Frederick Klette signed rifle of circa 1775-80 Stevensburg in Culpeper County, VA
"I
am sorry it has not been in your power to send me the County Returns of
Militia. I assure you returns weekley are indispensably necessary to
enable the Executive to keep Militia in the Field. I did however on
receiving Information from Colo. Walker that the Enemy were reinforced
call for one Fourth of the Militia of Washington, Montgomery, Botetourt,
Rockbridges Augusta Rockingham and Amherst, which (the last excepted)
are our best rifle Counties. They will rendezvous at Charlottesville
and there expect your orders..."Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette May 29th, 1781 (Lafayette in the American Revolution Vol. IV page 143)
Link to Western Va county maps showing the evolution of counties from 1738 on:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaaugust/maps.html
Virginia's Counties in 1738
Virginia's Counties in 1770
Virginia's Counties in 1776
Washington County Virginia Wills from 1777-1785 include about:
21 rifles or" Rifle guns"(some described as "old" )
4 Musquet/Musquot/Muskets (one described as "large" and one " old musket & cartridge box ")
4 Shot guns (1 described as a "small shot Gun")
6 described as a "Smooth gun"
Contrasting that with the data from an article titled Henry County. From Its Formation in 1776 to the End of the Eighteenth Century (The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography Vol. 9, No. 4, Oct 1902); which contains some very interesting extracts detailing the prices of arms for the use of that county during the American Revolution. In all, Henry county impressed 10 smooth bored guns/shot guns and 8 Rifle Guns for the militia of the county from 1776 to 1781.
