USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > An address delivered at Acton, July 21, 1835, being the first centennial anniversary of the organization of the town : with an appendix > Part 6
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upon and killed eight of our party, without receiving any provocation therefor from us." Capt. Parker's account stands by itself, and con- tains assertions not supported by any of the other deponents, and con- tradicted in many particulars. It is most obvious, however, that how- muchsoever the deponents might dread the King's Gallows, neither the Captain nor the Soldier had any fear of facing his troops.
In the History of the Fight, (page 26,) it is admitted, though with the declaration that it is " nothing to the purpose," that " some very few of the militia, being in a state of high excitement and confusion, after the British had gone on their way, did fire off their guns from be- hind the wall, in the places of their concealment." If the reader will now turn to the nineteenth page, he will find the same authors there. affirming, " The British immediately retreated. When the Americans had fired, most of the forward companies leaped over a wall on the left, and fired from behind it." Supposing both these accounts to be true, Lexington has no occasion to shrink from the comparison.
In the same publication it is maintained as a strong point, and it is repeatedly asserted, that, at the time of the Fight, it was not known, at Concord, that men had been killed at Lexington, and it appears to be thought necessary to maintain this, in order to justify the orders of Col. Barrett, which were renewed, as they were about to advance to the bridge, " not to fire unless fired upon." That such a fact, so per- fectly known to hundreds at Lexington, about sunrise, on a day, when so many were literally running from town to town, should not have traveled six miles in about five hours, so as to have been communicated by one credible witness, at least, to the " Great Council of War," can- not be believed. That the fact was unknown, at seven in the morning, when the British first arrived, is all that is affirmed in Mr. Shattuck's History ! (See pages 103 to 106.) The pretence was too absurd to be repeated.
It will be in vain to say that the enemy had seized the passes ; that the fact might be known, in the village ; but the intelligence could not be carried across the river. A fact, of that importance, at that time, and under such circumstances, must have been made known to Col. Barrett. The yankees were not asleep on that morning. The knowl- edge of the fact was not to be bounded by the river which might have been passed, otherwise than by bridges. It is not a very short river, and, it is said, there were men, in those days, who could swim, even if they had no foot bridges, nor canoes; and there was a period of from two to three hours, between the arrival of the British, and the time when the provincials moved toward the bridge.
But, to set this matter entirely at rest, let the reader now turn to page 348 of the History of Concord, and read the following extract from the deposition of Capt. Nathan Barrett and fifteen others, of Concord :-
" On Wednesday, the 19th instant, about an hour after sunrise, we assembled on a hill near the meeting-house in said Concord, in conse- quence of an information received that a number of regular troops, had killed six of our countrymen at Lexington, and were on their march for Concord ; and about an hour after, we saw them approach- ing," &c. On the preceding page, John Hoar and seven others, of Lincoln, testify substantially in the same manner.
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It appears also, by several of the depositions published in the History of the Battle at Lexington, and also by that of Sylvanus Wood, that prisoners were taken, at Lexington, in the morning. But the authors of the History of the Fight contend that it amounted not to resistance, because, say they, " we firmly believe that not one was captured, that morning, while fighting, or making any resistance. All, who were taken, at Lexington, in the morning, were willing captives."
The idea of taking a prisoner while he continues to fight, and make resistance, is new. It has always been supposed that all captives are so far willing, that they choose to lose their liberty to save life. Quar- ter is not usually given till asked for. Taking a prisoner includes the power of taking life ; and a compliance with the laws of humanity, and of war too, should not detract from the honors of the victor. Suppose none had been killed at the bridge, and the party at Col. Barrett's had yielded themselves prisoners to the men in arms ; would no account have been made of it ?
This will doubtless be said to be an exhibition of but one side of the controversy. It may be so, even to a greater extent than the writer is aware. Having read, with some attention, the evidence and argu- ments of the authors, so often quoted, he is sensible of having an opin- ion, perhaps too strong, to preserve the impartiality of history. But the reader is confidently referred to the entire publications, where he will find much said on both sides, and several depositions, taken with- in a few years past, by both the parties.
