Looking for the pistols used in the Andrew Jackson assassination attempt in 1835

[Peter Stines]

I've been researching this for some time. On January 30, 1835 while President Jackson was leaving the funeral of Congressman Warren Davis on the east portico of the capitol, a lone assassin tried to fire two pistols at the old warrior. The percussion caps fired but both weapons misfired. Jackson lunged at his attacker with a cane and there was a pileup trying to wrestle the man to the ground. Congressman Davy Crockett was among them. The assassin was Richard Lawrence a mentally ill English immigrant. The pistols were recovered and produced at the trial as evidence.
Francis Scott Key was the prosecuting attorney. The guns were muzzleloaders and NOT SCREW BARREL as some have claimed. They MAY HAVE BEEN BOX LOCK THOUGH. Both were examined, unloaded, taken apart by a gunsmith reloaded and test fired and worked perfectly.
The guns were left to Lawrence by his late father. Brass barrels 6" long in .41 caliber smoothbore. Both were loaded with patched balls and "fine glazed dueling powder". The guns were originally flintlocks but were coverted to percussion by John D. Boteler a Washington DC gun and locksmith. It has been said that both pistols are in the Smithsonian but I sent them letters and e-mails. They won't confirm or deny having them. It was also said that the guns were test fired in 1935 but this is NOT confirmed. Another story has the pistols donated to the scrap metal drives in WW1 or WW2. Again not confirmed. If anyone has seen anything, magazine or newspaper items about these pistols CONTACT ME! If you have seen photos of these guns please share them. If you know of the actual whereabouts of these guns LET ME KNOW. NO JOKES, SERIOUS REPLIES ONLY.
I've had many false leads. This is for a potential book on the subject. Your help would be appreciated.

 

[Dale Lilly]

Best of luck on your quest, may you find all you need and your book sell well. It would contributed to the American history we so surely need to know. Dale

 

[1950DAVE]

You might contact the Hermitage in Nashville. Should you ever be in Nashville your time ,( a day) , at the Hermitage will be well spent.
Dave

 

[Sam squanch]

They are probably in a box at the smithsonian , on a back shelf, if they still exist. I would contact your state representative, tell them about your quest. Might open some doors....

 

[Peter Stines]

You might contact the Hermitage in Nashville. Should you ever be in Nashville your time ,( a day) , at the Hermitage will be well spent.
Dave

Thanks for the message. I contacted the Hermitage and they mentioned a letter in the collection that briefly referred to it. I'm waiting for my copy. Jackson accused Sen. George Poindexter of hiring the assassin. They had been on good terms for years but Poindexter had a falling out with Old Hickory. He had to testify before congress of his innocence. He hired Lawrence to do some house painting work but that was all. I have a copy of the trial and newspaper accounts from the time. FWIW Lawrence was found "not guilty by reason of insanity". He was committed to mental asylums for the of his life. He died in 1861.

 

[Peter Stines]

They are probably in a box at the smithsonian , on a back shelf, if they still exist. I would contact your state representative, tell them about your quest. Might open some doors....

I'll give that a try! Thanks

 

[Sam squanch]

Be sure to mention you are writing a book. And be sure the politicians you contact are pro gun. This sounds like a great story in the making. I’ve read they accidentally find things that were lost in the store rooms there for years. They probably don’t even know what they have....

 

[1950DAVE]

Please keep us posted with your findings and any writings that you may produce . I have lived a little over a hundred miles from the Hermitage all my life (70) and just visited ther a couple years ago. Look forward to going back.
Dave

 

[Peter Stines]

Thank you for your support. I helped Tim and Terry Todish with their book ALAMO SOURCEBOOK 1836 and I learned a LOT about the process. It was fun and challenging to put it all together.

 

[BillinOregon]

Peter, you might also reach out to the NRA museum, and to the Cody Museum. I'll be someone on the staffs will have heard of these historic pistols and might have light or at least a rumor to share.

 

[Peter Stines]

Peter, you might also reach out to the NRA museum, and to the Cody Museum. I'll be someone on the staffs will have heard of these historic pistols and might have light or at least a rumor to share.

Another good lead! Thank you