🥇 BANNER 1837 SLAVE TAG & Rev War PEWTER!

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,709
5,614
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
5
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Hey guys,

Been overseas for 2 weeks and have been itching to get back to the lowcountry and knock the dust of the CTX. While I would have been perfectly happy to walk away with a flat button, I could never have predicted a night like this. This particular site has proven to be a great spot to meet other diggers on TNet. Over the course of the last month, we have had multiple group hunts with amazing success. Affectionately known as the watermelon patch, the dirt is packed with 300 years of history and continues to produce. The evening started out as most do, surface pottery, glass, and brick shards- the normal indicators for a killer site. Given the volume of targets and age of the site, everything dug ends up in my pouch for later identification. After arriving home I had no idea what I had dug. As I was working through my round stuff pocket, I noticed the familiar look of pewter. While only a partial, I carefully tooth picked away the corrosion hoping for a design of some sort...6...7!

P2170171.JPGP2170172.JPG

First Revolutionary War button of 2016, and finally an end to a 1 year regimental drought. Curiously, the 67th Regiment of Foot did not serve in North America during the war although 1 other example is noted in Troiani's book as being recovered in SC. Perhaps the soldier was attached to another unit during the occupation.

20160217_154708.jpg20160217_155345.jpg

At this point I am already running around the kitchen, until I notice a familiar shape in the misc pocket-rectangular and made of brass. May have dug my first plate? After a bit of careful cleaning, my heart started pounding. Could this actually be what I think it is...holy **** its a Charleston Slave TAG! 1837 Servant #573. For me there are no words to express how it feels holding such a piece of history. The stories this discarded object could tell- stories which would have been lost after the site is covered in concrete.

20160217_205312.jpgP2170168.JPGP2170170.JPGP2170167.JPG

Among the other digs was a curious pewter spoon with an unknown benchmark, flat buttons, round balls, and a tiny pewter heart. Any ID help with the spoon is great appreciated.

HM 2.jpgHM 1.jpgP2170176.JPG

Certainly a night I will never forget- Rev War Regimental and a Charleston Slave tag at one site. This is why we spend the hours we do digging and swinging. As always, thanks for looking and get out there and save the next piece of history.

P2170174.JPGP2170175.JPGP2190177.JPG

Update- After 48 hours in oil and a light brushing I am happy with the balance of patina and corrosion...after all its been in the ground for 179 years :laughing7:. Thanks to everyone for the kind words and for giving this history the attention it deserves.

After a bit of research I have been able to confirm the tag was manufactured by Charleston silversmith William M. Rouse. He apprenticed until 1834 as a silversmith under John Ewan and subsequently went into business for himself. In 1836 he was awarded the city contract for manufacturing tags. Rouse's tags are unique in that he used a series of small dots around the stamped occupations on his badges from the 1830s. He continued making badges until 1840, size though growing increasingly smaller due to the increased cost of materials or diminishing profit margins. In 1837 he manufactured 3722 tags for a total contract of $8,141. Unfortunately the trail goes cold regarding the poor soul who wore the tag. All records were lost after the Civil War-

P2190179.JPG
 

Last edited:
Upvote 112
Am I getting it right that this place is about to be paved or built on? Breaks my heart that this happens every day - we lose history forever. If I was correct, maybe you should post the address of this place so we can all do our share of preserving what's there! :-)
Congrats on some sick finds. I echo Vino's comment that I think I would be overcome with emotion once I realized what I was holding.
 

Am I getting it right that this place is about to be paved or built on? Breaks my heart that this happens every day - we lose history forever. If I was correct, maybe you should post the address of this place so we can all do our share of preserving what's there! :-)
Congrats on some sick finds. I echo Vino's comment that I think I would be overcome with emotion once I realized what I was holding.

Thanks Dirtwisher, rest assured we will cover every square in of that patch before shes gone for good.
 

Am I getting it right that this place is about to be paved or built on? Breaks my heart that this happens every day - we lose history forever. If I was correct, maybe you should post the address of this place so we can all do our share of preserving what's there! :-)
Congrats on some sick finds. I echo Vino's comment that I think I would be overcome with emotion once I realized what I was holding.

PM me and I'll sell you the handdrawn map VMI sold me for a reasonable fee.
 

A wonderful and fantastic hunt! That is a beauty of a tag! Congrats on your banner finds, well deserved! I feel your excitement and savor it! To bad it can't be bottled also! Big congrats again!
 

Congrats, I put my vote in!
 

A wonderful and fantastic hunt! That is a beauty of a tag! Congrats on your banner finds, well deserved! I feel your excitement and savor it! To bad it can't be bottled also! Big congrats again!

Haha the excitement will be relived each time I share the dig and it's history for many year to come
 

Wow...that is a most impressive find...should see this up top very soon!
 

Sweet new profile picture vmiairpwr07! Now we just need it to say "Banner Finds (2) +" under your name, so 6 months from now when I'm drooling over your next post, I can easily re-find this one and read the story all over again. Once again, incredible find man.
 

Congratz on a couple of awesome finds! Finding something from the Revolutionary War must be super cool. But, the slave tag is the thing that would just send chills down my spine!
 

Congratualtions on the fantastic relic recoveries! :occasion14: :occasion14:
 

Thought this would be BANNER in a heartbeat. I really hope because there's one up there this isn't left out. I'm putting my vote in. One of the more rare relics we ever see
 

Sweet new profile picture vmiairpwr07! Now we just need it to say "Banner Finds (2) +" under your name, so 6 months from now when I'm drooling over your next post, I can easily re-find this one and read the story all over again. Once again, incredible find man.

Thanks OutdoorAdv, I'll be reliving this one for a long time. Hopefully this thread let's the people who appreciate this history ample opportunities to see such a rare relic.
 

On Top or Not still a BANNER Find & the Button Aint too Shabby Either.
Another Vote in Tho.
 

On Top or Not still a BANNER Find & the Button Aint too Shabby Either.
Another Vote in Tho.

Thanks Daver, I feel a bit bad that the 67th Regiment of foot button is getting out staged, but I can't complain. Regimental pewters are becoming increasingly difficult to dig.
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top