Stone walls and newer cellar holes

[RIdirtdigger]

Every once in a while I hit the "newer" cellar holes or the ones that only appear on post civil war maps. Most of the time, they are surrounded by stone walls as is usually the case in New England. As expected, these cellars produce Victorian Relics, 2 piece buttons... Etc. However, every once in a while I pull out a colonial relic such as a tombac button from the area around the house. Now I highly doubt people were still wearing tombacs in the 1870's so my question is this: Were many of the "newer" cellars built around already pre-existing stone walls or did the usually build all new stone walls just like colonial settlers did? This question has been bugging me for a while and I hope someone could answer it. Thanks!

 

[MangoAve]

Ok, so now when you say "only appear on post CW maps", you have a detailed map of the area from early 1800s that include all the houses? The older maps I have are only for the state with the exception of two towns having early maps of only the center of town. I am sure Dan knows a lot on the subject but I'm sure you already knew that rocks were taken from cellar holes to build new houses and walls. Parcels were divided over time so it is possible that mid 1800's houses were built in older farm fields.

 

[RIdirtdigger]

Ok, so now when you say "only appear on post CW maps", you have a detailed map of the area from early 1800s that include all the houses? The older maps I have are only for the state with the exception of two towns having early maps of only the center of town. I am sure Dan knows a lot on the subject but I'm sure you already knew that rocks were taken from cellar holes to build new houses and walls. Parcels were divided over time so it is possible that mid 1800's houses were built in older farm fields.

RI has an 1855 map for the entire state and some areas have older maps but those aren't available online. I'm referring to ones that don't appear on the 1850's maps but appear on the 1870 map...

 

[Lodge Scent]

Look at it this way, a preferred location for a home site back in 1720 was still a preferred location for a home site in 1850. Sun, slope, soil and water were important factors to the agrarian way of living. Many of these older sites were "reused" buy succeeding generations. So in short, there were many later houses built within already pre-existing colonial era stone walls. You still see that going on today. I experience the same thing as you. Some of these sites I hit are clearly mid to late 1800's based on the finds. Some sites however produce finds from the late 1600's all the way up to modern junk.

 

[del]

Generally a piece of property was cleared and fields laid out , the original home could of been a small cabin. years later the cabin was either added onto to make a bigger house (this scenario can be repeated multiple times) or torn down to use the resources to rebuild the house (usually bigger) somewhere else on the property , in some instances the cabin was "dragged" whole to another location . The type of the cellar hole that you find and see can tell you a lot about what else may be around but regardless the fields all along this time has been worked and if your finding "older" items then the supposed house it usually means they were here on the property longer then that particular dwelling. A lot of times homes were built more in the center of a property then years later moved closer to a main road .

Dan

 

[OxShoeDrew]

"The type of the cellar hole that you find and see can tell you a lot about what else may be around..." Dan also told me that when you see a rectangular cellar but only half of it has an actual hole it's most likely the original house site...so you probably won't find a cabin site nearby.
Also, the type of wall and its condition are big factors. I love reading the walls and predicting where the hole is. Finding the hole is sometimes as satisfying as actual finds.

 

[del]

"The type of the cellar hole that you find and see can tell you a lot about what else may be around..." Dan also told me that when you see a rectangular cellar but only half of it has an actual hole it's most likely the original house site...so you probably won't find a cabin site nearby.
Also, the type of wall and its condition are big factors.

hey you were paying attention when i was talking to you :lol: i'm impressed Drew !

 

[RIdirtdigger]

Generally a piece of property was cleared and fields laid out , the original home could of been a small cabin. years later the cabin was either added onto to make a bigger house (this scenario can be repeated multiple times) or torn down to use the resources to rebuild the house (usually bigger) somewhere else on the property , in some instances the cabin was "dragged" whole to another location . The type of the cellar hole that you find and see can tell you a lot about what else may be around but regardless the fields all along this time has been worked and if your finding "older" items then the supposed house it usually means they were here on the property longer then that particular dwelling. A lot of times homes were built more in the center of a property then years later moved closer to a main road .

Dan

So what's the best way to find a cabin site? I've only located one and that was only because of a tip from my family. (old well my grandmother had filled in during 1970s) I know to listen for iron patches and look for small depressions in the ground but other than wandering from one stone wall to the next, is there anything else to do?

 

[del]

cabin sites are some of the hardest to find and if your not paying attention even veteran hunters can walk right by them without even noticing (i've been guilty of this and last year I caught HEAVYMETALNUT and Thiltzy walking right past one without even giving it a second thought) . this reason alone can make them virgin sites when you do find one.

I guess one of the best ways to find one is if you ever come up to a large full cellar with a center hearth fireplace and no subtle outline of an "on-grade" cabin attached then there is a good possible chance there is also a small starter house or cabin nearby on the property. Or if your near a stone walled field and you see a very level or graded spot with a good sized pile of stones investigate it very closely. fields that show no noticeable sign of loose stones laying on the ground anywhere then you see two to three very low ones together investigate these too as they could be the top to a well and a cabin or barn is sure to be near it .

 

[RIdirtdigger]

cabin sites are some of the hardest to find and if your not paying attention even veteran hunters can walk right by them without even noticing (i've been guilty of this and last year I caught HEAVYMETALNUT and Thiltzy walking right past one without even giving it a second thought) . this reason alone can make them virgin sites when you do find one.

I guess one of the best ways to find one is if you ever come up to a large full cellar with a center hearth fireplace and no subtle outline of an "on-grade" cabin attached then there is a good possible chance there is also a small starter house or cabin nearby on the property. Or if your near a stone walled field and you see a very level or graded spot with a good sized pile of stones investigate it very closely. fields that show no noticeable sign of loose stones laying on the ground anywhere then you see two to three very low ones together investigate these too as they could be the top to a well and a cabin or barn is sure to be near it .

That makes perfect sense. In March Isaac and I hit a "full" cellar with the center chimney and everything. It was hit hard so we moved down a hill when Isaac noticed some strange looking stone walls and then we found a small depression. That's where I pulled my 1699 William III. Neither site was on the maps.

 

[MangoAve]

Hahah, Dan. Do you think that you drone on when you talk? Maybe because you repeat some tidbits for noobs that you wonder if it sinks in. Apparently I am guilty then too cuz I know I have seen a few random piles of rocks. Sadly I don't remember which site those were at to go back. So then most likely the cabin sites would have been 1600s as idk how many 1700s houses I see right near the road. The 1800s houses I have seen are sometimes near the road, or set back a bit, or cock-eyed on the property.

 

[mownomo]

It is really interesting listening to your talk about cellar holes and home sites. I can't relate because most homes around here are on wheels and moved when the rent is due. :lol: