GC263FW Spook Rock (Traditional Cache) in New Jersey, United States created by BrianSnat

This cache has been archived.

OReviewer: From the Northern Region Office, New Jersey State Parks Department:

Over a year ago New Jersey enacted a policy that all geocachers must obtain a permit to have their cache on State Park property. We have informed all geocaching host that this is their responsibility and have given them ample time to go about getting their permits. At this time, over a year later, there are still several caches that haven’t complied.

We ask that as the land managers for the attached properties we would like to have these illegal caches removed.

Based on the list provided by the state, I am forced to archive this listing. If you have a permit, get a permit or don't believe your cache is on state park/forest land, please contact me via email. Make sure you include the GC code.

If you don't plan to get a permit, please remove your geocache so it doesn't become geo-trash.

GC263FW ▼

A cache by BrianSnat Message this owner

Hidden : 4/3/2010

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

In the early 1800's this area was the about a mile from the Townsend farm. The Townsends were one of the earlier settlers of what was then known as The Pomptons.

On August 27th 1827, Robert Townsend was out working his fields, and was approached by two transients who were looking for work.

Luc DuPaul was 24 years old and a recent immigrant from France and Hiram Ricker, 31, was the ne'er do well son of a prominent local miller. Townsend hired the two men for odd jobs and let them stay in the barn.

The Townsend family at the time consisted of his wife Sarah, son Robert Jr, (aged 3) Eliza (7), Hester (11) and Margaret (17). Margaret by all accounts was a beautiful young lady and had many suitors.

On the morning of August 31st Townsend awoke to find the two men gone, and his daughter Margaret missing. Panicked, he rode into town to gather up a search party. Late in the afternoon the search party caught up with the two men who were camped in the shadow of this rock, passed out drunk. Among their belongings was Margaret's blood stained dress, but there was no sign of Margaret.

Justice was swift in those days and despite their protestations of innocence, the men were hanged on the spot.

It wasn't until three days later that Margaret suddenly re-appeared at the Townsend home. She had run off with a secret lover. Mr Townsend was overjoyed at the return of his daughter, but his joy soon turned to horror at the thought of what the group led by him did to those two innocent men.

But what of the bloody dress? According to Margaret, Mr DuPaul had cut himself on a broken bottle and Margaret had given him an old dress to stem the bleeding and they left to pursue regular employment on a canal boat.

Mr. Townsend and the members of the search party were tried and found not guilty of the murder of the two men, but he was haunted the rest of his life by the incident. He often would ride out to this rock alone, where family members would sometimes find him sitting in the shade of it crying. It was here that he was found on the night of August 31st, 1847 with a gunshot wound to the head. Suicide it was ruled.

Since that night there have been numerous strange sightings of 3 men in the vicinity of this rock. More than one witness has describe seeing two men hanging from a tree and a man kneeling before them apparently begging them for forgiveness.

Over the years this glacial erratic has come to be known as "Spook Rock" due to the strange happenings in its vicinity.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Haqre syng ebpx arkg gb ovt bar

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)