North, Simeon

Name	Street	Town	State	From	To
North, Simeon		Berlin (later Middletown)	Connecticut	1799	1813 (1843)
North, Simeon		Middletown	Connecticut	1813	1829

Patent	Date	Remarks

Contract	for
March 9, 1799	500 horse pistols at $ 6.50 each, .69 caliber, 8 1/2 " barrel
February 6, 1800	1,500 additional pistols at $ 6.00 each, all 2,000 were made and delivery was completed by September 11, 1802
June 30, 1808	agreement with the Navy for 1000 pairs of boarding pistols at $ 11.75 each
December 4, 1810	500 more pairs of the Model 1808 Navy pistols at $ 12.00 each
November 18, 1811 with Tench Coxe, Purveyor of Public Supplies	1,000 pairs at $ 11.871/2 a pair. These pistols are often called Modell 1810 but Modell 1811 would be more correct
April 16, 1813	20000 pistols with parts are interchangeable at $7.00 a pistol. Contract was reviesed January 8, 1816. Instead of .69 caliber pistols .54 caliber pistols should be manufactured. The price increased to $8.00 per pistol
September 16, 1816	1,000 Ships Pistols
July 21, 1819	20,000 Model 1819 (Harpers Ferry pattern) at $ 8.00 each.
December 10, 1823	6,000 rifles
November 16, 1826	1,000 Model 1826 Navy pistols with 8 1/2" barrel and belt hooks at $ 7.00 each
December 12, 1827	1,000 Model 1826 Navy pistols with 8 1/2" barrel and belt hooks at $ 7.00 each
August 18, 1828	1,000 Model 1826 Navy pistols with 8 1/2" barrel and belt hooks at $ 7.00 each
1828	5,000 Hall rifles

