As COVID-19 evolves, it’s important for you to consider the risks and manage them appropriately. Remember to read all signage before entering any trail system.
When choosing to find PtboCountyCaches geocaches, we encourage you to:
- Stay home if you’re feeling sick
- Maintain 2m physical distancing with people outside of your social circle
- Carry hand sanitizer and use it before AND after contact with geocaches
Please note: cache containers are not officially sanitized at any time. If you do choose to open a cache, it is at your own risk.
This cache has been placed as part of an initiative by the County of Peterborough, its member municipalities, the City of Peterborough and local First Nation communities to celebrate Canada 150+. There are 23 geocaches placed throughout the region showcasing local history.
If you would like to participate in this initiative you can download a Travel Diary at (Geocaching at Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism). Find at least one geocache in each of the Townships, First Nations and in the City and stamp your Travel Diary. Once you have completed the Travel Diary, you can visit the Peterborough and the Kawartha’s Tourism office to pick up a limited geocoin. New coins in stock in 2018.
In cache you will see a stamp. If you have a stamp pad with you, great, use that to ink the stamp and stamp your Travel Diary. If not, use the crayon or the pencil in the cache container to "rub" the impression of the stamp on your Travel Diary. As this is a Letterbox Hybrid, if you are a letterboxer, you can stamp your book as well - you will need your own stamp pad.
In 1872, Jeremy and Jane Payne lived in north Dummer, just west of the Stoney Lake settlement with their two-year-old son, Samuel. David Doughty, Jeremy’s second cousin was staying on the farm with them as both Jeremy and Jane were uncomfortable with their hired hand, William Brenton (alias James Fox).
On November 14, 1872, while Jeremy Payne was helping a neighbour, James Sutton, with threshing, William made his way over to ask Jeremy to return home. William wanted to settle his account as “he was moving on”. Jeremy refused and said he would settle later. Sometime between noon and 3:00pm it is suspected that William murdered Jane Payne because she refused to pay him.
The murder scene that confronted Jeremy Payne upon his return home was horrifying. Neighbours came from all around hearing his cries. Baby Samuel and the dog were safely shut in a room, but both his wife, Jane, and David Doughty were found brutally murdered.
Suspicions immediately fell upon William Brenton and a number of witnesses saw him heading to Peterborough soon after the murders were to have taken place. One witness reported seeing him walking fast, talking loud and carrying a grey bundle. He was wearing two pairs of overalls, the one underneath splattered in blood.
William was convicted of murder at his trial on April 12, 1873. He appealed the decision on the grounds of insanity, but on November 28, 1873 the jury confirmed the verdict of willful murder. William Brenton was executed by hanging near this spot in the Peterborough County Court Yard on December 26, 1873. It was Peterborough’s first execution.
While here, we invite you to take the time to explore the Heritage Jail Park just up the hill that opened in May, 2017. A riot took place in 2001 that caused severe structural damage and led to the closure of the Peterborough County Jail. Demolition began early in 2016 and structurally stable walls were preserved to give visitors a glimpse of what once stood here. During work on the jail in August, 2016, a time capsule placed at this site in June, 1864 was discovered. Artifacts are on display within the main corridor of the Court House weekdays between 8:30-4:30pm.