paleomaxx
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- Aug 14, 2016
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Absolutely crazy find today and I just had to post it here! I was in Western Massachusetts and digging up the usual kerosene lamp parts and iron flashing when I got a deep, but faint, high tone. I dug way down in the sandy soil and out popped an odd piece of brass:
The engraved numbers were so bold right out of the soil and I immediately knew from the style that this had to be 18th century! Even better I was pretty sure it was musket hardware!!! Just some quick googling confirmed it was indeed from a Brown Bess.
Below is a photo showing where this particular plate is on the wrist portion of the musket:
I found numerous examples of these thumb plates online that were engraved with the regimental number as well as additional information of the particular soldier. There doesn't appear to be much standardization for the engravings, but the 37th Regiment of Foot was indeed in America for the Revolutionary War and participated in the Battle of Long Island in 1776. The 32 may mean that this was the 32nd man, but it's missing the company number so maybe it means something else.
I'm hoping I can piece together more information about this piece and maybe even how it came to be in Western Mass. At any rate this is the find of a lifetime and I'm over the moon!
The engraved numbers were so bold right out of the soil and I immediately knew from the style that this had to be 18th century! Even better I was pretty sure it was musket hardware!!! Just some quick googling confirmed it was indeed from a Brown Bess.
Below is a photo showing where this particular plate is on the wrist portion of the musket:
I found numerous examples of these thumb plates online that were engraved with the regimental number as well as additional information of the particular soldier. There doesn't appear to be much standardization for the engravings, but the 37th Regiment of Foot was indeed in America for the Revolutionary War and participated in the Battle of Long Island in 1776. The 32 may mean that this was the 32nd man, but it's missing the company number so maybe it means something else.
I'm hoping I can piece together more information about this piece and maybe even how it came to be in Western Mass. At any rate this is the find of a lifetime and I'm over the moon!
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