Patriot Relics
Silver Member
Hey guys,
After digging the 1837 Servant tag last month, I have been researching and reading every available resource I can get my hands on. This insight lets me share the history of slave hire badges in the low country while it accompanies me on group hunts...or dinner out with other history buffs. It is amazing to see other's reactions when holding a piece of American history rarely seen outside a museum. That being said, I never though I be posting "Charleston Slave Tag" ever again here on Tnet...until today. A bit of back story-I have a tried and true colonial trash pit that has turned up a variety of flat buttons and colonial relics. While the site has been pounded over the years, recent erosion had revealed a fresh layer of oyster shells and brick.
First out of the pit was 4 buttons, two of which still had the much of gold/silver wash intact.
Also managed a pair of buckles, the two piece with "PARIS" stamped on the base.
After a few hours of swinging along the salt flat, I got a strong deep signal. At the bottom of a 14 inch plug was this pewter spoon bowl with jagged design molded in.
Also managed another pewter handle and a more recent (19th Century) copper spoon.
Surface finds included a chain, musket/pistol flint and interesting glass cameo of a man. Any ideas on date?
Now for the title dig- my second Charleston Slave tag in 2 weeks. While this one is only a partial, it is almost certainly 1800-1810 given the shape and size. To all those wondering, I did excavate the pit for about 6 hours trying to recover the other half...although unsuccessfully.
The condition of this one is typical of those recovered in privys or trash pits. The slave owner was required by law to renew his slave's permit every year and appropriated another badge with another permit number. As such, expired tags were destroyed and discarded by wearer. Even as a partial, it is still a remarkable piece of history.
Hard to beat that lowcountry dirt and as always, thanks for looking!
After digging the 1837 Servant tag last month, I have been researching and reading every available resource I can get my hands on. This insight lets me share the history of slave hire badges in the low country while it accompanies me on group hunts...or dinner out with other history buffs. It is amazing to see other's reactions when holding a piece of American history rarely seen outside a museum. That being said, I never though I be posting "Charleston Slave Tag" ever again here on Tnet...until today. A bit of back story-I have a tried and true colonial trash pit that has turned up a variety of flat buttons and colonial relics. While the site has been pounded over the years, recent erosion had revealed a fresh layer of oyster shells and brick.
First out of the pit was 4 buttons, two of which still had the much of gold/silver wash intact.
Also managed a pair of buckles, the two piece with "PARIS" stamped on the base.
After a few hours of swinging along the salt flat, I got a strong deep signal. At the bottom of a 14 inch plug was this pewter spoon bowl with jagged design molded in.
Also managed another pewter handle and a more recent (19th Century) copper spoon.
Surface finds included a chain, musket/pistol flint and interesting glass cameo of a man. Any ideas on date?
Now for the title dig- my second Charleston Slave tag in 2 weeks. While this one is only a partial, it is almost certainly 1800-1810 given the shape and size. To all those wondering, I did excavate the pit for about 6 hours trying to recover the other half...although unsuccessfully.
The condition of this one is typical of those recovered in privys or trash pits. The slave owner was required by law to renew his slave's permit every year and appropriated another badge with another permit number. As such, expired tags were destroyed and discarded by wearer. Even as a partial, it is still a remarkable piece of history.
Hard to beat that lowcountry dirt and as always, thanks for looking!
Upvote
43
You had better hurry back to Carolina before those guys take complete advantage of your absence!
Is it wrong to be jealous??
