Original posted in Cartridge collecting, but I would like to know if anyone has seen a gun or a cartridge Wm. N. Whiteley may have made back in 1852.

I have been reading my family history and in a book published in 1907 with a mention of a 4th cousin of mine making the first breech loading cartridge and rifle in 1852. I have look everywhere trying to find this cartridge. It is said in the writing that it is a steel case loaded with powder and a ball with a percussion cap to fire the cartridge. William Needham Whiteley was only about 20 yrs old. His brother gives this information in his book "Whiteleys in America, 1907.
Does anyone have any knowledge of this cartridge? William N Whiteley went into making farm equipment in Springfield , Ohio. He had 42 patents and the Champion Machine Works had some 4000 people employed in about 1885. Our family didn't tell any of this so I found our history about 5 yrs ago on the internet. Les Brooks, retired gunsmith

From Whiteleys in American, 1907
If I remember correctly, his first very important invention was a Breech Loading Gun, which covered the ground floor principle of "Breech Loading,"
which was later adopted by "Colt," and is now used
in the manufacture of every style of Breech Loading Guns, embracing Revolvers, Rifles, and Shot Guns, now in use. Substantially the only difference being', that William N. used a Steel Cartridge, which was loaded with powder and ball, and when placed in position, it was Fired from a percussion cap, instead of the ordinary cartridge now in use.
I am remembering how enthusiastically Our Father, urged William N to secure a Patent cover- ing the Ground Floor Principle of Breech Loading, which could have been secured by him, thus making all subsequent devices, or principles, of Breech Load- ing Guns, subject to William N.'s Patent Of The Principle, during the life of his Patent, which could have been made to yield him Great Wealth; but William N. did not seem to have inherited the financial and business Instincts of Our Father.

Maynard's Patent of 1856 is exactly what you describe.

I believe that the article is about the gun in 1852 which maybe the gun copy by Maynard of 1856. Just don't have enough info to make a call at this time.

Smith and Wesson patented the self contained rimfire cartridge in 1854; that would not have been affected by an externally fired cartridge patent, even if filed in 1852.