Welcome to the Josiah Whitcomb Garrison House! The posted coordinates will lead you to what remains of the last original Garrison House in Bolton. In early colonial days, garrison houses offered sanctuary and supply to the settlers. They were strongly fortified and could often protect a number of families in times of danger.
PLEASE stay on trails and be respectful of property owners (especially at the posted coordinates).
After King Phillip's War had ended in the late 1670's, English settlers slowly returned to Lancaster (of which Bolton was originally a part). Several hardy second- and third-generation farmers established homesteads with their families on the outer reaches of these outlying lands. Josiah Whitcomb's family owned the entire northeast quadrant of today's Bolton, and he built his home right on this spot.
More than two decades later, with the advent of Queen Anne's War, three Bolton houses were designated as garrisons. But, this is the only one whose foundation remains. The picture that the town's Conservation Trust has drawn on the site kiosk allows you to visualize what the structure may very well have looked like at the time. With a little imagination, you might also be able to envision what the surrounding farmland, woods and roads looked like too...
To find this hide, you will just need to solve a quick field puzzle - and then enjoy a short stroll up the nearby Powderhouse Trail. All the answers can be obtained by reading the informational kiosk and the nearby stone monument plaque. Just solve for the letters by determining the answers for the 7 question below... Then input your answers to determine the Final Coordinates. You will be looking for a large, camouflaged, plastic container found along the trail. There is no need to look in, or over, any rock walls... just stay on the path.
QUESTIONS:
1. The Garrison House was built by the Whitcomb family in this year: 16AB ... A = __, B = __
2. The stone marker was erected by the Whitcomb descendants in this year: 19C0 ... C = __
3. How many windows are on the front of the house in the picture: D = __
4. Hezekiah was the first settler child born in Bolton (right here) in this year: 168E ... E = __
5. The Garrison House was dismantled sometime in this year: 189F ... F = __
6. The Toth family dedicated this site on this date: October G1, 1990 ... G = __
7. This house was garrisoned for attack in these years: 1H0J and 1H11 ... H = __, J = __
FINAL COORDINATES:
N 42 (F-E)(D+E) . (C-F)(A-G)(H+B)... = N 42 __ __ . __ __ __
W 071 (A-D)(F+G) . (J+E)(H-F)(F-G-E)... = W 071 __ __ . __ __ __
Good Luck!!!
PS: I have also included a reference point that is a few miles to the west. This is the location of the Old Common Burial Ground, which is where Josiah and his wife, Rebekah, were laid to rest.