Wildcat1750
Gold Member
- Nov 18, 2012
- 5,015
- 4,107
- 🏆 Honorable Mentions:
- 4
- Detector(s) used
- AT PRO/Ace 250w8.5x11" DD Coil/
Garrett Pro-Pointer/Garrett Pro-Pointer AT/
Vibra-Tector 730/
Radio Shack Discovery 1000 (Tracker IV)
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
Cache or Spill (?) of New York Militia Buttons.
While hunting a neighbor’s field I hit a 5 foot square target rich area. Over the course of several days I recovered dozens of square nails, 19th century household and farming implements and buttons. Many of the buttons were older one piece flat buttons, but more interesting were the smaller two piece buttons that matched. On day one I found my first four which, after clean up, turned out to be New York Militia buttons! By the time I was done here I had recovered no less than 11 of them along with a small Union Artillery Kepi button and what I think might be an early U.S. Marine button.
All targets recovered showed signs of having been in a fire. Perhaps a whole military coat or vest was burned at this location, along with other household trash? Only 10 of the NY Militia buttons are pictured below because I gave one of the first four that I found to my neighbor for allowing me to hunt his property.
What has me wondering is why did a 19th century farmer in western Connecticut have a NY Militia uniform? I have researched the land records, US Census, and genealogy of the owner of this land. He was born in 1827 in Woodbridge, CT, bought the property in Bethel, CT around 1864 and died in 1924 in Bethel, CT. There is no record of him having served during the Indian or Civil Wars. All of his children were born during or after the Civil War.
Thanks for Looking!
Nick
While hunting a neighbor’s field I hit a 5 foot square target rich area. Over the course of several days I recovered dozens of square nails, 19th century household and farming implements and buttons. Many of the buttons were older one piece flat buttons, but more interesting were the smaller two piece buttons that matched. On day one I found my first four which, after clean up, turned out to be New York Militia buttons! By the time I was done here I had recovered no less than 11 of them along with a small Union Artillery Kepi button and what I think might be an early U.S. Marine button.
All targets recovered showed signs of having been in a fire. Perhaps a whole military coat or vest was burned at this location, along with other household trash? Only 10 of the NY Militia buttons are pictured below because I gave one of the first four that I found to my neighbor for allowing me to hunt his property.
What has me wondering is why did a 19th century farmer in western Connecticut have a NY Militia uniform? I have researched the land records, US Census, and genealogy of the owner of this land. He was born in 1827 in Woodbridge, CT, bought the property in Bethel, CT around 1864 and died in 1924 in Bethel, CT. There is no record of him having served during the Indian or Civil Wars. All of his children were born during or after the Civil War.
Thanks for Looking!
Nick
Last edited:
Upvote
4
...although I was born a New Yorker.