Product
see also Simeon North Born at Berlin, Connecticut, July 12, 1765 died August 25, 1852. In 1795 he bought a saw mill run by water power and converted it to the manufacture of scythes. A neighboring gunsmith, Elias Beckley, further influenced Simeon North. The first 2,000 pistols (contracts of 1799 and 1800) were based on the French Modell 1776, more generally known as the Modell 1777. There are some differences to the original French Modell, especially the additional screw. To produce these pistols, North went into a partnership with Cheney. Therefore we talk of North & Cheney pistols. The serial number of these North & Cheneys is found on three hidden places, on the underside of the barrel at the breech, on the shoulder of the breech plug and on the brass lock-frame where the barrel is attached. These pistoles are very rare it is supposed that only 15-20 have survived. It is suggest that the first 500 pistols were numbered from 1 to 500 and marked S. NORTH & E. CHENEY BERLIN. The following 1,500 more were numbered from 1 to 1,500 and marked NROTH & CHENEY Berlin. The National Archives concerning Simeon North indicates that delivered were: First contract of 1799 February 7, 1800 - 10 Horseman's Pistols January 24, 1801 - 490 Horsemans Pistols Second contract of 1800 September 11, 1802 - 2,000 Horsman's Pistols ------------------- .64 (.67?) caliber, flintlock, U.S. Pistol, Model 1808 (Navy), 10 1/8" round barrel, they were never found with any proofmark on their barrels. The serial number is stamped in the wood of the stock under the iron backstrap and in the left side of the breech plug shoulder. Most of these pistols were converted to persuccion later on. They were marked U. STATES between cock and battery, and S. NORTH over BERLIN over CON behind cock. The pistols of the June 30, 1808 contract were delivered: August 24, 1809 - 1 Pistol to Navy Department, 64 Caliber, 10" barrel September 26, 1809 - 12 Pistols to Secretary of Navy September 30, 1811 - 4 Pistols to Secretary of Navy December 10, 1812 - 1984 Pistols to Navy Yard Model 1808, left side same, right side ------------------- These pistols were made upon the 1811 contract. It is shorter than the Model 1808, having an 8" (contract was for 9") inch barrel held by pins to a full-length stock. Bore diameter vaiers form .69 to .73 caliber. These pistols have proofmark and inspector's marks. The barrels are either proofmarked "P" over "US", or "US" over an eagle head over "CT" (contract) in a countersunk oval over "V" (viewed). The pistols of the November 18, 1811 contract were delivered: January 6, 1813 - 84 Pistols (Pin fastened barrels) October 28, 1813 - 272 Pistols (Pin fastened barrels) January 28, 1814 - 200 Pistols (Pin fastened barrels) March 25, 1814 - 84 Pistols (Pin fastened barrels) June 28, 1814 - 200 Pistols (Pin fastened barrels) September 26, 1814 - 50 Pistols (Pin fastened barrels) Totally 890 pistols delivered In May 1813 the ordnance department wanted the Wickham barrel band used to fasten the barrel to the stock. They amended North'2 contract, extended the competion date and added 50cent more to the price of each pistol. The balance on the 1811 contract were .69 caliber, flintlock, U.S. Pistol, Model 1811 (Army), 9" round barrel, brass side plate, trigger guard and umbrella shaped butt cap but with an iron barrel band. These were delivered: June 22, 184 - 200 Pistols June 28, 1814 - 250 Pistols November 26, 1814 - 150 Pistols June 7, 1815 - 400 Pistols February 22, 1815 - 150 Pistols Totally 1150 Pistols at 6.4375 each. Grand total of the 1811 contract was 2040 pistols. ------------------- A larger armory was opened six miles away at Middletown in the summer of 1813 to handle the enormous contract of 1813. Simeon's son, Reuben, stayed on at Berlin to continue the manufacture of some parts and continued in operation until 1843. The caliber of that pistols remained .69 (that of the musket) and all parts were interchangeable. Left over locks of the Berlin manufacture were used until exhausted and new Middletown locks were made. The new locks were stamped with an eagle between letter U and S with S: NORTH and MIDL. CONN. The contract had specified delivery in five years of all 20,000 pistols however, by June 22, 1815 only 1,156 had been deliveres. .69 caliber, flintlock, U.S. Pistol, Model 1813 (Army), 9" round to octagonal barrel Meanwhile, pistols of musket bore were disliked by the armed services because of the excessive recoil. Their opinion was that pistols should shot 1/2 ounce rifle balls and not one-ounce musket balls. By these reasons, the Ordnance Department was renegotiating the original 1813 contract on January 8, 1816. The undelivered balance of the 1813 contact was to be manufactured with .54 caliber, nine-inch barrels, iron mountings were to be browned, all parts were to be interchangeable, delivery now should run into 1819. North agreed the terms whe the prices per pistol increases at $1.00. Inspector marks RJ (Robert Johnson), LS (Luther Sage), ET (Elisha Tobey) OA (Oliver Allen), or JN (John Newbury) can been found. By spring 1819 nearly all 20,000 pistols of the 1813 contract had been delivered. ------------------- .54 caliber, flintlock, U.S. Pistol, Model 1816, 9 1/8" round barrel, lockplate often marked with an eagle and S. NORTH US MIDL CONN Model 1816, left side same, right side The contract of 1816 could not been found. However, the National Archives, R.G. 45 Entry 209 Journal 1815-19 page 69 says: "Sept. 16, 1816 Contracted with Simion (not Simeon) North for 1000 Ships Pistols." Entry 217 Misc. Letters 1. Page 111 says: "Capt. Evans at New York has been directed to order an inspector to Middletown to inspect your (North's) thousand pistols and when he shall have inspected them you will deliver them at the Navy Yard. New York to the order of Capt. Evans" 16 Oct. 1816. R.G. 217 4th Auditor #25 book (Navy), also R.G. 92 (Army) Navy Yard N, Y, Storekeeper S, T, Anderson received from Simeon North on Nov. 16, 1816 . . . . ,1000 Pistols. And on Nov. 29, 1816 the Navy accountant, 4th Auditors Office sent Jos . Hull $7000.00 for Ordnance. This apparently was to be sent to Simeon North for the 1000 pistols as on Dec. 9, 1816 Hull says to the Navy 4th Auditor, Constant Freeman, "I hereby acknowledge to have received from the Treasure of the United States draft #7379 on H. R. Pynchou Cashier of the New Haven Bank for seven thousand dollars for which I hold myself accountable at your office. (Signed) Joseph Hull, Navy Agent. The balance of North's pistols were apparently sold to Boston privateers in 1815 as per Maj. Hick's letters in Vol. 11 Page 110-11. The 1819 contract of 1819 requires delivery within five years. He completed this contract ahead of schedule, delivering 2,000 in 1820, 7,000 in 1821, 8,000 in 1822, and 3,000 in 1823. No Model 1819 pistols made by North are known dated 1819, 1820, or 1823. Only locks dated 1821 and 1822 behind the cock and under the sliding safety are known to collectors. Inspector marcs LS (Luther Sage), ET (Elisha Tobey), JM (Justin Murphy), JN (John Newbury) anf JW (Joseph Weatherheas) are usually found. ------------------- .54 caliber, flintlock, U.S. Pistol, Model 1819 (Army), 10" round barrel, produced from 1820 to 1823 left side (replaced hammer) same, right side 3,000 Model 1816 Navy pistols with 8 5/8" barrels, swivel ramrods and belt hooks were made upon the contacts of 1826, 1827 and 1828. This wre the last U.S. martial pistols made by Simeon North. .54 caliber, flintlock, U.S. Pistol, Model 1826 (Navy), 8 1/2" round barrel, produced in 1827 and 1828 .50 caliber, flintlock, North Duelling Pistol, produced in Middletown Between eht 1819 and 1826 pistol contracs, Siemon North made U.S. Model 1817 rifles and at the end of the 1828 pistol contract he made Hall's patent breech-loading rifles and carbines which were produced at Middletown as latee as the 1850s.

