USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Holliston > Genealogical register of the inhabitants and history of the towns of Sherborn and Holliston, 1856 > Part 16
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sherborn > Genealogical register of the inhabitants and history of the towns of Sherborn and Holliston, 1856 > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
Many Holbrooks were early in New Eng. Hitherto all attempts to trace and reduce them to one family have resulted in despair, with the exception of those of the lamented Wm. T. Harris, A. M. He had thoroughly mastered the 5 first gen- erations, of one branch, while I, without knowing it, was attempting the same ; and having, through the kindness of his bereaved father, the Librarian of Har. Univ., been favored with the perusal of his MSS., I have become confirmed in the correct- ness of my arrangement, and added names and references which his sharper eye and more thorough hand had detected and recorded. Thanks to his memory. He was of the third generation of the same family to whom I am indebted for kindred help.
The other families of the name of Holbrook, not descended from Tho., and col- lected from what were remote parts of New Eng., I have, at the end of eight years
:
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of frequent investigation, succeeded, in my own view more from circumstantial than documentary evidence, in reducing to the descendents of a common father, whose name was probably John, and he the brother and companion of Tho. No date of their embarkation or arrival is presumed to exist. The name first occurs at Wey- mouth, in 1640, and under circumstances showing that they could not then have been new comers. The settlement of Weymouth was attempted in 1622; and in 1624 a colony of substantial settlers arrived from Weymouth in Dorsetshire, and gave name to the place, and in 1635 another company with a minister, and no doubt from the same place. With one of the latter companies probably came Tho. and John Holbrook, and more likely with the former. If so, Tho. must then have had one or two children ; and if with the latter, they might have had an embarrassing number. They were probably from Weymouth, 8 miles from Dorchester, from whence came the planters of our Dorchester; and not remote from these towns was a place, " a small farm," long afterward and perhaps still called " Holbrook." Who of the race will undertake investigations in that quarter, or pledge to a correspondent the means of his doing so ?
Thomas Holbrooke, and no doubt John, settled in that part of Weymouth called Old Spain. It was chosen, for its harbor and peninsular form, for confining their cattle. As early as 1643 the stock of the planters had so increased as to render a removal necessary. Seekonk Prairie had been discovered, and it was resolved that as many as chose might remove, and that if a majority were in favor of removing, Mr. Newman their minister should attend them. Thomas and John Holbrook ap- peared in the affirmative, and in order " that the land of Rehoboth might be divided according to person and estate," each of them gave in their property at precisely £186. This indicates that they were partners. Were they Thomas and John, sen's, or jun's? The former might be presumed if there was not so much evidence that the Holbrooks of the second generation began life in good circumstances, showing that their fathers for their day must have been rich. Home lots at Rehoboth were assigned them 31, (4), 1644. But as John, jun.'s, wife died, leaving one or two children, Jan. 24, 1643-4, pr. after they had pledged themselves to remove and given in their property ; and as Thomas, jun., was then young and unmarried, they had reasons, which Thomas and John, sen's, might not have had, for altering their purposes and forfeiting these lots, as they did 10 (11), 1644, by not taking possession. The records of Weym. chh. perished in 1644, with the removal of Mr. Newman ; and while subsequent records refer to Thomas, sen., as one of the principal inhabitants, they make no mention of his brother John. Still circumstances, not easily resisted, point to a brother probably of that name, as an early inhabitant of W., and the father of a numerous family, who might have died before 1644. I have, therefore, in these sheets arranged the New Eng. Holbrooks as the descendants of two brothers,
3. 1. Thomas Holbrooke.1 (See Part I.)
2. John ? Holbrooke.1 (See Part II.)
PART I.
1. 3. Tho. Ilolbrooke,1 was advanced in years when the records of W. began and then had talented sons to render public service.
