Old Home Site & Train Station Finds - War of 1812 Button!

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I met up with Pepperj yesterday with the intentions of detecting a long gone railroad station site. Upon arrival Pepperj suggested we investigate a ‘corner site’ just up the road from where we were headed. Pepperj had done some local research and identified an old limestone ‘Tannery’ building about 200’ from this spot, so we stopped and detected this corner for 3hrs. I managed a couple of flat one-piece buttons; one even had a silver wash and a beautiful little brass knee buckle. However, my best find at this site had to be the War of 1812 Royal Sappers and Miners Button! The button was made by McGowan of London. There was no overall commanding officer but it is believed that battalions were posted in Canada from June 1813 to March 1815.

After a bite of lunch, we headed down the road to railroad station site, only to discover that the farmer had rolled only half the field and the corn stalks were still standing! We detected here for another 3hrs until I had to drive 2hrs home. My finds at this site were a small brass teaspoon, a porcelain rabbits head and of course… another horse shoe!


The Royal Sappers and Miners

In June of 1813, the first company of the restyled Royal Sappers and Miners arrived from England; these were soon dispersed in small detachments throughout the province between Prescott and York, greatly limiting their capabilities. In the interim, authorities sought to overcome the deficiency of skilled military craftsmen in Upper Canada by organizing dedicated provincial labour companies to assist the Engineer Department.
A new uniform was “issued complete” by the Board of Ordnance from its stores in England in mid-August 1813, and packed for transport to the major garrisons in British North America. Included in these shipments were “coats, breeches, waistcoats, black gaiters, grey kersey great coats waterproofed, felt caps and plume, working jackets, grey trousers, half gaiters, working caps, pouches, do. [pouch] belts buff, bayonet belts” and “gun slings.” However, a shortage of transport during the autumn of 1813 prevented “the Conveyance of the clothing for the Royal Sappers and Miners” to Canada until the new year; thus the new uniform would not have been taken into use until the spring or early summer of 1814. The largest single portion of this clothing was allocated for the Sapper and Miner companies stationed in Upper and Lower Canada, and presumably intended for issue to affiliated provincial corps in addition. It is therefore likely the Provincial Artificers and Coloured Corps wore this latter uniform until their disbandment upon the conclusion of hostilities against the United States in March 1815.

Thanks very much for looking and hope you all have a great Memorial Day weekend!
Dave

 

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[ANTIQUARIAN]

Nice shot of the tannery Dave, maybe a knock on the door to hunt around the actual building might be worth while, then again thinking what the old fellow said about the house burning down might mean a mess of nails, but one doesn't know until they try. Here's a picture of another tannery and site I have permission to hunt the size compared to this site shows that the phrase cottage industry.

I agree Jim, the property surrounding the limestone Tannery building is worth looking into. I think the property owner might be interested in knowing about some of the more 'utilitarian' finds we made across the road from his house. But you're right, the area around his 'new' home will be majorly disturbed from the reconstruction. I like the idea of us talking to the landowner of the abandoned church at the top of the road as well.

I'll talk to you again when I get back from the States, maybe the cornstalks will have been rolled by then and we can hit that corner again!
Dave

 

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[The Patriot]

Great hunt…and love the military button of course!

 

[parsonwalker]

Thanks for the great pics and I enjoyed the history lesson as well! I like how you always give us info with your stories Dave. Have a nice weekend.

Ditto! What a GREAT find!!

 

[Patriot Relics]

Love these War of 1812 military buttons, an amazing reminder of the forgotten war.

 

[Gridwalker306]

Wow, what a button! Awesome find

 

[The Fog]

That button is frickin awesome, now I want one. Nice find.