4 hour hunt at Colonial Grist Mill

[The Patriot]

Well managed to squeeze a short hunt in before the snow flies...not a lot but I'll take what I can get...

I must be a lead magnet as I always seem to come up with a lot of musketballs where ever I go..



Also manage piece of a ramrod



what's left a silver spoon with makers mark SA on it and a neat design...



candle stick holder...



Group shot with pewter spoon handles, buttons buckles..........Managed 3 pretty toasty coppers, all 3 are 1700's and one is a counterfeit...

 

[johnnyi]

The Spoon is most likely Stephen Adams of London circa 1780-1800ish

LOL...look up two posts...

Here's a shot of the Avery mark. it looks pretty good with that slanted "A"? Very little is known about his silver work, but it's interesting, he went on to invent the nail cutting machine.

 

[vayank54]

That's some really cool early stuff. Anything on any of the buttons??

 

[romeo-1]

Dare we compare?

 

[johnnyi]

"Dare we compare?"

Ha! is that a challenge? Sure, let's compare. Your "A" is not angled the same way for one thing. For another, the British marks are used in a series with each individual mark in the series having a certain meaning. The American stamp is a single mark, in this case that mark is "SA".

 

[romeo-1]

"Dare we compare?"

Ha! is that a challenge? Sure, let's compare. Your "A" is not angled the same way for one thing. For another, the British marks are used in a series with each individual mark in the series having a certain meaning. The American stamp is a single mark, in this case that mark is "SA".

I agree...the "A" seals the deal! Good ID!

 

[CRUSADER]

The Spoon is most likely Stephen Adams of London circa 1780-1800ish

LOL...look up two posts...

funny I never saw that & didn't google until I had a look at a list I have previously printed off as part of my references.

j, I knew it had more hallmarks, before the makers but it looked like some were chopped off at the break.

 

[The Patriot]

Nice early relics and and congrats on the coppers. Are there any details at all on them?

Yes there is some detail on 2 of them, but I just can't get a good picture of them... one is a counterfeit Geo II and the other is a Geo III...

 

[The Patriot]

Really nice finds Patriot! I rarely disagree with Crusader, but in this case I think the spoon might be "Samuel Avery" of Preston Conn. (1760 -1836) as the mark is an exact match. Interesting that you'd find so many unfired balls on that spot. Are you findig sprue also? If so, there's always the chance you might be on a location where Rev. War troops drilled or grouped?

Thanks johnny for ID on the spoon... and thanks to Romeo and Crusader for a good attempt... Talking to the farmer the site was started around 1770

 

[The Patriot]

Wow! Very impressive!
Are you using a Tesoro by any chance? They're killers for lead.
teddy

I'm still using my old Minelab XS and he just loves the lead too...

 

[The Patriot]

That's some really cool early stuff. Anything on any of the buttons??

I was hoping for a stray military, as they were in the area. There are 2 different flower designs on the buttons dug.

 

[Marc(NB)]

killer site your on! Pound it till the snow flies

 

[vayank54]

That's some really cool early stuff. Anything on any of the buttons??

I was hoping for a stray military, as they were in the area. There are 2 different flower designs on the buttons dug.

I wouldn't give up there is still a chance. Years ago we were digging a colonial site and dug tons of flat buttons and shoe buckles and pieces. The last button I dug out of the place was a really nice entwined USA. you just never know. Goodl luck

 

[romeo-1]

Do I see another hallmark on that spoon to the left of the SA? Looks like a lion...which would bring us back to Stephen Adams.

 

[Kyle PA]

Great job, Patriot! You cleaned house on those finds!

 

[johnnyi]

Do I see another hallmark on that spoon to the left of the SA? Looks like a lion...which would bring us back to Stephen Adams.

I'd like to see a clear picture of it too. It may be some type of mark or it may be an extention of the break. The slanted "A" seems to be unique either way, and doesn't appear in other stamps. As well, the series of London stamps is pretty uniform (place, year, maker, etc.) and this seems to be in the wrong series if it is a lion. Also the lion stamp is very specific, and it is always within a shield type of cartouche of this maker. If this is a stamp, it seems to be within a rectangle.

 

[The Patriot]

Do I see another hallmark on that spoon to the left of the SA? Looks like a lion...which would bring us back to Stephen Adams.

Romeo, you are correct I looked at it and it is a lion... at work but will post later

 

[romeo-1]

Do I see another hallmark on that spoon to the left of the SA? Looks like a lion...which would bring us back to Stephen Adams.

I'd like to see a clear picture of it too. It may be some type of mark or it may be an extention of the break. The slanted "A" seems to be unique either way, and doesn't appear in other stamps. As well, the series of London stamps is pretty uniform (place, year, maker, etc.) and this seems to be in the wrong series if it is a lion. Also the lion stamp is very specific, and it is always within a shield type of cartouche of this maker. If this is a stamp, it seems to be within a rectangle.

I think we are back to Stephen Adams. In all liklihood it would be far more likely to find a British piece of silver in this neck of the woods as apposed to an American piece. The stamp could be an early stamp for this particular silversmith but the orientation with the Lion and the makers mark is correct. A stamped lion, whether in a cartouche or rectangle, would almost definately make this Stephen Adams...

 

[Curious The George]

Perhaps we are confusing a slanted touch mark with a slanted A in the touch mark.

I think a good cleaning of the stem, and close up photo taken looking straight down will tell the tale.

 

[romeo-1]

Another thing I just noticed is the "dot" between S and A. I found that Stephen Adams I used this mark. Stephen Adams II used the mark without the dot...I think that is pretty conclusive.

 

[Curious The George]

You made me look again!

I see what you mean about the dot.

I then noticed something else. The Samuel Avery mark is an almost square (not quite but close) block with the initials in it. The mark on the spoon is more and is distinctively a rectangle.