Amazing Colonial hunt, NJ copper cuff links and more!

[70monte68]

Hey All, what a day!

First, I have to say I plain stumbled on to this site. I pulled over in a parking lot to make a phone call and was looking around and saw an interesting clump of trees. When I finished I hopped out to take a look. Found the usual pottery, shell and some brick. When I entered the woods, there it was a small little stone foundation, maybe 12' by 20'. Here are my finds. Also, after some research I found this on an 1867 map and by the fifties it was off the aerials.

Can anyone tell me more or date the locks?

Thanks
Don

 

[el remolino]

Wow! Really cool finds. Congratulations.

 

[doc-d]

Awesome finds….

 

[Bubba65]

CONGRATS on the great finds, I really like the cufflinks

 

[terpfan]

I definitely think it's pictured upside down, and do see the possibility of the mark being "H S", although the H appears to be off to the left a bit. Here's a negative image rotated.

View attachment 974139

Neil and Don, maybe I'm imagining things, but don't you think it could be "US"? I agree that the original appears to be upside down.

 

[Don in SJ]

Neil and Don, maybe I'm imagining things, but don't you think it could be "US"? I agree that the original appears to be upside down.

I first thought US, but honestly, don't think there was a US when these were made. Probably is HS but not 100% certain, I asked Don to see if the other cufflink has the same markings, more interested in the word in the cartouche!

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[s.tan]

I definitely think it's pictured upside down, and do see the possibility of the mark being "H S", although the H appears to be off to the left a bit. Here's a negative image rotated.

View attachment 974139

When I look at this image, I see what terpfan sees, which is the curve at the bottom of the "1" forming the letter U and then the S. Best of luck on the ID!

 

[70monte68]

Good eye to observe that clump of trees. A clump of trees in a cultivated field can often mean an old house site, since it would be too much work to remove the foundation stones, they often just plowed around it. Love the cufflinks - very unusual with the markings on the back.

Steve, always on the look out for sites lol... When driving it can be tough though, hate taking my eyes of the road. Good luck this year and look forward to some posts!


Don

 

[park pirate]

Thats some nice stuff, like the two center...

 

[Kirk PA]

I really like those Colonial cufflinks. Great find!

Kirk

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

I've never got a linked pair either, and only 3 singles.

Nice hunt.

 

[Don in SJ]

The cufflinks are American made (to my surprise) PHILADA is the word in the cartouche and the letters are SI or IS, which I assume is the maker's initials, which I came up empty on finding. Venturing an age guess, 1800+- 10 years or so. however PHILADA was used on some buttons into the 1830s, but usually with a small "a" at end. Being in a cartouche, perhaps this is one of the earlier uses of that abbreviation for Philadelphia. I used to have a time frame for the abbreviations used for Philadelphia, but think it went into the computer wasteland of one of my computer crashes. I must say, very unusual seeing cufflinks of that age with any type of backmarks, great find for sure. Posting some pics that Don (the finder) sent to me and it plainly shows the lettering..........
Don

 

[70monte68]

Don,

Thanks for your help and advise!
Don