USA > Connecticut > New London County > Genealogical and biographical record of New London County, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the early settled families > Part 103
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Nov. 14, 1789, married a Mr. Starkweather, and lived in Plainfield ; Atwood, born April 14, 1792; Wealthy, born Nov. 4, 1794; Godfrey, born Dec. 19, 1796; Maita, born June 19, 1799 ; and Clarissa, born Nov. 10, 1804.
Atwood Phillips was a native of Griswold. He worked at coopering with his father, and also as- sisted in farming, the latter later becoming his chief occupation. His farm was located on Stone Hill, and is now the property of the water works com- pany. He was energetic and economical, and in time became well-to-do. He was prominent in town affairs, and held a number of offices. His death occurred when he was over ninety years of age. He belonged to Ekonk Congregational Church. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Sally Chapman, of Sterling, lived to a good old agc, but preceded her husband to the unseen world. Their children were: Rebecca, who married Henry Gallup, a farmer residing in Sterling ; William, who married Lucy Davis, and was a farmer in Griswold ; Sarah, who died young; Caroline, who married Elijah Pellett, and lived in Norwich; Ralph Par- ley ; and Mary Ann, who wedded Daniel Home, and died in Canterbury, Conn.
Ralph Parley Phillips was born Feb. 25, 1826, in Griswold, and he received an exceptionally good common school education for a farmer's boy of the time. At the age of seventeen he began teaching school and taught for several terms in East Green- wich, R. I. He was given the training to farm work, common everywhere to boys reared on a farm, and he remained at home until 1863, when he located on a farm in Griswold, where he remaincd for twenty years. He then removed to Jewett City, and that place was afterward his home. For many years he was employed as boss farmer for Alfred A. Young, at Jewett City. He died May 21, 1896, in the faith of the Methodist Church, and was buried in the cemetery at Jewett City. His politics were Republican, and for many years, while residing on the farm, he was surveyor for the town of Griswold, and had charge of all the roads in the town. On July 1, 1850, he married (first ) Rachel A. Chapman, born Dec. 25, 1825, died April 17, 1861. The chil- dren of this marriage were: Ralph E., born May 13, 1851, died Nov. 21, 1870; Ella, born Nov. 20, 1853, married Oct. 4, 1879, William R. Mott, and died, Oct. 25, 1881, leaving one child, Bessie, who is married and lives in Norwich ; and Frank C., born Nov. 10, 1859, is a farmer, and lives in Sterling. For his second wife, Mr. Phillips, on March 23, 1862, wedded Jane E. Burdick, born Dec. 13, 1844, in Griswold, daughter of Elias and Mary M. (Howe) Burdick. To this union came seven chil- dren, namely : (1) Hobart B., born Sept. 27, 1863, is a farmer in Lisbon. He married, Aug. 2. 1885, Anna B. Teft, and has two children, Myrtle and Archie. (2) Charles Hawley was born Oct. 21. 1864. (3) Orion E., born March 2, 1867, dicd at the age of seventeen years. (4) Amos A., born
red a 903 1
450
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
March 21, 1869, resides at Jewett City, unmarried. (5) Orrie E., born Dec. 5, 1871, married, July 2, 1890, Alfred M. Brown, Jr., and lives in Jewett City. (6) Iva Daisy, born August 2, 1873, died Jan. 10, 1878. (7) John A., born May 12, 1875, married, June 26, 1901, Jennie M. Albro, and they make their home in Westerly, R. I. On Sept. 25, 1902, Mrs. Ralph P. Phillips was married to Dan- iel J. Brown, and they reside on Laurel Hill, in Norwich.