After all, the places of action and priority of time, are of minor con- sequence. The fame of Leonidas, and his band of three hundred, against the five millions of Xerxes, is suggested by the mention of Thermopyla; but depends wholly on what was done there. The names of Concord and Lexington will forever remain in history, as indicative of the places where the inhabitants of each town and its vi- cinity, according to their opportunities, separately, and by themselves, on the same morning, made physical resistance in defence of their rights as a free people. That morning will live forever, as the begin- ning of a revolution, which ended in the Independence of the United States, and gave to the world a form of free government, of a charac- ter entirely new, and which has since been substantially adopted by numerous nations, as the basis of their Republican Institutions. But the actors in those scenes will be honored, each according to the man- ner in which his part was played, without any regard to priority of time, or the scene of action.
Some attempts have been made to avoid the testimony of Mr. Smith and Mr. Thorp, either by attacks on their characters for truth, or by representing them as having lost their powers of recollection. It has therefore been thought proper to accompany their depositions with the following certificate, which is signed by the Selectmen, the Representative, and the only settled Clergyman, all the magis- trates in the town, being five in number, and by three others, who were members of the Committee of Arrangements :-
ACTON, DECEMBER 2, 1835.
We, the subscribers, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Solomon Smith, Thomas Thorp, and Charles Handley, of Acton, and have always con- sidered them men of veracity, and have never heard that their characters for truth have been doubted. Some of us know, personally, and all believe, from inquiry, that they still retain their mental faculties, in more than an ordinary degree.
FRANCIS TUTTLE, Selectmen JOHN WHITE, of
JOSEPH W. TUTTLE, Acton.
SIMON HOSMER,
SILAS JONES, JOHN FLETCHER,
ELNATHAN JONES, JAMES T. WOODBURY, JOHN ROBBINS, ABRAHAM CONANT, STEVENS HAYWARD.
The author of the preceding pages is fully aware that the foregoing certifi- cate can receive no additional force from any statement of his own. Its character is such as to require no support from any quarter. To prevent, however, any un- favorable inference, from silence on his part, he thinks it proper to say, that he has been acquainted with all the deponents from his youth, and that he has never known, or heard any thing, in regard to any one of them, that would lead him to expect any misstatement or coloring in matters of fact. Their mental powers have been ranked, perhaps, a little above the ordinary level ; and they retain the use of them, much beyond what is common, at their age. It is thought fair also to disclose, that he has attended, personally, to the taking of all the depositions ; so that any, who love to imagine undue influence or management, may have the benefit of indulging their propensity.
THOMAS THORP'S DEPOSITION.
I, Thomas Thorp, of Acton, testify that I am in my eightieth year, and have lived here, ever since I was fifteen years old. I was a member of Capt. Isaac Davis's Company, which was formed in November, 1774. We usually met twice a week, for drill. Capt. Davis was a gun-smith. He was esteemed a man of courage and prudence, and had the love and veneration of all his company. On the morning of the 19th of April, 1775, I had notice that the regulars were com- ing to Concord. I took my equipments, and proceeded to Capt. Davis's house. I passed the house of the Rev. Mr. Swift. His son, Doctor Swift, made me a present of a cartridge-box, as he saw I had none. I well remember that there was, on the outside, a piece of red cloth, in the shape of a heart. Several of the company had arrived before me, and some of them were putting powder (flour) on their hair. About half the company formed there, and the remainder, as many
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as forty in the whole, joined us early in the day, and most of them before the fight. We made a short stay, near Col. Barrett's, and proceeded to the North Bridge, where we found a great collection of armed men, from Concord, and oth- er towns ;- there were several hundreds, cannot say how many. The officers seemed to be talking by themselves, and the British were then at the bridge. Our officers joined the others; and, in a few minutes, not exceeding five, Capt. Davis returned to his company, and said something which I do not recollect, and gave the word " march." It seemed to have been agreed that Capt. Davis should go in front. He had not taken the right of the other companies, as has been stated. The Concord minute-company was the oldest, and, as such, had taken its place, at a muster, a short time before. Our company, however, marched in front, and Major Buttrick and Col. Robinson were with Capt. Davis.
