Visualizing old properties

[rentmead]

Hey folks, i was just wondering if there's any specific clues to be looking for other than old foundations and such when searching out for old properties that once was a roadway or foot path for high populated areas. Long story short, research I've done I'm looking for an old tavern that seeked a lot of people back in the 1600s. Obviously the tavern is down and out but the history remains. Research does not give me exact locations and/or pictures from the local libraries. And I've been relentless over this. There was a lot of traffic that went though this area and i may have some ideas where to hunt with permission of course, but nothing is in great solid confidence. Just curious if maybe there's something i should be doing differently perhaps to help me get a better general location. TIA happy detecting

 

[stetam]

Detect all around it and keep moving outwards

 

[Rock Jock]

There were not that many settled places in the colonies in the 17th Century. Most were in the Northeastern colonies, Virginia and a few in the Carolinas. You might have some success trying to chase down old land titles and filed wills if you can figure out where they would be stored and can gain access. Obituaries and genealogies may also help. You're pushing the limits of recorded culture in the British American colonies. True historical research! You may find more recorded in Britain than Massachusetts?

First Newspaper Published in the Colonies

On this day in 1690, Boston printer Benjamin Harris produced the first issue of Publick Occurrences, the first newspaper published in Britain's North American colonies. Readers were enthusiastic, but the governor was not. Under British law, no person [was to] keep any printing-press for...

www.massmoments.org

 

[rentmead]

There were not that many settled places in the colonies in the 17th Century. Most were in the Northeastern colonies, Virginia and a few in the Carolinas. You might have some success trying to chase down old land titles and filed wills if you can figure out where they would be stored and can gain access. Obituaries and genealogies may also help. You're pushing the limits of recorded culture in the British American colonies. True historical research! You may find more recorded in Britain than Massachusetts?

First Newspaper Published in the Colonies

On this day in 1690, Boston printer Benjamin Harris produced the first issue of Publick Occurrences, the first newspaper published in Britain's North American colonies. Readers were enthusiastic, but the governor was not. Under British law, no person [was to] keep any printing-press for...

www.massmoments.org

That's actually very helpful. That's why I ask, there's usually something I'm not considering. Thanks

 

[MasonDixonMding]

The best way I have found is just get out there and start detecting. Cover as much ground as up can. I’m mainly looking for nails. Thats the going to be most of what is left of an old site. Research is limited around my area before the 1860s. Good luck.

Where are you located?

 

[rentmead]

The best way I have found is just get out there and start detecting. Cover as much ground as up can. I’m mainly looking for nails. Thats the going to be most of what is left of an old site. Research is limited around my area before the 1860s. Good luck.

Where are you located?

I'm in Maine. I know the tavern was here. I know there was a lot currency running through it, a lot of foot paths, and i 99.99% certain people got drunk and knocked each other teeth outside a few times. My instinct is just pushing me at edge. If i could just go out and start nailing it so to speak, i would be already. It's just all of it, or nearly all of it is private property. Asking permission is doable. It's asking permission from the 7-9 houses in a row. I'm trying to narrow it down to the closest house. Which may not be to dreadful considering I'm mostly aiming towards the banks along the river and not necessarily their back yards. Imagine finding some rich dude's gold tooth? The whole "what's down there" anticipation when the detector beeps is like a kid in a candy shop regardless how many times you've heard it or how old you are.

 

[Rock Jock]

I'm in Maine. I know the tavern was here. I know there was a lot currency running through it, a lot of foot paths, and i 99.99% certain people got drunk and knocked each other teeth outside a few times. My instinct is just pushing me at edge. If i could just go out and start nailing it so to speak, i would be already. It's just all of it, or nearly all of it is private property. Asking permission is doable. It's asking permission from the 7-9 houses in a row. I'm trying to narrow it down to the closest house. Which may not be to dreadful considering I'm mostly aiming towards the banks along the river and not necessarily their back yards. Imagine finding some rich dude's gold tooth? The whole "what's down there" anticipation when the detector beeps is like a kid in a candy shop regardless how many times you've heard it or how old you are.

You might also consider looking IN the river. Not all canoe landings are graceful. BTDT! Brrrr!

 

[MasonDixonMding]

I tried looking for an early 1700s church. I think it was on a 1/2 mile stretch of road. I got permission at three different farms along the road. I didn’t find it. I think it had one of the old farm houses built on top of it. Any sign of it was covered over.
Good luck in your search. If you find it please let us know.

 

[old-raven]

Something I do, not sure if others do this, is work large areas just swinging with my biggest coil and keeping my eyes open for large scatters, typically of iron. I'll literally devote a day or 3 to simply going in, swinging, noting the position of meaningful scatters, pinning them on my maps but never really dig anything. I call this a reconnaissance survey, the goal is not to relic hunt as I'm doing it, that part comes later after I've delineated suspicious features. Non invasive: our detectors can be used to map out sites and even give us a strong idea of what's in the ground before we even think of planting a spade. We have geophysical sensors at our disposal here, they make it possible to gather reasonably detailed info about sites of possible interest which then tells us where to focus our efforts. This is literally what archaeologists do before they ever excavate, it's essentially a type of archaeological survey. I go out each hunting season and conduct surveys of specific areas to locate, in my case, old farm dumps which would otherwise be rather difficult to reliably identify in many cases. That would be my approach

 

[rentmead]

Something I do, not sure if others do this, is work large areas just swinging with my biggest coil and keeping my eyes open for large scatters, typically of iron. I'll literally devote a day or 3 to simply going in, swinging, noting the position of meaningful scatters, pinning them on my maps but never really dig anything. I call this a reconnaissance survey, the goal is not to relic hunt as I'm doing it, that part comes later after I've delineated suspicious features. Non invasive: our detectors can be used to map out sites and even give us a strong idea of what's in the ground before we even think of planting a spade. We have geophysical sensors at our disposal here, they make it possible to gather reasonably detailed info about sites of possible interest which then tells us where to focus our efforts. This is literally what archaeologists do before they ever excavate, it's essentially a type of archaeological survey. I go out each hunting season and conduct surveys of specific areas to locate, in my case, old farm dumps which would otherwise be rather difficult to reliably identify in many cases. That would be my approach

This is very helpful thanks. I didn't consider using the detector as a map. But that makes a lot of sense. Now i just need to work on landowners permission

 

[Ghostown]

Hey folks, i was just wondering if there's any specific clues to be looking for other than old foundations and such when searching out for old properties that once was a roadway or foot path for high populated areas. Long story short, research I've done I'm looking for an old tavern that seeked a lot of people back in the 1600s. Obviously the tavern is down and out but the history remains. Research does not give me exact locations and/or pictures from the local libraries. And I've been relentless over this. There was a lot of traffic that went though this area and i may have some ideas where to hunt with permission of course, but nothing is in great solid confidence. Just curious if maybe there's something i should be doing differently perhaps to help me get a better general location. TIA happy detecting

Check for an old Atlas they have pretty good history in the back of them and might even show a location. There are several of Maine located in the library of congress. Theres a thread in research topic here.

 

[hoser]

Well, here's wishing you much luck pinning this place down. When and IF you find it, I'm sure there will be some extremely good finds made there. Keep us posted.