USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Genealogical history of the town of Reading, Mass., including the present towns of Wakefield, Reading, and North Reading, with chronological and historical sketches, from 1639 to 1874 > Part 16
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Voted " that no geese shall go on the Common after the Ist January next, but that swine may."
Town voted " that all Oak, Walnut, Elm, and Buttonwood trees, that are growing on the perpetuated Common, shall stand and not be cut off, under a penalty of prosecution."
Charlestown End was this year incorporated as a town, by the name of Stoneham.
1726. - The town voted " that, upon the petition of our neighbors of North End of Malden, Richard Upham and William Green represent- ing them, we will petition the General Court that a number of our neighbors of North End of Malden may be set to Reading."
Chose a Committee to prosecute encroachments upon Reading's right in the herbage in the " 600 acres " in Lynn.
Voted to take £8 in money of Joshua Felt, for Reading's right in six acres in the " 600 acres " in Lynn.
1727. - "Oct. 29," says the North Precinct church record, " there was a terrible earthquake, which lasted at times, 3 months, and at the end of the 3 months, very hard."
"July 2, Lordsday, just as the public exercise of the afternoon was ended, at the South Parish meeting-house, there was terrible thunder and lightning, which detained several persons at the M. House, and, while a surprising clap struck the house, broke off the vane and spindle, broke the turret in pieces, shivered off the clapboards on the west and south sides, from the top to the bottom, and shattered one of the doors
I43
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
in pieces that had just been shut, and struck a young man near it, threw him on his face and stunned him, so that he bled very much, but is since likely to do well. No other person received any considerable hurt."
First Parish voted "to procure a new Bell for the meeting-house, with the old Bell so far as that will go, and what that will not do, to be paid by way of a Rate."
Also voted " to build a turret on the Meeting-house for the Bell."
1728. - Town voted "that a Committee be chosen to look after ob- structions to the coming up of fish, and to threaten prosecution to them that hinder them."
This year the General Court issued 60,000 pounds more of "Bills of Credit," to be distributed to the several towns in proportion to their taxes ; whereupon the town voted "to accept their proportion of the same, according to the late act."
Voted "to let the money at six per cent, and that no man shall draw out more than £20, and no one less than £5, and any sum between these two, and for the trustees to take sufficient security for the money."
Chose for trustees : Thos. Bancroft, Thos. Poole, and Peter Emerson. Thomas Bancroft gave a part of his pay as Representative to the town.
1729. - Town voted " to try to get clear of mending Mystic bridge in future."
"The town met at 'Landlord Wesson's' to hear the Indian deed of our township read." See Appendix A.
First Church, this year, dismissed to Stoneham (probably to form the church there) Messrs. Daniel Gould, Daniel Gould, Jr., Ebenezer Knight, David Gould, Abraham Gould, Ebenezer Parker, Edward Buck- nam, Tho. Cutler, Joseph Bryant, Jona. Griffin, and others (females).
This year William Williams and his son James were drowned in Reading Pond, by the upsetting of a boat.
The north part of Malden, including ten families, was annexed to Reading. This annexation included the Green, Upham, and Evans families, with their farms, and was that part of what is now Greenwood, that was situated southerly of the old Smith farms.
1730. - First Parish chose a committee, consisting of William Bry- ant, Esq., Capt. Kendall Parker, Lieut. Thomas Eaton, Ens. Thomas Nichols, and Joseph Eaton, to seat the meeting-house, and voted "that
144
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
Real estate and age are the two first and chiefest rules to go by in seat- ing the M. House."
Voted also, forty-five in the affirmative and fifty in the negative on the question, whether the Parish would set off the northwest part of the Parish, Woodend, so called, to be a distinct Parish by themselves, act cording to the line in their petition.
Voted also " to petition to the General Court to restore all the lands that are taken off of our township, on the South side of Ipswich river, and on the east side of Andover road, from Jenkins bridge to Woburn line."
Voted also " to allow the Northwesterly part of this Parish, or Wood- end, so called, the sum of £17 a year for support of preaching among them in the winter season out of the Parish rate or treasury, during the term of ten years, provided the said Woodend do give the said Parish no trouble at home or abroad, referring to a separation; and also that the said Woodend do hereby oblige themselves to tarry with us during said term of ten years."
