I found this "pocket book " in a large delapitated old desk in the abandoned house we have out back .
I checked the "lift" compartments last year and pulled out some old sheet music and letters (many with stamps) dating from the late 1800's . I was excited finding them and wisked them home to check them out further.
I've been pouring over the Cache Posts on t-net the past month to get insite on other places to search ........ I decided to give the old desk another looksie .... I somehow missed reaching way up in the compartment - when I did , I pulled out this old leather pocket book .
The name inside is Aaron Blaney Jr(?) Boston Oct 1792
One of the front pockets contained a long letter dated 1805 . After removing the green flap , one of the inner pockets revealed what appears to be a Revolutionary War Ballad ! It is un-dated , un-signed , but quite interesting . Entitled " A New Song "
I'v been trying to transcribe it . Some of the words are hard to make-out . I put (?) ...after words I'm unsure of . Here are a few verses :
Why should vane mortals at the fight of death and destruction in the field of battle ,
Where blood and carnage clothe the ground with crimson,
sounding with death groans.
Death , now I dare the clad in smokey pillars ,
bursting from the Bumelsheds(?) roaring from the cannon , rattleing in grapeshot like storm of the castigations(?)
While the tyrants hearts palliate(?) for havok
let slip your bloodhounds called the British Tyrants ,
Daintely as Death flies , nimble as the Wolverine ,
Dreadful as Demons .
Last Verse:
Life for my Country and the cause of freedom
Is but a cheap prize for a worm(?) to part with ,
And if precluded in to great a contest ,
Life is Redoubled
Wow! That is one HECK of a find! I'd say that the "Song" is worth some serious cash--as a part of a set with the wallet and letter, as found. Especially since it mentions "British Tyranny" and losing one's life for freedom...
Again, I say WOW.
I'm glad to help with any snags you have in the transcription...PM me and I'll send you my email for some high-definition photos of the documents you're working on. I have some experience with transcribing CW letters, etc and am more than happy to help you if you need.
18th c. Engraved Silver Friendship Pendant
1722 Colonies Francoises French 9 Deniers Copper
"Le Bon Temps" Pocketwatch Winder
1774 Two Reales
1797 One Real
1831 Mexican Republic One Real
Four dateless Half Reales
1740, 1799, 1807, and 1811 Half Reales
1840-O Seated Half Dollar with MS details
1847-O Seated Quarter with AU-50 details
1838 Seated Dime
1840-O and 1853-O Seated Half Dimes
1824 Matron Head LC
Dateless Matron Head LC
Regiment of Artillery button (1811-1813)
1812 era Artillery button
One piece Eagle General Militia button(GI56)
1700s Navy Cuff Button
pre-CW Navy Cuff Button
GS Eagle Button
.31 cal. Brass Bullet Mold
1873, 186?, and 18?? Shield Nickels
1884 and 1905 V Nickels
1908-D Barber Dime
Trade Beads, Musketballs, Minieballs, etc.
Any relics, coins, or other items appearing in my finds signatures were found on PRIVATE PROPERTY with total consent and permission from the owners of said property.
Awesome stuff !!
And that desk appears to be all there or close.
The missing pieces are around it on the floor or leaning against it.
If it is complete there is some serious $$ in a restored piece of early American Federal style furniture.
Look for a makers brand or signature in there.
If you find one it will add to the actual value of the piece.
Real Colonial furniture is almost worth it's weight in antique value.
and would be worth saving if possible.
Just for the history of it.
Thanks buckleboy , is it OK to photo copy a document like this ? Here is a picture of the Fleur de Lis water mark . Kind of hard to get a pic til I held it up to a flashlight .
Thanks buckleboy , is it OK to photo copy a document like this ? Here is a picture of the Fleur de Lis water mark . Kind of hard to get a pic til I held it up to a flashlight .
I wouldn't photocopy or scan it... but a good quality digital photo in good natural light with no flash would probably work for me if you needed a hand.
18th c. Engraved Silver Friendship Pendant
1722 Colonies Francoises French 9 Deniers Copper
"Le Bon Temps" Pocketwatch Winder
1774 Two Reales
1797 One Real
1831 Mexican Republic One Real
Four dateless Half Reales
1740, 1799, 1807, and 1811 Half Reales
1840-O Seated Half Dollar with MS details
1847-O Seated Quarter with AU-50 details
1838 Seated Dime
1840-O and 1853-O Seated Half Dimes
1824 Matron Head LC
Dateless Matron Head LC
Regiment of Artillery button (1811-1813)
1812 era Artillery button
One piece Eagle General Militia button(GI56)
1700s Navy Cuff Button
pre-CW Navy Cuff Button
GS Eagle Button
.31 cal. Brass Bullet Mold
1873, 186?, and 18?? Shield Nickels
1884 and 1905 V Nickels
1908-D Barber Dime
Trade Beads, Musketballs, Minieballs, etc.
