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Quintessential - Family Plot Mystery Cache

Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This is a cemetery cache. If you have concerns about this type of cache, please do not attempt it. If you do, please be respectful and keep in mind that the cache is not within the boundaries of the cemetery.


I have driven down this stretch of 751 many times and seen this cemetery and another like it a mile up the road. They are fairly typical for North Carolina. In her history she was a plantation or large farm state and not everyone made it to church. Not everywhere had a church to make it to. Many families developed their own cemeteries on their property. They are routinely small; a couple of dozen graves at most, and many are on or near major highways - the routes of travel that have been used for the past two centuries. There is one on Lead Mine Road in North Raleigh, one on Old Stage south of Garner, and others dotting our neighborhoods and highways with history.

This is the Shepherd family cemetery. All of the markers seem to be Shepherds by birth or marriage with the possible exception of the Lindsays but Mrs. Lindsay might be a Shepherd's daughter.

Parking for the cemetery might be an issue. There is little right at the cemetery except on the shoulder of the highway but up by the golf course you can park along side the side street - a half a block from the gravesite.

The cache is located a SHORT DRIVE from the cemetery and has ample parking. You will look for a small lock-n-lock!

To determine the coordinates fill in the following:

N35 55.ABC W078 57.XYZ

A = The last digit of Hattie Moore Vickers Shepherd's birth year.

BC = The age of Phidelia Shepherd O'Kelley minus the age of John Henry Shepherd plus 2.

X = The age of Phebe Emeline Shepherd minus the last two digits of the year John Henry Jr. passed.

YZ = The last two digits of the year Thomas L. Shepherd passed minus the month he was born.

Good luck!

You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Prqne

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)