Then chose a Committee to go to General Court to defend the Parish from any breaking in from the North Precinct or elsewhere.
The town of Wilmington, including a part of Reading, was this year incorporated.
The action of the First Parish, last above mentioned, was probably occasioned by the following vote of the North Precinct, viz. :-
" To petition the General Court for part of Reading, part of Lynn, and part of An- dover, to be sett off to them to help support the gospel in said Precinct."
The Precinct Committee chosen to manage the affair were Capt. Jona. Parker, Lieut. Ebenezer Flint, and Mr. Samuel Burnap.
Extract from the first church record : -
"Jona. Brown and his wife, having been guilty of fornication, in having a child too soon, they both owned their sins to the church, before the congregation, gave glory to God, begged forgiveness of Him and the church, though he was only a child of the church by baptism, but she had owned the covenant, and the church taking satisfac- tion from their humble confession, restored them to their charity, and allowed them baptism for their child, they being about to remove to Billerica."
The following statement exhibits the financial operations of the town for the year 1730, and is inserted for comparison with those of late: times : -
" The Debts and Credit of ye Town of Reading in ye year 1730, Laid before ye Town at a General Town meeting March 1, 1731 : -
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
145
To Mr. Isaac Richardson for Schooling this Last year,
" Wm. Bryant, Esq., for Entering 2 actions at Court,
" Mr. Thomas Eaton for Keeping his Aunt Mary ye last year, II
" Mr. John Batcheller for Keeping his cousen, Wm. Batcheller,
" Mr. Ezekiel Upton for waiting on ye Court's Com. 2 days,
" Ens. Francis Nurse for ye like service,
" Ens. Geo. Flint for ye like service,
" Daniel Gowing for timber for a Causeway, North Precinct, I
" John Hartshorn for making and setting up a gate in North Precinct,
I 0 0
" Daniel Graves
I
" Peter Emerson for serving ye town as Clerk and Treasurer, 2 10 0
" Peter Emerson for returning 2 precepts and 12 quire paper, 9 0
" Landlord Wesson for Selectmen's expense (where Mrs. Spaulding lives), 3 6 8
" Landlord Damon for Selectmen's expense (at North Precinct), O 5 0
" Benj. Brown, Constable, warning 3 town meetings, gathering Rates, and warning 2 persons out of Town, 2 3 5
Abated to Wid. Suderick (Southwick ? ) her rate for 1729, O II 4
" Abated to James Parker his rate for 1729, o 9 0
" Abated to Stephen Flint his rate for 1729, 0 12 9
" John Hartshorn for Sawing Plank for Lobs Pound Bridge, 0 14 0
" Mr. Joseph Eaton for 5 days, 5 shillings a day, at ye Inferior Court, 5 0
77 8 2
CONTRA-is Credit :
By ye Town Rate,
63 9 II
" Overplus in the Province Rate,
4 II 6
" Overplus in the Country Rate,
O II 7
" Received of Constable Ezekiel Upton,
I 5 O
"
Constable Joseph Upton,
5 10 8
66
Constable Ebenezer Flint,
4 5 5
Constable John Swain,
3 º
66 Constable Timothy Wiley,
5 10 O
Lt. Poole, Rent for a corner of ye Town's land,
0 15 6
60 Do. and Peter Emerson ye last payment,
of ye interest of ye £50,000 loan,
3 0 10
" Remaining in Constable Lewes, his hands,
3 2 5
66
Constable Ezekiel Upton's hands,
0 14 II
66 Constable Flint's hands,
I 12 II
66
66 Wiley's hands,
2 6 8
99 17 4
8 2
Ye Town's Credit,
22 9 2
£ s. d.
36 00
0 4 0
I3
0 10 0
0 10 0
0 10 0
€
s. d.
1731. - Nov. 8, "Lt. Thomas Bancroft, our worthy Representative, died of Nervous Fever."
19
146
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
First Parish voted "to give the old ' Pulpit Cushion ' to the Woodend, which they have asked for in a Christian and charitable way and man- ner, in their subscriptions to the new one."
North Precinct chose a Committee to provide a place in which to keep school, and voted to apply to General Court for help.
