Person:Adam Sheetz (1)

Information on Adam Sheetz

From "Prominent Men of Shepherstown" by A.D. Kenamond:

Philip SHEETZ - Philip SHEETZ, 1738-1793, was in the forefront of those German artisans who settled here during the early life of the town. Few, if any, names from those early years, other than that of the family of Thomas SHEPHERD, the town's founder, have been so widely known as that of SHEETZ. The SHEETZ guns and SHEETZ tavern have perpetuated his name. Cary's American Firearms Makers may have had proof that Adam, Henry and Philip SHEETZ, brothers, were making flintlock muskets for the Virginia Militia and doing general gunsmithing here in 1768. In a recently discovered original document dated May 28, 1776, Thos. WORLEY, Philip SHEETZ and Henry SHEETZ subscribed themselves as gunsmiths of Mecklenburg in the County of Berkeley and agreed to make, and deliver, at their shop twenty-four good and well fixt Rifle guns per month. Adam SHEETZ was not a party to the agreement, having joined Captain Hugh STEPHENSON's company of riflemen in the summer of 1775.

From "Historic Shepherdstown":

SHEETZ, Adam. SHEETZ had quite an eventful career. He first enlisted in Captain STEPHENSON's company. Next in Captain SHEPHERD's company. Taken prisoner, but soon exchanged, he was drafted out of Captain SHEPHERD's company, Jan. 1, 1777, into another rifle company. Again, in December, 1778, he was drafted into Company No. 4 of Morgans Riflemen, under Captain Charles PORTERFIELD. The SHEETZes came to Shepherdstown fro York, Pa., about the year 1762. Their descendants still live in the house built by the father of Adam SHEETZ. It was long used as a tavern. Afterwards Adam SHEETZ had a famous gun-shop there.