🥇 BANNER Solid Gold Watch With Family Connection!

[staninbji]

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!

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" 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!!!

 

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[staninbji]

Nice find, nice work on the research. Congrats

Thanks!

 

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[staninbji]

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!

"Stan the Man", been called that my whole life. Thanks, Phil and HH!

 

[staninbji]

SWEET!!

Thanks!

 

[staninbji]

Chills

Me too...

 

[staninbji]

What dreams are made of. That's one awesome find and great research.

Banner!!

Thank you. And HH!

 

[staninbji]

Thanks and HH

 

[staninbji]

Very Nice!!!! Congrats!!!!

Thanks!!!

 

[staninbji]

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

Thanks, Sub! HH!

 

[huntsman53]

Congrats on an awesome find! How is the face, dial and movement on your' most recent pocket watch find? Is it restorable? If so, then it would be a great family heirloom if restored to it's original glory!

 

[staninbji]

Banner, what a treasure.

Thank you!

 

[staninbji]

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

Keep digging and maybe you will! Thanks and HH!!

 

[staninbji]

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

You're right, we're all connected in one way or another.

 

[staninbji]

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!!!!

I'm sure you are right. Everything was aligned when I found this. Thanks for your vote and HH!!

 

[staninbji]

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

Thank you! The stars we're aligned and I was digging in the right place.

 

[staninbji]

I'll toss my Banner vote in also

Thanks!!!

 

[staninbji]

Nice find, nice work on the research. Congrats

Thank you!

 

[staninbji]

A great find, and a great story! Nicely done!

Thanks and HH!

 

[smokeythecat]

BANNER vote in. I am stunned!

 

[staninbji]

Congrats on an awesome find! How is the face, dial and movement on your' most recent pocket watch find? Is it restorable? If so, then it would be a great family heirloom if restored to it's original glory!

Thank you! Face and glass broken from 100+ years of freezing and thawing. Insides corroded and locked up. Probably not worth restoring, but beautiful to me just the same.

 

[Squirrel322]

Beautiful watch! What an outstanding find!