Committee : Sergt. Ebenezer Flint, Robert Russell, and Thomas Hartshorn.
1732. - Stephen Raper, eight years old, was drowned in Reading Pond.
Rev. Richard Brown, minister of the First Parish, died this year Oct. 29, aged 57 years, after a ministry of twenty years. For further ac- count of Mr. Brown, see "Early Settlers."
1733. - Copy of a bill of expenses of the funeral of Rev. Mr. Brown : -
£ s. d.
To Thomas Eaton for provisions, 2 IO
" Nathaniel Eaton for fetching up the wine, 0 15 O
" Lt. Nathaniel Parker for 5 qts. Rhom, 0 8 0
" Samuel Poole for digging Mr. Brown's grave,
0 8 0
" Landlord Wesson for Rhom,
0 10 6
" Wm. Cowdrey for making the coffin,
0 15 O
" Andrew T'yler of Boston, 6 Gold rings for funeral,
10 18 0
" Benj. Fitch of Boston, Gloves, etc.,
17
" Mrs. Martha Brown for wine furnished,
5 00
" Eben Storer of Boston, Sundries,
8 00
Total,
45 15 6
First Parish voted " to concur with the church " (94 in favor, whether any were opposed is not stated), "in inviting Rev. Wm. Hobby to be the minister of said Parish." -
Also voted "to give Mr. Hobby £200 as a settlement gift, and an annual salary of £120, 30 cords of wood brought yearly to his door, and the use of the Parsonage."
Elijah Dodge, Thomas Green, John Townsend, Jr., and James Parker, dissented from the vote allowing £200 as settlement, to which £20 was subsequently added.
Chose for a Committee to treat with Mr. Hobby : Deacons Nichols, Boutwell, Smith, and Goodwin ; Esquires Kendall Parker and Wm. Bryant ; Lt. Nathaniel Parker, and Messrs. Ebenezer Parker, Stephen Weston, Thomas Upham, and Peter Emerson.
Voted, to set the standard for the money of the salary voted to the
147
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
ministry of the First Parish in Reading as " Eighteen shillings an ounce in silver money, which shall be a standard as money rises and falls." (Subsequently reconsidered.)
Chose for a Committee on Ordination, viz. the four Deacons afore- said, the two Esquires aforesaid, Lt. Thomas Eaton, Ebenezer Parker, Raham Bancroft, Thomas Nichols, and Nathaniel Batchelder.
Rev. Mr. Hobby was ordained September, 1733.
Order of Exercises at the Ordination : Prayer (Introductory) by Rev. Mr. Emerson of Malden ; Sermon (Text : 2d Tim., ii, 21) by Rev. Mr. Appleton, of Cambridge ; Prayer (Ordaining) by Rev. Mr. Wellstead, of Boston ; Charge, by Rev. Mr. Webb, of Boston ; Hand of Fellow- ship, by Rev. Mr. Putnam, of (North) Reading ; Psalm and Benediction by the ordained.
Copy of a bill of expenses of the ordination of Rev. Mr. Hobby : -.
£ s. d.
Paid Mrs. Ann Archer of Boston, 2 18 0
" Jonathan Williams of Boston, I Bbl Wine, 13 8 0
" Jonathan Call of Charlestown, Bread, 2 12 0
Sundry others persons (36 in number), 46 8 1
65 6 1
First Parish voted " to accept of half an acre of the Parsonage land, to enlarge our Burial place if Mr. Hobby giveth leave."
1734 .- Richard Upham, whom Parson Hobby calls "a saint in- deed," died this year of Stranguary.
First Parish paid Isaac Smith and Ebenezer Damon 19s., for waiting on Ruth Joy to Newbury. Paid also 18s. for a "Kalash," and 9s. for a horse for the same purpose.
First Parish also voted in March " to repair the Parsonage house as may be with convenience, and that the figure thereof be not altered."
In September, voted not to enlarge the Parsonage house.
1735 .- First Parish voted, Ist, " not to build a new Meeting-house ; " 2d, to repair the old meeting-house thoroughly by shingling the roof in the same form that it now is, except the taking off the north dormer, and clapboarding the same as far as needful, and by plastering the same meeting-house upon the beams, which plastering is the last thing to be done. Then voted to take off the east and west dormers, and carry out the gambrel roof so far south as is convenient. Appropri- ated £350 for said object.
