Myers Depot Metal Detectors

River Fords

S

Silver Buckeye

New Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2017
Messages
14
Location
Akron, Ohio
Since Arctic Cold has descended upon us it is a good time to research new locations for 2018. I was researching a large tract of land owned by a client of mine and I discovered 2 areas on a late 1800's map labeled as "fords". One is across a fairly large river and the other is across a large creek that feeds into the river. Does anyone have experience searching fords like this, either in the water or along the banks?
 
There's also several house sites and what I think is an old church site on this property. I can't wait to hunt it. Too bad it's over a couple hours from my home so I can't hit it weekly with work and all.
 
No personal experience, but the famous "aquachigger' had one of his best finds at an old ford site. Roughly 180 large silver coins dated before 1836 (mostly US halves) scattered in the water. You can find it on youtube.
 
You are going to HOPE it has a bedrock base to the ford, if not, then most things will have sunk or washed away. If it does have a rock base, check the stepped area, cracks, ledges, etc as this is where things will collect when heavy river flows try to wash it all away.

Good luck on your site after spring comes! Be sure to check the ground on both sides of the fords. Large wagon trains likely halted as a group to get everyone and everything together and prepped.
 
Will all just depend on the amount of human activity on the site. Eg.: habitations (houses, churches, etc...). Camping/stopover ? Stage stop ? Recreation ? The mere fact of a "river ford" itself does not .... of itself ... bode for good md'ing. There had to be a reason for historical stop-over or living of some sort.
 
I'd say it would be worth doing a check. It's on a map for a reason. Especially 1800s. Maybe do a clover pattern out a good distance on both sides of ford. There are places out here that the old wagon trails have actually formed small valleys from so many years of travelers use. I have some info on ford crossing methods used in 1857 guide that may help you understand how they conducted large crossings especially if under a military escort. On the large river you might want to check to see if there was any Ferries in place for crossing.

If you decide not to bother I'd be more than happy to scout the area for you when I make a trip back there in May.;)

"Go Buckeyes"
 
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I have had some great luck searching river crossings. On the Penobscot River in Maine, I have found everything from Barber silver, to a Civil War Reunion badge, to Native points. There can be anything, or nothing.
 
I haven't been to this site yet, but based on visits to the general area I would guess that the river and stream bottom are gravel/cobble and not bedrock unfortunately. The area was moderately historically significant. And there were a grouping of houses and it looks like a church nearby along the trail route on the property. I can still see the trail route as it looks like it was continued to be used by farmers up until a couple decades ago. I can't wait to get out there when the weather warms up, but I'll also need low water levels to be in the river, which I may not get until summer.
 
We have water hunted fords. Most of the fords are hard as concrete. I usually try to hunt just above and below the ford. That is where the best finds are. The ford itself is most often so hard that when you get a good target you just can't get it out. Rule of thumb is that fords are always worth the effort. Good luck and let us know the results.
 
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