In 1641, immediately after the earliest preserved records begin, he was chosen the second member of a board of selectmen called townsmen, and served as such in 1645, '46, '51, '52, '54, having his brother or eldest son, John, after '47, associated
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with him for a portion of the time. As a citizen of standing and long acquainted with the country, the Gen. Court in 1649 appointed him the first member of a com- mittee to lay out a county highway from Weym. to Dorchester. The following is a copy verbatim ad literatim of his will from Suffolk Prob.
In the name of God, Amen.
Anno Domino, Dec. 31, 1668, Thomas Holbrook, of Weymouth, in New England, being sick and weak in body, but of good and perfect memory, thanks be to the Lord, and minding the uncertain estate of this transitory life, and desiring to settle that estate that God hath blessed me with all, do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following, committing my soul to Almighty God through Christ my Saviour and Redeemer, and my body to decent burial, and for the settling of my temporal estate I do order, give and dispose the same in manner and form following. That is to say, first, I will that my debts and funeral expenses be truly paid out of my estate.
Item, I give and bequeathe unto Jane, my beloved wife, during her life, my whole estate, of what quality and quantity soever the same be, at her dispose for her neces- sary and comfortable maintenance, and do request my son Jobn Holbrooke and my son Wm. Holbrooke, and my son Tho. Holbrooke to be helpful to my wife in assisting of her in what she may have occasion to dispose of for her subsistence and comforta- ble maintenance during her life, and give their mother the best advice, as she is ancient and weak of body, suitable to her necessity without being burthensome to any.
Item, I give and bequeathe unto my endeared children all my estate, of whatever quality and quantity soever the same shall be, that shall remain at my wife Jane's decease, there being six of them, three sons and three daughters, to be equally divided between them, always provided that my eldest son, John Holbrooke, shall have a double portion, and the rest of my estate to be equally divided, viz., unto my son, Tho. Holbrook, my son Wm. Holbrook, unto my daughter Anne Rennolds, unto my daughter Elizabeth Hatch, and unto my daughter Jane Drake, to be equally divided amongst them as near as may be; and in case any or either of my sons or daughters should decease before my wife Jane, then the share of the deceased to remain to their respective children and my grandchildren.
Item, I give unto my grandchild John Holbrooke the eldest, my sword.
Item, I give unto my grandchild Peter Holbrooke my gun and my gray mare colt. Item, I give unto my grandchild Wm. Holbrook my musket. Item, I give and bequeathe unto all my grandchildren that shall be living at my wife Jane's de- cease, two shillings apiece. Item, I do hereby make and ordain my loving wife, the above said Jane Holbrooke, executrix during her life, and at her decease, I do appoint, make and ordain executor of this my last will and testament, my loving son John Holbrooke, whom I do order and entreat to perform this my will, and pay the legacies out of my whole estate of what shall remain at my wife's decease.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written, as on the other side.
The mark of THOMAS [T. H. ] HOLBROOKE.
Published, signed and sealed in presence of
Rebecca R. R. Burrell, Wm. Chase.
Whereas Peter Holbrooke my grandchild hath been as a servant, and hath been helpful to me Tho. Holbrooke and my wife Jane in our old age, for the space of about eight years before the date of these presents, and still remains with us as a dutiful child, I, Tho. Holbrooke, senr., this 31st of Dec., 1673, do will and bequeathe unto my beloved grandchild Peter Holbrooke, his heirs and assignees, my dwelling
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house and about three aeres of orchard and arable land, situate and being in Wey- mouth, bounded with Edward Kingman's land, and the River Northerly and East- erly, and the highway Southerly, and the River Westerly, or the creek descending from the River, as the said Peter Holbrooke's proper estate of inheritance. To have and to hold after the decease of me, Tho. Holbrooke and Jane my wife, and not before. And I, Tho. Holbrooke, do hereby declare not to alter in any particular form my aforesaid will dated this day was five years since, but in this respect as aforewritten concerning my beloved son and grandchild, Peter Holbrooke, which accordingly I do desire my son John Holbrooke as Executor in all points to fulfil. Dated Dec. 31, 1673. Published, signed and sealed in the presence of Tho. White, Wm. Chase. T. H.
