No pics....but PLEASE be sitting down for this.....

[1235CE]

Mike in SC.....if you read my post again, I am the one who wanted to shake his hand but he declined due to it being dirty and that's what made it awkward, and quite honestly, I am a good 'ol boy, age 38, he is a farmer, I'm guessing around 50 and "Yes sir and No sir" would be even more awkward......we both put our pants on the same way in the morning.......I save "yes sir" and "no sir" for father-in-laws, priests and state troopers.....

HH all
Greg

 

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[coinshooter]

Maybe you could offer to do some work around his farm in exchange for some time on his land?

 

[SallyT]

I just found this topic, so I'm coming into this one reaaaaally late, so sorry about that....

But.....

First off, I totally believe that the "right thing" would be to tell the property owner the WHOLE TRUTH and let him know that a bounty was being pulled from there and you witnessed it by accident.

If you were being stolen from, wouldn't you like someone to tell you the truth?!?!?!

IMO, you might as well be a thief yourself if you're not willing to help right a wrong. And those guys were wronging this farmer. Personally, I think part of our society's problem is that people are willing to watch other people get wronged and not do anything. It sure makes it easier for thieves to be thieves when this is the general attitude out there, eh?

It's up to the OP to do what he thinks is right in his heart, but for me, I'd be going back there.

I bake a mean pan of carmel rolls that would knock his socks off. But, if didn't bake, I'd bring a basket containing a good ham, some cheddar cheese, dijon mustard and some soft bakery rolls with a 6 pack of good bottled beer and a pound of good coffee (in case the guy doesn't drink). It's the thought that counts here - so I'd want it to look like I DID put some thought into it. I'd have some kind of business card with my phone number on it, so if he doesn't warm up right on the spot, he might feel differently later after a few ham sandwiches.

I'd be APOLOGIZING ALL OVER THE PLACE for not being totally up front on the first visit. I would explain that it was an uncomfortable situation for me and I bungled it. I'd like to make up for it now so I could sleep at night.

I'd explain exactly what I saw. He's got more of a right to know what's on his property than the two guys that were robbing the property!

Flip the situation around - there is not a single one of us on this forum that wouldn't want to know if we were being stolen from!!!

Good grief - we all return class rings - and they're not even stolen! It's just plain wrong to witness theft and then "stay out of it".

Most people appreciate honesty. And up until now, it doesn't seem like the farmer has been given a shot at talking to anyone who has been 100% honest with him. No wonder he doesn't want those kind of people on his property, huh? If someone is acting sneaky, and seems to be withholding information from you, would you be wanting this kind of character on your property?

I'd be offering to take him out there with you - and if he wants something - work out some sort of deal that works out for both of you.

What's the worst thing that happens? He says "no" to you again? He buys a detector? He and his kid to go out there?

If so, better them than the other two guys, IMO.

Off my soapbox now.

 

[Siegfried Schlagrule]

I really really really want this to work out. I would love to here that the farmer said okie-dokie and you get in there and find a bucket full of colonials. This could very well happen. Not all farmers are miserly weirdos. Some of them just think like everybody else does. The coins, relics, whatever are in the ground and it isn't going to hurt anything if you go dig them up. If I had a big field full of coins and didn't own a metal detector and had no intention of messing with them, I'd let someone in to detect it if they wanted to. I haven't looked up the coins that were mentioned, what are they actually worth? I'm guessing it's more the thrill of the hunt than a bunch of money at stake here. Man, I'd flip if I got into something like that. I thought I'd found a big penny in an old park in Charlotte last week and it ended up being a 1970's carwash token, cool but not a poster.

Ask the farmer and see what he says,
Ramapirate

There are twenty major varieties of New Jersey colonials. A quick glance at the 2003 Red Book reveals prices ranging from $50 in good to the most rare one at $40,000 in VF. No prices listed in grades above XF. I have one that I dug in western PA years ago. exanimo, ss

 

[1235CE]

Well, I figure it's time for an update.....send out a nice letter to the farmer back on August 28th and I have received no reply.....uugghh.....I am leaning suddenly towards the Ninga suit....

HH all!
Greg

 

[Noodle]

I would consider now a good time to take another trip out to see the farmer. You spoke with him once, got declined, sent him a nice letter (what did you say in it, by the way?), and got no response. If you were to show up on his doorstep now, he would be intrigued. And this would be the perfect time to be perfectly honest with him on what has been found on his property. Show him a picture of a Colonial. Give him an idea of their history and value. Get him interested in what's buried on his land. Get his son interested in what's buried on their land.

At this point in time, the farmer doesn't know anything! Rectify that! Show him in black/white/color what's laying under his dirt. My opinion is he will change his mind completely and want to accompany you out to the brick yard and witness it for himself.

Remember, this is not a casual dig. You KNOW there's something (likely) out there. The farmer needs to know that to in order to tempt him.

