UPDATE: Clean Pics!!! Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

[Brendan M.]

Hello, TNet Friends!

As my bud Chris (a.k.a. Mr. Magoo) mentioned in his post (http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,438158.0.html) we hit the North Country woods on Tuesday, racing to get in a couple more hunts before the big freeze. It rained on and off all day, but we persevered, covered in mud and bugs, but thankfully both of us came home with goodies to show for it.

We hunted a remote, tick-infested slope near the Hudson that was heavily used between the French & Indian War and the Revolution. As I carefully traced the edges of a spot that once held a structure I hit a strong, deep signal and my heart began to race, because I knew in a spot like this, it was going to be an oldie. About 9 inches down I hit iron, saw some rust, and pried up my find of the day: A colonial British square poll camp axe. It's a big, heavy one, too!

Upon closer inspection at home I noticed a heart-shaped maker's mark on the blade; although I haven't confirmed myself, I've read in others' postings that the heart mark is common from the 1777 Saratoga campaign. I read that Gen. Burgoyne had ties to one of the India Companies, and the goods he procured for his troops frequently bear this mark. Exciting stuff!

The photos are of the uncleaned axe. I have it bubbling in an electrolysis bath right now, and will post pictures after it's all restored and pretty again.

Thanks for looking!

--Brendan

 

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[The Patriot]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

I've got a couple myself... always love seeing those come out of the ground...

 

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[oldcoon]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

In regards to the "Sullivan Trail" keep in mind that the actual roads followed by Colonial troops are not necessarily the roads in existence today. I've learned in my Civil War relic hunting days. Old roads snaked and twisted all over the countryside following the path of least resistance rather than through engineered passages. This is where research pays off.

 

[Whitebeard]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

In regards to the "Sullivan Trail" keep in mind that the actual roads followed by Colonial troops are not necessarily the roads in existence today. I've learned in my Civil War relic hunting days. Old roads snaked and twisted all over the countryside following the path of least resistance rather than through engineered passages. This is where research pays off.

I agree with you oldcoon! always a nice feeling to know you are walking on historic trails or roads.

 

[Sonnydigs]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

Just had to log in to say that's a great find.. You really did a great job with the bath restoration..
I just finished an old ax I found a month ago..
Waiting to see what you find out there next..

 

[aka da Prof]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

oh, yes Whitebeard, one can easily follow the old trails, so many gorges have just a few crossings, and the first mills were set up there. Also, the line of old houses and house sites mark the road. One site now closed to me, a new home was built, has a basement at a crossing not mentioned on the earliest maps, yet it gave me forty colonial buttons, twenty coins (Goe ll to 1818 LC) artifacts and arrow heads in a large cigar box full of goodies, not mention iron. I gotta find another site like that, we know they're out there---

 

[Whitebeard]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

oh, yes Whitebeard, one can easily follow the old trails, so many gorges have just a few crossings, and the first mills were set up there. Also, the line of old houses and house sites mark the road. One site now closed to me, a new home was built, has a basement at a crossing not mentioned on the earliest maps, yet it gave me forty colonial buttons, twenty coins (Goe ll to 1818 LC) artifacts and arrow heads in a large cigar box full of goodies, not mention iron. I gotta find another site like that, we know they're out there---

I bet there are still plenty, the growing of vegetation and construction of roads have been hidding them away for long but they are still out there. HH

 

[Brendan M.]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

Just had to log in to say that's a great find.. You really did a great job with the bath restoration..
I just finished an old ax I found a month ago..
Waiting to see what you find out there next..

Thanks...However the restore isn't done yet! I'll have "post" pics up soon. Finished the electrolysis, moving to the wire wheel. Stay tuned!

 

[Brendan M.]

I just posted pics above of the axe after a good cleaning and restoration. Came out nice. Note the maker's mark -- it has an "MH" inside the heart. Does anyone know anything about this?

 

[AeroMike]

What did you seal it with?

The ax looks really good. I have found axes and hoes in the past but have not done anything with them. Matter of fact, I just found a big square iron spike from a colonial site over the weekend that I brought home and will send to the electrolysis soon.

 

[Brendan M.]

What did you seal it with?

The ax looks really good. I have found axes and hoes in the past but have not done anything with them. Matter of fact, I just found a big square iron spike from a colonial site over the weekend that I brought home and will send to the electrolysis soon.

Just a couple of coats of WD40. That's what Ken Fedory recommended in his book Relic Hunter, and so far I've had a lot of luck with that method on the old iron.

 

[Brendan M.]

Re: Colonial British Square Poll Camp Axe

no maps but plenty of N.Y.S. road side markers (not that they are correct). The village sites and springs they could have camped at are right on the original road and rather easy to locate and I have checked a few with lots more to go to. There is a local rumor of a 'buried 3 lb. cannon' that was left some where around this area, of course it's not documented and just an old story, some dowsing might help with that.
The 2 reale that matches yours came from a known Seneca village where 'the first cabin was built' (so the sign says)

Maybe I'll take a ride and come hunting with you someday. I just read Bloody Mohawk and it gets deep into the Sullivan Trail. Seems like an awesome area to hunt. And those Seneca were brutal! Carnage everywhere in their wake....