Tho. Holbrooke, d. 1674-6. His wid. Joanna, d. before April 24, 1677, when administration was granted his son John. He had
10. 4. 1. John," Capt., b. 1617, "d. Nov. 23, 1699, aged about 82 years," [G. S.], m. 1st Sarah , 2d Elizabeth , 3d Mary See Ch. I.
5. II. Tho.,2 d. 1697, who m. Joanna and r. at Scituate, Weymouth and Braintree. See Ch. II.
6. III. Wm.,2 Capt. and Dea., d. 1699; " his wid." -, d. 1701, r. Scit- uate. See Ch. III.
7. IV. Ann,2 who m. Renolds ; v. Elizabeth,2 who m. Walter Hatch, 1650; VI. Jane,2 who m. Drake.
CHAPTER I.
4. 10. John," Capt., was a man of much consideration in his day, and in him the the public reposed great confidence. His independence, courage, enterprise and wealth are abundantly proved by records. He resided at Old Spain, in Weymouth, and seems to have inherited the homestead. Having previously been received to the church, he in 1640 took the freeman's oath. In 1648 he first served as selectman. In 1651 he represented W. in the Gen. Court, and was of the minority of 13, who May 7 of that year refused their assent to the book of ecclesi- astical discipline, made out by a committee and the elders of the churches. He was also representative in 1664, '69, '71, '72, '73. In 1668, he with two associates bought a tract of land 9 miles long and 2 m. wide, situated on the road between Weymouth and Middleboro'. In 1678, he purchased John Saffan's whole farm in Scituate, which he bought of John Hoar, then of Concord. He loaned money to John Williams, of Boston, (the same who had witnessed a deed for his reputed cousin John Holbrooke, of Roxb. ), and large sums from time to time to other tradesmen and merchants in B., taking mortgages on houses, warehouses, &c. He was a great operator for those times, and so continued until the close of life. He sold a corn-mill in W., Jan. 20, 1698 -- 9, the year he died. In the time of Philips' war he rendered signal service. He not only defended W., but with his company carried the war into the enemies country. On the 22d of June, 1676, he arrived at Concord, with 30 men from Norfolk, an extinct county, then embracing the settle- ments on Merrimack and Piscatequa Rivers, whom he had been sent to defend. As commander he drew pay for 24 men from the public treasury in June, Aug. and Sept. of that year ; and £16 for his own services. He seems to have been much hon- ored, and the early age for his time at which he was called to the public service, indicates the standing of his family.
HOLBROOK. 111
Capt. John, m. Ist Sarah -, who d. 14, (11) 1643 ; and 2d Elizabeth --- , who d. June 25, 1688, aged 64, [G. S. ], and 3d wid. Sarah Loring, who survived him. He had
19. 11. I. John,3 who m. Abigail Pierce, and s. on his father's land in Scituate ;
12. 11. Abiezer,3 who d. um. 1671-2. His father made oath Jan. 29, 1672, to the appraisal of his estate at £40. His wardrobe must have been extrava- gant had he no property in reversion ;
28. 13. III. Samuel, housewright, b. prior to Jan. 24, 1644, d. Aug. or Sept. 1695, m. Lydia - -; IV. Hannah,3 who m. - - Pieree, and is no further reported ; v. Lois,3 a twin, b. 12, (3) 1658, probably m. - Nash ;
16. vI. Eunice,3 b. also 12, (3) 1658, m. - Ludden ;
17. VII. Experience,3 May 23, 1661, m. Edson ;
36. 18. VIII. Ichabod,3 May 20, 1662, d. Dec. 14, 1718.
WORSHIPFULL CAPT. HOLBROOKE'S WILL.
I, John Holbrook, of the Town of Weymouth, in New England, being weak of body, but of a competent understanding and memory, do make this my last Will and Testa- ment, hereby revoking and annulling all former wills by me made. Firstly, com- mitting my soul to God in hope of eternal salvation, through the merits of Christ, my Saviour, and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors ; and for my worldly estate I do will and dispose of as followeth, my just debts and funeral charges being paid.