Charles Hawley Phillips, the second in the above family, was born in Griswold, and was brought up to farm work. The district school, attended during the winter terms until he was sixteen, afforded him ample opportunity for a good common school edu- cation. At that age he left home, and was first em- ployed as a farm hand, his wages in the beginning being $50 for seven months work. He followed this line in the towns of Griswold, Norwich & Lis- bon, giving good satisfaction to his employers, by his unflagging industry and careful management. Until he was twenty-one his wages went to his fa- ther, and after that time he continued to work as a farm hand until his marriage, at which time he lo- cated on a rented farm, on Bundy Hill, in the town of Lisbon, and for some time he was in the employ of James B. Palmer. He then rented a farm in the south part of Griswold, but after two years removed to another farm in the same town, where he remained three years. His next location was on the "Elm Hill Farm" in Lisbon (now occupied by John G. Bromley), and he then removed to his present farm, renting it for two years, and then purchasing it of George Robinson. It was known as the Reuben Bishop farm, and it contains 125 acres of rich and improved land, where Mr. Phillips carries on general farming and dairying. For the past eight years he has conducted a profitable milk route in Taftville.
On Dec. 8, 1886, Mr. Phillips was married to Evelyn M. James, born March 29, 1870, in Lisbon, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Treat) James, the former a farmer in Lisbon, and later in Gris- wold, where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have two children, Charles Elmer, born Feb. 28, 1888; and Bertha Etta, born March 5, 1892. On national issues Mr. Phillips is a Republican, but in local affairs he lays aside any partisan feeling, and exer- cises his right of franchise for the best men. He and his wife attend the Newent Congregational Church, although she is a member of the Pachaug Church. Mr. Phillips is a hardworking, industrious farmer, who has had no assistance in his struggle for a competence, other than that encouragement and sympathy his devoted wife has extended. He has maintained a high integrity and has the respect and confidence of all who know him.
WILLIAM WILBUR LATHAM, of Noank, Conn .. was born Sept. 20. 1839, at Noank, and be- longs to an old and prominent New England fam-
ily, his grandfather, William Latham, have been a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and oneof the defenders of Fort Griswold. .
bject, John Dennison Latham, father of our was born in District No. 9, of Groton, and sided arlier the greater part of his life in Noank. In th part he engaged in fishing and later in ship 1 ding. in partnership with his brother, James A. He married Emmeline Wilbur, daughter ham. Wil- Konged -ject's Mr. er of liam and Sally Wilbur, the latter of wliom also to an old family of the locality. Our mother died when he was but five months of Latham married (second) Lydia Palmer, Robert Palmer, and one son, James D., w of New London, Conn., was born to this unic Latham married (third) Avis Matilda Bro they have one son, Hiram W., now a ship center at the Palmer Yards. The occupation of the : hams was the building of fishing vessels, for wh were noted. Mr. Latham was a member of the they Baptist Church.
William Wilbur Latham spent his boyho
days in Noank, and attended the public schools Ed the Mystic Academy. In early manhood he tu ed his attention to the family trade, working in his ther's yard. Here he was engaged when the rring events of April, 1861, aroused the loyalty 1 pa- triotism of the finest band of men who eve folun- tarily took up arms in defense of their coun . He enlisted in Co. E, 2nd. Conn. V. I., for a serice of three months, and re-enlisted in August, 12, in Co. C, 21st. Conn. V. I., with the rank of derly sergeant, and when mustered out at. New haven, in June, 1865, he was captain of Co. E, that regiment.
For one year Capt. Latham was assistar buper- intendent of negro affairs, and was located Nor- folk, Va. After the war closed he retufed to Noank, and re-engaged in ship building, vere he remained until 1892, when he was appoi d as- sistant superintendent of construction of lif aving stations. The remarkable record of the irk he superintended includes the erection of sta ons a arais, arles- Kewanee, Wis., Charlevoix, Mich., Grand Mich., Core Bank, N. C., Sullivan's Island, ton, S. C., Little Egg, N. J., Sandy Poin Block Island, Hampton Beach, N. H., Amaganse L. I .. Muskeeget, Nantucket, Salisbury Beaclı, Mass., Wood End, Provincetown, Point Arena, ( ., and Old Harbor, at Chatham, Massachusetts.
On Dec. 6, 1865, Mr. Latham was ma ed, at Noank, Conn., to Sarah Marie Potter, and i › chil- dren have been born to them, namely : Willil Pot- ter, born Jan. II, 1868; and Mary Emeli born March 7, 1874. Mr. Latham is a valued mober of Williams Post G. A. R.
