The American Patriot 1776-2026

​Honoring a Revolutionary War Patriot
When the American Revolution began, the Davenport family of Dorchester, Massachusetts answered the call to serve in defense of their country and their communities.
 
After British troops fired on colonial militiamen at Lexington in April 1775, the alarm spread rapidly across Massachusetts. Isaac Davenport, along with three of his sons, joined the ranks of the Massachusetts Minutemen who answered the Lexington Alarm. Like thousands of other patriots, they rushed toward Boston, prepared to defend their liberty and stand against the advancing British forces.
 
The Davenports continued to serve through the Revolutionary War. Some gave their lives.
 
Isaac Davenport’s oldest son, Joseph Davenport, served as a drummer in the Massachusetts militia. In Revolutionary War units, the drummer held a critical role. Drum signals carried orders across the battlefield, regulated marches, sounded alarms, and communicated commands that allowed officers to control their companies amid the smoke, noise, and confusion of combat. In an age before radios or modern communication, these rhythmic signals were the voice of command itself, directing soldiers when to form ranks, advance, retreat, or stand their ground. Because drum signals had to be heard and seen by the entire company, drummers often stood near the front with the officers, making them highly visible on the field and exposing them to enemy fire.

On July 6, 1776, just days after independence was formally declared, Joseph Davenport gave his life while serving his country during the early campaigns of the war while stationed with American forces at Crown Point, a major military outpost during the northern campaign of 1776. He was only 23 years old.
 
Joseph's brothers continued serving throughout the war. Isaac How Davenport served in some of the most elite Continental units of the war, including Washington’s Commander-in-Chief’s Guard and later the 3rd Continental Dragoons, before being killed in the Baylor Massacre of 1778.
 
The third brother, James Davenport, also served in the Continental Army and endured the brutal winter encampment at Valley Forge with his brother Isaac. During the war, James wrote letters describing the hardships faced by soldiers in the Continental Army. Those letters survive today and are preserved by the Museum of the American Revolution, providing historians with a rare firsthand account of life in the army during the struggle for independence.
 
Joseph Davenport is the Gold Baron's sixth great-grandfather, and this special edition release has been created to honor his service and sacrifice 250 years after his death.
 
Remembering His Sacrifice – 250 Years Later
Each bag in this commemorative paydirt release is dedicated to remembering Joseph Davenport and the service of the Davenport family during the American Revolution. Two and a half centuries later, we pause to remember the young patriots who answered the call to defend liberty and the​ families who sacrificed so much during the birth of our nation.
 
Giving Back in His Honor
In remembrance of Joseph’s sacrifice, $10 from every bag sold will be donated to the Folds of Honor Foundation, an organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen and disabled American service members.
 
Through this tri​bute, we honor Joseph Davenport’s service, remember the sacrifices made by his family, and carry forward the legacy of those who gave their lives in the fight for American independence.

The Details:
Paydirt: The dirt is a mix of dirt from our gold claim in Washington state and sands from the riverbanks of the Cowlitz River.
Added Gold: Over 1 gram of added gold from Alaska. Typically ranging in size from #40-#10 mesh. Difficulty: 4/10. The gold is a mix of chunky and flakes.
Weight: 10 ounces
Mintage: Limited to 150 bags.
Artwork:
The front artwork depicts Joseph Davenport playing his drum with the Bedford Flag behind him. The Bedford Flag is recognized as the oldest complete, surviving flag associated with the American Revolution. Carried by the Bedford Minutemen at the first battle of the American Revolution, the Battle of Lexington and Concord, on April 19, 1775, it features an arm emerging from a cloud (grasping a raised sword), three cannonballs, and the Latin motto "Vince Aut Morire" ("Conquer or Die").
The reverse artwork depicts militiamen in camp with the Grand Union Flag (or Continental Colors), the first official flag of the United States, used from late 1775 to mid-1777. It represented the colonies' early, complex allegiance to Great Britain and desire for reconciliation, even while in open rebellion. The Grand Union Flag featured 13 stripes (representing unity) alongside the British Union Jack (signifying continued ties to the mother country). George Washington raised the Grand Union Flag on January 1, 1776, at Prospect Hill (Cambridge, MA) to mark the formation of the Continental Army.