Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Boston and eastern Massachusetts, Part 98

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 768


USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Boston and eastern Massachusetts > Part 98


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Milley Ellis (Dean) Morse, mother of George H. Morse (9), mentioned above and in Morse sketch herewith, was a daughter of John Dean. Her father married, December 5, 1793, Milley Ellis, born November 15. 1776, died March 27, 1812. Children: I. Lemuel Dean, born March 22. 1796. 2. Mary Dean, born June 14, 1797, died July, 1897, at the age of one hundred years. 3. Hannah Dean, born July II, 1800. 4. Milley E. Dean, born Sep- tember 13, 1802; married Joseph Morse (8) ; (see sketch). 5. Miriam L. Dean, born No- vember 11, 1804. 6. John Dean Jr., born Au- gust 29, 1807.


Samuel Morse, immigrant ances- MORSE tor, born in England, 1586, sail- ed for New England in the ship "Increase," April 15, 1635, and settled at Ded- ham. He was admitted a freeman there Oc- tober 8. 1640, and later removed to the ad- joining new town of Medfield, where many of his descendants have lived. He was a town officer of Dedham, and one of the proprietors. He died April 5. 1654, and his will was proved January 30, 1654-5. He married, in England, Elizabeth -, died June 20. 1655. She was forty-eight years old when she emigrated. Children: 1. John, born 1611; mentioned below. 2. Daniel, born 1613. 3. Joseph, born 1615: married Hannah Phillips. 4. Abigail, married Daniel Fisher, of Dedham. 5. Mary, married Samuel Bullen. 6. Jeremiah, went


east.


(II) John Morse, son of Samuel Morse (1), born 1611, in England, died November 16, 1657, in Dedham, Massachusetts. He re- sided in Dedham, and married Annis ( Ever- ett ?) who died September 1, 1693. Children : I. Samuel, baptized January 5, 1640. 2. Rachel, baptized Jannary 5, 1640. 3. Ruth, born June 3, 1637 ; married Brackett. 4. John, born June 8, 1639 ; married, October 25. 1678, Elizabeth, daughter of Zachariah Bosworth. 5. Joseph, born February 3, 1640; died 1689; married Priscilla Colborne ; settled in Medfield, near Death's bridge ; built a house in the time of King Philip's war. 6. Ezra, born February 5, 1643; mentioned be- low. 7. Abigail, born March 2, 1646; mar- ried - Jones. 8. Ephraim, born July 19, 1648, resided at Newtown, Long Island. 9. Bethia, born March 28. 1651 ; married Timo- thy Dwight, ancestor of President Dwight, of Yale College. IO. Nathaniel, born May 2, 1653 : died at Dedham s. p. 1685.


(III) Ezra Morse, son of John Morse (2), born February 5, 1643-44, died 1697. He was received into the church in February, 1667-68. He resided in Dedham, and married, 1670, Joanna Hoar. Children, born at Dedham : I. Captain Ebenezer, born January 28, 1671 ; mentioned below. 2. Joanna, born about 1674; married, 1693, Josiah Fisher. 3. Na- thaniel, born October 3, 1676; married Sarah Draper, of Boston. 4. Rev. John A. M., born March 31, 1679; died unmarried, about 1700; resided at Newtown, Long Island. 5. David, baptized August 31, 1681 ; died 1681, at Medfield. 6. Peter, baptized August II,


George I Morse


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1682: probably died young. 7. David, born June 22, 1683 : died September 6, 1771 ; mar- ried, August 22, 1705, Experience Sabine. 8. Seth, born 1686; had brother John's estate ; married - Falkner.


(IV) Captain Ezra Morse, son of Ezra Morse (3), born January 28, 1671, died Octo- ber 17, 1760. He was deacon of the second church of Dedham for twenty-four years. He married Mary -- , who died September 17, 1746, in her seventy-seventh year. Children : I. Captain Ezra, born December 12, 1694; married Anna White. 2. John, born Novem- ber 10. 1703: died November 22, 1750; mar- ried Mary Guild. 3. Captain Joseph, born April 20, 1705; mentioned below. 4. Mary, born April 8. 1710; died young.