As we were advancing, the British began to take up the bridge ; on which, we quickened our pace, and ran toward them. They desisted, and joined their ranks. I saw a ball strike the water, on my right, and some other guns were fired over our heads. A volley was then discharged at us, and Luther Blanchard, our fifer, was wounded. We were then ordered to fire, and did so. The fire was returned, and Capt. Davis and Abner Hosmer, one of his men, were killed, and Ezekiel Davis, a brother of the Captain, had a ball pass through his hat. I did not un- derstand that he was injured, but have since understood that his head was slight- ly touched by the ball.
Two of the enemy were killed ;- one with a hatchet, after being wounded and helpless. This act was a matter of horror to us all. I saw him sitting up and wounded, as we had passed the bridge.
Our company, and most of the others, pursued, but in great disorder, and went to an eminence back of Elisha Jones's, and stood behind a wall, forty rods, or more, from where the British had joined a reinforcement. In a short time we returned over the bridge, but did not form in any order. As we stood there, the detachment from Col. Barrett's returned, and passed us, and might easily have been taken prisoners, if we had not been in such confusion. I do not remember that any one was there, who assumed any command.
About this time, the troops left the village, and, after some delay to take re- freshment, the Americans pursued, and various skirmishes took place, till the British encamped on Bunker-Hill, a little before sunset. It was impossible for me to know that all our company pursued ; but I did not hear, at the time, nor since, that any one deserted.
I cannot say how many were at the bridge in the morning, but should think not more than forty or fifty, at most. I could see a great number on Lee's Hill, about a mile distant ; I should judge there were three or four hundred. I saw them in the morning, at the time of the fight. (Signed) THOMAS THORP.
MIDDLESEX SS. JULY 10, 1835. Then Thomas Thorp, who is, and long has been, personally known to me as a man of truth, subscribed the foregoing affida- vit, and made oath that the same is true, according to his best knowledge and be- lief. Before me, FRANCIS TUTTLE,
Justice of the Peace.
THOMAS THORP'S SECOND DEPOSITION.
I, Thomas Thorp, testify that, according to the best of my recollection and judgement, the number of the British at and near the north bridge, before the fight, was about eighty ; but they were scattered about, so that I cannot be certain ; there might be more. It was supposed to be one company. I saw the detach- ment return from Col. Barrett's. It consisted of one company, as I judged by their appearance. 1 should think the reinforcement, that came out front the vil- lage consisted of about the same number ; but of this last I am not so certain.
The British retreated from the bridge, immediately after returning our fire, and there were no guns fired afterwards till they had left the village.
I have no remembrance of seeing or hearing of Col. Barrett, or Major Buttrick, after the enemy retreated from the bridge. The British left the village about noon, without any interruption from the Americans.
I remained in the army during the whole war, and am now a pensioner.
I never knew, or heard till lately, that any of our men leaped over the wall on the north side of the causeway, to fire at the British at the bridge. We had no time to fire but once, as the British returned our fire immediately, and immediate- ly retreated, in great haste.
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I may have been mistaken in stating, in my first deposition, that Davis and Hos- mer were not killed by the volley ; it might have been otherwise, as there was very little time between the volley and the return fire. THOMAS THORP.
MIDDLESEX SS. DEC. 2, 1835. Then Thomas Thorp, who is known to me as a man of truth, made oath that the above affidavit is true, according to his best knowledge and belief. Before me, SIMON HOSMER, Justice of the Peace.
SOLOMON SMITH'S DEPOSITION.
I, Solomon Smith, of Acton, testify that I am now in my eighty-second year. I have lived in Acton, from about the year 1760 to the present time. I was a member of Capt. Davis's company of minute-men, and was in the fight at Con- cord in 1775. We turned out to drill and exercise, twice a week, from the No. vember preceding. I think the company consisted of about forty. The company was raised by voluntary enlistment. The town paid us eight pence for every half day. John Hayward was the Lieutenant, and John Heald the Ensign. They were both good officers, and had the confidence of their men. I was alarmed, on the 19th of April, about day-break. I gave notice to several of the company, and went to Capt. Davis's house, and found several of the company there. His fam- ily were sick. He had four children, some of whom had the canker.rash; and the others were unwell. Capt. Davis appeared to be heavy hearted. One of the men used some light language, and was reproved by Captain Davis. We set out for Concord when the sun was something more than an hour high. Other mem- bers of the company joined us on the road, and the remainder, in the course of of the forenoon-most of them before the fight. We made some delay, near Col. Barrett's, and then proceeded to the high ground, north of the bridge. There was a considerable number of men from Concord and other towns assembled there, and others were fast joining them. Immediately after our arrival, the officers of the companies, including ours, went by themselves a few rods, and held a con- sultation for a few minutes. Capt. Davis then came to the head of his company, and drew his sword, and said to the company, " I haven't a man that is afraid to go," and gave the word "march." We proceeded toward the bridge in double file. Major Buttrick and Col. Robinson marched with Capt. Davis. I do not know the order in which the other companies fell in.
