paleomaxx
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- Aug 14, 2016
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This will almost certainly be my favorite find from this site. I went back to the yard that produced the amazing large cents and numerous Indian Head cents last weekend. Unfortunately much of the yard is like a swamp due to the recent rains so I had to avoid large sections, but I was determined to get in at least a little more searching there.
Sadly the coin finds were pretty sparse this time around, but this relic I just had to post about. It's taken me a couple of days of careful work with Andre's Pencils to bring out the design and writing since it's pewter and looks to be dated 1884, but I'm so glad it held up as well as it did:
Some research revealed that it's from the W. W. Rockwell Post No 125 in Pittsfield Massachusetts. I found numerous examples of medals and other keepsakes that were made by the various posts for attendees of the national encampments. What's particularly interesting is the date range, September 22-27 1884, doesn't correspond to any of the national encampment dates. That along with the word "Fair" on the top makes me think it's from a smaller event, but that's as far as the research took me. I couldn't find any of the same medals online and the detailed Massachusetts State seal on the back is also an unusual component that I didn't see on other medals.
I actually have an ancestor, Andrew Liddell, that was a member of the GAR which I have to credit with recognizing the acronym. I'm glad I did because it would have been difficult identifying this medal otherwise and it also got me researching into his involvement some more. I dug out his heirlooms relating to the GAR for a photo:
Just a few pieces, but the patch has his post number, 42, which was located in Lowell. It's very rare that dug history relates to family history, even in such a small way, so I'm especially glad to have found this piece, mysterious as it may be. The research will continue, but for now this will occupy a special place alongside our family's heirlooms.
Sadly the coin finds were pretty sparse this time around, but this relic I just had to post about. It's taken me a couple of days of careful work with Andre's Pencils to bring out the design and writing since it's pewter and looks to be dated 1884, but I'm so glad it held up as well as it did:
Some research revealed that it's from the W. W. Rockwell Post No 125 in Pittsfield Massachusetts. I found numerous examples of medals and other keepsakes that were made by the various posts for attendees of the national encampments. What's particularly interesting is the date range, September 22-27 1884, doesn't correspond to any of the national encampment dates. That along with the word "Fair" on the top makes me think it's from a smaller event, but that's as far as the research took me. I couldn't find any of the same medals online and the detailed Massachusetts State seal on the back is also an unusual component that I didn't see on other medals.
I actually have an ancestor, Andrew Liddell, that was a member of the GAR which I have to credit with recognizing the acronym. I'm glad I did because it would have been difficult identifying this medal otherwise and it also got me researching into his involvement some more. I dug out his heirlooms relating to the GAR for a photo:
Just a few pieces, but the patch has his post number, 42, which was located in Lowell. It's very rare that dug history relates to family history, even in such a small way, so I'm especially glad to have found this piece, mysterious as it may be. The research will continue, but for now this will occupy a special place alongside our family's heirlooms.
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Fantastic job of cleaning. Awesome post on the history of GAR and your family tie to GAR!
