Help needed on some tags and also a mysterious piece of lead

[Wallhangers]

One pic is of a few tags found on a site. The Chicago Varnish Company building in Chicago is now the Harey Carey Restaurant. What I want to find out is why these are called Pay Check? Also in that pic is a smaller unidentified tag and a piece of brass that I have found a bunch of on one sight, first thought they were cuff links, any ideas?
The mysterious piece of lead puzzles me. It was found on a site that dates between the 1840s and 1860s, pictured with a fatty. Any help on any of these items is appreciated!

 

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[duggap]

There is a chance that your lead item may be a weight out of a decoy. Sort of like this one.

Your tags are probably tool tags and the last item looks like an upholstery tack.

 

[tamrock]

I see other examples when I search "pay check tags". My guess is the tag is tied to an employee number and you would need to produce the tag in order to pick up your paycheck. A way to reduce giving the paycheck to the wrong employee. ever heard the saying " I'm just a number at this job" Been there and was a number once long ago. We simply called our brass tags "Your Brass"

 

[nhbenz]

The nail with the octagonal head is for slate roofing and asbestos shingling

 

[Wallhangers]

The nail with the octagonal head is for slate roofing and asbestos shingling

Makes sense, the old house that was once there had a slate roof and burnt down, mystery solved, thanks.