finally hunted that old chimney site.

[SkyPirate]

Fianlly got some time to explore the site of an old chimney I saw many times from a road. On the hike in I stumbled across an overgrown negelected grave site. There were many unreadable stones, one I could read said born 1802 and died 1850. There were also two more modern stones, the newest of the two said born 1865 and died 1941 but you could see that the coffins had been dug up some time ago and the holes not filled in. I thought that was strange. When I located the chimney I also saw a standing outhouse, a sealed well and a partially standing shack that I never saw from the road. I searched around the chimney and found nothing but square nails. I searched between the back of the chimney and some ornamental plants and found what looks like a broken buckle of some sort. (CW?) I also found some sort of tool with a ring and a curved screwdriver type end. I also found some old hinges and assorted iron. Before I knew it it was getting dark so I intend on going back in the near future for another look.

I did a bit of research on a name on one of the graves:

The earliest S_____ family member documented in the United States appears to have been Edward S____, who was born in Virginia around 1740, although it may be that the S____s have lived in the United States since before 1700. The earliest mention of a H______ family member appears to date back to George H____, who died in 1759 in Lunenburg County, Va. In the succeeding years, most H____ and S____ family members lived in or around Wake County, N.C., where they were among the more prominent landowners of the region. The H____ and S____ families were linked when Joseph T H___ married Eva S___ on 15 August 1893.
Frances H___ W___, granddaughter of Joseph T H___ and Eva S___ H____, received an A.B. in English from Duke University, and spent 34 years teaching in the Fairfax County, Va., public school system.

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Looks like it has potential! Stick with it.

 

[capndan151]

Man there's got to be something good at a site like that!

 

[Shortstack]

The bodies could have easily been moved from that small family plot to another homestead or to a church's cemetery, or into town to a big one.

The next time you go there, detect on the pathway from the home structure to the outhouse and around the entire area in front of the outhouse door. I suggest not dismantling any structures unless you have the owner's permission to do so.

Enjoy and good luck.

 

[vayank54]

Had all the graves been dug or just some? There was a house site near me that belonged to Gen. Ewell's brother, who was a doctor. People had dug a lot of the graves looking for jewelry and things. From the chimney it looks like the house was fairly big as it has a fireplace upstairs and downstairs. So the family may have been well off. I would think there are some good relics hiding in that site. Good luck

 

[Shortstack]

I forgot to mention. Find the family trash dump. It should have some interesting bottles; maybe other things.

 

[dfx willy]

oh ya that place has some potential. keep us informed. willy

 

[wyattrr]

It's worth the time and the investigation...

 

[seger98]

Neat looking place!

 

[TXPIRATE]

Looks like a cool place to hunt. If you can find the old outhouse site. You should find some old bottles.

 

[Roger Mn.]

I don't think the graves were dug and moved without taking the head stones.
How deep are the holes?
Those old graves sites would have settled and the wooden coffins rotted and caved in leaving a hole maybe a foot or so. If the holes are 5 foot deep than maybe grave robbers.
roger

 

[AzHal]

The one item that you found that has a ring and screwdriver type end is a bit for horses. I can't remember if it is called a snaffle bit or a snaple bit. You have a portion of it the ring is where the reins connect and the rounder end is what goes in the horses mouth.

 

[SkyPirate]

Looks like a cool place to hunt. If you can find the old outhouse site. You should find some old bottles.

I found it right in back of the chimney

 

[SkyPirate]

I don't think the graves were dug and moved without taking the head stones.
How deep are the holes?
Those old graves sites would have settled and the wooden coffins rotted and caved in leaving a hole maybe a foot or so. If the holes are 5 foot deep than maybe grave robbers.
roger

I will show some pictures from my next visit

 

[Roger Mn.]

I don't think the graves were dug and moved without taking the head stones.
How deep are the holes?
Those old graves sites would have settled and the wooden coffins rotted and caved in leaving a hole maybe a foot or so. If the holes are 5 foot deep than maybe grave robbers.
roger

I'll check back to see them. Maybe some way to check with the city or county to find out if they were moved.roger

I will show some pictures from my next visit

 

[coinshooter]

Very cool,
That first site of a chimney deep in the woods just gives me a thrill I can't describe.
To think that you may be the first human to see it in 100 yrs and then to think about the history around you is just cool. I'd spend as much time as you can there searching it.

 

[taropatch]

Its been mentioned before, but I must remind you to not ignore the outhouse. People dumped their bottles there in the old days. You have a site that can keep you busy for many months.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Nice site!
Now, if you would like some help digging that privvy out...I'm not too far from you.

 

[Brian(upstateNY-Central Fla.)]

Looks like a great place to explore for sure
Great picture's too good luck when you go back there

 

[Deno]

I found my best coin in 10 years of hunting at an old chimney site. It's the 1806 Bust half you see
spinning around. Hunt that place hard and often. There are coins there.