Rev War Cpt John Hinkley shoe buckle frame-Castine

[Castineman1779]

Well folks welcome to my first post and hope it is enjoyed. I may be Greenie on TN but at this great hobby as a relic hunter since the mid 90s. For those of you familiar with The Penobscot Expedition of 1779 in Castine , Maine it will be easy to follow along. For those not please Google " The Penobscot Expedition" to learn about this 3 week siege that ended up as one of the worst American defeats of the American Revolution.
I was able to relic hunt this site with permission from 1995-2009 and then 99% was put off limits to metal detecting. I wrote 4 articles from 2006-2010 on my relics , buttons and coins found there and if you have interest in reading them please let me know.
Now in May of this year I found myself in Maine and got to hunt Castine for 5 days. My last hunt was in 2009. Since most is posted I worked mainly the beach were on the 29th of June 400 Marines and militia soldiers were landed by boat to engage the British on the heights. On the left were militia that landed near a large granite boulder later named for a drummer boy named Israel Trask. On the right and center the Marines had landed to scale the Heights and take that ground. One boat carrying the Company commander named Cpt. John Hinkley and othere soldiers landed near Trask Rock. Cpt Hinkley climbed onto the boulder and shout orders to assault the Heights. Immeadiatly a Redcoat took aim and shot him dead. He landed at the feet of dummer boy Israel Trask behind the rock .
Fast forward May of 2014 . I was hunting around Trask Rock probably for the 30th time and expected little to be found. However earlier up the beach I did find a beautiful 3 pound cannon ball fired on the 29th of June when the Americans cannonaded the Heights. About 20 feet from Trask Rock to the shore I got a solid high 70s on my DFX meter and knew with little trash there maybe a coin. However what came from the sand under a rock was this perfectly preserved , brown from the sea salt, shoe buckle frame missing on the iron or steel guts that rusted away centuries earlier. It had a wonderful design on it of which I knew only officers wore them. My research of Cpt Hinkley
giving his life on that boulder tells me it was no doubt probably his and when he landed on the rocks below it broke from his shoe. That's my story and I am sticking to it. For a better understanding of that days loss of almost 100 militia and Marines Google "Assault on Penobscot". Here are some relic pics and hope you enjoyed my story. Sorrow that history cannot be explained in just a few lines. Happy hunting. Gary

 

[Dirtwisher]

Awesome story and finds! You are fortunate to have been at this during the golden age of metal detecting. Too bad the relics still in the ground are destined to corrode away or sink into oblivion. That must have killed you...

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[Ahab8]

Gary,
First off it's been a real pleasure getting to know you a bit and reading your articles. I may be a bit biased but to me that is one of the most beautiful and special relics I have ever seen. The history that comes with it is absolutely mind blowing and the story of Trask Rock gives me chills. I would love to detect Castine but I know that dream will likely never come true. Living vicariously through your experiences is the next best thing. Welcome to Tnet my friend. You are a GREAT addition

 

[Castineman1779]

Abe thanks for your comments. I hope to always do history justice . Instead of maybe just showing relics coins and buttons I could upload the articles but be advised that some are long but if you love history as I worth the sitting part. Folks for you reading this post I can if okey with TN do that. Abe I thank you for the help posting the relic. I have found many personal relics from Castine and hope can share a few more. Yes this one is indeed special . Always nice to be able to share history.

 

[Castineman1779]

Hey thanks for your comments and yes much history will rot away in Castine. However I had a great run for 14 years and able to save a lot of it. Hope can share more and only wish got on TN years back. However I am here now and enjoying ready some great posts and interacting with some great folks like you. Thanks Gary

 

[The Patriot]

Well Ahab8 couldn't have said it better…That is an amazing piece of history and when you find a piece of history and make the connection, that it really doesn't get any better than that… To hold an item in your hands that was worn by the individual that you read about from history books…But also the relics tell a further story that isn't covered in history books… Was he dragged to a safety area and the buckle broke off while doing so?? Just leads to more questions… I hope to see further finds of yours over the years…. again amazing relic and welcome to the Tnet!

