Tin pendant with hand written names

[Matt26VA]

I can’t make out what it says but I dug it up directly on top of a mid 1800s home. The farm belonged to “Traylor” according to my 1888 map. It has 6 little square teeth around the rim and it’s very thin

 

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[CRUSADER]

Part of a pocket watch maybe?

 

[Matt26VA]

Part of a pocket watch maybe?

That’s what I was thinking as well I just can’t seem to find any pocket watches that have a back quite like this.

 

[Tony in SC]

My first thought was pocket watch. A carriage clock is a little bigger and the names could be from the times it was cleaned or repaired?

 

[invent4hir]

I think you all are on the right track. Matt, you are correct that you might not find a pocket watch "back" like that. As Tony mentioned the names from prior cleaning/repairs is certainly a possibility. This past winter I was looking at one of my grandfather's pocket watches (c. 1900) and names were scratched on the inside of the movement cover.

 

[DCMatt]

I don't think it is a watch part. Repair marks wold include a date and, I believe, only the initials of the watchmaker.

Also, there is obvious wear around the hole in the center. I don't think a precision watch part would show that kind of wear or damage.

That said, I don't know what it is. Still looking...

 

[Matt26VA]

An old family friend who is a bit of an expert in this area thinks it might be an improvised dog tag of sorts and the other writing on it could be relevant next of kin, home location, or military unit. Its just strange the hole is in the center instead of at the top.

 

[A2coins]

Welcome to tnet I got nothing but thats an interestin find hope you get an ID

 

[Matt26VA]

Welcome to tnet I got nothing but thats an interestin find hope you get an ID

Thanks! I’m going to keep digging. I believe that this is actually plated with silver, since it was shiny when I dug it up. The other side is corroded and a dark brown color so maybe I’m wrong about it being tin. It’s lightweight like aluminum. This site was abandoned by 1888 so I know that’s not the case. Maybe it’s the base of a candle holder? That would explain the hole in the center. I have not found anyone that can decipher the rest of the writing, does anyone know if any resources that could help?

 

[Noah_D]

Probably not super valuable or anything but a piece of history and a super cool find at that!

 

[DCMatt]

Does it say G. A. Traylor? Possibly other names etched in?

If you tell us the land owner name and the state and county, we may be able to find out more about the man and the family.

 

[Tony in SC]

After seeing Matt's enhancement, I see the stubs of what might be six spokes of a larger gear? Makes me think clock not pocket watch.

Does it say G. A. Traylor? Possibly other names etched in?

If you tell us the land owner name and the state and county, we may be able to find out more about the man and the family.

View attachment 1840013

 

[Matt26VA]

It’s an H I found after I found this key for the style of handwriting. I attached the Confederate map I’m using as a reference. I pulled this out of the ground closer to “Pitchford”. Chesterfield County VA. At the time the town would have been called Clover Hill or Winterpock.

View attachment 1840107

 

[GoldieLocks]

What did the, "teeth" look like?

 

[Noah_D]

What did the, "teeth" look like?

The most obvious can be seen at 10 o'clock from the center in the first pic.

 

[DCMatt]

This may be your "A. Traylor" shown on the map:

Archer William Traylor, son of Rev. Boswell Traylor, was born in Chesterfield county, Virginia, in October, 1810, and died in 1888. He was detailed for duty at Lynchburg, Virginia, during the war 1861-1865, but on account of age took no part in active field service, his sympathies, however, with the Confederate cause prompting him to render all possible service. He was a farmer by occupation. He married Elizabeth Frances Traylor, born in Chesterfield county, Virginia, in 1818, died aged fiftyeight years, daughter of Captain Thomas Traylor. Children: 1. Marcellus J., a public school teacher in Bedford county, Virginia, for thirty years, a veteran Confederate soldier, now living in Campbell county, Virginia. 2. Ida Archer, deceased; married James A. Wood. 3. John W., a Confederate veteran cavalryman, serving under Stuart, twice wounded in battle, now a farmer of Campbell county, Virginia. 4. Mary Thomas, married -Lafayette Thomas, a farmer, now residing at Morton, West Virginia. 5. Betty Merriwether, married a Mr. Bondurant and resides near Lynchburg. 6. Alonzo Wilbur, of further mention. 7. James Terrell, cattle foreman for the Norfolk & Western Railroad at Roanoke, and a farmer of Campbell county. 8. Susan J., married John J. McCarthy, of Lynchburg, Virginia.

 

[Noah_D]

This may be your "A. Traylor" shown on the map:

Good info Matt! Where did you find it?

If the relic says G A Traylor could it possibly be a relative of the A Traylor on the map and the one DCMatt found? I've glanced over a few things on familysearch but haven't found any G A Traylors yet that are related to an A Traylor in that part of Virginia.

 

[DCMatt]

Where did you find it?

It came out of a 1915 book called "Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography" written by Dr. Lyon Gardiner Tyler - President of Wm. & Mary College. I found it on Google books.