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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[Southern_Digger]

Superb! You just never know what, where and when. That's what makes this hobby great.

 

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[frogginfish]

Congrats on your find! I think its amazing to be able to go out and find a piece of history like that...and then be able to preserve it for future generations to see. Something tangible that isn't just searched for on Google. That's what inspired me to go out hunting in the first place!

 

[ICON]

sweet!! i'd rather find that than most coin's !!

 

[Tim(Mo)]

That's one sweet plate !

 

[Wildcat1750]

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...

Very good point. I found a whole coat full of NY Militia Buttons at a home site in CT.
That is a sweet find grasshopper and a great piece of New York history!..a rare buckle in great condition!!!
Nick

 

[ICON]

sweet!! sence your in central NY. do you know of any good metal detecting shop's near SYRACUSE, NY. i cant find one for a 100 miles!! ICON.

 

[grasshopper]

sweet!! sence your in central NY. do you know of any good metal detecting shop's near SYRACUSE, NY. i cant find one for a 100 miles!! ICON.

I'm in Central NY cause I go to college there, so I cannot answer your question. Sorry!

If you ever want to meet up and do some hunting in the spring let me know- I'm in Hamilton.

 

[ctalmadg]

sweet!! sence your in central NY. do you know of any good metal detecting shop's near SYRACUSE, NY. i cant find one for a 100 miles!! ICON.

You are out of luck ICON. There really isn't anything in our area that is decent. :-(

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

an inspiration how about that , keep hitting that place for more

 

[Erik in NJ]

Very nice plate! Congrats! I would send that one in for professional restoration. I believe BuckleBoy has a restorer that does very nice work. If need be I can get you another name. Regards, Erik

 

[RiverRat3]

Very nice find!

 

[fishstick]

STELLAR find and GREATER history!!!! CONGRATS.. HH

 

[oldsalty19]

 

[Tnmountains]

That sir is in amazing condition.I wonder how may other detectors passed close to that or even passed it up. It had to set off your head phones for sure. Nice save on that piece of history.
HH
TnMtns

 

[jewelerguy]

that's beautiful. congrats!