WINEPOYKIN Mystery Cache

The primary purpose of this geocache is to provide some historic and educational information about the town of Marblehead. Two distinctly different areas are presented.

The cache is not located at the posted coordinates. One must solve the puzzle and travel several blocks in order to find the hide and sign the log. The posted coordinates take you to a historic marker that contains information needed to solve the puzzle.

Called “George” by the English settlers, Winepoykin was the youngest son of Nanepashemet. Born in 1616, he was a boy when the white men made their settlement on his territory. He and his two brothers each received large tracts of land from their father.

In 1633, an outbreak of small-pox spread to such an extent that it nearly exterminated the entire tribe, including the two brothers of Winepoykin. With the death of his brothers, he inherited their lands and became Sagamore of Lynn and Chelsea, as well as Naumkeag; and after the death of his mother in1667 he became Sachem of all that part of Massachusetts that is north and east of the Charles River. He married Ahawayet, a daughter of Poquanum, who lived at Nahant. According to Captain John Smith, who explored New England in 1614, the Massachusett tribes called their kings “sachems” while the Penobscots (of present-day Maine) used the term “sagamos” (anglicized as “sagamore”). Conversely, Deputy Governor Thomas Dudley of Roxbury wrote in 1631 that the kings in the bay area were called sagamores, but were called sachems southward (in Plymouth). The two terms apparently came from the same root. Although “sagamore” has sometimes been defined by colonists and historians as a subordinate lord (or subordinate chief), modern opinion is that “sachem” and “sagamore” are dialectical variations of the same word.

Winepoykin died in 1684 and on September 16 of that year the inhabitants of Marblehead procured a deed of their township from his heirs. The deed was signed by Ahawayet, who was referred to as “Joane Ahawayet, squaw, relict, widdow of George Saggamore, alias Wemepauweekin.”
There is considerable evidence that Indians formerly occupied the land now comprised in the territory of Marblehead. Relics of the villages, graveyards, shell-heaps and an Indian fort have been found from time to time. Numerous arrowheads, spears, clubs and various utensils made of stone have also been found.

You will find a number on a rock at the base of the historic marker. Use that number as A. What is the earliest date on the historic marker? Use that date to represent B, C, D and E.

The cache is located at:

When you find the cache, take some time to explore the immediate area and learn more about Marblehead.

FTF honors go to Chief Turtles. They must have been sitting by their computer when this cache was published - with their car engine running.