Shinn Family of Cabinetmakers
The first Shinn, named Levi, visited Harrison County, Virginia (now West Virginia) in the early 1770s with his brother, David. After fighting in the Revolution, Levi settled in Hampshire County, but then moved to Winchester, finally settling in Harrison County in 1777. His brothers, Clement and Jonathan, arrived shortly thereafter. In 1785, Levi built a grist mill which would become the center of area development. Jonathan Shinn’s sons, Asa and Levi, laid out the town on the family land and Shinnston was chartered in 1818. Early furniture from western Virginia (now West Virginia) is quite difficult to find and the Shinns are in a very small group of identified early West Virginia cabinetmakers.
Information courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions Inc.