How Much Powder Does It Take to Make a Major? Mystery Cache
Hidden : 9/3/2017
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

The cache is not at the posted coordinates.

Colonial law required towns to have a militia and be prepared to defend themselves in the event of an attack. Powder houses were built in most towns to safely store gunpowder, flints, musket balls and even the kettles used for cooking for the militia. Because of the explosives stored within the powder houses, they were usually built away from residences and town centers. They were constructed so any explosion would be channeled upwards, rather than outwards, to minimize damage to surrounding areas.

Major John Demerritt owned this land and became known as “The Powder Major.” This was a prestigious title that celebrated his role in a raid on the British Fort William and Mary (now called Fort Constitution) in Portsmouth Harbor where the colonists stole a supply of gunpowder from the British. Major Demerritt is credited with transporting and hiding the stolen gunpowder on his Madbury farm. Later, he transported it to the Continental Army fighting in the Battle of Bunker Hill at the outset of the American Revolution.

You might be interested in finding some of the related caches in the area that are at a powderhouse. Here are a few that I know about, but you are welcome to add others you have visited.

Portsmouth - GC4ND7G - Piranha's Rock
Exeter - GC3XC2P - The Powder House
Newburyport - GC1510 - Powderhouse Stash
New Castle - GC794D - C's at Fort Constitution (Again)

You can download a trail map at the "Related Web Page" link at the top of this cache page.

To find the cache, add the number of letters in the words "Powder Major" to the north coordinates and add the number of letters in the word "Powderhouse" to the west coordinates.

Additional Hints ()

rlryriry

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)

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