πŸ₯‡ BANNER Solid Gold Watch With Family Connection!

staninbji

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Nov 26, 2016
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I was detecting in a small park in Bangor, Maine the other day and got a very deep quarter signal. So imagine my surprise when this pops out! IMG_20190726_101020679_HDR.jpg IMG_20190726_101146715_HDR~2.jpg

A ladies' gold watch with the initials "RWT". After getting it home, cleaning it up and managing to pry the back off of it, the owner's name was revealed: "Ruth W. Thomas" IMG_20190727_141116095_HDR.jpg Then under the back cap, the serial number indicates that this watch was made in 1896. Using this data and a genealogy site, I found her! She was born near here in 1873 and was living in Bangor when she got married in 1899. Just as a curiosity, I decided to see if there was any connection between us.

Keep in mind that I'm from Minnesota, but my mother's side of the family was from Maine and colonial Massachusetts. It turns out that she was a distant cousin of my great-grandfather! She never had any children so I'm inclined to think that it's mine to keep. I didn't know it at the time, but I made an awesome discovery and a relic return at the same time! Thanks for looking and HH!!!
 

Upvote 124

GB1

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mike b

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Sep 21, 2012
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RVRoamer73

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Apr 19, 2016
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What dreams are made of. That's one awesome find and great research. :notworthy::occasion14:

Banner!!
 

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Digger RJ

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Aug 24, 2017
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Very Nice!!!! Congrats!!!!
 

Subterranean

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"Cool Factor" off the charts here....Congratulations on a great recovery! Sub 8-)
 

bologna321

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Banner, what a treasure.
 

Rubka888

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Jun 13, 2013
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Nice! You got a quarter signal on gold?
 

A2coins

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Great story yours to keep zi doubt it would have significance to any one at this point accept you of course
That is a great find. Are you going to restore it
Tommy
 

xr7ator

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WOW! I want one!!!!!! Congratulations and thanks for sharing.
 

tahomatom

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Who would have guessed. God's to show ya what a small world we live in.
 

xcopperstax

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This sounds like it's a "meant to be happening" that the universe / gravity / paranormal forces / god / gods / etc. (haha) has been working on for a long time. This is an amazing story. It's one thing if you found this on a family property but this is like getting struck by lightning multiple times in the same spot! Incredible. This must get a banner vote!!!!
 

xcopperstax

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Also this is like something straight out of Ripley's believe it or not. Picture the sound of clapping hands.
 

dirtlooter

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this would be a banner find in my book as well, a pocket watch is still on my bucket list but a gold one is crazy awesomely wild. a possible family connection is even wilder. you got my vote
 

A2coins

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Dec 20, 2015
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I'll toss my Banner vote in also
 

Reanm8er

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Aug 17, 2018
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Stan the Man! BANNER!

The closet I ever came was one of my house keys dropped by one of my children, three lots down. LOL!
 

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staninbji

Jr. Member
Nov 26, 2016
92
402
All over!
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Minelab CTX 3030, Garrett AT Pro
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Nice! You got a quarter signal on gold?

I know, weird, right? I found another watch a couple of weeks ago, without the front and back, and it rang up the same way. Thought I was digging a quarter and this was in the hole. IMG_20190712_175247659_HDR.jpg
 

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staninbji

Jr. Member
Nov 26, 2016
92
402
All over!
πŸ₯‡ Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Minelab CTX 3030, Garrett AT Pro
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Great story yours to keep zi doubt it would have significance to any one at this point accept you of course
That is a great find. Are you going to restore it
Tommy

Thanks, Tommy! I'm on the road right now, but maybe someday I'll soak it in some solvent to see if it will loosen things up a bit. HH!
 

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