New Spot Yields Great Finds

[Wes-N-VA]

Me and my firend Matt got out to a new spot that we have been researching for about three weeks. We used all the available technology that we could muster to find this new spot. After searching many old maps and then over laying them with Google Earth we were able to find a old housesite that no longer stands. The house dates back to 1840 and there is some Civil War action that happened around the site also. I even used an old fashion ruler to measure the scale of each map and then with th ehelp of the features on Google Earth, was able to put us in the area.

We meet with the landowner and told him about our research and about where we thought the site was. He was very interested in our discovery and our hard work. He said that no one has ever approached him about metal detecting his land before. To our complete amazement he gave us complete and unlimited access to his 300 acres. We both were in shock and thanked him what seemed like 20 times. All he ask from us, to show him what we found because it sounded very interesting to him. No problem at all!

Once in the field, which was harvested peanuts, I knew that my measurements were off by a couple hundred yards. My eye caught a small knoll south of the location we thought the house stood. I told Matt that we should work our way to that knoll, the rest is in the pictures below....

The two naval buttons I found had backmarks of Thomas G. Hood Philadelphia. (thos g hood phil) I am having trouble finding an exact match. Matt found the cuff size naval with same back mark.

 

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[jewelerguy]

great finds!

 

[Valley Ranger]

Great work - I'm sure it will keep paying off.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Wes - as you may know, I have a great appreciation for anyone who takes the time to do their homework to sniff out a new site. And like you just experienced, many a landowner has been intrigued with the results of my research on their property, and once you present them with a copy of all the old maps, etc, its a sure ticket to gain permission. So I just wanted to make sure that your efforts were being recognized by others here on the forum as a great tool not only to find sites, but to gain access. And its even better when you can actually find that secret spot and pull some nice relics out of the ground like you guys did. Although most of your finds seem to date to the mid-1800s and later, I wanted to bring to your attention that ornate button you dug (2nd row, 1st one on the left). I believe that's much older than your other finds and could indicate an earlier occupancy. I found a similar one last year (see pics below) that came from a site that went back to the 1600s. It's the one where I dug a 1583 hammered sixpence along with many other early finds. Did you find that button near the CW era homesite, or in another part of the field? You need to hunker down there and check it very good as there might be another earlier site on the property, or maybe the one you found goes back earlier than you think. Regardless, you seem to have found a very nice site, and hope you and Matt can continue to pull some nice goodies from that field. Good luck ..... Bill

 

[hamiddetecting]

Great finds and nice pictures!!

 

[MrSchulz]

I love that last button and the V nickel. Nice pieces of history!

 

[Wes-N-VA]

Bill, thank you for your kind reply. Our two buttons are very similar and with the date you have, I am even more excited about this location. There is tons of iron to detect around. The research paid off for sure. I hope to get back out there soon, but it looks like the rain is moving in for a few days. Thanks again and I will keep you posted.

Wes

 

[Jyverb64]

Nice job with the research and great finds

 

[dirtdigger1581]

Nice hunt Wes! I was trying to find any info on the Thos G Hood mark on the Navy buttons, but like you didn't come up with much. I did find another post on Tnet where someone asked about that mark. Someone else replied that Thos G Hood made buttons from 1878-1887. You can see his post here: http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/163051-eagle-button-unknown-backmark.html Fields are being cut of soybeans so we should be back in business locally soon!