May28th/30th Field Hunts.....More Military!

[HomesteadHunter]

Hello all. Now that most of the fields are planted, I decided to do some more walking. This time, I headed out back behind my house in search of whatever I could find. I followed what looked to be an old creek bed, which eventually led me to an old treeeline. Their was a nice high spot at the end of the treeline, and it turned out to be a hotspot. In the middle of nowhere, I stumbled upon another untouched site!. I believe this site had a homestead on it, and it belonged to a militia man. Here are my finds so far.



Here's the group shot, as you can see, lots of odds and ends. Here are some close-ups.



I found 3 US military buttons, two are US Infantry, and one is a US Calvary. They are pretty worn, so it was hard to take a good pic.



I also found a pair of 34th pewters. These 34ths are different from the ones I found at my other site last week. I wonder if they are from a different regiment?. They are kinda rough.......but I was thrilled to see them.



This button is what appears to be a 93rd pewter......though i'm not positive on the regiment. It could be an 83rd, but I doubt it. Again, very rough but I don't care.





I really like this one, its a small 89th, about 3/8" diameter. Its worn, so its hard to see. It has a British crown on top, than the 89 is underneath the crown. But, I don't think its a button. Have a look at the pic of the back, its unlike anything i've found so far. Any ideas out there?.



And here is a pic of the non-military buttons, the small clover button is a beauty.



And of course, what would a post be without the usual flats. I've been told that the flats that i'm finding belonged to local citizens who were militia men. They have several examples at Fort Malden.



Here is a mystery object. It is silver, and it measures about 3/4" in length. It looks like the inner core may be brass or copper, its hard to tell. I haven't got a clue what it could be......any ideas?.



This pic is of a serously bent token. Its an 1833 "To Facilitate Trade" token. I found one just like it a short while back at another spot.



And as always, keep your eyes on the ground, those arrowheads are just waiting to be found!.

I hope to be back at the spot one more time before planting, maybe early next week sometime......we'll see.

Thanks for looking, and happy hunting to all.

James.
HomesteadHunter

 

[thrillathahunt]

Those are some very interesting finds! Thanks for sharing.

 

[allen]

congrats on all of those wonderful looking relics !!!

 

[RickyP]

Dammit Man. Love those buttons

 

[Harry_Morant]

Great finds, thanks for sharing

 

[crazyjarhead]

Those are some sweet buttons, HHH The arrowheads are always nice to find too

 

[MaineRelic]

Thats what makes this hobby so intiguing, you never know what you will find and where you will find !! those are some great finds!!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Although you have said several times that you believe this to be a veterans house you are hunting, I must again respectfully disagree. You are finding too many militia buttons, from too many eras, and too many different regiments for this to have been a veteran's house. The most I have ever found at a veteran's homestead was in the instance that one son or grandson of the original settler was also in the military. In that case, I found buttons from two different coats.

Where are the bits of pottery and glass around these sites (besides the pipe stems)? Where are the pewter spoons? And the number of flat buttons you're finding is less than or equal to the numbers of marked militia buttons.

The only items that I can see that could be housesite related in your finds photos are the axe head, the thimble, and the little brass loop from a candlestick--and both these items would've been used in camp as well. The large number of musketballs and lead also supports the idea that your spot is an early encampment.

I think you have a militia muster site there, and you will find Many more items. You will also find many other hot spots to hunt. In short, I don't think there is a bad place in that whole area for a swing of the searchcoil.


Congratulations on some Killer finds. Your collection of early militia buttons from several hunts is more than even the most skilled hunters in the best areas could find in several months.


You may wish to talk to Iron Patch, or some of the other early button diggers on here about the preservation of your pewter buttons. They will need to be preserved so that they don't crumble away.


I'd be excited to learn what the silver item is. I'd be willing to bet that it can be ID'ed. And you might very well find other pieces of it in future hunts. You should post it in the "What is it?" section of the forum if it doesn't get ID'ed here.


Best Wishes,



Buckleboy

 

[HomesteadHunter]

Although you have said several times that you believe this to be a veterans house you are hunting, I must again respectfully disagree. You are finding too many militia buttons, from too many eras, and too many different regiments for this to have been a veteran's house. The most I have ever found at a veteran's homestead was in the instance that one son or grandson of the original settler was also in the military. In that case, I found buttons from two different coats.

Where are the bits of pottery and glass around these sites (besides the pipe stems)? Where are the pewter spoons? And the number of flat buttons you're finding is less than or equal to the numbers of marked militia buttons.

The only items that I can see that could be housesite related in your finds photos are the axe head, the thimble, and the little brass loop from a candlestick--and both these items would've been used in camp as well. The large number of musketballs and lead also supports the idea that your spot is an early encampment.

I think you have a militia muster site there, and you will find Many more items. You will also find many other hot spots to hunt. In short, I don't think there is a bad place in that whole area for a swing of the searchcoil.


Congratulations on some Killer finds. Your collection of early militia buttons from several hunts is more than even the most skilled hunters in the best areas could find in several months.


You may wish to talk to Iron Patch, or some of the other early button diggers on here about the preservation of your pewter buttons. They will need to be preserved so that they don't crumble away.


I'd be excited to learn what the silver item is. I'd be willing to bet that it can be ID'ed. And you might very well find other pieces of it in future hunts. You should post it in the "What is it?" section of the forum if it doesn't get ID'ed here.


Best Wishes,



Buckleboy

Thanks for the kind words BuckleBoy. I never really thought of these sites as belonging to a veteran, I was told that it could have belonged to an active member of the militia. Basically, a citizen of the community, not assigned to any regiment, was considered a militia man.
At this most recent site, and the previous site, their were all kinds of pottery, and other pieces of old glass. The kind of stuff you love to see when your walking a field. Also, lots of pipe stems, and all kinds of pewter spoon bits. I'd love to find an intact spoon, but all I keep finding is little bits......very frustrating. The musket balls are everywhere, pretty much anywhere I swing the coil, their is a good chance of finding a musket ball.
What has me very confused on this hunt is the US Calvary and US infantry buttons. I always associated those buttons with the Civil War, yet they were found at a site that dates to the 1830s.
Also, the 34th pewters have me scratching my head. They look completely different than the 34ths i've found in the past. What I need to do is get myself a good button book, though that is easier said than done!.
As for finding other sites to hunt, thats part of the fun for me. I really enjoy walking the fields looking for small clues. I've got a few spots to follow up on once the winter wheat comes off next month.
Regarding the little silver piece, i'm not really sure what it could be. I'll take your advice and post some much better pics of it in the "what is it" forum.
I've got one more shot at hunting the site before the crops go in. Hopefully, i'll be able to find a few nice coins along with a few more buttons.

James.
HomesteadHunter.

 

[Iron Patch]

Although you have said several times that you believe this to be a veterans house you are hunting, I must again respectfully disagree. You are finding too many militia buttons, from too many eras, and too many different regiments for this to have been a veteran's house. The most I have ever found at a veteran's homestead was in the instance that one son or grandson of the original settler was also in the military. In that case, I found buttons from two different coats.

Where are the bits of pottery and glass around these sites (besides the pipe stems)? Where are the pewter spoons? And the number of flat buttons you're finding is less than or equal to the numbers of marked militia buttons.

The only items that I can see that could be housesite related in your finds photos are the axe head, the thimble, and the little brass loop from a candlestick--and both these items would've been used in camp as well. The large number of musketballs and lead also supports the idea that your spot is an early encampment.

I think you have a militia muster site there, and you will find Many more items. You will also find many other hot spots to hunt. In short, I don't think there is a bad place in that whole area for a swing of the searchcoil.


Congratulations on some Killer finds. Your collection of early militia buttons from several hunts is more than even the most skilled hunters in the best areas could find in several months.


You may wish to talk to Iron Patch, or some of the other early button diggers on here about the preservation of your pewter buttons. They will need to be preserved so that they don't crumble away.


I'd be excited to learn what the silver item is. I'd be willing to bet that it can be ID'ed. And you might very well find other pieces of it in future hunts. You should post it in the "What is it?" section of the forum if it doesn't get ID'ed here.


Best Wishes,



Buckleboy

I have many sites that have given up many different military buttons from both the same and different periods and they are definitely early home sites, nothing more. I am not real familar with the history of the place of of the finds in this post, but it's not uncommon to find this stuff at any early site in a good military area. Heck, I am no where close to any wars, just lots of soldiers who settled.

 

[John (Ma)]

Awesome finds

 

[BuckleBoy]

I have many sites that have given up many different military buttons from both the same and different periods and they are definitely early home sites, nothing more. I am not real familar with the history of the place of of the finds in this post, but it's not uncommon to find this stuff at any early site in a good military area. Heck, I am no where close to any wars, just lots of soldiers who settled.