Joseph Potter, father of Mrs. Latham, vs born in Noank, where he died, March 14, 1889, a d sev- enty-three years. He was a seafaring man id en- gaged in fishing. He married Mary, dau ter of Edward Fowler, of New London, and ty had
Mr and
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
lren ; follows: Harriet Jane married B. F. Irewsof Center Groton ; Sarah M. married W. LatiIn; Mary Elizabeth married Charles H. th : mer , we form .; and Joseph Walton is manager of the re at Noank. Mrs. Latham's grandpar- Joseph and Mercy ( Burrows) Potter, of whom was a fisherman. The fishing ration of these families were carried on on a e sca t all and this industry brought wealth to al- 10 devoted a long enough time to it.
EORGE THOMPSON, a successful of Taftville, town of Norwich, enjoys a practice, and the confidence of the com- Iis birth occurred at Union, Knox Co., rch 21, 1861.
andfather of Dr. Thompson was a resi- ion, and was drowned in early life. His e bor he maiden name of Amanda Adams, and was that descendant of one of the oldest families tion. The lady, who has attained to a erable ge, is residing at Boston, Massachusetts. Edwi L. Thompson, father of our subject, was accessil carriage manufacturer at Union, Maine, ere in 1898, at the age of fifty nine years. died wifevas a Miss Margaret Sullivan, and she Union. The children born of this mar- Hartwell, who was baggage master in of the Boston and Albany railroad, and while on duty; George; Maynard, city
iving e we empl kille citor Augusta, Maine, and clerk of the Lower 1se of le State Legislature ; and Richard, a law ent a Boston.
Dr. G rge Thompson received his early educa- in th public schools of Union, and then spent year at Kent's Hill Seminary, in Maine. He up study of medicine with Dr. Judkins, of Ikland, Maine, who was then located at on, a soon after entered Bowdoin College, ) whi he was graduated in June, 1889. The eptember, he located at Taftville, having wing hasec le practice of Dr. F. A. Tillinghast, and e has firmly established himself, proving ther skill i many extremely critical cases.
macy )ctobe
Dr. Thompson purchased the Taftville which was then located on the Hill, and 1903, moved the business to a newly uilding erected by him on Front street. e is a stanch Republican, and is a mem-
oletec politics of t
board of education at Taftville. Dr. npsom; a member of the Norwich Medical As- tion, : New London County Medical Society, the M .; ter lery f Lo F .: 88, F Omnecticut Medical Society. Fraternally a mojper of Somerset Lodge No. 34, A. F. & anklin Council, No. 3; and Franklin . 4, as well as of Columbian Com- . 4, Knights Templar. He is a mem- Hugh H. Osgood Lodge No. 6920, I. anchester Unity ; of Court Wequounoc, esters of America, at Taftville. He is popu in all these orders. In May, 1904, Dr.
Thompson was appointed health officer for the town of Norwich.
On Sept. 23, 1890, Dr. Thompson was mar- ried, in Athens, Maine, to Miss Mary L. Greene, a native of that place, daughter of Frederick H. Greene, and a descendant of an old and prominent family of that section. Two children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Thompson : Hartwell Greene, Jan. 5, 1892; and Helen Greene, July 9, 1894. Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, having had several ancestors who served in that struggle.
CLINTON DEWITT HANOVER, the well- known contractor and builder, and one of the enter- prising young men of Groton, was born in Willington, Tolland Co., Conn., Feb. 4, 1876, son of Herbert M. Hanover, grandson of Urial Han- over, and great-grandson of Peter Hanover.
Peter Hanover came to America from Germany with two brothers, and he settled first in Coventry, Conn., where he resided for a number of years, and then removed to the town of Willington, where he died. He was a glass blower by trade, and was the first person to introduce friction matches in this country.
Urial Hanover was born in South Coventry, Tol- land Co., Conn., and by trade was a shoemaker. He served in the Civil war, Company H, Ioth Conn. V. I., as corporal, and lost his arm in the service. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary W. Trask, and both died in Willington, Conn., in 1903, she on Aug. 5th and he in October. Their children were: Lorana, widow of Frank Cummings, and the mother of three children, Mamie, Charles and Al- fleta ; Herbert M .; Henry Urial, of Groton; and Lillian Jane, of West Willington, who married E. C. Richardson.
