was found not guilty. Business partner of Robert Morris. The other John Nicholson was a Gunsmith, was made musket to Committee of Safety, 1775-76. Payment recorded for making eleven pattern guns. Listed as having paid tax in Dock Ward, Philadelphia, in 1774. John Nicholson was one of the petitioners representing Pennsylvania gun makers, complaining to the Committee of Safety against the high cost of material and labor entering into arms making and quoting advances in prices within one year, ince 1775. With Abraham Morrow he had been awarded warrants for the repair of arms of militia of Bucks, Chester, Lancaster, Montgomery and Delaware Counties, as well as of Berks and Northampton, in 1791. Contracted for "rifle guns" in 1792, for which payments of $588.00 is noted. U. S. Inspector of Arms at Phila., Pa. 1800-06. Nicholson, John Gunsmith of Dock Ward, Philadelphia, 1774-90, Delivered 28 new muskets to Committee of Public Safety prior to Sept. 11, 1775. On June 4th, 1776, Nicholson transmitted to the committee of safety at Philadelphia his Plan for Carrying on a Gun Factory which was as follows: There must be a convenient place for erecting a Mill for boaring and grinding barrells, to be under the direction of Mr Tomilson, or some other barrell maker. - shops fit to forge barrells in, with three or four forges. - A Shop to contain three forges for forging Locks, with a good sett of tools to each, and a shop or shops to contain forty lock filers, with a good set of tools to each, suitable to the part of the locks they have to file, with a forge for each ten Lock filers to harden & temper the Springs, mend tools & case harden, &c. - A shop or shops for ten Gun stockers, with each man a sett of tools. Fourth. - A Casting Shop & propper tools for a brass founder to Cast the mountings & a shop to finish ditto in. - A Shop with two forges to forge Bayonets and Steel Ramrods & works erected at the Mill for polishing and grinding ditto. - A forge for making Swivals, trickers, Pins & Springs for the ramrods, &c. - A Small Shop for putting the Guns together in. near the Stocking Shop. N. B. - it will be necessary to get all the files & Brass that can be got, as them articles are become very scarce, and to provide a file cutter to cut the files over Again. It will be likewise Necessary to have a Clark that Understands Something of the hardware business, in order to provide things as they may be needed. Nicholson also signified his willingness to take charge of the factory at threehundred pounds per Year with a convenient Dwelling house for myself & Family, & Five Pounds for every hundred Guns made under my Inspection. He offered a variety of firearms for sale including pistols. Supplied flintlock muskets to the Pennsylvania militia. National Archives, To George Washington from William Milnor, 29 November 1774 "From William Milnor Honorable Sir Philada Novr 29th 1774 Your favour of the 17th Inst. came to hand on fryday last, I have made the strictest search, after a Sash and have sent the only one, that is to be had in this City, I am sorry to inform you, it is not intirely New thogh not much changed. I have bought it Conditionly if not approved of, to be returnd by the first post & taken again, I had no Alternitive, as no Other Could be had. The Epaulette is inclosed with the pamphlets the Gorget is Making, & will Come by the Next post after the strictest inquiry, I could find no Other Treatise on Military Discipline, but the one I have sent you I have enclosed you a Vile pamphlet said to be wrote by Dr Cooper of New York, & likewise another small pamphlet called Strictures on the former, said to be wrote by General Lee of this City here I must beg youl excuse my presumeing to exceed your Orders, as it is with an intintion to amuse. for if you have patience to read the first, I think you will be deverted with the last. I have Applyed to two Gunsmiths, One palmer (likely Thomas Palmer) tells me he Can make one hundred by May next, And Nicholson says he can make the like Number by March, they both agree in the priece at £3.15. this Currcy.4 Palmer says Mr Cadvalder had agreed With him for 100 at that price, a Jersy Musquet was brought to palmer for a patern, Mr Shreive Hatter of Allexandira has one of that sort, which you may see, & if you Conclude to have any, please to inform me by the first post, as the Gunsmiths I blieve will soon be preengaged, & there is not one Musquet to be bought in this City at present, if you should chose any Alteration, from that Musquet please to let us know Mr Fleecen assures me the Drums Coulers &c. shall be ready to come with the first Vessels & you may be assured I shall forward them with the Utmost speed. I am Dear sir with the greatest respect, Your Most Obedt humble Sert William Milnor" Inspected bayonets and arms (mark JN) for the U.S. from 1800 to 1806. I found some pictures of a fine Nicholson Rifle on the site of Antique Guns. Thanks for these phantastic pictures. right side lock/shaft right side cheek side backend barrel top view and now oposite side trigger guard patchbox side plate ramrod into stock lock with Nicholson marking marking on barrel "The Philadelphia Directory for 1800 containing THE NAMES, OCCUPATIONS, and PLACES of ABODE of the CITIZENS, ARRANGED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER." lists no John Nicholson as gunsmith. US records espesially John Harris Receipt Book stipulate that John Nicholson Jr. (generally he is known as John Nicholson without Jr.) assembled and fitted from Government Parts: August 16, 1797 - 50 New Ship Pistols October 19, 1797 - 50 New Ship Pistols February 2, 1798 - 40 New Ship Pistols March 7, 1798 - 2 New Ship Pistols

Product

There must have been two John Nicholson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at that time. One was John Nicholson 1757-1800, Nicholson was a financier and land speculator who was elected Comptroller General of Pennsylvania from 1782 to 1794. He was impeached for mismanaging state funds for his own gain in 1793 but was found not guilty. Business partner of Robert Morris.

The other John Nicholson was a Gunsmith, was made musket to Committee of Safety, 1775-76. Payment recorded for making eleven pattern guns. Listed as having paid tax in Dock Ward, Philadelphia, in 1774. John Nicholson was one of the petitioners representing Pennsylvania gun makers, complaining to the Committee of Safety against the high cost of material and labor entering into arms making and quoting advances in prices within one year, ince 1775. With Abraham Morrow he had been awarded warrants for the repair of arms of militia of Bucks, Chester, Lancaster, Montgomery and Delaware Counties, as well as of Berks and Northampton, in 1791. Contracted for "rifle guns" in 1792, for which payments of $588.00 is noted. U. S. Inspector of Arms at Phila., Pa. 1800-06.

Nicholson, John Gunsmith of Dock Ward, Philadelphia, 1774-90, Delivered 28 new muskets to Committee of Public Safety prior to Sept. 11, 1775. On June 4th, 1776, Nicholson transmitted to the committee of safety at Philadelphia his Plan for Carrying on a Gun Factory which was as follows:
There must be a convenient place for erecting a Mill for boaring and grinding barrells, to be under the direction of Mr Tomilson, or some other barrell maker.
- shops fit to forge barrells in, with three or four forges.
- A Shop to contain three forges for forging Locks, with a good sett of tools to each, and a shop or shops to contain forty lock filers, with a good set of tools to each, suitable to the part of the locks they have to file, with a forge for each ten Lock filers to harden & temper the Springs, mend tools & case harden, &c.
- A shop or shops for ten Gun stockers, with each man a sett of tools. Fourth.
- A Casting Shop & propper tools for a brass founder to Cast the mountings & a shop to finish ditto in.
- A Shop with two forges to forge Bayonets and Steel Ramrods & works erected at the Mill for polishing and grinding ditto.
- A forge for making Swivals, trickers, Pins & Springs for the ramrods, &c.
- A Small Shop for putting the Guns together in. near the Stocking Shop.
N. B. - it will be necessary to get all the files & Brass that can be got, as them articles are become very scarce, and to provide a file cutter to cut the files over Again. It will be likewise Necessary to have a Clark that Understands Something of the hardware business, in order to provide things as they may be needed. Nicholson also signified his willingness to take charge of the factory at threehundred pounds per Year with a convenient Dwelling house for myself & Family, & Five Pounds for every hundred Guns made under my Inspection.

He offered a variety of firearms for sale including pistols.

Supplied flintlock muskets to the Pennsylvania militia.

National Archives, To George Washington from William Milnor, 29 November 1774

"From William Milnor

Honorable Sir
Philada Novr 29th 1774
Your favour of the 17th Inst. came to hand on fryday last, I have made the strictest search, after a Sash and have sent the only one, that is to be had in this City, I am sorry to inform you, it is not intirely New thogh not much changed. I have bought it Conditionly if not approved of, to be returnd by the first post & taken again, I had no Alternitive, as no Other Could be had. The Epaulette is inclosed with the pamphlets the Gorget is Making, & will Come by the Next post after the strictest inquiry, I could find no Other Treatise on Military Discipline, but the one I have sent you I have enclosed you a Vile pamphlet said to be wrote by Dr Cooper of New York, & likewise another small pamphlet called Strictures on the former, said to be wrote by General Lee of this City here I must beg youl excuse my presumeing to exceed your Orders, as it is with an intintion to amuse. for if you have patience to read the first, I think you will be deverted with the last.

I have Applyed to two Gunsmiths, One palmer (likely Thomas Palmer) tells me he Can make one hundred by May next, And Nicholson says he can make the like Number by March, they both agree in the priece at £3.15. this Currcy.4 Palmer says Mr Cadvalder had agreed With him for 100 at that price, a Jersy Musquet was brought to palmer for a patern, Mr Shreive Hatter of Allexandira has one of that sort, which you may see, & if you Conclude to have any, please to inform me by the first post, as the Gunsmiths I blieve will soon be preengaged, & there is not one Musquet to be bought in this City at present, if you should chose any Alteration, from that Musquet please to let us know Mr Fleecen assures me the Drums Coulers &c. shall be ready to come with the first Vessels & you may be assured I shall forward them with the Utmost speed. I am Dear sir with the greatest respect, Your Most Obedt humble Sert

William Milnor"

Inspected bayonets and arms (mark JN) for the U.S. from 1800 to 1806.

I found some pictures of a fine Nicholson Rifle on the site of Antique Guns. Thanks for these phantastic pictures.

right side
lock/shaft right side
cheek side
backend barrel top view
and now oposite side
trigger guard
patchbox
side plate
ramrod into stock
lock with Nicholson marking
marking on barrel

"The Philadelphia Directory for 1800 containing THE NAMES, OCCUPATIONS, and PLACES of ABODE of the CITIZENS, ARRANGED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER." lists no John Nicholson as gunsmith.

US records espesially John Harris Receipt Book stipulate that John Nicholson Jr. (generally he is known as John Nicholson without Jr.) assembled and fitted from Government Parts:

August 16, 1797 - 50 New Ship Pistols
October 19, 1797 - 50 New Ship Pistols
February 2, 1798 - 40 New Ship Pistols
March 7, 1798 - 2 New Ship Pistols