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 184
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MShay
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
green bone and hotel grease. Mr. Shay is on the road the greater portion of the time, covering terri- tory through which the company does business- including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. The C. M. Shay Company is the only independent company of its kind and size doing business in New England, and it is in direct competition with the trust. The weekly capacity of the plant averages 100 barrels of tallow and grease, besides all kinds of animal fertilizers and poultry food. In 1902 Mr. Shay built a plant at the Navy yard, and at present, with the exception of the ship yards, this company does a larger amount of business annually, than any other in the town of Groton. In 1898 he came to Groton to reside, and is one of the most honored members of the community.
On June 15. 1899, Mr. Shay married Miss Lillian Senior, of Bethel, Conn. He has become very popular, and now serves as chairman of the Fire District committee, and is a member of the Democratic Town committee. Fraternally he be- longs to Brainerd Lodge, No. 102, F. & A. M., of New London : Stonington Lodge, of Mystic, I. O. O. F .; and Groton Conclave, Improved Order of Heptasophs.
MICHAEL HIGGINS, a well-known merchant of Pawcatuck, belongs by birth and descent to the Emerald Isle, but by adoption and affection to this mighty western land. He was born in County Waterford, town of Knockanure, Ireland, Sept. 26, 1851. His father, Michael Higgins, was born at . the same place, and continued there as a farmer till he was nearing middle age. Then he came to Amer- ica and in 1869 settled at Pawcatuck. After coming to this country he did not resume farming, but was engaged as a laborer. His wife, Margaret (Gray ) Higgins, bore him five children, as follows : Thomas, deceased, who married and left one son, Thomas. now a druggist ; William, who is a stone polisher by trade, and lives in Pawcatuck : Michael, of Pawca- tuck ; Mary, deceased ; and Julia, deceased wife of John Deady, and the mother of five children. Michael and Margaret Higgins both died in Paw- catnck.
Michael Higgins, son of Michael, spent his boy- hood days at Knockanure, and was educated in the National School. When he was fifteen he came to Pawcatnek, where his brother William and a sister of his mother had already located, and began work- ing in what is now known as the Solway Mills, llc continued there till 1871, and then learned the trade of tool sharpening with The Smith Granite Com pany and for four years followed that occupation. By thrift and constancy he was enabled, in 1875. with his savings, to establish himself in his present mercantile business in Pawcatuck, which, thanks to his native ability and business enterprise, has by closest application to business constantly expanded.
Michael Higgins was joined in wedlock. Sept.
9, 1879, to Miss Mary A. Burke, also of Pawcatuck, and to this union ten children have been born, namely : Joseph, a graduate of the high school and now attending Baltimore Medical College: Mabel, a graduate from the high school and from Trinity College, Washington, D. C. ; Margaret, another higli school graduate; William A., Leo, Cyril, Rosalie and Edwin, all attending the parochial school : Walter ; and Michael, who lived only eleven months.
Mr. Higgins has always maintained an inde- pendent stand in politics, and takes a keen interest in all questions of local import, as well as of broader scope. He is a member of St. Michael's Church, in Pawcatuck, and is universally looked up to and respected, as a most worthy citizen.
BILLINGS. The history of Connecticut woukl be incomplete if the record of the Billing> family were omitted. From the days of earliest New Eng- land members of the family have proved their loy- alty and patriotism in time of war and in time of peace, and in Sanford N. Billings, of Stonington. and his son, Byron Billings, of East Lyme, addi- tional lustre has been added to a most honorable name.
(1) William Billings, the founder of the Connec- ticut family, came from Taunton, England. and first appears in this country at Dorchester and Braintree. Mass. In the latter place he wedded. on Feb. 5. 1658, his wife's Christian name being Mary. The exact date of his coming to Connecticut and Ston- ington is not certainly known, but his name appears among those of the earliest Stonington planters. Ile erected a dwelling house on Casathe Hill, the site of which may yet be seen ; and by grants and purchase he became a large land holder. He died in 1713. and his will mentions the following children : Will- iam, Lydia, Margaret, Mary, Abigail, Dorothy, l'a- tience and Ebenezer.