Do you find this many military buttons spanning two generations? Between the two posts from the same site there were dozens of military buttons found--the last post had more even than this one.

 

[Iron Patch]

I have many sites that have given up many different military buttons from both the same and different periods and they are definitely early home sites, nothing more. I am not real familar with the history of the place of of the finds in this post, but it's not uncommon to find this stuff at any early site in a good military area. Heck, I am no where close to any wars, just lots of soldiers who settled.

Do you find this many military buttons spanning two generations? Between the two posts from the same site there were dozens of military buttons found--the last post had more even than this one.

Yes, basically every good Rev War producing site we have gives up 1812 stuff too, and buttons a little later wouldn't be out of the question either. Just a matter of how long they were settled on the land. Had there been a some type of large battle close I'm sure our military count would be much much higher.

Remember the average coat had over 40 buttons. Findig 10 doesn't mean 10 soldiers lost one each.

Better do a recount on the posts, wasn't dozens, and there was more than a single site

 

[HomesteadHunter]

I have many sites that have given up many different military buttons from both the same and different periods and they are definitely early home sites, nothing more. I am not real familar with the history of the place of of the finds in this post, but it's not uncommon to find this stuff at any early site in a good military area. Heck, I am no where close to any wars, just lots of soldiers who settled.

Do you find this many military buttons spanning two generations? Between the two posts from the same site there were dozens of military buttons found--the last post had more even than this one.

Yes, basically every good Rev War producing site we have gives up 1812 stuff too, and buttons a little later wouldn't be out of the question either. Just a matter of how long they were settled on the land. Had there been a some type of large battle close I'm sure our military count would be much much higher.

Remember the average coat had over 40 buttons. Findig 10 doesn't mean 10 soldiers lost one each.

Better do a recount on the posts, wasn't dozens, and there was more than a single site

Yes, my last two post were from different sites. In fact, the sites are nowhere even close to eachother. I'd say at least a good 10 minute drive by car. Both sites did give up 34th regiment buttons, and one 89th at the site in this post. I went back to the first site last night, I refer to the first site as the button site. I managed two more 89ths, a worn 43rd, a few more flats, and 4 more coins.

James.
HomesteadHunter

 

[Iron Patch]

I have many sites that have given up many different military buttons from both the same and different periods and they are definitely early home sites, nothing more. I am not real familar with the history of the place of of the finds in this post, but it's not uncommon to find this stuff at any early site in a good military area. Heck, I am no where close to any wars, just lots of soldiers who settled.

Do you find this many military buttons spanning two generations? Between the two posts from the same site there were dozens of military buttons found--the last post had more even than this one.

Yes, basically every good Rev War producing site we have gives up 1812 stuff too, and buttons a little later wouldn't be out of the question either. Just a matter of how long they were settled on the land. Had there been a some type of large battle close I'm sure our military count would be much much higher.

Remember the average coat had over 40 buttons. Findig 10 doesn't mean 10 soldiers lost one each.

Better do a recount on the posts, wasn't dozens, and there was more than a single site

Yes, my last two post were from different sites. In fact, the sites are nowhere even close to eachother. I'd say at least a good 10 minute drive by car. Both sites did give up 34th regiment buttons, and one 89th at the site in this post. I went back to the first site last night, I refer to the first site as the button site. I managed two more 89ths, a worn 43rd, a few more flats, and 4 more coins.

James.
HomesteadHunter

Finding the same Regt. buttons at different sites I'm sure is nothing new for you. It's actually kind of a drag after a while wanting something new. I have a list of several Rev War types I've found but it is very difficult finding something different even if I was to dig a lot of buttons.

 

[BuckleBoy]

I understand now. This has been a good lesson in the types of sites in Canada. Such numbers are unheard of here in the states.

 

[Iron Patch]

I understand now. This has been a good lesson in the types of sites in Canada. Such numbers are unheard of here in the states.

I think it's just a higher percentage of men serving during that time here compared to there.

 

[HomesteadHunter]

I understand now. This has been a good lesson in the types of sites in Canada. Such numbers are unheard of here in the states.

I think it's just a higher percentage of men serving during that time here compared to their.

I totally agree. Here in Amherstburg, the town was built around Fort Malden. Just about every square foot in the town and the surrounding townships has some sort of military history. Whether its a picket site, a skirmish site, or property owned by a retired officer, their is always a chance to find military relics.

James.
HomesteadHunter.