(V) Captain Joseph Morse, son of Ezra Morse (4), was born April 29, 1706. He was dismissed from the Walpole church to the Second church at South Dedham, March 9. 1746, and was also deacon. He resided at Walpole and Dedham. He married first. 1728. Sarah Lewis, died May 24, 1767, aged sixty ; married second, December 26, 1770, Sarah Clark. Children: 1. Joseph, born December 31. 1728; died September 12, 1730. 2. Joseph, born January 4, 1731 ; died February 7, 1802 ; soldier in French and Indian war. 3. Abigail, born January 16, 1733-34. 4. Paul, born April 15, 1736; died June 28, 1762. 5. Silas, born April 15, 1736 (twin ) : mentioned below. 6. Lois, born September 17, 1738. 7. Nathan, born June 28, 1741 ; married Sarah Back.


(VI) Silas Morse, son of Joseph Morse (5). was born April 15. 1736. He was a soldier in the revolution, in the South Parish company, Captain William Bullard, in Colonel Heath's regiment, April 19, 1775: also with the same captain in Colonel William McIn- tosh's regiment, 1776; also in Captain John Gay's company, Colonel Ebenezer Francis's regiment. He married, April 4. 1758, Mehita- ble Price. Children: 1. Silas, born Novem- ber 24, 1760: fell dead in Medfield while marching back with his company, which had been on the expedition against Shays' rebel- lion. 2. Hannah, baptized July 22, 1764 ; died young. 3. Jabez, baptized April 26, 1767. 4. George, baptized August 26, 1770; mentioned below. 5-6. Two children died October, 1775.


(VII) George Morse, son of Silas Morse (6), was baptized at the South Church, Ded- ham, August 26, 1770, and died at Dedham, June 17, 1818. He married, May 31, 1797. Irene Potter. Children : I. Joseph, born October 29. 1800 : mentioned below. 2. Irene,


married a Mr. Crocker. 3. Olive, wife of Reuben Guild.


(VIII) Joseph Morse, son of George Morse (7), born October 29, 1800, died May 23. 1851 ; married, April 10, 1834, Milley Ellis Dean, born September 13, 1802, died Septem- ber 13, 1885. Children : 1. Milley, born Jan- uary 26, 1825 ; married James Lewis Boyden ; children: i. Josephine Boyden, born August 21, 1846, died September 11, 1848: ii. Emma Frances Boyden, born January 15, 1850, mar- ried. October 24, 1874, Melvin 1. Ellis; iii. James Frederick Boyden, born July 24, 1854. married, August 15, 1878, Helen A. Shattuck ; iv. Arthur Lewis Boyden, born July 16. 1858, married January 23. 1884, Annabelle Guild : v. Eva Nettie Boyden, boru December 4, 1860, married George Daniels. 2. George Henry, born February 12, 1824: mentioned below.


( IX) George Henry Morse, son of Joseph Morse (8), was born in South Dedham ( now Norwood ), February 12, 1824. He was edu- cated in the public schools of his native town and received additional instruction from a private tutor. During his youth he worked on the homestead with his father, and when his father died he succeeded to the farmn. He has made farming his principal business to the present time, though for a number of years he was active in the business of auctioneer. Mr. Morse is active in public affairs in Nor- wood. For a period of twenty years he was a member of the Norwood board of selectmen, and for several years served on the school committee. He is a Republican. Mr. Morse is a prominent member of the Congregational . church of Norwood. He is a charter mem- ber of Orient Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Norwood : of the Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Norwood; of Cypress Com- mandery, Knights Templar ; and of Aleppo Temple, Mystic Shrine, Boston. He is a mem- ber also of Tiot Lodge, I. O. O. F. Mr. Morse is a man of engaging personal qualities, possessing the utmost confidence of his towns- men and the respect of all who know him. He is active in all good movements, a man of many good deeds and recognized public spirit. He married, December 24, 1855, Abbie R. Shackley, born February 27, 1835, died Febru- ary 21, 1869, daughter of Aaron and Margaret Shackley. (See Shackley family). Mr. Morse married second, June 13, 1871, N. Althine Atkins, who died November 14, 1896. Chil- dren of first wife: 1. Ellen Florence, born April 30, 1857. 2. Kate Lillian, born Decem- ber 28, 1858, died December 19. 1879.


