In June 1986 UNCW students and Supervisor Jim Legg conducted an archaeological dig around Old Baldy. The team recovered a plethora of objects from the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century. For instance, they found animal bones, buttons, coins, nails, broken pottery, and children’s toys. Many objects dated early to mid-19th Century and were maybe leftover from the Old Baldy’s first lighthouse keeper, Sedgwick Springs. Springs was a Veteran of the American Revolution who kept Old Baldy from 1817-1837. The archeologists not only found artifacts associated with a Veteran of the American Revolution, they also found one artifact from the American Revolution. They found a gold or gilded British officers coat button from the 57th Regiment of Foot. This button is now in the OBF Collection and one of my favorites, even though I am an Irish-American (sorry Mom Mom and Pop Pop).
But how did the button end up on Old Baldy? Well, in the Spring of 1776 a large British fleet floated to the Cape Fear River. The British came to NC hoping to restore peace at the beginning of the American War for Independence. The first British ship arrived April 18, 1776. The ship was the Ann Isabella and it transported members of the 57th Regiment of Foot led by “Major Craig.” A Captain from the 57th named James Murray wrote to his sister saying, “I believe we should actually embark… towards the end of the month.”1 Nonetheless, the ship did not leave Ireland until 1776. Records suggests that the 57th never encamped on Bald Head Island, so how the button got here remains a little mystery. The 57th was the first regiment sent in 1776, thus it is possible an officer lost a button scouting Bald Head Island upon arrival.
Later in May, the British landed a different regiment. Who likely with the help of formerly enslaved laborers, constructed the tiny Ft. George on the southwest side of the island. Maybe an officer from the 57th, maybe Murray or Craig, visited a friend in Ft. George and lost the button? We are not sure! What we are sure about is this tiny jewel continues to fascinate us! Unfortunately, the button is not on display right now. In order to protect the longevity of our objects we must rotate some artifacts off display and into storage. This relieves the object from too much light and changing climate. Keep your ears open, however as hopefully this button will be on display again soon!
