Colonial goodies - lead for silver and why dont you have a drink....

[HomeGuardDan]

Colonial goodies - lead for silver and why don't you have a drink....

I got out on Saturday with my good pal Bill D. and my father (who was up visiting) joined us for a day of colonial relic hunting at one of our latest sites. The day started out slow and to be honest, it stayed slow, but consistent all day. I was a little astonished at the total once I cleaned everything up, though we were steadily digging stuff.

While I was not able to get over silver like Bill (his cob) and my father (cut pistareen), I was able to bring home some unique pieces. My favorite piece was this early (1700s) spigot including the key. I hit a nice patch of iron and debris and hunkered down digging a few buttons and other odds and ends. I located the broken key first, then the main valve and searched on and on for the barrel to no avail. A short time later my father walked up and he was holding the missing piece (which he generously gave me) that he recovered on his initial pass through this particular spot.

Earlier in the morning I was hitting an area where a few buttons came from including a very early and crude molded/cast lead button with the shank still intact. A short while later I located what I initially thought was a blob of melted lead until I turned it over. I first thought it was a seal, though I was perplexed as the reverse was nothing more than a melted blob of lead, then after cleaning it off, it appeared to be a pistareen (shield) punched into it. I had recovered an early seated liberty version years ago in a CW camp and thought that this must be the case. However, after more cleaning, now I am unsure...very cool either way. Some angles I see the pistareen and others I don't. I will let you be the judge.

One of my last finds of the day was the portion to an early candle snuffer (I think). These seem to turn up in this area quit a bit as Bill recovered a portion of one a few years back on the same farm and I a stand a mile down the road. The broken candle holder rounded off the day of big finds along with plenty of lead, brass buckles and broken shoe buckles.

My total for the day was 25 buttons (initially thought 24 until I found the broken one mixed in with a bunch of sheet brass). No coin for danny boy, but a pile of colonial goodies none-the-less. I'll get them next time, Bill is now 1 silver coin up on me and a couple of coppers as well - i have some catching up to do.

HH

Dan

 

[HomeGuardDan]

Dude look at all the lives you have connected with! Each item has a story! A coin is passed from hand to hand but a relic is personal story! Awesome!

Thats what I love about it all man another reason everything has the same value to me, more or less - priceless.

 

[HomeGuardDan]

Man I would love to see your museum at home lol

Don't know about a museum ha ha, but if you are ever down this way let me know.

 

[John in Wilmington]

Here are my finds digging with Dan and Bill. Had a great time as always when we get together. Couple of interesting items were the sundial indicator(identified by Dan) and the possible sword hanger. Seen this one before but unable to find one on-line. Silver is always a nice find as we do not find as many cobbs or cut silver around the Wilmington area.
John n Wilmington.

 

[mangum]

Great finds Dan! The piece of lead with the impression of the pistareen is very interesting. Also, I've never found a lead button, I assume they're fairly uncommon? Thanks for sharing

 

[treblehunter]

Man I would love to see your museum at home lol

Well put. Ha, me too, that stool has seen allot of great finds

 

[HomeGuardDan]

View attachment 1089905
Here are my finds digging with Dan and Bill. Had a great time as always when we get together. Couple of interesting items were the sundial indicator(identified by Dan) and the possible sword hanger. Seen this one before but unable to find one on-line. Silver is always a nice find as we do not find as many cobbs or cut silver around the Wilmington area.
John n Wilmington.

Hey dad, I did not see the trifid spoon end when you were cleaning items off. That is a 1600's piece and a cool find.

As for your hook. Hooked Mount - UK Finds Database - They identify it simply as a hook and date it to the 1800s. However, there are others (different construction) listed as clothes fasteners that date to the 1500's. I think yours is 1700's and probably a harness hook after thinking through it.

Always fun!

Dan

 

[beez0404]

I love that the site is still producing very nice finds for you guys. Hope your season continues to be good to you.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

View attachment 1089905
Here are my finds digging with Dan and Bill. Had a great time as always when we get together. Couple of interesting items were the sundial indicator(identified by Dan) and the possible sword hanger. Seen this one before but unable to find one on-line. Silver is always a nice find as we do not find as many cobbs or cut silver around the Wilmington area.
John n Wilmington.

Had a fun time slogging around in the rain with ya John. Looks like you did quite well, and ended up with a few 1600s items including that piece from a latten spoon handle and part of an early spectacle buckle. But my favorite is that sundial piece. Never dug one of those, and I'd love to know how far back it dates. And congrats on that cut silver. You seem to always have a nose for those whenever you come up. Good seeing you again, and hope we can all get together again soon .... Bill

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

View attachment 1089905
Here are my finds digging with Dan and Bill. Had a great time as always when we get together. Couple of interesting items were the sundial indicator(identified by Dan) and the possible sword hanger. Seen this one before but unable to find one on-line. Silver is always a nice find as we do not find as many cobbs or cut silver around the Wilmington area.
John n Wilmington.

Been doing a little searching trying to find a similar sundial piece to help date it. This is definitely the vertical component in a garden-type sundial, and is called a gnomon. The closest one I could find was listed in the UK finds database which dates to the 16th or 17th century, but I don't believe John's find is quite that old, but its likely to be 17th or 18th century based on the other finds being made at the site where it was found. His, like the one shown in the link below, appears to have been hinged so it could be folded flat on the dial for storage purposes. Very cool find, and one that I'm surprised than neither Dan nor I have dug before although I may have recovered part of a dial years ago. Have to go see if I can dig that out of the archives.

Record ID: SUR-83DF54 - POST MEDIEVAL sundial - Database

 

[BuckleBoy]

Now that's a great haul! Congrats!

 

[The Patriot]

Nice pile of buttons there...those spigot taps are always a treat to find...

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Found my sundial piece. It came from a late colonial site and is part of a square dial plate (or face) that has the Roman numerals III and IIII representing 3:00 and 4:00. Never dug a gnomon like your dad's, though.

 

[toddsumm1]

Wonderful site you have there Dan. Love the colonial items, its my new passion. Used to go mainly Civil War but once I found my one and only colonial site I have never looked back. I have one question that your expertise may answer. Do you find colonial sites that harbor more than one homestead or do you find that most homesites are just one structure? The reason I inquire is that the area I am hunting is only producing from what I can tell in an area about 50x50 yards. I have the opportunity later to explore more sites in the area but was curious if from your experience the colonial areas were more like multiple families and homesites or just one site far from other settlers. I hope that question made sense. Just a little history on this site. Its in the middle of a cornfield and there are no outward signs or records showing its location. Just some pottery pieces a mutual friend pointed out to me once. Thanks ahead of time.

 

[pong12211]

Nice pile of finds you have there. Congrats on the success. Thanks for sharing.

 

[cjon455]

Man what a haul, that spigot is cool, but those buttons are great, next to coins, buttons are by far my favorite thing to dig

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Wonderful site you have there Dan. Love the colonial items, its my new passion. Used to go mainly Civil War but once I found my one and only colonial site I have never looked back. I have one question that your expertise may answer. Do you find colonial sites that harbor more than one homestead or do you find that most homesites are just one structure? The reason I inquire is that the area I am hunting is only producing from what I can tell in an area about 50x50 yards. I have the opportunity later to explore more sites in the area but was curious if from your experience the colonial areas were more like multiple families and homesites or just one site far from other settlers. I hope that question made sense. Just a little history on this site. Its in the middle of a cornfield and there are no outward signs or records showing its location. Just some pottery pieces a mutual friend pointed out to me once. Thanks ahead of time.

Todd - generally the homesteads or plantations were spread out as they usually consisted of hundreds of acres based on the size of the early land patents. But within each patent there are usually multiple dwellings or outbuildings. These could have been occupied by indentured servants, slaves, the overseer, other family members, etc. The area where Dan and I are hunting now was a large, bustling plantation and we've found half a dozen structures spread out in the general area. We're still not sure if we've found the actual manor house yet, but artifacts and coins have still been plentiful. We've probably dug 25+ colonial coins here, most of them silver. So you should definitely walk that site thoroughly and you may just find another iron patch or two. Good luck!

 

[relicmeister]

A routine day for you guys, but a dream day in my book. Thanks for the post, Dan

 

[HomeGuardDan]

Todd - generally the homesteads or plantations were spread out as they usually consisted of hundreds of acres based on the size of the early land patents. But within each patent there are usually multiple dwellings or outbuildings. These could have been occupied by indentured servants, slaves, the overseer, other family members, etc. The area where Dan and I are hunting now was a large, bustling plantation and we've found half a dozen structures spread out in the general area. We're still not sure if we've found the actual manor house yet, but artifacts and coins have still been plentiful. We've probably dug 25+ colonial coins here, most of them silver. So you should definitely walk that site thoroughly and you may just find another iron patch or two. Good luck!

Bill is correct. What I would add is that you will at times find a colonial site that is small by nature, typically if that is the case then one must expect that it was not a wealthy site which would also limit the amount found. The southern plantations in NC were larger then even many of those in VA as they would span not only hundreds of acres, but also had larger slave holding populations (meaning more occupation). Colonial sites farther west were smaller in nature and more frontier-like.

Keep searching the site and explore the various ridges and water sources.

 

[HomeGuardDan]

Bill is correct. What I would add is that you will at times find a colonial site that is small by nature, typically if that is the case then one must expect that it was not a wealthy site which would also limit the amount found. The southern plantations in NC were larger then even many of those in VA as they would span not only hundreds of acres, but also had larger slave holding populations (meaning more occupation). Colonial sites farther west were smaller in nature and more frontier-like.[/QOUTE]

Thanks Dan and Bill. About that water source.....Beau beat me too it! Lol. Didn't find much he said. As far as coins at the site 6 large cents, 1 unidentified matron, 5 others from 1817 to 1844. One 1776 1/2 reale. Beau got a 1788 colonial copper of some sort. Plus 100+ colonial flats. Still producing!
Keep searching the site and explore the various ridges and water sources.

Keep at it...who knows perhaps I hit that water site too

 

[toddsumm1]

Bill is correct. What I would add is that you will at times find a colonial site that is small by nature, typically if that is the case then one must expect that it was not a wealthy site which would also limit the amount found. The southern plantations in NC were larger then even many of those in VA as they would span not only hundreds of acres, but also had larger slave holding populations (meaning more occupation). Colonial sites farther west were smaller in nature and more frontier-like.

Keep searching the site and explore the various ridges and water sources.

Thanks Dan and Bill! About that water source....Beau beat me to it! Lol. He said he didn't find much. As far as coins, 6 large cents so far. 1 unidentified year matron. 5 others 1817 through 1844. One 1776 1/2 reale and Beau pulled out a 1788 colonial copper of some sort. Also 100+ colonial flats. Still finding relics.