ii-7


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The origin of this surname WINGATE is somewhat in doubt. There is a family tradition that it came to the family from the prowess of one of their number in battle, for having won a certain city gate. Another theory is that it was originally from "Wind-gate," so called from a stream of air sweeping through a chasm. Both spelling and pronunciation have changed at various times. In the English rec- ords it is Wyngate, Windgate, Wyndegate, in American records it is spelled Wengett, Wen- dett, Windiett and Windet. Wingate is the present spelling. The first known individual of the name was one Hemyng de Wyngate, who was lord of that manor about the reign of King Henry II (1154-89). He had many descend- ants, but the connection between the English and American lines cannot be definitely traced. The arms were, according to Burke : Sa, a bend erm. cotised or betw. six martlets of the last. Crest : A gate or. Motto: Over Win. This coat-of-arms was in the possession of some of the American families, with the tradition that it was brought over by the first John Win- gate.


(I) John Wingate, the immigrant ancestor, was born in England sometime before 1636, and was a planter at Hilton's Point, now Dover, New Hampshire. as early as 1658; he received a grant of twenty acres of land Jan- uary II, 1658-59, "at the head of Thomas layton's twenty acker lott on the west sid of the back River that joyneth to Elder nutters 20 acker lott." When John Wingate first came . to Dover he was in the service of Thomas Lay- ton, who afterwards gave him another twenty acre lot. He had other lands also. He was received as an inhabitant of Dover, June 18, 1660, settled in what was known as Dover Neck ; the homestead remained in the family for six generations, and is or was lately occu- pied by Joseph William Wingate (born 1827). The homestead is described as "a beautiful farm of nearly. one hundred acres, very near the city. The magnificent elms which stand before the house were planted by William P. M. Wingate, in 1801. An apple tree planted with his own hand by John Wingate, the first American ancestor, survived in good condition until the great storm of 1845; it was over sixteen feet in circumference. Pieces of that tree are now in the possession of the family. The old house is full of relics. The present house was built in 1803, and stands on the same spot as the previous one. The first house, built by John Wingate, stood on a


knoll by the brook about sixteen rods directly back of the present dwelling."


In 1683 John Wingate was "one of the principal land holders on Dover." He served as juryman, and was selectman in 1674, 1686 and 1687, being chairman in the latter year. He served in King Philip's war, being in active service in the early months of 1675. He was a leader among the property owners of Dover in the controversy over the Mason claims in 1683. He made his will during a severe ill- ness, March 12, 1683-84, and a codicil eight days before his death, December 1, 1687. He died December 9, 1687, and his will was proved March 23, 1687-88. He bequeathed to his wife, his children and his step-children. He married first, Mary, daughter of Elder Hate- vil Nutter, who was one of the earliest settlers of Dover, and who died in 1674; second, about 1676, Sarah (Taylor) Canney, daughter of Anthony, (died November 4, 1687), and Phillipa Taylor (died September 20, 1683), and widow of the second Thomas Canney. She had six children by her first husband. Chil- dren: I. Anne, born February 18, 1667. 2. John, born July 13, 1670; mentioned below. 3. Caleb. 4. Moses. 5. Mary. 6. Joshua, born February 2, 1679; died February 9, 1769. 7. Abigail, born between 1684 and 1687.


(II) John Wingate, son of John Wingate (I), was born July 13, 1670. He inherited the homestead and lived there all his life. He commanded a company in one of the expedi- tions to Port Royal. He died in 1715. His will, dated December 28, 1714, mentions wife and children; also the fact that he owned an interest in a saw mill at Tole End. He mar- ried Ann - , who married second, Deceni- ber, 1725, Captain Jolin Heard. Children : I. Mary, born October 3, 1691. 2. John, born April 10, 1693; mentioned below. 3. Ann, born February 2, 1694, died 1787. 4. Sarah, born February 17, 1696. 5. Moses, born De- cember 27, 1698, died February 9, 1782. 6. Samuel, born November 27, 1700. 7. Ed- mond, born February 27, 1702. 8. Abigail, born March 2, 1704. 9. Elizabeth, born Feb- ruary 3, 1706. 10. Mehitable, born November 14, 1709. II. Joanna, born January 6, 171I. 12. Simon, born September 2, 1713.