(11) Ebenezer Billings served with distinction in the Colonial wars. On March 1. 1080, he mar ried Anna Comstock, who bore him ten children. namely : Ama. Ebenezer. William, James. Mar garet, Zipporah, Jemima, Increase. Thankful and Benjamin.
(111) Lientenant Ebenezer Billings was hin Jan. 1. 1684. and like his father, became known in military circles. He was made an ensign in 1722. and a lieutenant in 1731. On April 2. 1700, lie 1115 ried Phebe Denison, and their cleven children were Abigail, John. Ebenezer, Phebe, Grace, Ann, John (2), Christopher, Daniel, Nathan and Ann Boreddel (IV) Ebenezer Billings, the third m direct line to bear the Christian name Ebenezer, was born March 20. 1211. He was twice married O Voy 20, 1733, he wedded Mary Noves, and on her death. Mrs. Sarah (Chesebrod Geer His children were Elizabeth, Sanford, Phobe, Ebenezer, Rebecca, Gil- bert, Mary and Flisha
On Jan. 24. 1700), he married Inev Geer, dinghter
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of James Geer, a direct descendant of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. He died April 25, 1806, and she passed away April 19, 1810. Their children, ten in number, were: Ebenezer, Sanford, Robert, Gilbert, Coddington, Noyes, Lucy, James G., Sarah and Washington.
(VI) Gilbert Billings was born Nov. 25, 1768. He became a sea captain, and was well known along the coast in the various seaports. I'n 1792 he mar- ried Lucy Swan, who died Dec. 16, 1854. He died in Griswold May 4, 1856. They were the parents of ten children : Sanford, born June 21, 1793, died Sept. 22, 1820; Lucy, born June 30, 1798, married Asher Coates ; Robert, born May 23, 1800, married Calista Keeney ; James, born Jan. 2, 1802; George W., born Dec. 9, 1803, died Feb. 14, 1873: Horatio Nelson, born Nov. 26, 1805; one, born Sept. 19, 1807, died unnamed ; John S., born March 4, 1809, died Aug. 28, 1812; Benjamin F., born Jan. 15, 18II, married (first) Ann Palmer, and (second ) Mrs. Abby Jane Starkweather ; and Mary P., born Jan. 24, 1813, died March 20, 1856.
(VII) Horatio Nelson Billings was born Nov. 26, 1805. He became a follower of the sea, and in 1849-50 he went to California as first mate on a sailing vessel. He was heard from soon after his arrival, but never afterward. On Jan. 30, 1838, he married Mary Ann Fish, daughter of Moses Fish. She died during the Civil war. The children born of this union were: Lucy H., who was educated at the Cooper Institute, New York City, and became the author of "The Ruined Statues, and Other Poems," married John L. Spalding; Sanford Nel- son; Edward E. lives at Pawcatuck, Conn. ; and Mary A., of Pendleton Hill, North Stonington, mar- ried Charles D. Thompson.
(VIII) SANFORD N. BILLINGS was born May 18, 1841, in North Stonington. When but sixteen he began working as a farm hand for his uncle, Ben- jamin F. Billings, in Griswold. Two years later he was farming the old homestead of his ancestor, William Billings. This he continued until he hark- ened to his country's call for aid. On Aug. 20, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company G, 21st Conn. V. I., and was mustered into service Sept. 5, 1862. Six months later he was detailed on de- tached service as turnkey of the jail at Norfolk, Va., where he was for a year and a half. Rejoin- ing his regiment then, he saw active service until May 16, 1864, when he was captured by the rebels in front of Richmond. He was taken first to Libby Prison, then two weeks later to Andersonville, where he was confined until fall, then being trans- ferred to Charleston, S. C., and after three weeks to Florence, and later to Goldsboro. By this time he had endured such untold horrors, and suffered such a shock, that he scarcely had strength to walk. His clothes, worn to tatters, barely covered him. In sheer desperation he and a comrade effected an es- cape, and fortunately came across some boy in
blue, who took them in and cared for their immed- iate needs. Mr .. Billings was so feeble in mind he was unable to tell his name or where he was. After weeks of careful nursing he was partially restored, and as soon as able he was sent home, arriving in Stonington a mere shadow of his former self. In his normal health he had weighed 175 pounds, but in those days of convalescence he tipped the scales at ninety-four pounds. Although he escaped the missiles of death that mowed down his comrades in battle, he suffered more agony than was ever caused by bullet wound. The memory of that pris- on life of forty years ago overshadows him with sickening horror. He was discharged from serv- ice at Baltimore, Md., May 16, 1865.
