Rare British Military Find from 1787 - 1812! Opinions Wanted!

[ColonialDude]

Managed to get out today with a buddy of mine. We had high hopes for a site but it didn't pan out as so often happens in this hobby.

We went with plan B, a site that that had turned up a few early coppers in the last year or so.

It was my first attempt with the CZ-21 so I wasn't expecting much...but I was pleasantly surprised! I have made a few finds I would consider a find of a lifetime but this one to me is one of the best! It has so much history!

When I first pulled this out of the water I thought it was a spoon (fishing lure) untile I flipped it over!

It reads "Tete De Pont Bks Entrance to Cells" and has the word "Provo" in the middle with a period after it. Beside the P is a sideways P.
The "Bks" is obviously "Barracks". The Tete De Pont Barracks were a military barracks built over the location of Fort Frontenac in Kingston which has some serious history! The barracks were built in the early 1780's I believe and were named "Tete De Pont" sometime around 1787.

The item itself, I knew what it was right away as I found something similar a few years back. This is a key fob or tag for the prison cells. The portion that had the hole is obviously missing. I have attached a photo and included a photo of the one I found a few years back. This is a fascinating piece to me, as is anything marked with a name or location of military significance. What amazes me is that I found it about 2 miles away!

The one thing I am unsure of is the word "Provo." in the middle. I thought it was perhaps a name at first, or at least short for a name based on the dot at the end. I am now however thinking it stands for "Provost" as in Provost Marshall. This was essentially an officer in the military who was sort of like Military Police. They were responsible for executions etc. I could be way off, but it makes a lot of sense. Would love to hear other peoples thoughts on what this stands for!

Thanks for looking

 

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[hammered]

Now that's an interesting find . You want to look up the history of the RMP or "Red Caps". My uncle was one during WW2, he was one of the first into Belsen after it's liberation. The roll of the RMP is just like any other Police force, but with the added burden of looking after the incarcerated, and in Belsen's case, the recently liberated.
Check this link http://www.redcap70.net/


hammered

 

[ColonialDude]

Now that's an interesting find . You want to look up the history of the RMP or "Red Caps". My uncle was one during WW2, he was one of the first into Belsen after it's liberation. The roll of the RMP is just like any other Police force, but with the added burden of looking after the incarcerated, and in Belsen's case, the recently liberated.
Check this link http://www.redcap70.net/


hammered

Thanks for the link but it really doesn't touch on the history of Provost Marshalls, certainly not from this period

 

[hammered]

Now that's an interesting find . You want to look up the history of the RMP or "Red Caps". My uncle was one during WW2, he was one of the first into Belsen after it's liberation. The roll of the RMP is just like any other Police force, but with the added burden of looking after the incarcerated, and in Belsen's case, the recently liberated.
Check this link http://www.redcap70.net/


hammered

Thanks for the link but it really doesn't touch on the history of Provost Marshalls, certainly not from this period

I know that wasn't the best link, but what with the many different Regiments and all the changes over the years it's hard to find a definitive link appropriate to your great find. I am looking, because it interests me too. This link is from the British Army website and gives a little more info http://www.army.mod.uk/agc/provost/13307.aspx

When/if I find more I will post .


hammered

 

[Mackaydon]

You may wish to contact the CARF. In 1982, the Cataraqui Archaeological Research Foundation began excavations on the northwest bastion, Bastion St. Michel. Various artefacts were recovered. CARF, located in Kingston, houses the artefacts taken from the site, along with detailed facsimiles of plans and maps of the fort; and they may be able to shed further light on your interesting find.

Don.....

 

[bearbqd]

Those are seriously cool. Congrats!

 

[ColonialDude]

You may wish to contact the CARF. In 1982, the Cataraqui Archaeological Research Foundation began excavations on the northwest bastion, Bastion St. Michel. Various artefacts were recovered. CARF, located in Kingston, houses the artefacts taken from the site, along with detailed facsimiles of plans and maps of the fort; and they may be able to shed further light on your interesting find.

Don.....

Yes, I have been there and seen their displays. Maybe I will give that a shot...

 

[ColonialDude]

Those are seriously cool. Congrats!

Thanks. They are so much more interesting than a button etc...don't get me wrong, I love buttons...but these have more of a story to tell.

 

[gleaner1]

ColonialDude, I cannot help but to think that it is a banner find, and certainly a museum piece.

 

[umrgolf]

Now that is a dream relic congrats once again on an amazing dig

Banner vote for this one

 

[Bramblefind]

That is a fantastic find Here is something from Encyclopedia Britannica (1888)

http://books.google.com/books?id=ha...nepage&q="barracks" "cells" "provost"&f=false

 

[ColonialDude]

ColonialDude, I cannot help but to think that it is a banner find, and certainly a museum piece.

Thanks very much. I have my doubts as it seems it's mostly items of high value that make the banner, but it sure looks great in my display case!

 

[ColonialDude]

Now that is a dream relic congrats once again on an amazing dig

Banner vote for this one

Thanks very much!

 

[ColonialDude]

That is a fantastic find Here is something from Encyclopedia Britannica (1888)

http://books.google.com/books?id=ha...nepage&q="barracks" "cells" "provost"&f=false

Thanks very much for the info. Looks like I might just be on the right track after all!

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

That is a rather unusual find for sure.

 

[gleaner1]

PROVO......Derived from latin PROVOST, one who presides over, or a superintendent. Modern US military forts have the Provost Marshal, the head of the military police. This is essentially a key badge for an early military prison.

 

[staydetuned]

That is a great find! So specifically tied to and exact (OLD!) time, place, and story. And that's not even imagining why it was found miles away, and broken... Major congrats on a great conversation (and museum quality) piece!

 

[steelheadwill]

PROVO......Derived from latin PROVOST, one who presides over, or a superintendent. Modern US military forts have the Provost Marshal, the head of the military police. This is essentially a key badge for an early military prison.

Historic cell & military Prison key tags, fantastic

 

[CRUSADER]

PROVO......Derived from latin PROVOST, one who presides over, or a superintendent. Modern US military forts have the Provost Marshal, the head of the military police. This is essentially a key badge for an early military prison.

Have to agree with that (we would say key tag or fob)

 

[HEAVYMETALNUT]

sweet! never seen anything like those until now.very cool finds!