When we came first on the ground, Capt. Davis took the left of the Concord minute-men, as he had done a few weeks before at a muster ; and he went from this position, when he took the front, as above stated.
After we began to move, the British were beginning to take up the bridge ; some one, (I believe it was Major Buttrick,) remonstrated in a loud voice ; and, about the same time, they desisted, and formed for action. I next saw a ball, from the enemy, strike in the river, and heard the report of two others, directly after, which were thought not to be aimed at us. A volley immediately follow- ed, by which Luther Blanchard, our fifer, was slightly wounded ; and hearing him cry out, Major Buttrick exclaimed, " Fire, for God's sake, Fire !" The or- der was obeyed, and the British returned the fire, and killed Captain Davis and Abner Hosmer, a private of his company, and wounded Ezekiel Davis, (a brother of the Captain,) on the head. They then retreated toward the village. Two of the British were killed there. One of them was left on the ground wounded, and, in that situation, was killed, by an American, with a hatchet. This act met with universal disapprobation, and was excused only by the excitement and inexperi- ence of the perpetrator. The enemy retreated till they met a reinforcement near the village. I do not know what proportion of the Americans followed over the bridge ; but our company, and the Concord minute-men, and very many others, proceeded to an eminence, on the east side of the road, back of Elisha Jones's house, behind a wall. It was, perhaps, forty rods from where the enemy had halt- ed. After a short time, we dispersed, and, without any regularity, went back over the bridge. While we were there, the detachment, which had been to de- stroy stores at Col. Barrett's, returned, and passed us without molestation. It was owing to our want of order, and our confused state, that they were not taken prisoners. They passed the two of their number, who had been killed, and saw that the head of one had been split open. It was said that this circumstance gave them the impression that the Americans would give no quarter.
It was soon after ascertained that the British were leaving the village, and we followed after them, without any order, firing when we could, and saw the last of them, for that day, on Bunker-Hill.
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Capt. Davis was a man of great firmness, and energy of character,-an excellent officer, and had the respect and esteem of all who knew him. Lieutenant Hay- ward did all that could be done ; but it was felt, at the time, that the loss of our Captain was the cause of much of the confusion that followed.
(Signed) SOLOMON SMITH.
MIDDLESEX SS. JULY 10, 1835. Then Solomon Smith, who is well known to me as a man of veracity, subscribed the foregoing affidavit, and made oath that the same is true, according to his best knowledge and belief. Before ine,
FRANCIS TUTTLE, Justice of the Peace.
SOLOMON SMITH'S SECOND DEPOSITION.
I, Solomon Smith, testify, that, according to the best of my recollection and judgement, the number of the enemy at the bridge, at the time of the Concord Fight, was only sufficient for one company ; perhaps about eighty. The detach- ment which went to Col. Barrett's was of about the same number. They passed near me as they returned. The reinforcement from the village appeared to me to consist of about the same number. I saw them, from the hill, back of Elisha Jones's house. I did not notice that there were troops on Lee's Hill, but heard of it soon after.
There were no guns fired, on either side, after the British returned our fire, till the troops left tlie village.
I have no remembrance of seeing or hearing from Col. Barrett, or Major But- trick, after the fight. The enemy left the village about noon.
I was in the revolutionary army, thirteen months, and am now a pensioner.
Our company marched to Concord, by the Strawberry-hill road ; when we ar- rived near Col. Barrett's, we left that road, and went, partly in a cross road, and partly across the fields, in nearly a straight course, to the widow Brown's tavern. We there took the back, or east road, to the high ground.