(IH) John Wingate, son of John Wingate (2), was born in Dover, New Hampshire, April 10, 1693. He inherited the homestead, and re- sided there all his life. In 1722 the house of representatives settled accounts for "service done the province in cutting the road to and scouting to Winnipishoky pond," and ordered


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that John Wingate be paid five shillings a day for eight days' service as pilot. May 10, 1727, he was appointed by the general assembly of province one of a committee of five to "renew or perambulate the line between Barrington and Rochester." He was selectman from 1729 to 1752, with the exception of four years ; representative to the general court, 1745: 1740 was lieutenant of second foot company of militia of Dover, and in 1745, captain. He married first, 1717, Dorothy, daughter of Sam- uel Tebbets, of Dover ; second, Sarah Ricker, born 1702, died March 4, 1800, aged ninety- eight, daughter of the emigrant Maturin Rick- er, of Somersworth, who with his brother George Ricker, also an emigrant, was killed by the Indians. She was once carried off by the Indians. John Wingate died in September, 1764. His will was dated May 12, 1764, and proved September 26, 1764. Children : 1. John, born May 5, 1719; died March 15, 1776. 2. Samuel, born February 19. 1721. 3. Daniel, born January 28, 1722-23. 4. Joshua, born July 28, 1725 ; died February 9, 1796. 5. Jona- than, baptized October 22, 1727. 6. Dorothy, baptized September 23. 1733. 7. Noah, bap- tized September 27. 1735. 8. Aaron, baptized February 6, 1737 ; died young. 9. Sarah, bap- tized August 20, 1738. 10. Ann, baptized March 14, 1742; died March 25, 1826. II. Aaron (twin), born November 23, 1744; baptized November 28, 1744: died February, 1822. 12. Moses (twin), born November 23, 1744; mentioned below. 13. Mehitable, baptized February 22, 1747 ; died 1842-43.


(IV) Captain Moses Wingate, son of John Wingate (3), born November 23, 1744, bap- tized November 28, 1744, died April 29, 1829. He was a farmer, and with his twin brother Aaron inherited the old homestead. He was representative to the general court in 1798. He was captain in the revolution, and the fam- ily has the flintlock gun which he carried in the war. He married, 1780, Joanna Gilman Wentworth, born June 21, 1755, died Decem- ber 24, 1806, daughter of Colonel John and Abigail ( Millet) Wentworth. Children : I. John, born May 7, 1782; died September 5, 1827 ; married, September 15, 1803, Mary Torr, of Dover ; resided in Dover. 2. Saralı, born August, 1784; died April 19, 1827 ; mar- ried, October 24, 1819, James Rollins, as his second wife. 3. Abigail, born March, 1787; died without issue, October 18, 1858; married as third wife, September 7, 1828, James Rol- lins, former husband of her sister Sarah. 4. William Pitt Moulton, mentioned below.


(V) William Pitt Moulton Wingate, son of Moses Wingate (4), born July 7, 1789. died July 15, 1825. He inherited the homestead. He married first, January 24, 1822, Eliza Chandler, born 1796-97, died July 15, 1825 ; second, Lydia Gray Chandler, born June 20, 1801. died January 1, 1871. Both wives were daughters of Philemon and Abigail (Torr) Chandler, of Dover. Children by the first wife: I. Moses, born March 13, 1823; men- tioned below. 2. Eliza C., born August 4, 1824; died July, 1855 ; married, January, 1849. Aaron P. Wingate, of Rochester, son of Shadrach Wingate. Children of second wife : 3. Joseph William, born July 5, 1827; lived on the homestead. 4. Sarah A., born October 17, 1829; resided in Dover. 5. Mary F., born January 27, 1835; died September 21, 1855. 6. Lydia A., born March 13, 1837; died May 5, 1841. 7. Jeremialı Y., born June 15, 1842 ; married, November 22, 1870, Arvilla S. Clem- ents, of Dover ; resided in Dover ; four chil- dren. 8. Henry M., born March 27, 1845; died August 9. 1863. 9. Helen Cecelia, born June 20, 1851 ; resided at Dover.