I say this from experience. I have acreage that I don't want disturbed. I don't let folks dig on it. And if I didn't like to dig on it myself, I still wouldn't let others dig. BUT... if someone knocked on my door for, say, the third time, and FINALLY got some facts dropping left and right, along with some pictures and values, my attention would be ALL THEIRS. I'd drop my hoe or pitchfork and accompany them out in the field if I thought there was really something of value out there. Or if I was ornery, I'd escort them out to the brick yard and tell 'em to get that magic stick out and PROVE to me there's something out there. Otherwise, GIT OFF MY LAND! Shouldn't take you long to convince him that you've got a legitimate wish and you're willing to share.

Stop feeling guilty or acting guilty. You witnessed something being brought up out of a piece of land, and you just can't believe it. You'd like to see for yourself and you'd like the farmer to see, too. Make it an adventure, not a big problem. But first you have to get the farmer's attention.

Let us know! -Noodle

 

[ghost surf]

I would be careful, because you don't know what these dudes have for protection or how they would use it..Or if they are actually just doing a cover-up burglary by saying they do metal detecting..They where on private property they are tress passing and thats against the law!..I would let the farmer know whats going on..Honesty may get you nothing, but it will let the farmer know you are honest and he will probably let you do some more hunting,just for that aspect alone...Famers like people who take care of their land.....I myself would carry a camera and if you see these guy's... snap a picture of them ...Without them knowing,Don't get into a fight or try to do a cops job......So they can't take you down!!!!..If they don't leave, let farmer know you called the police or let the farmer take care of it himself....Also get the License plate numbers too!That might be extreme, I might do it myself....because they know what you look like,drive ect... and might want to go your way and do your place too!Be safe and honesty does work!

 

[jeff of pa]

Well, I figure it's time for an update.....send out a nice letter to the farmer back on August 28th and I have received no reply.....uugghh.....I am leaning suddenly towards the Ninga suit....

HH all!
Greg

Time to Move on.

he Apparently has made his mind up & pesting isn't going
to be Productive.

 

[Kimber23539]

Okay, here is twist to the story. Lets see if this rings a bell..

First here are the comments.

"What if it was your land and someone WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION was digging holes in it and tresspassing ? Wouldn't you be mad"

"If i ever found anyone on my land digging without my permission they would have a butt full of buckshot"


"to go on a man's land that "HE" is working, and rob him of unknowing wealth to him is unredeemed! It is his land,"

"That is HIS land .Its probley been in his family for genrations.Thats HIS coins."

"most farmers and country people will let you hunt there property but at the same time if they catch you on there property without permission they are going to be p!ssed!!!"

"Go dig without permisson ! You dont need it ! Hell just leave the gapping holes unfilled too while you're at it !!"

Now here is the twist.

Didn't the American Indian own all of this land to begin with? Its a real shame there weren't more white folks defending their rights when our government was stealing the same land that had been theirs for thousands of years right out from under their very feet.

Even today our government refuses to honor the treaties it signed a hundred years ago and pay them what they are owed.

AMEN to this....WOW you hit a major nail on the head here !!

 

[eathabs]

Mighty AP, nice comment about being "honest", let me know when you run for office.

 

[teverly]

ok i'm sorry i said i would just jump in !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! anyone wants to shoot me bring it onnnnnnnnnnn,,,,,,,,,,,, i was just a little pumped is all !!!!!!!!!!
and please don't act like you never pulled over in the middle of (nowhere) and pulled out your detector and started swinging, if you say that you haven't i'm calling you a liar ....

Well you dont even know me and you call me a liar!!!!! i HAVE BEEN DOING THIS 12YRS AND HAVE ALWAYS ASKED PERMISSION!!!Just the way iwas raised.......

 

[teverly]

Hi Greg,

I have to side with Paul "Paul is dead," Getting permission is the proper way to approach sites such as these.

I have made mistakes in the past and have trespassed numerous times in my day, But now it's more on a professional level of getting permission to search older sites. So my days of trespassing are over, Believe me it is not something I am proud of and do not support.

We have a responsibility to be upfront with the property owners of our full intentions, You'd be amazed how you can still get permission to search old sites such as these with being honest and sincere with the property owner.

In this case such as yours, The damage was done with those two guys trespassing. It appears these two fellows did the research and located the site, So you going back would be sort of breaking the old rule "Claim jumping." Even though these two desperados are breaking the law by trespassing, Breaking the golden rule and entering the ranks of claim jumping is something you would never want to be labeled as.

So now you are caught between the middle, You can get permission to search the property from the owner but yet be a claim jumper in the eyes of fellow treasure hunters.

I personally would walk away from this, Even if you got permission from the owner to search this old site, you would be labeled as a CLAIM JUMPER.

Set the pace and lead by example,
Paul (Ca)

I would get permission and hunt if it were given.Since they did not get permission they have no "claim" to this spot and if they dont like it to Damn bad!!!

 

[RevSpongeBobSP]

i would go in a heartbeat !!!!!! if they were packin up i would guess they dont have permission,, i wouldn't ask either !!!!!!!!! if they come back and see you there,, so what !!its a free country....at least get a few for yourself,, fresh digs will tell ya where theyve been i would go left or right of that,,

GO FOR IT !!!!!!!!!!!!

On my property, that would get you a bullet and a spot by the stream to rest in the mud.

Do not listen to this Jerk, if this is private property, do the right thing and ask, do not step foot on to another mans property without permission, it is not worth it regardless of how you look at it!