Herbert M. Hanover was born in Wales, Mass., Dec. 22, 1849, and for many years was engaged in glassblowing at South Lyndeboro, N. H., and later worked at his trade at Westford, Conn. In 1873 he abandoned this class of work, and in 1884 he came to Groton, and for a time took charge of the cot- tages at Eastern Point. For the past eight years he has been engaged in caring for his own real estate, he being a large property owner. Mr. Han- over married Ellen M. Brown, daughter of Alfred L. and Mary A. (Whitehouse) Brown, of Ashford, and their children are: Walter Henry, a resident of Groton, who married Maud Smith, and has one son, Walter Smith ; and Clinton DeWitt.
Clinton D. Hanover spent his early school days in Willington, Conn., but when he was eight years of age he was taken to Eastern Point in the town of Groton. While watching the men at work, the bright little fellow learned the building trade, and when only eighteen began building, and now after ten years of experience is one of the leading men in this section of the county in the business he adopted.
DR. siciaıl trishi nity. ine, I The t of
452
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
On June 1, 1898, Clinton D. Hanover was married to Emma Carolina Nordfeldt, a native of Sweden, who was educated in America. Mr. and Mrs. Hanover have had two children,-De Witt Clinton, who died at the age of ten months; and Clinton De Witt, Jr.
During the time he has been in the building business, Mr. Hanover has built over sixty houses in Groton and vicinity, as well as other buildings, all of his work being characterized by a careful thor- oughness which is to be seen in everything he at- tempts. Mr. and Mrs. Hanover are consistent mem- bers of the Baptist Church of Groton, and are very highly respected residents of that locality. Like his father Mr. Hanover is a Republican, and in March, 1904, was elected a member of the court of bur- gesses of the newly formed borough of Groton, for the short term, and on May Ist following, he was re- elected for the regular term of one year.
GARDNER FAMILY. (I) Stephen Gardner was among the early settlers in New London county, and was probably a descendant of the Rhode Island families of that name. He is first known as a purchaser of a large tract of land near the "Great Pond," afterwards called "Gardner's Lake," lying in the town of Montville, partly in Bozrah and partly in Salem. On this land he settled and reared a large family of children, marrying, about 1700, Amy Sherman, who was born Oct. 25, 1681, a daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Mowey) Sher- man, of Kingston, R. I. Very little is recorded re- garding the characteristics of the man, and little is known of his history. Neither the date of his death nor that of his wife are to be found. The children, all of whom were born between 1701 and 1724, were as follows: Amy, Lydia, Stephen, Benjamin, Pere- grine, Daniel, Sarah, Hannah, Mehitabel, Abigail, David and Jonathan.
(II) Stephen Gardner son of (I) Stephen, was born Feb. 24, 1704, at Kingston, R. I., and the house in which his father lived stood probably in what was then the town of Colchester, Conn., but which was later made a part of the town of Salem. He was married in 1722 to Frances Congdon, daughter of Benjamin Congdon, and the children born to them, all between 1723 and 1745, were: Frances, Amy, Lydia, Esther, Sarah, Hannah, Stephen, Mary, Thomas and Mehitabel.
(III) Stephen Gardner, born March 27, 1735, was a farmer by occupation. His first wife was Frances Brown, and for his second wife he married the widow of John Abbott. He had three children, Fannie, Stephen and Benjamin. Fannie, the eldest child of Stephen, married Frederick Ball, of Led- yard, Conn. The second child, Stephen, married and moved to Pennsylvania, where his several chil- dren were born, and where he died. After his death his widow married her brother-in-law, Benjamin Gardner, the grandfather of our subject, Stephen Gardner.
(IV) Benjamin Gardner was born in fv Lon year! don, Conn., and died at the age of over eig in Luzerne county, Pa., where he had lived Er man years, and where he had become an tensiv farmer. He held large tracts of land in It Stat he fi 175, Beeb and was a man of prominence and wealth. wife of Benjamin Gardner was. Phebe New London ; his second wife was Elizab; Tinker, and the third, as before stated, t widow of Stephen Gardner. The children of all born to his first wife, were: Fannie, o mar ried Elias Sharp, of Windham, Conn .; Mia, wh married Gurdon Avery, of Waterford, Con : John who married Hannah Brooks, of Waterfor Connl and Benjamin.