Old Mrs. Hodgman, wid. of Thomas, died in her 96th year.
148
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
1736. - Town voted "that Messrs. Kendall Parker, Esq., Wm. Bry- ant, Esq., Dea. Goodwin, Capt. Nichols, Lt. Eaton, Lt. Flint, and Mr. Thos. Weston, be a Committee to view the circumstances and accommo- dations of the highways in the town, and to bring in their thoughts and propositions, what may best be done about converting the Commons to some better use, than what it is at present."
Lt. Lamson, Thos. Wesson, Dr. Stimpson, Ebenezer Merrow, Eben- ezer Felch, John Temple, and John Burnap dissented.
N. B. - This vote is noticeable as being the commencement of a course of action by the town, in reference to the common lands, that has been attended with important consequences, which have been felt, through successive generations, to the present day.
First Parish furnished for the Parsonage " A Post and Well Crotch," that cost {1 125., and a "little Necessary house," that cost £1 15s.
This year and the succeeding year the throat distemper prevailed to an alarming extent throughout Massachusetts and New England. Many in this town died of it. John Swain lost six children within two months, and his wife soon after. Ebenezer Parker lost three in Feb- ruary, 1837, and Dea. Brown Emerson lost three children in the spring of 1837. From November 12, 1736, to May 23, 1737, thirty children and two adults died of this disease in the town.
The General Court appointed a public Fast on account of the preva- lence and mortality of the epidemic.
1737. - The town chose Kendall Parker, Wm. Bryant, and Samuel Bancroft a Committee to make answer to the presentment of Mystic bridge, at the next Inferior Court, and to search the records and try whether they can find a privilege to that end of said bridge, that Med- ford, Malden, Woburn, and Reading have maintained for some time.
Town voted to leave to the Selectmen to agree with Lynn Selectmen and Mr. Griffin, about erecting a bridge over Saugus River, near Mr. Griffin's Corn Mill, that is for Reading to do one half of said bridge. (This was the bridge, probably, at the eastern terminus of what is now Salem Street, in South Parish.)
" June 7. - Town voted " to alter the disposition of the Common land from what it now is."
" Also, chose Ebenezer Parker, Capt. Nichols, Kendall Parker, Esq., Mr. Raham Bancroft, and Ebenezer Flint, a Committee to lay out all necessary Ways and Watering places and all other conveniences that shall be thought convenient, for all the proprietors in the town, through the Town Common, and make report at the next meeting."
.
149
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
F Ír.
Capt. Joseph Burnap, Dea. John Goodwin, Stephen Wesson, and Isaac Burnap, entered their dissent against the town making any dispo- sition of the common lands in said town.
Nov. 23. - Committee reported as follows : -
" We, the subscribers, being a Committee chosen by the town to take a view of the common land in order to see what is necessary to be left for highways, watering places and other public uses, having entered upon the affair, consulted the same and Report as followeth, viz :
"That all the Common between Capt. Thomas Nichols' (late Noah Smith's) and the Wid. Pattison's (late Col. James Hartshorn's), and Dea. Fitch's gate (westerly end of Salem Street), lay as it is, excepting the land, that lays upon the easterly side of the road, that leads from the corner of Capt. Nichols' Stonewall, within six feet of the cart path, until it comes to a white oak, standing near Esq. Poole's draw bars, below his house, and so the line turns off up to said bars ; yet nevertheless a way is re- served for Thomas Wesson (now Mrs. Lucinda Spaulding), and Dea. Gibson (late Jacob Eaton's) up to their houses, which shall be left upon the Causeway, and said way shall be three rods wide at the easterly end and three rods and a half at the west- erly end. (Benj. Poole, Esq., lived where Leonard Wiley formerly lived.)
