🥇 BANNER John Wright 1720 Pocket Watch!!!!!

[Eagle101]

What a great day out on a couple of my colonial permissions. So I found 2 pocket watches. One is I believe coin silver that's engraved with SWL with what looks to be a hallmark above the S. I found a 1781 2 Real about a hundred feet from there engraved with the same lettering. I'm hoping its early 1800's or earlier. Any help identifying it would be very appreciated.

I also found another pocket watch at a totally different site. So that's 2 in one day. Plus an Engraved spoon or fork handle. I found the same initials before but the other one had the last name on it. I was able to find out who the owner was. She lived in that area from 1815-1860. I actually found where her house is. I'm planning on giving both to the homeowner. I found it about 5 miles away from there. Also I found a rev war musket ball and a copper piece with writing on it.

 

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[Eagle101]

Here's a picture of the same watchmaker William Harding. This one is from 1776. I read somewhere he won the gold medal in 1820 for watchmaking.

 

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[Eagle101]

So here's the silversmith maker's mark. I'm researching that now. I will update it when I find out who it is.

 

[Eagle101]

William Harding Hallmark.

 

[Eagle101]

Here's the initial engraving along with what many believe is the freemason eye of Providence above the S.

 

[Eagle101]

I really would love to show the full pic but I blacked out most of it so not to drop too many hints. I don't want to start a gold rush.

This is only an 1860's map. But the Lewis family was there long before. I'm still researching to make sure I'm 100% but so far that's my guess. I found the pocket watch about 2000' from the house.

 

[xcopperstax]

I really would love to show the full pic but I blacked out most of it so not to drop too many hints. I don't want to start a gold rush.

This is only an 1860's map. But the Lewis family was there long before. I'm still researching to make sure I'm 100% but so far that's my guess. I found the pocket watch about 2000' from the house.

I'm no watch aficionado but I gave it a banner vote as it looks really special. Interesting thought: one has to wonder: was this lost with the first owner or was it a family heirloom that was lost generations later? That image of what looks like the devil or a satyr is very interesting!

 

[Nick79]

Amazing find and congrats on it being in such great shape!

 

[Valley Ranger]

Banner worthy due to historical significance, rarity and uniqueness. Congratulations.

 

[lairmo]

THAT IS AWESOME!!! Congratulations!!!

P.S. (Still giving it to the owner?)...lol

 

[NJKLAGT]

I was hoping this would make banner when I saw it. Deservedly so! Congratulations!

 

[trdking]

Congrats on making the top line 101 incredible find. I would say mostly gold movement and pillars (columns) as well. you can google early watch pillars and you will be able to match the pillars shape to an era of manufacture. Cheers again

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Now that's a beautiful pocket watch find!

Congratulations on achieving you first BANNER on Tnet!

Dave

 

[Davers]

Thank you for the banner vote!!! I thought i would get more love on this find. This is way more rarer than a tree coin...

You made Banner my Man.
Or else I never would have seen it.

Also IMO I think more people know about coins than rare pocket-watches..

A super nice find , you must know people to hunt such a site . lol

 

[DFW_THer]

Great resto job. Very enjoyable thread. Thank you.

 

[GB1]

congrats on banner

 

[Eagle101]

Thank you everyone. I am so happy for my first banner. I have been looking forward to getting it since i joined many years ago. I can't wait to get back to the hole it came out of so i can look for some of the missing pieces. Also i'm in talks about having it professionally restored. So there's more to come. A big thank you again to everyone for their help and support!!!!

 

[Eagle101]

One last thing. How do i change the heading. When i posted it i thought it was a John Wright. Now that i found out it's a William Harding i feel like it needs to be changed...

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Congrats on your banner find! Very cool!

 

[coinman123]

Beautiful watch, the movement is in much better shape than most 1930's pocket watches I find. Very well deserved banner and incredible piece of history, display that watch proudly!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

One last thing. How do i change the heading. When i posted it i thought it was a John Wright. Now that i found out it's a William Harding i feel like it needs to be changed...

If I may... unfortunately once you choose the banner of a post, there's no option to go back and edit it.
Dave