46 regiment of foot?

[DiggingNYHistory]

I recently dug this button on eastern Long Island NY and believe it to be a British 46 regiment of foot button from the American Revolutionary War although many online resources have referred to similar buttons as French, Russian and Crimean. Any info would be appreciated greatly.

 

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[Steve in PA]

Thank you so much. It’s frustrating bc the 46 reg of foot was here in the US from 1750s-1790s for multiple campaigns but I cannot see them utilized at all during war of 1812 in the US.

Well the consensus is your button is post Rev War, 1812-1820 period. Whether it is British or French, the view isl eaning toward French. Several people said they had already told you that it was post Rev
Edit: additional input from respected sources are calling this a British button 1812 or slightly later

 

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[Red-Coat]

Just for info, there were no contingents of the 46th assigned for duty in the War of 1812. The regiment had arrived back in Britain in December 1811 after service in the West Indies, temporarily leaving behind a flank contingent of four companies who arrived back in Britain in June 1812 at the outbreak of the war. The regiment was then re-consolidated on the island of Jersey in the English Channel and embarked in toto for Sandown Barracks on the Isle of Wight, where it remained until August 1813. There, they received orders to proceed to New South Wales in Australia, arriving in February 1814, and were stationed there until September 1817 when they re-embarked for service in India.

However, the button doesn’t match to any of the documented British patterns for the 46th in either that period or the Revolutionary War period as far as I’m aware, but that doesn’t necessarily rule out it being British. Apart from the possibility of buttons mismatching to geographic deployment of regiments, one other thing worth pointing out is that British regiments on long tours of duty abroad would sometimes fulfil any need for replacement buttons (and other items) using ‘local’ producers and non-standard patterns. However, my gut feel is that it isn't British. Other than that, I can’t help much.

 

[DiggingNYHistory]

Well the consensus is your button is post Rev War, 1812-1820 period. Whether it is British or French, the view isl eaning toward French. Several people said they had already told you that it was post Rev
Edit: additional input from respected sources are calling this a British button 1812 or slightly later

I have a total of six that say post 1812, split 3-3 French and British
A total of two that say pre-1800
And I have about 20 emails into museums, button societies and relic dealers that I am awaiting responses on.

I have not seen a single post-1812 example that looks remotely similar to my button, and 2 revolutionary war era buttons that are similar (attached)

 

[DiggingNYHistory]

Just for info, there were no contingents of the 46th assigned for duty in the War of 1812. The regiment had arrived back in Britain in December 1811 after service in the West Indies, temporarily leaving behind a flank contingent of four companies who arrived back in Britain in June 1812 at the outbreak of the war. The regiment was then re-consolidated on the island of Jersey in the English Channel and embarked in toto for Sandown Barracks on the Isle of Wight, where it remained until August 1813. There, they received orders to proceed to New South Wales in Australia, arriving in February 1814, and were stationed there until September 1817 when they re-embarked for service in India.

However, the button doesn’t match to any of the documented British patterns for the 46th in either that period or the Revolutionary War period as far as I’m aware, but that doesn’t necessarily rule out it being British. Apart from the possibility of buttons mismatching to geographic deployment of regiments, one other thing worth pointing out is that British regiments on long tours of duty abroad would sometimes fulfil any need for replacement buttons (and other items) using ‘local’ producers and non-standard patterns. However, my gut feel is that it isn't British. Other than that, I can’t help much.

Thank you that is very insightful!

 

[Steve in PA]

Well here is the reply from Don Troiani, who wrote the book on British, French, and American Rev War buttons. You can take that to the bank.

Don Troiani
Admin
Positively not French. Looks like British 1812 era or later.

• 
  
  

 

[DiggingNYHistory]

Well here is the reply from Don Troiani, who wrote the book on British, French, and American Rev War buttons. You can take that to the bank.

Don Troiani
Admin
Positively not French. Looks like British 1812 era or later.

• 
  
  

Thank you!

 

[DiggingNYHistory]

Well here is the reply from Don Troiani, who wrote the book on British, French, and American Rev War buttons. You can take that to the bank.

Don Troiani
Admin
Positively not French. Looks like British 1812 era or later.

• 
  
  

Thank you all for your help and expertise!

 

[JohnnyMac]

I recently dug this button on eastern Long Island NY and believe it to be a British 46 regiment of foot button from the American Revolutionary War although many online resources have referred to similar buttons as French, Russian and Crimean. Any info would be appreciated greatly.

Nice