(V) Benjamin Gardner, born June 26 1802, 1 New London, Conn., died there June 3, 31. H was a prominent farmer, and at one time as als engaged in conducting a meat market fresevera years, in New London. In time he becan fan ex tensive land owner, was also engaged in Cherie and at all times was a hard worker and a cessfu man. In his younger days he became Dresser with the truth of religious principles, br lid no attach himself to any denomination. I politic Benjamin Gardner was a stanch Democra but al though he held the office of selectman, atwell a other town offices, he did not aspire to be leader Physically he was stout and short, weight abou 175 pounds ; he was a jovial man, of excent dis position, and made and retained many fries.
On Dec. 25, 1825, Mr. Gardner marri Ether linda Gee, who was born Jan. 25, 18057n Eas Lyme, Conn., daughter of William af
Salk (Smith) Gee. Mrs. Gardner died May),
1892 aged eighty-seven years, in New Londe The children she bore her husband were & follows Conn all born in New London : George Harris, Im Feb II, 1828, is mentioned below; Horace, 1|n May 19, 1829, is also mentioned below ; Noel [), bori Oct. 9, 1830, who died Nov. 6, 1895, in Jur Lon don, is mentioned below; William Benja [n, bor Aug. 21, 1836, is mentioned below ; Step in, bon Dec. 6, 1840, living at New London, is
Intione below; Minerva, born March 12, 1843 marrie William H. Burdick, a government inspoor, an both are living (they have no children) Chark Henry, born Aug. 24, 1846, died at the ag of foi years.
(VI) GEORGE HARRIS GARDNER, borr 'eb. I 1828, in New London, and a son of the miner son of New London, the late Benjamin ardnes was well educated in the district school w e living with his grandfather Gardner, and wher t hom he learned to farm. During the early p of th war he went to Luzerne county, Pa., whereor thre years he farmed, and then embarked in fing an farming in Waterford, Conn., and is stil [hus e; gaged with his only son. In politics (orge I Gardner is a strong Democrat, and while resid at Waterford-a period of thirty-nine ars -- 1
-
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
d the sition of road surveyor, and is respon- e for if ny of the excellent roads in that vicinity. In I& ardner I wido 3, in dner Mr. Gardner married Phebe Ann Brooks, a daughter of John Gardner, of Daniel Brooks. She died April 26, w London. By her first marriage Mrs. gd a daughter, Amorette, who married omas I Fitzgerald, an engineer on the Delaware Lackayhana Railroad, living at Scranton, Fa., has d: son, Walter. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner one s Nen 3, to d, Del Walter Benjamin, born March 2, 1857, ndon. He was married in September, dia Pennington, of Brandywine Hun- they have no children. He is in the ing baness with his father at New London, 'e he is a leading young business man respected resident.
In., W high) (VI) dner,
ORACE GARDNER, son of (V) Benjamin as educated in New London, in the schon district, on Ocean avenue, and remained re unt
lie was some sixteen years of age, when entered pon a seafaring life, following the water fishin rs. ing or thus time on, as year Mocrat rituali sr.
