Silver cross medal ID

[je177]

I dug this medal today in a farm field in the Fall River/Westport, MA area. I believe it is silver. It has the name Samuel Ward Lingard inscribed in the middle. It is perfectly flat in the back. It weighs approximately 27.5 grams. I'm very curious as to what it is. I have an idea but would like to hear from Tnet before I make a suggestion. Thank you for looking.

 

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[ironhorse]

possibly a medal from a fraternal organization or a lodge
Knights of Columbus, knights of Pythias , etc

 

[vhs07]

Only thing close I can find is this:

It's similar, but yours looks a heck of a lot older and cooler. They call this one an "older malta grand cross on laurel wreath"

 

[tamrock]

It does look silver. Any other identifiable marks of a maker on the back.?

 

[je177]

Nothing on the back. Perfectly flat.

 

[fyrffytr1]

I know this doesn't help with the ID but this might be your man.

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M95V-BVN

 

[je177]

I agree that is him. I saw those records earlier including a record of him belonging to a Masonic lodge in the area. This leads me to believe it is a Masonic medal, award or token of sorts.

 

[je177]

So, after finding this silver medal, I did a little reasearch into the name Samuel Ward Lingard. I found that someone by that name lived in Fall River, MA (close to where it was found) and was born in England in 1864. I found that he was a member of the Mount Hope Masonic lodge in Fal River. I have a friend who is a long time member of that lodge. I inquired as to whether medallions of the sort would have been issued to members in the early 1900's and fowarded a picture. He stated that it was certainly masonic and that he had a similar medallion. He added they were not given to all members. In typical Freemason fashion, he simply stated they were awarded to those that "were worthy". Hearing this, I did a little more research and found that this Samuel Ward Lingard born in 1864 has a living great niece named Joan living in Fountain Valley, CA. I contacted her and told her of what I had found. She happens to be the geneology buff of her family and was very excited. The medallion is cleaned and has been sent to her.

 

[scavanau]

At its simplest, this is what the hobby is about. Great job.

 

[GrandBlancDig]

Great find, even better research, and down right amazing good deed! Well done!

 

[fyrffytr1]

Well done. I found a fireman's badge and tried to give it to the fire museum in the town it was from but never got any interest in it after the initial contact. So, it is still in my frame of finds from the site I dug it at.