Since the war Mr. Billings has given his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits in Stonington and North Stonington, paying much attention to stock raising, a part of the time being in partnership with a relative, W. W. Billings, who was the first importer and raiser of full-blooded Jersey cattle in the vicinity. In 1873 he came into possession of his present fine farm, formerly owned by W. W. Billings. He also owns another farm, and two tracts of land, in all, some 300 acres. He has proved himself an industrious and honorable citizen, faith- ful in the discharge of every duty in public and private life, and he has the well merited esteem of all who know him.
On Oct. 28, 1867, Mr. Billings was married to Lucy E. Main, daughter of Charles H. and Almira (Eggleston ) Main. Eight children blessed this happy union: Byron is mentioned below ; Mary, born May 15, 1871, married Arthur G. Wheeler, an extensive farmer of Stonington ; William W., of North Stonington, a farmer, married Mary Clark, and has two children, Jennie Dolly and Gilbert ; Lucy, born June 20, 1881, is a teacher at Madison, Conn .; Grace W., born Dec. 18, 1882, married Horace D. Miner, a farmer, of Stonington, and has one son, Elias B. Miner ; Lillie M., born July 6, 1886, is a teacher in North Stonington ; Priscilla Alden, born May 29, 1892; and Sanford N., Jr., born Aug. 17, 1895.
(IX) BYRON BILLINGS was born Jan. 4, 1869, at Ashwillit, North Stonington. His boyhood days were spent on the farm, and his schooling was re- ceived in Stonington and New London. At the age of nineteen he entered the employ of the Wil- cox Fertilizer Company, of Mystic, Conn., and for a year was employed by the Sanderson Fertilizer and Chemical Company, of New Haven. Upon the incorporation of the Niantic Menhaden Oil & Guano Company, in 1902, he was elected president : S. Curtis Eggleston, treasurer ; and Lucien Sander- son, secretary. The company is capitalized at $150,000 and runs two fishing steamers carry- ing fifty fishermen. The business is constantly in- creasing, and too much credit can not be given Mr. Billings for his able management. He is possessed
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of good judgment and foresight, and fine executive ability-one of the kind of men who never experi- ence defeat.
On Aug. 18. 1900, Mr. Byron Billings was united in marriage with Geneva Newbury Rogers, daughter of Charles E. Newbury. Two children have come to gladden their home, Priscilla Alden, born July 11, 1901 ; and Esther Miriam, born March 10, 1903. Socially Mr. Billings is a mem- ber of Charity and Relief Lodge, No. 72, F. & A. M., of Mystic; and of Stonington Lodge, No. 26, I. O. O. F., of Mystic. Both he and his wife are members of the Union Baptist church of Mystic. Politically he is a Republican.
JOHN B. HALEY, a successful farmer of the town of Groton, comes of a family early planted in Connecticut.
(I) John Haley and wife, Mary Saunders, daughter of John and Silence Saunders, were liv- ing at Centre Groton, Conn., in 1738, with their six children, namely: Joshua, Jeremiah, Caleb, Martha, Elizabeth and John, and of these John settled in Stonington, and Jeremiah at Mystic Bridge.
(II) Caleb Haley married (first) Mary Helm (or Helmes), born in 1740, daughter of Rouse Helm, and was from Little Rest, L. I. Their chil- dren were: Caleb, Elisha, Stephen and Betsey. He married (second) a Miss Northrop.
