The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this New Hampshire volunteer militia button around the middle of the 19th century. Scovill was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill is an important example of early American industrial manufacturing that adapted armory machines to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
The button has an image of a ship with oars and several men on the shore. The legend around the rim reads: NEW HAMPSHIRE/VOL. MILITIA.