Product

see also Simeon North

Born at Berlin, Connecticut, July 12, 1765 died August 25, 1852. In 1795 he bought a saw mill run by water power and converted it to the manufacture of scythes. A neighboring gunsmith, Elias Beckley, further influenced Simeon North.

The first 2,000 pistols (contracts of 1799 and 1800) were based on the French Modell 1776, more generally known as the Modell 1777. There are some differences to the original French Modell, especially the additional screw. To produce these pistols, North went into a partnership with Cheney. Therefore we talk of North & Cheney pistols. The serial number of these North & Cheneys is found on three hidden places, on the underside of the barrel at the breech, on the shoulder of the breech plug and on the brass lock-frame where the barrel is attached. These pistoles are very rare it is supposed that only 15-20 have survived. It is suggest that the first 500 pistols were numbered from 1 to 500 and marked S. NORTH & E. CHENEY BERLIN. The following 1,500 more were numbered from 1 to 1,500 and marked NROTH & CHENEY Berlin.

The National Archives concerning Simeon North indicates that delivered were:

First contract of 1799
February 7, 1800 - 10 Horseman's Pistols
January 24, 1801 - 490 Horsemans Pistols

Second contract of 1800
September 11, 1802 - 2,000 Horsman's Pistols

-------------------

.64 (.67?) caliber, flintlock, U.S. Pistol, Model 1808 (Navy), 10 1/8" round barrel, they were never found with any proofmark on their barrels. The serial number is stamped in the wood of the stock under the iron backstrap and in the left side of the breech plug shoulder. Most of these pistols were converted to persuccion later on. They were marked U. STATES between cock and battery, and S. NORTH over BERLIN over CON behind cock.

The pistols of the June 30, 1808 contract were delivered:

August 24, 1809 - 1 Pistol to Navy Department, 64 Caliber, 10" barrel
September 26, 1809 - 12 Pistols to Secretary of Navy
September 30, 1811 - 4 Pistols to Secretary of Navy
December 10, 1812 - 1984 Pistols to Navy Yard

Model 1808, left side same, right side

-------------------

These pistols were made upon the 1811 contract. It is shorter than the Model 1808, having an 8" (contract was for 9") inch barrel held by pins to a full-length stock. Bore diameter vaiers form .69 to .73 caliber. These pistols have proofmark and inspector's marks. The barrels are either proofmarked "P" over "US", or "US" over an eagle head over "CT" (contract) in a countersunk oval over "V" (viewed).

The pistols of the November 18, 1811 contract were delivered:

January 6, 1813 - 84 Pistols (Pin fastened barrels)
October 28, 1813 - 272 Pistols (Pin fastened barrels)
January 28, 1814 - 200 Pistols (Pin fastened barrels)
March 25, 1814 - 84 Pistols (Pin fastened barrels)
June 28, 1814 - 200 Pistols (Pin fastened barrels)
September 26, 1814 - 50 Pistols (Pin fastened barrels)
Totally 890 pistols delivered

In May 1813 the ordnance department wanted the Wickham barrel band used to fasten the barrel to the stock. They amended North'2 contract, extended the competion date and added 50cent more to the price of each pistol. The balance on the 1811 contract were .69 caliber, flintlock, U.S. Pistol, Model 1811 (Army), 9" round barrel, brass side plate, trigger guard and umbrella shaped butt cap but with an iron barrel band. These were delivered:

June 22, 184 - 200 Pistols
June 28, 1814 - 250 Pistols
November 26, 1814 - 150 Pistols
June 7, 1815 - 400 Pistols
February 22, 1815 - 150 Pistols
Totally 1150 Pistols at 6.4375 each. Grand total of the 1811 contract was 2040 pistols.

