Military button - please help me prove it

[woodtick]

Hello diggers! I found something that I don't think I can ever top and I'm hoping somebody in the know can help me know for sure. My GG Grandfather came here in 1847 and within months enlisted in the Mexican War in a volunteer regiment. 30+ years later he moved to a place and died 10 years later. This land is still in the family and our family is the only people to ever live there. When he was alive, there was only one neighbor close by and he was a Civil War Veteran. I was swinging the coil 2 weekends ago and I dug up a military button! I was completely floored......not something normal to dig up in Minnesota. The back says "Scovills & Co.. Extra" on it. I've seen conflicting info on this button as being Mexican War time period and Civil War time period. Being a family history buff too, this is as good as it gets for me if I can be certain of ownership. It was found about 20 yds behind the house. I also found a harmonica reed within a couple feet of this button. Makes me wonder if the family just chucked his things out the back when he died.

 

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[smokeythecat]

Nice button. My book on backmarks states 1840-1850, and apparently still around for the Civil War.

 

[BARKER]

Hi; Here is a list of the Scovill BackMarks & Dates ok. I hope this helps. Second I believe yours is a Civil War Army Coat Button ok. Yours is Listed here as 1827 - 1840. That puts it squarely in the Civil War. The word EXTRA just refers to how much Gilt they put on the button ok. Yous has none left on it. Congrats. Nice Find. PEACE:RONB

Here is the List:

THE SCOVILL COMPANY: ABEL PORTER & CO 1802-1811 LEVENWORTH, HAYDEN & SCOVILL 1811-1827 J.M.L. & W.H. SCOVILL 1827-1840 SCOVILLS 1827-1840 SCOVILLS & CO. 1840-1850 SCOVILL MANUFACTURING CO.
1850-1960 THE FOLLOWING ARE VARIATIONS DATING FROM 1850-1865SCOVILL MG. CO. / SUPERFINE SCOVILL MG. CO. / WATURBURY CT. SCOVILL MF'G CO. WATURBURY CT. SCOVILL MF'G CO. WATURBURY SCOVILL MFG CO. WATURBURY CT

 

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

very cool idea to detect that land. i was back where my grandparents lived in the same house for 50+ years. they are both dead and a gang banger lives there now. thought about offering him $20 to let me detect the yard next time I am in the area. would have to figure anything older i would find would be from the family. cool that you found the button and it would be even cooler if it was your grandfather's.

 

[BTV Digger]

General Service (standard issue c. 1854 - 1902) after which they went to the Great Seal buttons. Great find in great condition - congrats! So you could argue Civil War, or most likely Mexican/Indian wars as you allude with your GG Grandfather. Reference is Albert's GI-94. HH!

John

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on a nice button

 

[A2coins]

Nice to have a piece of your family history!! Good job Thanks for sharing it!!!!

 

[relic lover]

Yes congratulations wonderful find incredible condition

sent from my computer by frantically poking at the keyboard with a single finger

 

[against the wind]

Twenty yards BEHIND the house,,
Might have fallen off a jacket while hanging on the clothesline .
Congrats on a good hunt.

 

[Trezurehunter]

Congrats on an excellent button.

 

[$stinger]

Nice Find! I enjoy rescuing relics from my grandparents homestead. The farm has been in the family since late 1800's so anything found can be tied back to a family member and that is always exciting. Hope you can recover more relics.

 

[The Patriot]

You are very lucky to detect such a property...congrats on the button!

 

[woodtick]

Here's the latest I can conclude. The "Scovills & Co." buttons were made between 1840-1850. The difference is the 's' on the end which sets it apart. This time period works perfectly with the Mexican War (1846-1848). How lucky is that?! The lone question is whether or not these particular buttons were also worn by Civil War soldiers from Minnesota (his lone neighbor was a Civil War vet from a MN regiment). This is the only way it wouldn't be from my GG Grandfather and I think that is a very remote possibility. I guess the only way I'd ever know for sure is if I had dug him up and took the button off his coat but in light of that I'd say this is as close to a home run as I'll ever get with this. Can't help but wonder if something from beyond didn't make it happen. To pick that out of all the ferrous on a 160 acre farm....needle in a haystack!