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Basil Derry Rifles


ID:	52
File:	Click Here to View Artifact
Submitter:	Anonymous
Date:	2004-06-14 15:26:06
Title:
Description:	This photo is courtesy of Deborah (nee Burchell) Brady, and the following caption comes with it: Yesterday I received a photograph of the two rifles passed down in the DERRY-HARTMAN-RODERICK family. The rifle in the front (Bottom) is from the Civil War era and has a "D" carved in the rifle butt. We are not sure who this belonged to. The rifle in the rear (Top) with the powder horn and bag is BAZIL DERRY's!!!! Oh my, oh my, oh my!!!! I am still having goosebumps!!!! The photograph is from the courtesy of DEBORAH BURCHELL BRADY, a descendant through Bazil's daughter, CHARIETY PHEBE (nee Derry) HARTMAN. If you recall from the 1880 PA Census for Georges Township, Fayette County -- old BAZIL DERRY (1786-1879) had passed away that previous spring. He died on May 20th, 1879. His widow, MARY (nee Shultz) DERRY, went to live with her daughter, CHARIETY PHEBE HARTMAN and family. It would make sense that their personal belongings came with her -- including the rifles. We don't know a death date for MARY (nee Shultz) DERRY. We do know that CHARIETY and GEORGE HARTMAN had a daughter born in 1860 who was named SOPHIA HARTMAN. She married HENRY METHIAH RODERICK, who was born in 1852. SOPHIA (Sophey) and HENRY RODERICK had 6 children. The eldest was a daughter named ISA LENA RODERICK, who was born in 1879. As the eldest daughter, again it makes sense that she inherited the rifles. ISA LENA RODERICK married RALPH H. BURCHELL and they had 4 sons. RALPH worked on the B & O Railroad and they lived at the "Ruble Farm" near Smithfield, Fayette Co., PA. When they died, the farm was sold to a descendant -- possibly NORA RODERICK. The house was built over an original old cabin. The youngest son was named ROY BURCHELL, who married VIRGINIA HELBLING. Both of these families were from the Pittsburgh, Allegheny County area. ROY was a pastor. ROY took the rifles from the old farm near Smithfield, when RALPH and ISA passed away. ROY and VIRGINIA BURCHELL are the parents of DEBORAH (nee BURCHELL) BRADY, who is now in possession of these two rifles. Debbie says that while growing up she heard, and passed along, stories about "Bazil sleeping with a hibernating bear"!!!!!! Ohhhhh -- I can just see the 'ole coot curled up in a cave next to this bear to keep warm during a winter's hunt (lol). Wish I could turn the clock and back and spend a day with old BAZIL and MARY!!!! Hope the attachment of the rifles comes through OK. I am still a novice at learning how to scan. Have a wonderful day! Joan and Ron (Derry)