( III) Hon. Elisha Haley, born Jan. 21, 1776, in Groton, married, July 24, 1803. Nancy, daughter of Nathan Crary, of Groton, and their children were : Henry, born May IT, 1804; Giles, born Sept. 24. 1805: Justin, born May 11, 1810, died young ; Abby, born May 28, 1814, married William F. Mitchell, and resided at Groton Bank ; Eliza, born Nov. 13, 1818, married R. W. Smith. Elisha Haley received a common school education in the schools of his neighborhood. He remained on the home farm with his parents until 1816, when he pur- chased a small tract of land, and together with his brother Stephen, resided in a house which stood on what was afterward known as the Warren Haley place .. About 1846 he removed to Centre Groton. which was ever afterward his home. Mr. Haley was entrusted with various important positions in his native town, representing it a munber of times in the General Assembly of the State. Ile was also several times a State Senator from his dis- trict. He was elected a representative from Con- necticut in the XXIVth Congress as a Democrat. and was re-elected to the XXVth Congress, serving from Dec. 7. 1835, to March 3. 1839. He was an enterprising and public-spirited man, ever really to assist the cause of civilization. In 1816-18, he was largely interested in constructing turnpikes in both Connecticut and Rhode Island, and held stock in several such companies, more or less through life. He was for several years a captain in the State militia, and was universally respected.
esteemed and honored by his townsmen. Mr. Haley was a great reader and student, and acquired a valuable practical knowledge of affairs. He was physically well-developed, and his mind was well- balanced. He was a most stirring and active man. a leader in society and politics. Whenever a candi- date for office, he was always elected. He knew no such word as fail, and whenever he took hold of a measure or principle, it was carried to a success- ful termination. His death occurred Jan. 22. 1850.
(IV) Henry Haley, son of Hon. Elisha Haley. was born May 11, 1804. On June 15, 1834, he mar- ried Mary Ann Burrows, born Jan. 31, 1812. in Groton, daughter of John B., and Betsey Burrows. and they had children as follows : Virginia, born Aug. 22, 1835, married, June 28, 1855. Nelson Mor- gan, of Poquonoc Bridge, and has had two children. Harry Archie (who died in infancy) and John .\. : Betsey Ann, born March 17. 1838 married. May 27. 1860. Capt. Albert C. Burrows, and died Aug. 14. 1877. the mother of three children. Julia \. (who died in Texas, wife of a Mr. Woolston. Mary (who is Mrs. Fawcett, of Albany, N. Y.) and Albert Henry (who died in infancy) : John Burrows was born July 1, 1843. Henry Haley lived in Groton all his life, and in April. 1843. he located at Centre Gro- ton, where he died April 3. 1889. He engaged. in farming, but was also engaged in school teaching for many years. He was also captain of a militia company. His wife died Sept. 30, 1887. In poli- tics he was a life-long Democrat.
(1) John Burrows Haley spent his boyhood days at Centre Groton school, and at a private school at Burnett's Corners, and later attended the Mystic academy. When about twenty he went west to Winchester. Il., and engaged in the patent rights business. On account of ill health of his parents. he returned to Groton, but a year or so later he returned to Illinois, and from there went to lowa and Michigan, selling patent rights. In 1865, he re turned once more to Groton, to make it hs permian- ent home. He has added to the acreage of the home farm, and has made it a pleasant place of res- dence. In politics he is a Democrat, and he has been road commissioner, making an excellent of ficial.
On Dec. 14. 1870. Mr. Hales married Gange ama 1. Allen, born Inh 25. 1848, danghter ot Levi C. Allen, of Groton, and their children were In ella, born Sept. 28, 1871. married George | Bales. of East Greenwich. R. L. and they have two che dren. Ralph Realgar and Harry Allen Burrows, born Mas 10, 1875 maria & bares 1. Ferguson, of Groton, and has one call And Powell: AAmy Allen, born 1,t 28 18-" del lan 18. 1807. Mars Burrows, born July 2. 1955 Jelen Ross, bon Ang 2 12 man | Beth I hele. and has one sơn, bht Arthur
Centre Linton, V. o. S r Has member et the I hanty and Rat I oder F & \ M . at Mystic, anl lanview Leke 1 ( @ F
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
at Groton. He is a man universally esteemed, and is recognized as one of the leading farmers of this locality.