Any relics, coins, or other items appearing in my finds signatures were found on PRIVATE PROPERTY with total consent and permission from the owners of said property.
Thanks buckleboy , is it OK to photo copy a document like this ? Here is a picture of the Fleur de Lis water mark . Kind of hard to get a pic til I held it up to a flashlight .
I wouldn't photocopy or scan it... but a good quality digital photo in good natural light with no flash would probably work for me if you needed a hand.
-Buckles
Thanks , I may need your help , or any one elses , there ar alot of misspelled words , some words may not be in use anymore .
Thanks for your input on the desk Thom , It's another project - yikes !
here is a pic of the old place out back - I took it from our roof . ( that's Stormy , our horse )
I will echo Old Dog's advice, I am a master carpenter and I restore antiques, it is hard to tell from the pictures of the desk how old it is, but if it is from the same time period of the pocket book, and depending on who crafted it it could be worth THOUSANDS!!!!!
Even in the condition it is in now, find "ALL" the pieces and parts of it and hang on to them until you can ID it or have a GOOD antique person take a look at it, don't get your hopes up, but you never know until you know!!!! 8)
The pocket book and the "document" are great!!! and you need to get the "RIGHT" antique person to look at that, if there are some museums in your area, they would be a good place to start, to get a "value" on all of these items. , contact the curator and go from there.
How long have you lived there?
I would have been through that house the first day I saw it if I lived there, look around for 'hidden" caches, in walls, in the yard(metal detecting), old out houses , sheds or where they may have been, old clothes lines are a good place for old coins.
Do you have any idea how old the house is, where is this located generally?
Also there may be other things of great value in the house, old fireplace mantles, doors, windows glass if it is old (wavy when you look thru), the list goes on and on, even some of the wood may be of value, all of the things should be removed (salvaged) by a expert carpenter, or handyman, that knows how to remove them with little or no damage to them, just a little damage to a "piece" that is perfect will greatly decease the value.
Good Luck, and THANKS, for posting them, if you find any more goodies, PLEASE post them!!
Skip
SEEK AND YEA SHALL FIND and when you do THANK GOD!!!
Found this....
Aaron BLANEY Jr., Esqr. [Parents] was born about 1776. He died 31 Jul 1834. Aaron married Betsey DENNIS on 18 Dec 1803.
Betsey DENNIS was born Apr 1783. She died 16 Dec 1866. Betsey married Aaron BLANEY Jr., Esqr. on 18 Dec 1803.
They had the following children:
M i Arnold BLANEY
F ii Eunice BLANEY
F iii Susan K. BLANEY was born Sep 1809. She died 11 Aug 1833.
F iv Betsey BLANEY was born Jan 1813. She died 30 Apr 1832.
M v Aaron BLANEY 3rd
M vi DAVID D. BLANEY was born Dec 1817. He died 30 Jun 1837 and was buried 30 Jun 1837.
M vii James M. BLANEY was born about 1819. He died 23 Oct 1847.
M viii Henry BLANEY was born about 1825. He died 23 Jun 1828.
1793 - went to Damariscotta, Me. as clerk to cousin Oliver Gridley. Worked with several businesses, postmaster of Bristol 1806-1834, treasurer several yers, rep. to state legislature 1824-1827, justice of peace. Mass. Militia 1814. Large landowner, home built 1820, burned about 1876.
This is one of the most interesting things I've seen posted in a long time. If I were you, I'd go over every inch of that house with a fine tooth comb. That song could be worth a small fortune. How old is the house? Congrats on an awesome find. Amazing history right in your back yard!
My goal for 2012 is a dozen Walking Liberty Halves
Sep 2004
Pittsburgh, Pa
Tesoro Compadre & Tiger Shark
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Re: Found a pocket book....216 years old!
That is one super duper awesome find. I would definitely submit it to W & ET for the best find of 2008. Congratulations. I would do more research on him and how his brief case ended up where you found it.
While the tyrants hearts palliate(?) for havok
let slip your bloodhounds called the British Tyrants ,
Daintely as Death flies , nimble as the Wolverine ,
Dreadful as Demons .
Has a Shakespear ring to it...
ANTONY:
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.
Without a doubt that home needs to be gone over with a fine-toothed comb "from stem to stern". The old boy obviously had a penchant for stashing things in difficult to find locations - if a simple song was hidden (in 1792 it would not have been "treasonous" - no reason for him to have been insecure about its discovery) what else might lie waiting for you to discover ?
Diggem'
Yup. The end of a way of life. Too bad. It's a good way. Wagons forward! Yo!
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Originally Posted by mojjax
, contact the curator and go from there.
, sheds or where they may have been, old clothes lines are a good place for old coins.