" Then we proceeded to the North end of the great Pond, and there we propose that a way not less than four rods wide shall lay from the bridge at the mouth of the Pond, up along the highland between the road, that goes round the hill and the path over the top of the hill, in a path that we call the middle way, and so it leads to the way to John Poole's house (late Caleb Wakefield's) ; and from the westerly side of John Poole's homestead, that there be a way four rods wide, through the common land, in the most convenient place up to the Causeway at Jonas's bridge ; and that there be a way three rods wide over the Island bridge; yet still a bridle way is re- served for the necessary use of the owners of Ash Swamp, and other ancient proprie- tors, that have occasion to pass over the common land to their woodland, pasture or meadow ; then we viewed the highway by Dea. John Goodwin's (now James Eustis'), and we propose that the way from said Goodwin's house, up the hill to Kendall Parker, Esquire's (M. F. Leslie's), and to Stoneham road, shall lay not less than four rods wide ; and the road from said Goodwin's to Kendall Bryant's (who lived a short distance west of Joseph Hartshorn's present residence), and so along to Barehill brook, not less than four rods wide ; and that there be a way three rods wide from the bridge at said brook, up round the soft ground over Damon's bridge and so out to Jonathan Eaton's (late Jonas Parker's) ; and that there be a road of four rods wide from said bridge up to Parker's Sawpit ; also, that there be a road three rods wide from Jona. Eaton's, so along by the Widow Ruth Bancroft's up the hill and so to " Capt. Thos. Eaton's pasture at Benjamin Wesson's, that is three rods wide, where there is breadth of Common to accommodate. We also judge it necessary that there be a highway two rods wide from the road that goes by Benj. Wesson's barn, which shall lie over the higher part of the hill toward said Wid. Bancroft's (now Sumner Hopkins') until it drops into the last proposed road. Also, that there be a convenient road from the Northeasterly corner of Ensign Wesson's homestead, along by the house and so to Samuel Wesson's and Eben. Felch's, and so out by the end of the meadow, that was Capt. Parker's to Charlestown road. From thence we proceeded to Tare Breech hill, and we propose that the lower end of the Common by Ensign Parker's up as far as the path, that comes from John Boutwell's stone wall, towards
d
150
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
Henry Merrow's lay common for public uses; and that there be a road, three rods wide from Henry Merrow's to the road, that goes out to Jona. Parker's ; still reserving a convenient bridle way over part of Tare Breech hill for Eben. Nichols Sen., and Jere- miah Swain to come to their proprieties. Also, we propose that there shall be a two rod way left at the westerly end of Raham Bancroft's and Daniel Merrow's homesteads, through a piece of Common. Also, we propose that a convenient part of Brown's Pond upon the hill side (the small pond near John A. Tyler's) be left for watering ; and also ten rods length Barehill brook, above the bridge, shall lay common ; and at the lower end of Wid. Ruth Bancroft's homestead, there shall be another convenient watering place left common. Also, at the pond at Samuel Wesson's shall be left common. Furthermore, we think it necessary that where there is any convenient house-lot, field or pasture land, that borders upon the Common land, and the Town do not sell or dispose of the Common, so adjoining to the owner of such proprieties then there shall be left a way from all such proprieties out to the highway before such common lands are any way disposed of to any other person."
EBENEZER PARKER, ) KENDALL PARKER, THOMAS NICHOLS, EBENEZER FLINT, RAHAM BANCROFT,
Committee.
,
Nov. 29. - Town voted "to accept the return of the Committee ap- pointed to view the perpetual Common, except such ways as were laid out before, according to record ; and the way round the hill by Mr. Woodward's (late Wm. Stimpson's) is to be the lowest way on the west side." John Temple dissented.
1738. - First Parish voted "to enlarge the Parsonage house at a convenient time and place; then referred the subject to the next meeting."
1739 .- Dec. 6. - Parish voted to repair the Parsonage house as soon as may be convenient.
Dec. 27. - Voted to raise and pay to Capt. Thomas Eaton one hun- dred and fifty pounds, in the old tenor, provided he doth repair and finish the Parsonage house, according to the report of the Committee, . appointed to view the same, and to raise the north part of the roof even · with the south part, and make a gambrel roof to the same, to the ac- ceptance of the Parish and Mr. Hobby.
