1861 New Hampshire State Malitia Buckle

[bootstrap vinn]

Hello my fellow TH'ers, I just had to get this one in as it is my all time best find.Dug at an old cellar hole in No. Waterboro Me.,it was in about 8" and you can imagine my surprise when I pulled it up,must have looked like I was doing a rain dance.My sister-in- law took a bunch of pics on a digital camera but somehow lost the disc or the kids deleted the pics.Unfortunately I went through a divorce and was out of a place to live and needed some quick cash so I had to sell it.I got $850 for it and the guy who bought it makes replicas of all the civil war era buckles so he also gave me two replicas ($40 ea.)one to wear on a modern belt and one to display.Check out the hooks on the back of the original and the hooks on the back of the replica.At least the replicas will be authentic looking now.As you can see the replica on the right has quite a bit of wear on it as I wear it proudly whenever I go detecting,it's a good conversation piece.Now all I have left is a scanned pic and the two rep's but I'll always have the memories. Thanx for looking! Bootstrap

[mountainplayer]

Awesome plate, Bootstrap! Man, I would have been doing a rain dance too. It's too bad you had to sell it, but getting the replicas made from your actual find, plus a nice chunk of cash is kind of like having your cake and eating it too!

To me, the find of a CW plate is the ultimate historical find. Folks didn't just lose these, and if you found one, its a pretty good bet that the soldier who wore it lost his life in battle. I'll be wondering all day about the circumstances that led this one to end up under your coil. Hope his family found out what happened to him.

Thanks for all of the help you've given me I try to get better at this amazing hobby. Dig out some more of your past finds. I'm sure everyone would love to see them....I know I would. You are the man!

MP

[DCMatt]

Cool story and great find!

I see you blacked out your name from the check. I suggest you do the same on the checking account number and account holder's name.

DCMatt

[bootstrap vinn]

Thanx for your kind words M.P. and for calling me on my mistake D.C. Matt I really never thought of it but you may have just saved someone alot of aggrivation so I thank you. Bootstrap

[Snee]

That was a really great find!

[xlt nh]

Amazing find Bootstrap! Pretty cool having the replica to wear....thanks for the story and the pics!

HH, Hank 8)

[bootstrap vinn]

Thanx for your replies guys,I really enjoyed sharing it and I'm glad you enjoyed reading it and looking at the pics!! I have the name of the guy who owned the homestead in the 1870's where it was found.Do any of you know who, on this site, might be able to help me find out if this guy ever really went to war and where he may have fought or what battles he may have been in or if he ever got shot or received any medals or who he may have served under.I've always been curious and I do think he did make it home because I believe I found it in his or a relatives back yard and I don't think Maine really saw any civil war battles but No. Waterboro is only about 10-15 miles from the NH border.It may have been closer for him to sign on w/the N.H. state malitia than w/the Me. volunteer malitia.Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated!The homeowner in 1872 was J.Carpenter and he lived in No. waterboro Me.. Where's all the civil war buffs?
Thanx Bootstrap

[Gribnitz]

Wow, I would have been hard pressed to sell that one even if I was in a card board box. I sure hope the guy that made the buckles is on the up and up. There are a ton of repros sold on ebay as originals.

[Gypsy Heart]

Thats a really nice Militia Belt plate.....sorry you had to sell...but looks like you got a nice price for it. Thanks for sharing

[The Seeker]

Those belt buckles are great to find......Your not going to miss

that thing no matter how deep it is !!! Great job........HH

[bootstrap vinn]

Yeah gribnits I know, it was a tough decision,but we do what we have to do,to get by As far as the repro's go,the ones I have are solid brass,the originals were a stamped brass plate and the backs were lead filled with the brass hooks inlaid in the lead. Bootstrap

[Ed-NH]

Absolutely a great lifetime find! Being from NH makes that find very special indeed. Congrats on the find.

[lonewolfe]

Excellent piece!

hh

lonewolfe

[bootstrap vinn]

Thanks for the replies gypsy heart,seeker,enhh and lonewolf,my hope is to someday have the extra $$ to buy it back.I know where it is so it's just a matter of money.I've got my fingers crossed!! Bootstrap