My Jesuit Trade Ring

[hunting deer]

This is an amazing story. Well, it's amazing to me when I add to the equation the fact that I almost disregarded this as insignificant. I recently decided to hunt an area along the Wabash River in western Indiana where I live. There were three reasons I chose to detect there. There was supposed to have been an early French trading post and a Native American village somewhere in the vicinity. Also the village was attacked by the American military in the very early 1800's. A varied history and more than enough to peak my interest. The first item I found was a possible musket ball. It looks purposely altered to me. I read where that was done to make them more potent. Long shot I know but not out of the question. The second item I found looks like it could possibly be from an early firearm. Maybe a trigger guard, or part of one. Within a few feet of this I found a small brass item with markings that looked like letters. Later at home I looked at the back and decided it had been some type of ring. It was days later that the "Jesuit Ring" idea crossed my mind. But I had always thought that they mainly had symbols on them. I almost didn't pursue it but after a quick online search I came upon one that was found earlier this year by another T-net member. I was so excited that his was so similar that I decided to PM him about what I had found. Thanks Steve in PA for your help! I'll include a link to his first and then my pics. I've seen no others with these letters. https://www.treasurenet.com/threads/found-a-trade-ring-looking-for-info.670698/

 

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[KSDirtfisher77]

What a nice piece of history there!!! Thanks for sharing that. Thats a awesome find.

 

[nagant]

That is the stuff i think of finding but never have. Great plan and great find!

 

[hunting deer]

That is the stuff i think of finding but never have. Great plan and great find!

Thanks! I actually never thought of finding one. More of something you would find in the upper mid Atlantic states I always thought.

 

[hunting deer]

What a nice piece of history there!!! Thanks for sharing that. Thats a awesome find.

Thanks! It means a lot to me mainly because I had a Catholic upbringing.

 

[hunting deer]

I decided it wouldn't be a good thread without a side by side comparison of both rings. Mine is the first pic and was found in western Indiana. The next was found by Steve in PA in Ohio he said.

 

[nagant]

Those black robes went wherever France laid claim. Part of the Illinois country. Founded in 1732 in a part of the Midwest that belonged to France, Vincennes is Indiana's oldest city.

 

[glass half fool]

Fantastic looking old relic .I love the history of the fur trade era .It was a very significant part of early American history .In fact the fur trade may have been the driving force in the settlement of the country .

 

[Steve in PA]

Congratulations on your ring, it's almost identical to mine. Maybe you can find some more in that area or even some Indian trade silver. My friend in Ohio finds a lot of trade silver on his native American sites.

 

[Prairie Prowler]

Nice find congrats..

 

[russau]

Hunting Deer NICE FIND !! You might want to contact the Jesuit Museum in St. Louis , Mo. at the Washington University. They could give you some more info on you're ring !! They have moved the Jesuit Museum there several years ago from in Hazelwood , Mo. at their actual Jesuit school to teach the Jesuit's the trades of carpentry , metal working , map making , cooking etc. Aswell as the Indian's that lived and worked there. I toured that school before they moved it into the current location in St. Louis , Mo. If you were to go there take your camara. I think you'll be very interested in the maps , and paintings these Jesuit's made of where they went to !!!! Make sure your camara will do macro shots of these map's paintings !! VERY INTERESTING !!! P.S. look closely at the maps / paintings for very small marks or signs ! you may just see something hidden in plain view!

 

[hunting deer]

Thanks for the info!

 

[scruggs]

That is a BEAUTY!

 

[nagant]

You should put that gun piece in the what is it forum. Is it broken? Somebody might identify the type of gun, cool looking piece.

 

[Kushy]

This is an amazing story. Well, it's amazing to me when I add to the equation the fact that I almost disregarded this as insignificant. I recently decided to hunt an area along the Wabash River in western Indiana where I live. There were three reasons I chose to detect there. There was supposed to have been an early French trading post and a Native American village somewhere in the vicinity. Also the village was attacked by the American military in the very early 1800's. A varied history and more than enough to peak my interest. The first item I found was a possible musket ball. It looks purposely altered to me. I read where that was done to make them more potent. Long shot I know but not out of the question. The second item I found looks like it could possibly be from an early firearm. Maybe a trigger guard, or part of one. Within a few feet of this I found a small brass item with markings that looked like letters. Later at home I looked at the back and decided it had been some type of ring. It was days later that the "Jesuit Ring" idea crossed my mind. But I had always thought that they mainly had symbols on them. I almost didn't pursue it but after a quick online search I came upon one that was found earlier this year by another T-net member. I was so excited that his was so similar that I decided to PM him about what I had found. Thanks Steve in PA for your help! I'll include a link to his first and then my pics. I've seen no others with these letters. https://www.treasurenet.com/threads/found-a-trade-ring-looking-for-info.670698/View attachment 2048307View attachment 2048308View attachment 2048309View attachment 2048310View attachment 2048311View attachment 2048312View attachment 2048313

Amazing find. Congrats

I decided it wouldn't be a good thread without a side by side comparison of both rings. Mine is the first pic and was found in western Indiana. The next was found by Steve in PA in Ohio he said. View attachment 2048333View attachment 2048334

Amazing find. Congratulations.