I am spending this winter - almost over :-( - on Edisto Island, SC about 40 miles southeast of Charleston, SC. There are LOTS of plantations on Edisto Island and the entire island was abandoned when the Union troops moved in to begin the siege on Charleston in 1861. So there is Union stuff all over the Island as well as British military artifacts from both the war of 1812 and the Revolutionary War. So most people go after that. I tend to be a bit more interested in the history of the Plantations that began with King's Land Grants in the 1700's and particularly the ones that are still owned by the family.
I have been lucky enough to get permission to hunt a handful of these very historic plantations and help the landowner better understand the who, what, when, and where of their family land. The Civil War occupation was just a small slice of the history of these family plantations.
I was hunting today on the largest family owned plantation on the Island. I have found musket balls, 3-ringers, flat buttons, a US arrow hook Buckle, an 1832 seated Liberty dime, etc. The find today was different.
I was detecting a small road they use for their Gators when they hunt deer and coons. It is in the middle of planted pines and the compacted dirt is nice to detect. Much better than the 8" of pine straw in the planted pines. I had traveled about 100 yards down the road and had dug a musket ball made into a sinker or seine weight, a Tombac button, a flat trouser button, and then I dug a somewhat "iffy" signal down about 10". The "iffy" signal turned out to be not so "iffy" and I cleaned it off an put it in my pocket - not my pouch.
I hunted my way to the Plantation house where I was to meet the owner so he could show me where some old buildings used to be and where the slave cabins were. He actually met me in his Gator on the road leading to the main house. I asked him when his Grandfather was born. He said right at the turn of the century. I asked him when his Great Grandfather was born. He said he was born right after the Civil war. I asked him if he farmed the plantation. He said he did farm the land with his father. I asked him if they grew Sea Island Cotton. He said they grew that particular kind of cotton from when the family returned to the island in 1865 until the bowl weevil did all the cotton crops in.
I knew where the story was going so I kept at it.
I said that it makes sense that his Great Great Grandfather may have been farming Sea Island Cotton with his son towards the end of the 1800's. He said that they were and that his Great Great Grandfather had traveled to Atlanta and entered some of the Plantation's Sea Island Cotton in the 1895 Cotton States and International Exposition held there and had won an award for it.
I said I know. He looked at me and asked me how I knew.
I put the "Iffy" signal in his hand. He was speechless.
It was priceless.
This is why I metal detect.
Daryl
The only way to really understand something is to play with it.
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Re: This is why I Metal Detect
That was a really great thing you did BioProf!
I would've loved to have seen the look on his face when you handed him that piece! Priceless I bet!
Definitely Honorable Mention worthy!
Dave
I love hunting old relic sites . . . as I feel
the imprint of past lives often linger there.
I view relic sites as windows to the past, sacred places
in a way, yet at the same time attesting to the reality
that the past is still very much a part of our today!
Dear Lord, lest I continue in my complacent ways, help me to remember that someone died for me today. And if there be war, help me to remember to ask and to answer "am I worth dying for?" - Eleanor Roosevelt
Wow, what an honor to read your post. You Are the Best of the Best. I always say, anytime you can give back, only helps our Hobby. I would say, you have a lifetime place to hunt, I am sure the word will get out on that island and you will always be welcomed to hunt anyplace you like.
I have voted for you for the Banner and you are definitely a Honorable mention man!!
Again, Congratulations on a Fantastic find and story. Thanks for posting your find and story.
HH, Ringfinder
ACE 250, Whites XLT, Tesoro Tiger Shark, Depth Pro, Fisher 1235, Fisher F-75, Minelab Explorer II, X-terra 70
Abolutely too cool! No doubt an Honorable Mention. I wish you could have caught his expression in a pic when you handed it to him!! Is the top portion broken? Do you know the material?
Roland
All electrical devices are powered by smoke......when the smoke escapes, they no longer work.
Many congrats Daryl .I bet it was wonderful seeing the look on the guys face when you gave it to him.
Glad to see you are finding places to hunt there, and finding it so rewarding.
take care . I think it is Banner Time.
Wow !!!! Great story and great find !!!! That was mighty nice of you sir !!!! I also am voting Honorable Mention and BANNER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congradulations !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Well done 
