1840s/1850s New York Militia Officers Belt Plate!!

[grasshopper]

1840s/1850s New York Militia Officer's Belt Plate!!

Today I went back to a few foundation sites in the woods. They ran along an old road and there are four in a row. I have hunted these places multiple times before, and I'm sure others have also. On top of that, finds have been sparse because a nearby river floods a lot and the older stuff tends to be pretty deep.

I was about 30 feet to the side of the 3rd cellar when I got a nice high tone on the v3i. When I pinpointed, the highest frequency was dominant so I was pretty sure it would at least be a nice coin or something. I dug about 5 inches or so and got a brass rectangular plate. At first I thought it was just junk until I rinsed it off a little and saw the eagle.

After a little research, I found that it was a New York State Militia Officer's sword plate manufactured during the 1840s or early 1850s. It says "excelsior", has an eagle above a globe, and has 2 cannons. It's bent a little and is missing the hook and bar that go on the back.

I can't find too many examples of these online so I'm assuming they are fairly rare. Here is a listing from the Ridgeway CW Archive: The Ridgeway Civil War collection New York buckles & plates. I also found a listing for one that is similar in condition to mine that sold for $200 plus!

This marks the 3rd military item (1812 buttons, US CW belt plate) found in Upstate NY in the yard of an old house. Wonder why these kinds of items were dropped in people's lawns. No nearby military activity....

Any advice on cleaning?

Thanks for looking!

 

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[HEAVYMETALNUT]

nice dude! i never seen one of those before! congrats! Doesn't look like it needs much cleaning at all to me

 

[Rich in Central PA]

That's a great find Grasshopper, very nice. I don't know much about them but I wouldn't clean it until you hear from the experts on here. I'm sure you will get lots of responses..............Nice going, Rich

 

[B|lker]

Any advice on cleaning?

Nice find grasshopper.
Don`t clean it.
I vote BANNER

 

[WHADIFIND]

Doesn't that just trip your trigger? Hunting a place you've been to many times before, there's a lot of junk around and lo and behold, you get a nice high tone!

A wonderful save! Good job!

HH!

 

[Nutriasub]

From what I read must be a very rare plate, congratulations!!

 

[Valley Ranger]

Great find Grasshopper. I've yet to find a plate, but believe 2013 will be my year.

 

[tennessee digger]

I would not try to clean it any more. That is a nice plate and rare to dig. Tennessee digger

 

[Papa Bear]

Heck! I say Banner!!

 

[kuger]

Very cool,ya dont see many of those dug!!!

 

[Steve in PA]

Great find! Congratulations

 

[stewielouie]

Great plate in great condition! Congrats!!

 

[diggervet]

Absolutely fantastic! Great find! I love stories like yours

 

[G.A.P.metal]

nice find great piece of history
Gary

 

[BuckleBoy]

GREAT find! In terms of cleaning, it looks great as-is. I would suggest one more thing if it's gold gilded... Aluminum jelly. Just gently brush on with a paint brush and rinse. Or better yet, read my "How to Clean Buttons" topic in the "Cleaning and Preservation" section of Tnet. Same technique.

This marks the 3rd military item (1812 buttons, US CW belt plate) found in Upstate NY in the yard of an old house. Wonder why these kinds of items were dropped in people's lawns. No nearby military activity....

I'll tell you the reason so many military items were dropped/discarded at old house sites... "military" and "civilian" were lines that were especially blurry in the 19th century and earlier, especially in the years before and including the Civil War. Most civilians were required to participate in local militias, and thus many had military uniforms with militia buttons, etc. on them. Every ordinary citizen owned a gun and its accoutrements (powder flasks, gun tools, etc.). Uniforms were functional, and in many cases they were the warmest article of clothing people had. Inevitably they were worn until they were worn out, and then discarded in trash pits. In Kentucky I hunted old house sites and dug tons of military plates, buckles, bullets, and buttons--all in areas that had no Civil War history. Down here, we have dug a coat of 1812 era artillery buttons and Confederate Louisiana Pelican buttons. In Kentucky I dug a whole coat of KY state seal buttons, including the cuff buttons...

 

[matt092079]

Whoa. Awesome plate!!

 

[grasshopper]

GREAT find! In terms of cleaning, it looks great as-is. I would suggest one more thing if it's gold gilded... Aluminum jelly. Just gently brush on with a paint brush and rinse. Or better yet, read my "How to Clean Buttons" topic in the "Cleaning and Preservation" section of Tnet. Same technique.

I'll tell you the reason so many military items were dropped/discarded at old house sites... "military" and "civilian" were lines that were especially blurry in the 19th century and earlier, especially in the years before and including the Civil War. Most civilians were required to participate in local militias, and thus many had military uniforms with militia buttons, etc. on them. Every ordinary citizen owned a gun and its accoutrements (powder flasks, gun tools, etc.). Uniforms were functional, and in many cases they were the warmest article of clothing people had. Inevitably they were worn until they were worn out, and then discarded in trash pits. In Kentucky I hunted old house sites and dug tons of military plates, buckles, bullets, and buttons--all in areas that had no Civil War history. Down here, we have dug a coat of 1812 era artillery buttons and Confederate Louisiana Pelican buttons. In Kentucky I dug a whole coat of KY state seal buttons, including the cuff buttons...

This makes total sense. Thanks a bunch for the info!!

 

[Jyverb64]

Very nice find!

 

[mangum]

Congrats! That's a sweet buckle!

 

[CC Hunter]

Great Find!

The New York Excelsior panel style plate / Militia Belt Plate from the 1840's-1850's, is a very attractive piece, and one rarely seen recovered.

Congratulations on a remarkable find.

CC Hunter