(VI) Moses Wingate, son of William P. M. Wingate (5), born at Dover, March 13, 1823, died in Lawrence, Massachusetts, March 18, 1892. He was a carpenter in early life, and a market gardener and florist from 1857 to his death. He married, December 22, 1847, Lydia Snell, born in Dover, died in Lawrence, daughter of Colonel Samuel and Sally ( Horne) Snell. of Dover. Children : 1.


Ellen Augusta, born February 19, 1849; mar- ried. June 6, 1867. Henry Vatter, born 1846, of New Orleans, Louisiana; resided at Ilav- erhill and Lawrence, Massachusetts ; children : i. Alice Maud Vatter, born October 20, 1868; ii. George Henry Vatter, March 1, 1870; iii. Wilber Lewis Vatter, December 19, 1878. 2. Charles Edwin, born April 26, 1851 ; mention- ed below. 3. Harriet Frances, born April 1, 1856: married, June 24. 1880, Benjamin Rogers, born 1851 ; resided at Lawrence. Massachusetts ; children : i. Frances Rogers, born May 11, 1881 ; ii. Leslie Rogers, March 5. 1883 ; iii. Harold W. Rogers, September 28. 1885. 4. Mary Emma, born July 7, 1859; married, June 11, 1879, Horace S. Fowle, born : 1848, of Boston ; children : i. Horace Wingate Fowle, born March 1, 1881 ; ii. Mildred Endi- cot Fowle, February 17, 1883.


(VII) Charles Edwin Wingate, son of Moses Wingate (6), was born in Lawrence, April 26, 1851. He was educated in the public schools of Lawrence, and at an early age


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worked with his father in his greenhouses, and in the market gardens. Later his father took him in as a partner. He has a large and pros- perous business as florist, having improved the plant in many ways. He also runs a market garden for early vegetables. He is a Repub- lican and served in the city council in 1892. Ile is a member of the Universalist church. He is a member of Grecian Lodge of Free Masons: of Monadnock Lodge, I. O. O. F .: of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks ; of Court Pacific, of Foresters; of Pil- grim Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.


He married first, September 18, 1872, Mrs. Mary E. Carter, of Lawrence, born 1846, died July 1, 1874. daughter of Joseph Carroll and widow of Mason Carter. He married second, June 27, 1876. Addie Rhoda Pitman, born March 7. 1851, daughter of Judge George Winthrop M. Pitman, of Bartlett, New Hampshire, who was born May 2, 1819, and died in 1899; granddaughter of Joseph Pit- man ; great-granddaughter of Joseph Pitman, who served in the revolution. Her mother was Emelie (Chubbuck) Pitman. Child of first wife: I. Charles Edwin, born August 3. 1873. Children of second wife: 2. Winifred Eva, born June II, 1877. 3. Blanche Pitman. born January 3. 1879. 4. Addie, born April 14, 1880. 5. Tom Chubbuck Moses, born September 24. 1883. 6. Ray, born August 2, 1885, died January 7, 1886. 7. Ray Winthrop. born October 26, 1886. 8. Willa Emma, born July 19, 1889. 9. Joseph L., born June 19, 1892.


SMITH Peter Smith, the progenitor of this branch of the Smith family, was born in the ancient town of Brechin, Forfarshire, Scotland, and died there in 1809. Brechin has been a cathedral town since 1150, when it was created an Episcopal See by David I, then King of Scotland. Peter Smith was a carpenter in poor circumstances, and his wife eked out the family income by spinning, an art in which she was very pro- ficient. Smith had five children among whom were John, James and Peter.