The bodies of Davis and Hosmer were carried, as I was told, to the house of Major Buttrick, very soon after they were killed, and before the detachment re- turned from Col. Barrett's.
I did not see any of the Americans leap over the wall, on the north side of the road, to fire at the British at the bridge, nor did I ever hear so, till of late There was no time, nor occasion to do so, as the enemy retreated, with quick step, im- mediately on returning our fire.
I may have been mistaken in saying, in my former deposition, that Davis and Hosmer were killed by the return fire, and not by the volley; there was very lit- tle time intervened between them. SOLOMON SMITH.
MIDDLESEX SS. DEC. 2, 1835. Then Solomon Smith, who is known to me as a man of truth, made oath that the above affidavit is true, according to his best knowledge and belief. Before me, SIMON HOSMER,
Justice of the Peace.
CHARLES HANDLEY'S DEPOSITION.
I, Charles Handley, of Acton, testify that I am a native of Concord. At the time of the Concord Fight, I was in my thirteenth year, and lived at the tavern, kept by Mrs. Brown, nearly a mile northwest of the north bridge. At the time of the fight, the British, consisting of about one hundred, had returned from Col. Barrett's, as far as the tavern, and three or four of the officers were in the house, taking some drink. The soldiers were sitting by the road side, and some drink was carried out to them. The officers offered to pay, and Mrs. Brown declined ; tliey told her not to be afraid, for they should do her no harm, and paid for their drink.
I heard the guns, at the bridge, but the British did not appear to hear them. They marched on, very soon, but were in no haste. It was always said that they had no knowledge of the fight, till they passed the bridge, and saw the men that had been killed. I heard at the time, and many times since, that one of the two British, who were killed at the bridge, was killed with a liatchet, after he was left wounded. The young man, who killed him, told me, in 1807, that it had worried him very much ; but that he thought he was doing right, at the time.
I saw Capt. Davis's company, as they came from Acton. I first saw them coming through the fields north of Barrett's mill, and they kept the fields, till
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they came to the road at Mrs. Brown's tavern. They there took the back road, leading to the bridge. They marclied quite fast, to the music of a fife and drum. I remember the tune, but am not sure of its name ; think it was called the " White Cockade." CHARLES HANDLEY.
MIDDLESEX SS. DEC. 1, 1835. Personally appeared Charles Handley, who has, for many years, been known to me as a man of veracity, and made oath that the above affidavit is true, according to his best knowledge and belief. Before me,
JOSIAH ADAMS, Justice of the Peace.
DEPOSITION OF THE WIFE OF CAPT. DAVIS.
I, Hannah Leighton, of Acton, testify, that I am eighty-nine years of age. Isaac Davis, who was killed in the Concord Fight, in 1775, was my husband. He was then thirty years of age. We had four children ;- the youngest about fifteen months old. They were all unwell when he left me, in the morning ; some of them with the canker-rash.
The alarm was given early in the morning, and my husband lost no time in making ready to go to Concord with his company. A considerable number of them came to the house, and made their cartridges there. The sun was from one to two hours high when they marched for Concord.
My husband said but little that morning. He seemed serious and thoughtful ; but never seemed to hesitate as to the course of his duty. As he led the com- pany from the house, he turned himself round, and seemed to have something to communicate. He only said " take good care of the children," and was soon out of sight.
In the afternoon he was brought home a corpse. He was placed in my bed- room till the funeral. His countenance was pleasant, and seemed little altered.
The bodies of Abner Hosmer, one of the company, and of James Hayward, one of the militia company, who was killed in Lexington, in the afternoon, were brought, by their friends, to the house, where the funeral of the three was at- tended together.
HANNAH LEIGHTON.
MIDDLESEX SS. AUGUST 14, 1835. Then the abovenamed Hannah Leighton, who has long been known to me as a respectable and credible woman, made oath that the foregoing affidavit, by her subscribed, is true, according to her best knowledge and belief. Before me, FRANCIS TUTTLE, Justice of the Peace.
