I wouldn’t get into making the barrels and other hard components. I don’t have the time nor the skill required for that. I would probably buy a replica Kentucky rifle and try to make modifications to the stock. It doesn’t need to be a great match to satisfy this itch.
As far as the family goes, there are a few church’s in PA and Maryland that are still holding services that my ancestors attended. I’d love to visit them one day. I believe the NC gun makers started with a distant uncle of mine and my direct lineage went from VA into Kentucky and never made it down to North Carolina. It’s very humbling to know my family was here for the birth of this nation. My moms side is much more recent though, they came over from Italy and Germany before WW2 kicked off.