(II) John Smith, son of Peter Smith ( I), was born in Brechin, Forfarshire, Scotland. May 19, 1796. His father died when he was a little over thirteen years old. He was the sec- ond of five children, and his mother needed all the help he could give her toward the sup- port of the family. From the age of nine John had worked for the farmers of the neighbor- hood. going to school winters. On the death


of his father he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a millwright, which at that time in- cluded work in both wood and iron. As soon as his apprenticeship ended he walked one hundred miles to Glasgow to seek employment. Here he stayed a year and a half, but good positions were scarce, and he resolved to try his fortune in America. He left Greenock for America, August 24, 1816, and landed in Hali- fax after a voyage of sixty days, being nearly wrecked on the voyage. He obtained work here as a house carpenter, but in two months sailed for Boston, and from there went to Watertown, where he heard there was a cotton factory, but found the factory two miles be- yond, in Waltham. Here he was gladly given work, as he knew all about cotton manufac- turing machinery, and he remained for two years and a half. He then started south, partly to see the country, but also to look for an opportunity to start in business for himself. He found a fellow workman in Augusta, Georgia, and remained with him for a time, but finally concluded that the north was better suited to the development of the cotton indus- try. Returning north, with four of his asso- ciates in the Waltham mills, he established himself in Medway as manufacturer of cotton machinery, and stayed with them about twenty months, when the opportunity came which he had been looking for. In the spring of 1822 he and two of his fellow workmen, Joseph Faulkner and Warren Richardson, entered in- to a partnership under the firm name of John Smith & Company for the manufacture of machinery. They started in Plymouth, Mass- achusetts, where they stayed two and one half years, and then removed to Andover, where they purchased the mill privilege in Frye Vil- lage, and at once built a machine shop, which is the building now or lately standing on the east side of the Shawshin river. They started in Andover in 1824, and the business increased rapidly. After a few years the partners both died, leaving Mr. Smith the sole owner of the business, which he had purchased from the heirs. In 1835 he joined his brother Peter and Mr. Dove in the new undertaking of flax-spin- ning, and the machine making business was gradually given up. It had been very lucra- tive, and was the foundation of Mr. Smith's fortune. Mr. Smith married, 1829, Agnes Ferguson, of Glasgow, Scotland, whom he had long known. She died December 30, 1851. He married second. March 5, 1860, Sarah Gleason. He died February 25, 1886, aged nearly ninety years.


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(II) Peter Smith, son of Peter Smith ( I), was born in Brechin, Forfarshire, Scotland, September 21, 1802. He was the fourth of five children. When he was nine years old he went to work for a farmer in the harvest sea- son, and until he was fifteen years old he did what he could to assist his mother in the sup- port of the family. When he was fourteen he started on foot for Glasgow, where his brother James worked, hoping to find employment. The journey was long and hard, and as he had no money, he was forced to rely upon the kind- ness of the good people on the way. He spent a year at work as a weaver in Glasgow, attend- ing evening school. Through the influence of a maternal uncle he was apprenticed four years to learn the trade of wheelwright, and at the age of twenty started for America, with no money, but plenty of energy and ambition. He embarked at Liverpool, August 1, 1822, and landed in Boston, where his brother John was to meet him. He had one cent in his pocket which a passenger on the boat had given him, and this constituted his whole cap- ital. After some delay he went to Plymouth, where his brother was then located. He re- moved with him to Andover, and soon after- ward he and John Dove, who was employed with him, entered into partnership for the pur- pose of manufacturing chalk lines from cotton, using a machine invented by Mr. Dove. The firm was called Smith, Dove & Co., and his brother, John Smith, invested capital in the enterprise. At first they manufactured twine from cotton yarn, and in 1836 they commenced to manufacture yarn from flax, and in this branch of the business achieved great success. The first invoice of shoe thread made by this company was carried to Boston by Peter Smith in a bundle weighing thirteen pounds, on a stage coach. He found great difficulty in disposing of his goods, and became quite dis- couraged before he made a sale.


Mr. Smith was a member of the South Church, and afterwards of the West Church, and was a deacon. He was a director in sev- eral banking and railroad corporations ; a cor- porate member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions; trustee of Phillips Academy and the Theological Sem- inary at Andover ; trustee and for some time president of the board of Abbot Academy ; superintendent of the West Parish Sunday school. He was a member of the state legis- lature for two years. He was a strong aboli- tionist, and gave freely to the cause, besides sending his sons to the army. He gave liber-




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