Colonial buckle? Information overload- King George III property.

[carpetbagger]

OK, let me start by saying my head is full of information with so many sites within an area I am trying to sort it out to formulate a plan of attack. I have been hunting a site where the battle of Huck's Defeat took place close by. My buddy Hikermike and I have pulled musket balls, buttons dated from 1829 and on, A civil war Us sword belt plate, Kings Mountain Military School and Academy buttons etc.. the pictures of the musket balls and button below are from this site. To boot HikerMike pulled a Eagle I button from this same site, Northern Button?.
About two miles away I have had the pleasure of being able to hunt near a house that was built in 1745 (per the owner) The name of the road is the same name of the previous owner of this property. I located on a property map from 1910. the road was named after him in the 60's. The thing about this property is that (per the land owner) it was a land deed from King George III to the previous owners family, 4000 acres worth. The property includes a butlers house site, a maids house site, Cook House site, and a grist mill and saw mill site. Hiker mike and I explored the grist mill site a little today and on the side of a large foothill I pulled the buckle from its resting place. The remains of the Dam is still there (very large) and I located a extremely large hole in the side of the foothill which the Current landowner said that is where (they) buried Ice to have for the summer months. Next time I am out I will take some pics and post them for you all to see the beauty of this place. Where do I begin to look if this is an actual colonial site?. O yea he also said there were slave houses throughout the property but does not know where they were located.

What is this cylinder thing? pretty heavy

pic from previous post

 

[bookfisher]

Where do I begin to look if this is an actual colonial site?. O yea he also said there were slave houses throughout the property but does not know where they were located.


[/quote]

Anywhere and everywhere. That's why it's called hunting. To begin with, at first I would do a random, slightly quick paced hunt looking specifically for deep (usually at least 4 to 5 inches) good signals to dig. This way when you unearth the target (item), you can get an idea of how old the stuff in a particular area is. I found the gold coin in my avatar, along with most of my best colonial and early 19th century coins and relics during random hunts in woods and fields. When I have eventually located a hot spot area that is producing old and interesting finds, I then slow down and begin hunting in a grid pattern. I then repeat the process in a different area. First a slightly quick pace looking for good deep signals, then slowing down and gridding.

 

[CRUSADER]

nice shoe buckle

 

[Ed-NH]

Wow! I think you have a Civil War officers sword belt plate there!!! Also the buckle is beautiful. It appears to be a double fork single chape from late 1700's. I found one similar to it earlier this year. Your finds are fantastic. I can't wait to see what else you find at that site. It is very old. Congrats 8) 8)

Ed-

 

[Square Nail]

That sword belt plate kind of looks like it was hit by a bullet!! It sounds like you have a terrific site to hunt.

 

[Bavaria Mike]

You have some awesome sites and the finds to prove it! Good luck and take some site pictures. HH, Mike

 

[Colonial Copper Zeus]

I was salivating reading this post. It reminds me of the places that we hit regularly. Nice shoe buckle.
Chris

 

[hogge]

Nice Finds! You know this place has coinage. Go over and over it. Hoping to see some nice "Geogies" from you! Congrats.....Hogge

 

[civilman1]

I can see some Great find's coming out of that place for sure Can't wait to see the pic's!!! Very Nice.

 

[Iron Patch]

Nice plate! and the buckle is a good bonus. Think I'd try there again.

 

[Golden1]

Awesome finds Congrats

G1

 

[ModernMiner]

Holy smokes!!! Great relics. Congrats on the belt plate and buckle. Super finds.
-MM-

 

[ivan salis]

first I'd start off with the direct line "walk paths " ---- look at the "big house" and work places --the bossman was the big money man there of course and I'm sure he walked about checking up on things and his foremen from those work places --saw mill --grist mill ( mills were often moneymakers) used by both himself to make lumber and flour and also maybe hired out for use by others as well (to cut their lumber or grind their grain for a fee ---normally part of the item or cash money ) --- the foremen would have had a bit of money on em in some cases due to the money passing hands - from the sale of lumber or flour or fees paid by others ) and walked along those paths daily to the big house to report to the boss and turnover the money -- I' d say chart out the walk paths from the various buildings to one another --and start with those first . ===good luck --Ivan

 

[allen]

congrats on those good looking finds and good luck on the rest of that area...

 

[CRUSADER]

I guess you know the thing in the 5th picture on the Left hand side with the screw thread is part of a heavy horse attachment.

 

[mxtswinger]

Awesome finds, especially the property. Looks like you have a couple years work ahead of you. Go get 'em.

 

[phantomfinder]

Very sweet finds...

 

[hikermike]

Congrats on the buckle....I told ya it was old!! This spot and the other nearby spots we are hunting have turned out to be some of the most productive areas I have ever hunted. Thanks woodspiritcarver!! Hope I can make it back up to ya at the plantation in va. soon! Here are a few pics of some of the finds from these areas. There are lots of other finds from here besides what are in our pics...like the irons, hammers,axes,bullets etc.....even an 1829 half dime. And dont forget about the two Kings Mountain Military buttons...one kmms one kmma and the sword belt plate..... I cant wait to get back in there!!
hikermike

 

[BuckleBoy]

To begin with, at first I would do a random, slightly quick paced hunt looking specifically for deep (usually at least 4 to 5 inches) good signals to dig.

Most of the items in a plowed field or in the woods are under four inches deep--unless they are larger, heavier, or junk iron.


I might look for items deeper than 5 inches in a pounded-to-death park, but not out on an old site in a plowed field.

 

[BuckleBoy]

By the way--focus is key, as you've figured out. Have clearly defined goals--like "I'm going to hunt the _____ site today." I wouldn't be wandering around in 4000 acres.

I also would take the land owners descriptions of the dates of the houses with a grain of salt. Are they the researching type? If so, I'm sure they would share with you the information they have found on the property. You should be Very happy to read anything they show you. It will only Help your hunting. If they don't have information, then you have to do the research. There may be earlier house sites on the property or other sites that you--and They--know nothing about. If you're Really Good, you'll find those sites as well.

Good Luck and Have Fun!


P.S.--start in the fields first, hunt the mill site and other sites where there is nothing left now, establish trust with the owner by making several trips, giving them finds, etc., then do the yard of their house last. This is Very Important, and I hope you understand Why. Took me a while to figure it out...



Regards,


Buckles