COURTLAND E. COLVER, superintendent of the Groton Water and Electric Company, is a descendant of one of the oldest families of New England.
Amos Colver, his great-grandfather, was born Aug. 7, 1753. He married Esther Colver, who was born Oct. 17, 1759, and who died Sept. 9, 1843 ; he died April 27, 1828. They had the following chil- dren born to them: Youngs, born Sept. 20, 1777, died May 25, 1832: Esther Jones, born Dec. 29, 1779 ; Deborah Jones, born Nov. 22, 1781 ; Moses Jones, born Dec. 25, 1783; Tabitha, born Jan. 24, 1786; and Eunice, born Dec. 5. 1787. Mr. Colver's house stood near the present residence of Stephen A. Perkins in District No. 2, of Groton, and the re- mains of himself and wife lie in the Wightman bury- ing-ground in that town.
Moses Jones Colver was born Dec. 25, 1783, and lived to the age of eighty years, residing in District No. 2, near the Navy Yard. He married Sarah Buddington, and they reared a family of eleven children, and at death were interred in the Starr burial place. Their children were: Edwin, Nathan, Rhoda, Melinda. Eunice, Coddington, Eliza, Albert, Oliver, Amanda and Jonathan. For a time Mr. Colver farmed at Leyden, Mass., but later returned to Groton.
Coddington Colver was born in District No. 2, Groton, and he died aged sixty-four years, at Center Groton, where he had located in 1845. He engaged in farming and in a wood and timber business. Mr. Colver was a man of affairs, prominent in business and church, a road surveyor for a considerable period, and while living in Old Mystic, was a dea- con in the Baptist Church. In politics he was identi- fied with the Republican party. His wife was Esther Buddington, daughter of Jonathan Budding- ton, and their children were: Moses Jones, born Jan. 29, 1840 : Matilda and George, both deceased : Mary, who married Charles H. Chapman ; Charles, who married Etta Lester: Caroline, who died young; Alice, who married Judson Burrows, of Poquonock ; and Henry, who died young.
Moses Jones Colver, son of Coddington, was born in New London, and came to Center Groton at the age of five years, there attending school until the age of fifteen years. He then shipped on the coasting vessel, the "Sylph," of New London, and later on the "Sultan" of Noank, a halibut fishing vessel off Georges Bank. Other ves- sels on which he was engaged were: the "Liberty" of Niantic, the "Van Dyke" of Ni- antic, the "Daniel Comstock", the "Albert Haley", "George Moore" and "Elisha Baker." During the Civil war he was on the "Elizabeth D. Hart," which was engaged in carrying supplies, and he later was quartermaster on the transport "Cassandra." It
was while on the "Liberty" that he met with an ac- cident which nearly caused the loss of his life, a surgical operation being necessary. Since leaving the water he has been living retired. On Jan. 22, 1860, he married Ursula B. Chapman, daughter of Solomon and Eliza (Hazen) Chapman, the former of whom was born in Ledyard ( son of Eber and De- sire (Stark) Chapman) and the latter in Preston, although both died in Groton.
Mr. Chapman was a merchant and a blacksmith and also was a dealer in timber lands. Mr. and Mrs. Colver have one son, George Percy, born April 22, 1862, who married Elizabeth L. Manierre, and they have three children, Ray Percy, Leon Manierre, and John M .; prior to a severe attack of grippe and typhoid malaria, George P. Colver was a steamboat man, but ill health caused the loss of a leg, since which time he has been engaged in farming. Moses J. Colver is a member of Fairview Lodge, No. 10, I. O. O. F., of which he is past grand, and he is a member of the Grand Lodge of the State and a member of the Jibboom Club, No. I, of New London, Conn. He has always been a consistent Democrat, and on many occasions has been elected to office, but he has never consented to hold any.