 

[Vino]

Thanks Gary for the history lesson and for sharing that with us..
Abe sent me ur articles.
And let me tell you, you are going to be a asset to are little community!!!
You should definitely post ur articles on here...They might get moved by Jeff, but he will tell us were he moved them..Lol.
Thanks again.
George

 

[StormSurge]

That is a really nice buckle and a good story as well. I'll soon be looking up " The Penobscot Expedition

 

[pong12211]

Nice finds and a really nice post thanks for sharing.

 

[gunsil]

It is a gorgeous buckle, but to say it was lost by Capt. Hinkley is in my opinion a quantum leap and totally unprovable. We will believe what we believe, but sadly that does not make it truth. I am sure many others rallied around their fallen officer and any number of people could just as likely lost that buckle. Like I said, it is a wonderful find as it is, but to attribute it to a certain person is gilding the lily.

 

[Old Dude]

Very nice historical post. A beautiful buckle and I am sure anyone finding one at such a site would entertain the romantic notion of to whom it belonged! I read the irony you posted in saying it was your story and you were sticking to it. Hope to see more of your finds and to read more of your exploits.

 

[Vino]

It is a gorgeous buckle, but to say it was lost by Capt. Hinkley is in my opinion a quantum leap and totally unprovable. We will believe what we believe, but sadly that does not make it truth. I am sure many others rallied around their fallen officer and any number of people could just as likely lost that buckle. Like I said, it is a wonderful find as it is, but to attribute it to a certain person is gilding the lily.

Really? Do you like controversy??
He said in his opinion...

 

[johnnyblaze]

Gary i was losing my breath reading that story..

Sometimes the gut will tell you if something is special about a find..

"Relicintuition"

~Blaze~

 

[jewelerguy]

nice buckle

 

[Argentium]

While we clearly can't connect the buckle to Cpt. Hinkley , it is a fantastic find ! Is it silver ? (looks it ) and is the buckle hallmarked
at all ?

 

[Ahab8]

If you better understand the events that happened at this place and the fact that only officers would be wearing a silver shoe buckle you would realize that he's not just throwing out some shot in the dark here. This place, this event, this man, this silver shoe buckle all fit together. I know exactly where this was found and the story of the events at that particular spot.
I don't believe this just because somebody says it's so. I believe it because the history of events supports it. But we are all obviously welcome to our own opinions.
Gary please don't be discouraged by any opinions on this site. Keep posting and sharing these items and articles. I for one know the history of Castine in depth and it would be a shame if you didn't share it with us. If anybody chooses to not believe it or isn't interested they can pass right on by

 

[pepperj]

Great save on the buckle and a piece of history.

 

[pepperj]

If you better understand the events that happened at this place and the fact that only officers would be wearing a silver shoe buckle you would realize that he's not just throwing out some shot in the dark here. This place, this event, this man, this silver shoe buckle all fit together. I know exactly where this was found and the story of the events at that particular spot.
I don't believe this just because somebody says it's so. I believe it because the history of events supports it. But we are all obviously welcome to our own opinions.
Gary please don't be discouraged by any opinions on this site. Keep posting and sharing these items and articles. I for one know the history of Castine in depth and it would be a shame if you didn't share it with us. If anybody chooses to not believe it or isn't interested they can pass right on by

That's some sound advise Ahab, I won't be too upset looking at their tail lights either.

 

[Argentium]

I am in no way dissing Gary's opinion , or expertise regarding the history of Cpt. Hinkley's demise ,or his belief that this
buckle was worn by Cpt. Hinkley - I was just stating a fact , namely that without further provenance , there is no way to
connect the buckle to Cpt. Hinkley. (Ahab8 , I realize that your comment was not necessarily directed toward my comment,
I just wanted to clarify my remarks - also I just saw your statement indicating that the buckle is silver ! )