Found a grapeshot or musket ball off Chepiwanoxet Point

[Bev]

I went to a place about 1/4 mile off Chepiwanoxet Point in East Greenwich RI today. E. Greenwich was founded in 1677 Chepiwanoxet Point was where Gallaudet seaplane factory was in the early 1900's. It was pretty interesting to read about Gallaudet and one of the pilots, Jack McGee who was killed while testing a plane.
Anyway, I found about 5 modern pennies and this musket ball! Darn cool!!
Yesterday I went to a cellar hole for about 15 minutes (before getting kicked out by a hunter) and must have found the front door! (any idea on age?)

 

[kuger]

Re: Found a musket ball off Chepiwanoxet Point

Love finding them musket balls!Good job!

 

[Erik in NJ]

Re: Found a musket ball off Chepiwanoxet Point

1/2" musketball Seems awfully large to me (I don't know much about musketballs) - sure it's not grapeshot??

 

[Bev]

Re: Found a musket ball off Chepiwanoxet Point

I did some research and they said they could vary in size- I could be wrong- What is a "Grapeshot"??

 

[kuger]

Re: Found a correction- grapeshot off Chepiwanoxet Point oops!

Didnt even look at the ruler sorry.Grapeshot was inside of a cannon ball and upon impact the multi balls would launch out like a blanket bomb(I am sure somebody can explain better than I)If so there should be more!

 

[hammered]

Re: Found a correction- grapeshot off Chepiwanoxet Point oops!

Grapeshot was an early form of anti-peronnel weapon, multiple small lead or cast iron balls fired from canons, bigger than canister shot and a bit like a claymore in it's spread pattern I think. This link explains it better than I can.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grapeshot


hammered

 

[Bev]

Re: Found a correction- grapeshot off Chepiwanoxet Point oops!

Aaaah... GOT IT. That is fascinating! I found a grapeshot. Well imagine that!
So there could have been battles in that little cove? This area was supposed to have created the first American Navy, 1775 but there is a lot of debate of whether it's true or not.

I learn something every day on here- I love it!

 

[steelheadwill]

Re: Found a correction- grapeshot off Chepiwanoxet Point oops!

I believe it could be a musketball.
I find lead balls pretty often, most are about .62"
yours looks this size.
HH

 

[Bev]

Re: Found a correction- grapeshot off Chepiwanoxet Point oops!

LOL it could be a musket ball? Oh mannn! Grapeshot, musket ball, it's my first one and hope to find more! I'm very curious about this spot now-
Any idea on the lock? Is it for a skeleton key?

 

[Erik in NJ]

Re: Found a correction- grapeshot off Chepiwanoxet Point oops!

Sure looks like it, but I'm sure someone will say it could fit a modern key

 

[kuger]

Re: Found a correction- grapeshot off Chepiwanoxet Point oops!

Def. skeleton key!

 

[Bev]

Re: Found a correction- grapeshot off Chepiwanoxet Point oops!

Sure looks like it, but I'm sure someone will say it could fit a modern key

 

[hammered]

Re: Found a correction- grapeshot off Chepiwanoxet Point oops!

Here is a link about musket ball sizes and possible id's. I didn't look at the ruler, so didn't notice the size of the ball, sorry.


http://www.colchestertreasurehunting.co.uk/B/bullets.htm


hammered

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Re: Found a correction- grapeshot off Chepiwanoxet Point oops!

I think this is a musketball Bev. I've found a few grapeshot in the past
and mine were 1 1/4" to 1 3/8" inches in diameter.

Congratulations again, now get out there and sell a house for me will you!

 

[{Sentinel}]

Re: Found a correction- grapeshot off Chepiwanoxet Point oops!

IF anything it wouldn't be Grapeshot but rather cannister/case shot instead of a musketball but it could be a large .69 Caliber musketball.......While Grapeshot sizes vary, they tend to be cast iron balls and are usually larger than case and cannister shot , i've found my lion's share of both cannister/case and Grapeshot. There's really no difference in much of the lead case shot used and musketballs other than sometimes they were more crudely molded because they didn't need to be quite so round and smooth; other than this they look much the same. If you want I could post a pic of the two side by side....or the 3 side by side.

 

[Bev]

Thanks guys- It's definitely lead- that little I know. Sentinel. I would love to see your pictures but don't go through any trouble!
Although the ID is going back and forth- I love it, please don't stop posting your thoughts because that's how I (and probably others) learn!
Each post is so important to read and I'm so happy you all aren't getting mean like some other posts- it's such a turn off!

 

[dfx willy]

im going with musket ball bev! i know some of the big ones are probley british (70 something caliber) im sure you know there was a large amount of british activitey in rhode island during the revolution. so it would be cool to think it was fired off a man o war at us. i love hunting rhode island and go quite often. alot of history and some very old stuff found. maby well cross paths in the fields some day. willy

 

[Bev]

That would be so great, Willy! I don't mind going alone, but the downside is I learn by trial and error and it takes much longer. It'd be great to run into you!

 

[RIcoinhunter]

You hunted Chepwanoxet point.I've gone fishing out there.But never MDed there a couple of brick buildings out there from the factory,I bet you got a lot of iron signals!,did you hunt the end of the point away from the buildings,in the grass areas?.Your getting around to all the spots WTG.HH

 

[spitfire55]