The following, are all the names of Capt. Davis's company, that are now re- collected :-
ISAAC DAVIS, Captain, JOHN HAYWARD, Lieutenant, JOHN HEALD, Ensign, JOSEPH PIPER, Clerk, DAVID FORBUSH, OLIVER EMERSON, Sergeants,
GEORGE MAXFIELD,
SETH BROOKS, LUTHER BLANCHARD, Fifer, FRANCIS BARKER, Drummer.
PRIVATES.
JOSEPH BARKER, EPHRAIM BILLINGS, OLIVER BROWN, JOSEPH CHAFFIN, EZEKIEL DAVIS, DAVID DAVIS, ELIJAH DAVIS, JOHN DAVIS, REUBEN DAVIS, JACOB GILBERT, BENJAMIN HAYWARD, ABNER HOSMER, JONAS HUNT,
JAMES LAW, REUBEN LAW, JOSEPH LOCKE, PHILIP PIPER, JOSEPH REED, STEPHEN SHEPHERD, SOLOMON SMITH, JONATHAN STRATTON, WILLIAM THOMAS, THOMAS THORP, MOSES WOODS, ABRAHAM YOUNG,
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ABNER HOSMER was the son of Deacon Jonathan Hosmer, and a nephew of Ephraim Hosmer, so often mentioned in the preceding pages. He was young, and still lived with his father, not far distant from the house of Capt. Davis. It is probable, therefore, that he formed with the company, in the morning. How- ever that may be, lie has left substantial evidence that he was seasonably on the ground. The ball of the enemy passed through his head, and he died instantly.
JAMES HAYWARD, son of Deacon Samuel Hayward, was born in Acton, April 15, 1750. He was a young man of enterprize and of great promise.
He left his father's house, in the westerly part of Acton, on the morning of the 19th of April, 1775, with one pound of powder, and forty balls.
He followed the British, in their retreat from Concord, and was eager and ac- tive in the attack.
At the eastern foot of Fisk's hill, in Lexington, at the house, which now stands on the south side of the road, he liad occasion to go to the well, in front of the house, to quench his thirst. In passing the west window, he was espied by one of the enemy, who was plundering in the house. He hastily stepped to the front door, and leveled his piece. The active eyes and limbs of young Hayward were not idle. His piece was leveled at his foe, in the same instant. Both fired, and both fell ; the British soldier dead; the other mortally wounded. The ball of his enemy passed through the lower part of his powder-horn, driving the splin- ters into his body. He had used nearly the whole of his powder and balls. Dur- ing the eight hours, in which he languished, he repeatedly expressed his willing- ness to die in defending the rights of his country.
Dulce est pro patria mori.
An Act to incorporate the town of Acton, passed July 3, 1735.
Whereas the inhabitants and proprietors of the northwesterly part of Concord, in the County of Middlesex, called the Village or New Grant, have represented to this Court, that they labor under great difficulties by reason of their remoteness from the place of public worship, and therefore desire that they and their estates, together with the farms, called Willard Farms, may be set off a distinct and sep- arate township, for which they have also obtained the consent of the town of Concord ;
Be it therefore enacted, by his Excellency the Governor, Council, and Repre- sentatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the said northwesterly part of Concord, together with the said farms, be, and hereby are set off, constituted, and erected into a distinct and separate township, by the name of Acton, and agreeably to the following boundaries, namely ; be- ginning at the southwest corner of Concord old bounds, then southwesterly on Sudbury and Stow lines till it comes to the southwest corner of Concord Village, then northerly by Stow line till it comes to Littleton line, then bounded northerly by Littleton, Westford, and Chelmsford, then easterly by Billerica till it comes to the northwest corner of Concord old bounds, and by said bounds to the place first mentioned. And that the inhabitants of the lands, before described and bounded, be and hereby are vested with all the town privileges and immunities, that the inhabitants of the other towns within this Province are, or by law ought to be, vested with.
Provided that the said inhabitants of the said town of Acton do, within three years from the publication of this Act, erect and finish a suitable house for the public worship of God, and procure and settle a learned orthodox minister, of good conversation, and make provision for his comfortable and honorable support.
MAN Z
1949
MAR 2
1953
JUL 87 1955
nyman
OCT 1 8 1955 M Bortomle
DEC 9 1951 D. Lared OU
JUN 7
1963
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