The report of the Committee referred to above is as followeth : -
" Ist. - To raise up the back side equal to the fore-side and to advance a Bevell or Gambrell roof, suitable in proportion to said house; to board the roof and double board the upper part of said roof and shingle said roof with good cedar shingles, and to put up suitable weather boards ; to window frame and casement the foreside, east end and backside, as they now are as to bigness ; also, new sett the old glass - what is good - and to provide for and glaze the rest, that the old will not do ; to clapboard
151
OF THE TOWN OF READING.
the foreside, east end and backside and to head the windows that are needful and to finish the covell, and make suitable for the foreside and backside, and case them and do what is proper over the doors, and case the windows withinside of the addition ; to finish the wall and Gable end with boards and clapboards and windows suitable to the best part of the house, and eve-troughs and trunk for ye foreside of said house ; to color all that is needful to be colored, with Spanish Brown, and to the finishing of the inside of ye addition.
To lay two floors, to lathe and plaster the wall of the three rooms and to case two rooms overhead and to make two partitions ; and to make suitable stairs and doors for the addition, and to raise the chimney as high as is needful."
"Capt. Tho. Eaton took the job."
This improvement of the Parsonage house put the main house into the same shape in which we find it in later years, and was the house on Common Street in Wakefield, long known as the " Prentiss House," its site being now occupied by the new High School building.
Town chose a Committee to enforce the law to prevent the killing of Deer, out of season.
1740. - Town this year appropriated {120 for town expenses. First Parish built a Horse Block for ye Parsonage, that cost one pound.
Dea. Benj. Brown's negro woman, Rose, committed suicide by hang- ing.
North Precinct this year voted "to build a meeting-house, 46 feet in length and 36 feet in breadth, on the land, that was given for that use and finish it as decently as a meeting-house ought to be, for the public worship of God, with that speed, which our necessity requireth or our ability will admit of."
1741. - This year Rev. George Whitefield preached on Reading Common.
.
Rev. Mr. Hobby went to hear him, and it was said that he afterwards remarked "that he went to pick a hole in Whitefield's coat, but that Whitefield picked a hole in his (Hobby's) heart."
Mr. Hobby afterwards wrote and published a defence of Whitefield, in a letter to Rev. Mr. Henchman, of Lynn, who had written against him.
" READING, July the 6, 1741.
Whare as several of the Inhabetence of this town are of the mind that it is con- venent to Have two tavens in this part of the town, and Whare as som are faverfull of the Event thare of and as I, the subscriber, am a partisoner for the same, and as I Re- gard the pece of this town, I promas, that if the Selectmen se Caus to aprebate me this year, if it be the minds of the chefe of the Hed men of this town that it is detre- mental to the pece of this town, I will Give it up another year and consarn myself no father about it ; -- as wetnes my Hand.
THO. BANCROFT.
WM. BRYANT JUN.
EBEN. NICHOLS.
152
GENEALOGICAL HISTORY
This year the town passed the following vote in reference to the common lands, which has become a very important one, having been adjudged by decisions of the Supreme Court as fixing, defining, and consecrating the common lands. It was reported by a Committee, consisting of Ebenezer Parker, Kendall Parker, Esq., Capt. Bancroft, Wm. Bryant, Esq., Thomas Weston, Peter Emerson, and Ebenezer Nichols : -
Voted " that all the Common lands from Capt. Thomas Nichols' (late Noah Smith's) to the Great Pond (now Quannapowitt Pond). and so up the side of the Pond as far as Timothy Nichols' little orchard (where J. G. Aborn's shoe factory now stands), by the Pond, and that are now unfenced ; also all the land on the west side of the Meeting-house that is between that and Hodgman's brook (the brook near Church Street R. R. crossing), and so from said brook up the great hill as far as the Southwest corner of Dea. Goodwin's land (Dea. Goodwin owned where James Eustis now owns), by the road; also by the foot of the hill by Dea. Goodwin's, running round the hill as far as Kendall Bryant's barn (Kendall Bryant lived a short distance west of Joseph Hartshorn's) shall continue to lie unfenced as they are, excepting a few poles against Dr. Hay's land (late Geo. W. Hartshorn's) not exceeding twenty, for the use of the Old Parish, for highways, a Training field, and Burying place, and the more convenient coming at the pond with flax and creatures, and also to accom- modate the neighbors that live bordering on said land for their more convenient coming to and improving their own land and buildings, all the aforesaid lands to remain unfenced as they now are, and to the use of the Old Parish and neighborhood above said forever, never to be disposed of for any other use whatsoever, without the consent of every freeholder in the Parish."
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