upon the Atlantic coast for a number of H was also extensively engaged in halibut eorge's Bank for the New York market, ntinued until about 1873, being during vner of the smack he used in his opera- s. In at year he took up the work of a stone- contractor, and thus continued for sev- but finally retired. In politics he is a In religious matters he and his wife are , and prominent among that religious
II, 1854, Horace Gardner was married eorgetta Pratt, and they have had chil- as follows: Nancy Elinda, born Jan. 13, 1855, ried he 26, 1876, Henry W. Beebe, with the Beef Co .; they live on Shaw street, Lon 1, and their children are : Betsey, Leber- and My. Horace Richard, born Oct. 17, 1858, the first time to Bessie P. Benham, and wife was Sallie D. Pennington ; by his marra secor unione had one son, Horace R., engineer and r the T. A. Scott Co., and by his second
hinist he
1 two children, Nancy Georgietta and ia Mi Fannie Eugenia, born Oct. 26, 1860, Sarah Ella, born July 19, 1866, married Foster, a farmer of Lebanon, and their re Ada Louise, Joba Rush, Chrystie 1 Edith Phelps. Leburton Pratt, born 9, Ilo, was married to Minnie Springer, of hom rge F Iren kins : jadelp 1, and he now lives at Camden, N. J., yed by the New York Ship Building rine machinist ; he and his wife have one uerite Georgiaette. g em as a 1, Ma VI)
DEL BYRON GARDNER, son of (V) Ben- In Gal ier, was married Jan. 22, 1863, to Sarah abeth Daniels, of Waterford. They had one ghter. iged racto
ho died in infancy. Mr. Gardner was farming for a time, but later became a 1 grading and excavating, and built up
a large business, doing a great deal of work in the Pequot section. Mr. Gardner built his beautiful home on Ocean avenue, which was purchased in 1900 by Richard Mansfield, the actor.
In politics Mr. Gardner was a stanch Democrat, and he held a number of offices, having been a mem- ber of the common council and street commissioner for several years, among others. In his religious profession he was a sincere member of Jordan Baptist Church, of which his wife, who still sur- vives, is a member. Quiet and reserved in disposi- tion, Mr. Gardner retained the friends he made, his business career was an unblemished one, and his memory is tenderly cherished in New London, where his widow makes her home.
(VI) WILLIAM BENJAMIN GARDNER, son of (V) Benjamin Gardner, was born Aug. 21, 1836, in New London, and was educated in that locality. Like so many of his family, he graduated from the schoolroom to a seafaring life, and for a number of years was actively engaged as a fisherman. He went upon a whaling expedition when only twenty- two years of age, and was gone for some seven- teen or eighteen months. About 1870 he left the water and embarked in a grocery business on Tru- man street, carrying it on very successfully for a number of years. Later he removed to Banks street, and still later was succeeded by his son, Benjamin B. Gardner, William Benjamin Gardner retiring. However, a man of his active disposition could not be satisfied with a life empty of business interests, and he was soon engaged in painting, now requiring several men and wagons to carry on the business he has established.
In his political views he has always been a Democrat, but he has never aspired to be a leader. He was a member of the Seamen's Bethel Church of New London during its existence. Fraternally he is a member of Pequot Lodge, No. 85, I. O. O. F., and the Daughters of Rebekah, Trumbull Lodge, No. 48, K. of P., and Hawkins Company No. 18, U. R., K. of P., all of New London.
On June 12, 1857, William Benjamin Gardner was married to Mary B. Billings, daughter of Peleg and Abby G. (Ball) Billings, of East Haddam, formerly of Griswold, Conn. By occupation Mr. Billings was a farmer, and he died in East Haddam, while his wife passed away in New London. Mrs. Gardner is a granddaughter of Theophilus and Be- linda (Whipple) Billings, of Griswold, Conn., farming people. She is a great-granddaughter of William Billings.
Children as follows were born to William Ben- jamin Gardner and his wife: Mary, born Nov. 14, 1858, married William E. Crocker, of New Lon- don, where he died ; their children were: Frances, Alice, Franklin and Clayton. Henry died at the age of nine months. Benjamin Billings is exten- sively mentioned later in this sketch. Stephen died at the age of eight years and nine months, having been run over by a dray.
On F Nancy
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1
(VI) STEPHEN GARDNER, son of (V) Benjamin Gardner, was born in New London, and received an excellent education in the district school of his native town, and at the Bartlett high school. After leaving school he began farming on the home place, where he has since continued to live. He owns about fifty acres of the original homestead, having sold the greater portion of the land, upon which have been erected beautiful summer homes. His own home is one of the pleasant and attractive ones on Ocean avenue, commanding a beautiful view of the surrounding hills and valley, as well as of Long Island Sound. Here he is engaged in general farm- ing, and his land has been brought into a very high state of cultivation, and is among the most valuable in the county.
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