Jonathan Colver, son of Moses Jones Colver, and his wife, Sarah (Buddington) Colver, was born at Leyden, Mass., in 1820, and died June 11, 1899, in Groton, Conn. After the age of nine years he attended school in Groton. For twenty-eight years he was a sea-faring man, engaging in deep sea and whale fishing, sailing principally from New Lon- don, Mystic and New Bedford, and whaling in the southern Pacific Ocean, Ochotsk Sea and Arctic Ocean. For years he had command of a coasting vessel on the Pacific. During his seagoing life he sailed around Cape Horn five times. Some of the boats on which he sailed were the "William C. Nye" and the "Romulus." He always made Groton his legal home. He married Sarah A., daughter of Courtland Chapman, of Ledyard, Conn., and to this union were born three children, Carlton and Kate B., twins, in 1863, the former deceased ; and Court- land E., born Sept. 8, 1875. During the latter. years of his life, Mr. Colver engaged in farming near the Navy Yard in Groton. In politics he was a Republican, and was active in support of the party's principles. He was a member of the school com- mittee in Groton for a considerable period.
Courtland E. Colver was educated in the schools of Groton and the New London Business College, where he was graduated in 1893. After making a study of electrical engineering, he was appointed June I, 1902, superintendent of the Groton Water and Electric Company, a position he fills with the greatest satisfaction to all concerned. In 1903 he received the degree of Master of the Science of Ac- counts from the New London Business College.
On Nov. 12, 1902, Mr. Colver married Bertha E. Rodman, daughter of Capt. John B. Rodman.
-
C.E. Colver,
عيسىمسيسيجبر
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Mrs. Colver died March 22, 1903. Religiously Mr. Colver is a prominent member of the Methodist Church of Gales Ferry, of which he is a trustee, and Sunday-school superintendent since 1900. Fraternally he is a member of the Union Lodge No. 31, F. & A. M., at New London ; and Groton Con- clave, No. 382, Improved Order of Heptasophs.
BENTLEY. It is the purpose of this article to treat of the early Bentley family of New England in general only, and to refer especially to the late Rev. David Niles Bentley and his son, the late Andrew Jackson Bentley, the former of whom was one of the fathers of Methodism in this locality, and through an unusually long life one of the most ac- tive and faithful, as well as one of the chief sup- porters, of religious work in his community.
William Bentley came to New England in the ship "Arabella," which sailed from Gravesend, May 27, 1671, and in January, 1679, he was a resident of Narragansett, R. I. The Christian name of his wife was Sarah, as is shown by his will, which was approved in 1720, in Kings Town, R. I., and his children : William, James, Thomas, Benjamin and Janc.
So far as is known the descendants of William Bentley, the emigrant settler, who bear the name of Bentley, came through his son, William, who mar- ried (first) April 21, 1703, Mary. daughter of Henry and Deborah (York) Eliot, of Stonington, Conn. He married ( second) Aug. 1. 1734, Bath- sheba Lewis. His children were: John, George. Caleb, Ezekiel, Tabitha, Ruhama, Mary, William, Thomas, James, Greene and Benjamin. (The last five were born to the second marriage).
Ezekiel Bentley and Anna ( Chapman) Bentley. the latter a daughter of Deacon Joseph Chapman, of the old town of Groton (that part now the town Ledyard), the parents of the late Rev. David N. Bentley, lived to the remarkable ages of ninety-six and ninety-seven years, respectively, Mr. Bentley dying Feb. 4. 1834, and Mrs. Bentley, Oct. 25. 1853.
REV. DAVID NILES BENTLEY was born July 27. 1785. in the town of North Stonington, Conn., the home of a branch of the old Rhode Island Bentle's family. He had only limited school privileges, but improved such as conditions afforded. His life away from home had its beginning in April, 1790. in the capacity of chore boy in the family of Barzillai Davison, of Norwich. After an absence of six months he returned to the home, and through the greater part of the winter following was in at- tendance at the neighborhood district school. In the spring of 1800 he was bound ont as an appren tice to his former employer to learn the trade of a goldsmith. Not long after his return to Norwich the boy was converted under the preaching of the eccentric Rev. Lorenzo Dow. Subsequently he was baptized in the Yantic river by Res. Peter Vannest. This was the beginning of a long, useful religions life in which he gave himself in no stiuted manner
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