Distance of Colonial Homes From Rivers

[thebigd81]

I've been trying to find a handful of colonial sites along the river in a bunch of my fields. In your experience how far were most colonial homes from the river? I know rivers change all the time but I'm just trying to get an idea. The field closest to the river I think is a lost cause because it's nothing but dirt. No rocks and very little signals I'm guessing flooding buried anything that may have been there.

Thanks!

 

[BigTony]

Interesting question and evaluation. I guess it depends on the location of river and or area. I know there are places that folks crossed rivers or large streams but I too should do more research on this type of activity.
Hopefully others will add some info.
Tony

 

[Saker]

If the field is fairly level and can easily flood, they probably wouldn't have built on it. If there are any higher grounds nearby, I would check there. Good luck and I hope you locate them.

 

[JimmyCT]

Try and locate historical plat maps for your area. This will considerably narrow things down for you. Also Topographic maps will help you identify elevated ground. Best of luck!

 

[bootyhoundpa]

assuming they were stone homes there should still be a rock debris field left behind.. I’ve found several locations like this just by swinging the coil and taking long walks .. iron is usually what you want to look for first,along with glass ,pottery,ash etc..I would assume they may have had a spot by the river where they did their laundry that could be littered with buttons..

 

[Ronstar]

A lot of the older cabins/homes around where I am were built near streams that feed the larger rivers. High enough to not be flooded but close enough to get water. Also look for daffodils, they do not grow wild, they were planted and usually close to gardens. Also if you see a woody brush patch that seems to be square or even rectangular then could be where the foundation was. Junk brush usually grows where the dirt is that never saw sun light or moisture for awhile.

 

[thebigd81]

Thanks for the good advice. These fields are mainly flat with no high spots which makes it tough. The only water source in the area is the river. I'd assume in the late 1700s they'd be close enough to the river for water but so far no luck

 

[RICK IN KY]

I've been trying to find a handful of colonial sites along the river in a bunch of my fields. In your experience how far were most colonial homes from the river? I know rivers change all the time but I'm just trying to get an idea. The field closest to the river I think is a lost cause because it's nothing but dirt. No rocks and very little signals I'm guessing flooding buried anything that may have been there.

Thanks!

Doesn’t have to be Rivers,I have found several colonial house sites
along creeks,also if you find the old family cemetery you know it’s close by

 

[thebigd81]

Doesn’t have to be Rivers,I have found several colonial house sites
along creeks,also if you find the old family cemetery you know it’s close by

Oh I know this but the area I'm searching shows 5 people who owned a 150ish acres each along the river where I have permission for 3 fields so hence why I was asking about river distance

 

[Odanscoils]

Oh I know this but the area I'm searching shows 5 people who owned a 150ish acres each along the river where I have permission for 3 fields so hence why I was asking about river distance

Maybe try working along the banks.
When you start hitting iron or more than the occasional metal objects.
Start working straight out away from the bank.
Looking for the homesite.
Any depression 5-20 ft wide could be a building location.
Many times
People will use the same access point for many years.
Same with fishing and washing locations.
Good Luck.

 

[Hank68]

This is a very interesting thread, things I thought too was living close to a creek or river must have had a alot of mosquitoes to contend with also.

 

[giuhalftrack]

Use this method:
find some other house in the area and look at the height not at the distance, because distance from the river (when we talk about floods) have no meaning, what you want is an house above the maximum water lever..
let me explain in two words..

here in Italy if you look at village along big rivers like the Ticino for example, you notice that the old village part is on top of little hills... so i will check first little hills around the river.

other consideration are about the river, but this is more the field of geomorphology and I can't write here an assay about that

 

[giuhalftrack]

and let me add this general rule that I follow...
always check hill tops... in ancient times there was probably more forests (at least here in europe) and even if now you don't have problem to see at distance, in ancient times they have to go up to see