-------------------

A larger armory was opened six miles away at Middletown in the summer of 1813 to handle the enormous contract of 1813. Simeon's son, Reuben, stayed on at Berlin to continue the manufacture of some parts and continued in operation until 1843.

The caliber of that pistols remained .69 (that of the musket) and all parts were interchangeable. Left over locks of the Berlin manufacture were used until exhausted and new Middletown locks were made. The new locks were stamped with an eagle between letter U and S with S: NORTH and MIDL. CONN. The contract had specified delivery in five years of all 20,000 pistols however, by June 22, 1815 only 1,156 had been deliveres.

.69 caliber, flintlock, U.S. Pistol, Model 1813 (Army), 9" round to octagonal barrel

Meanwhile, pistols of musket bore were disliked by the armed services because of the excessive recoil. Their opinion was that pistols should shot 1/2 ounce rifle balls and not one-ounce musket balls. By these reasons, the Ordnance Department was renegotiating the original 1813 contract on January 8, 1816. The undelivered balance of the 1813 contact was to be manufactured with .54 caliber, nine-inch barrels, iron mountings were to be browned, all parts were to be interchangeable, delivery now should run into 1819. North agreed the terms whe the prices per pistol increases at $1.00. Inspector marks RJ (Robert Johnson), LS (Luther Sage), ET (Elisha Tobey) OA (Oliver Allen), or JN (John Newbury) can been found. By spring 1819 nearly all 20,000 pistols of the 1813 contract had been delivered.

-------------------

.54 caliber, flintlock, U.S. Pistol, Model 1816, 9 1/8" round barrel, lockplate often marked with an eagle and S. NORTH US MIDL CONN

Model 1816, left side same, right side

The contract of 1816 could not been found. However, the National Archives, R.G. 45 Entry 209 Journal 1815-19 page 69 says:
"Sept. 16, 1816 Contracted with Simion (not Simeon) North for 1000 Ships Pistols."
Entry 217 Misc. Letters 1. Page 111 says:
"Capt. Evans at New York has been directed to order an inspector to Middletown to inspect your (North's) thousand pistols and when he shall have inspected them you will deliver them at the Navy Yard. New York to the order of Capt. Evans" 16 Oct. 1816.
R.G. 217 4th Auditor #25 book (Navy), also R.G. 92 (Army)
Navy Yard N, Y, Storekeeper S, T, Anderson received from Simeon North on Nov. 16, 1816 . . . . ,1000 Pistols.

And on Nov. 29, 1816 the Navy accountant, 4th Auditors Office sent Jos . Hull $7000.00 for Ordnance. This apparently was to be sent to Simeon North for the 1000 pistols as on Dec. 9, 1816 Hull says to the Navy 4th Auditor, Constant Freeman, "I hereby acknowledge to have received from the Treasure of the United States draft #7379 on H. R. Pynchou Cashier of the New Haven Bank for seven thousand dollars for which I hold myself accountable at your office. (Signed) Joseph Hull, Navy Agent. The balance of North's pistols were apparently sold to Boston privateers in 1815 as per Maj. Hick's letters in Vol. 11 Page 110-11.

The 1819 contract of 1819 requires delivery within five years. He completed this contract ahead of schedule, delivering 2,000 in 1820, 7,000 in 1821, 8,000 in 1822, and 3,000 in 1823. No Model 1819 pistols made by North are known dated 1819, 1820, or 1823. Only locks dated 1821 and 1822 behind the cock and under the sliding safety are known to collectors. Inspector marcs LS (Luther Sage), ET (Elisha Tobey), JM (Justin Murphy), JN (John Newbury) anf JW (Joseph Weatherheas) are usually found.

-------------------

.54 caliber, flintlock, U.S. Pistol, Model 1819 (Army), 10" round barrel, produced from 1820 to 1823

left side (replaced hammer) same, right side

3,000 Model 1816 Navy pistols with 8 5/8" barrels, swivel ramrods and belt hooks were made upon the contacts of 1826, 1827 and 1828. This wre the last U.S. martial pistols made by Simeon North.

.54 caliber, flintlock, U.S. Pistol, Model 1826 (Navy), 8 1/2" round barrel, produced in 1827 and 1828

.50 caliber, flintlock, North Duelling Pistol, produced in Middletown

Between eht 1819 and 1826 pistol contracs, Siemon North made U.S. Model 1817 rifles and at the end of the 1828 pistol contract he made Hall's patent breech-loading rifles and carbines which were produced at Middletown as latee as the 1850s.