Imprimis, I give and bequeathe to my beloved wife, Mary Holbrook, fifty pounds in money, to be at her disposing, provided she accept of it in full of all demands from my estate, otherwise my contract with her before marriage to be made good to her in every respect ; and also, I give her ten pounds in money, provided she give five pounds thereof to her daughter, Loring.
I give and bequeathe unto my son, John Holbrook, all my housing and lands in the Township of Scituate, which I purchased of Mr. John Saffin, to be to the use and improvement of him, the said John Holbrook, for and during his natural life, and after his decease the moiety or one-half of the said houses and lands to be to the only proper use and improvement of his now wife Abigail, during the time she shall remain his widow, and no longer. The other half of the housing and land I give and bequeathe to the use and improvement of my grandson, John Holbrook, the son of my said son, John Holbrook ; and, after the decease of my said son and the widow- hood of his wife Abigail, I do give and bequeathe all the aforesaid housing and lands to my aforesaid grandson, John Holbrook, to have and to hold to him and his heirs forever ; always provided, that when my said grandson shall come to possess and enjoy the whole of the said farm, that he shall well and truly pay forty pounds sterling in equal proportions to the six daughters of my said son, John Holbrook ; and if any of them shall decease before they receive their part, then the said forty pounds to be paid equally to such as shall survive, viz., if any of them decease before marriage. I also give and bequeathe unto my son, John Holbrook, all my wearing apparel, and my best feather bed, my best rug and furnitures belonging to the said bed, and my silver tankard. Also, I give unto my granddaughter, Elizabeth, the wife of James Smith, five pounds sterling ; also, I give unto my granddaughter, Abigail Porter, ten pounds sterling, to be paid by my executors within one year after my decease.
I give and bequeathe unto my daughter-in-law, Lydia Holbrook, widow of my son Samuel Holbrook, deceased, for the bringing up of the children of my said son, Samuel Holbrook, the use and improvement of the uplands adjoining to her dwelling house, in the neck ealled Kingman's Neck, and two acres of salt meadow that I
-
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purchased of John Kingman, and also my three acres of salt marsh near Burying Island, and also one-half of three acres of salt marsh in Braintree, lying on the E. side of the Creek, going to Spheer's Farm ; also, 40 acres of land on the Westerly side of my land, near the Physical Spring in Weymouth ; also, the one-half of my land in Brantry, adjoining to Weymouth line, called by the name of Execution Land ; also, the one-half of my dwelling house in Boston. All which housing and lands as is before expressed, I give the use and improvement thereof, unto the said Lydia Holbrook, for her maintenance and the bringing up of the children of my said son, Samuel Holbrook, until my grandson, Joseph Holbrook, son of my said son, Samuel Holbrook, do, or might attain to the age of one-and-twenty years, and no longer. Also, I give unto my said daughter, Lydia Holbrook, £120, to be paid by my executors in one-fourth part of my household stuff and cattle, and the remainder in money, to make up the said £120 : always provided, that the said Lydia Holbrook do pay to her three daughthers, Elizabeth, Mary and Sarah Holbrook, daughters of said son, Samuel Holbrook, each of them £40 when they shall attain to the age of one- and-twenty years, or marriage, which shall first happen.
I give and bequeathe unto my grandsons, Samuel Holbrook, John Holbrook and Joseph Holbrook, sons of my said son, Samuel Holbrook, all the aforesaid lands and meadows in Weymouth and Brantrey, (left for the use and improvement of the said Lydia Holbrook aforesaid), to be divided into equal parts or shares to my said three grandsons, when my said grandson, Joseph Holbrook shall, or might attain to the age of one-and-twenty years. The said Samuel, John and Joseph, paying to their mother, Lydia Holbrook, each of them 30s. per annum, during her natural life.
I give and bequeathe to my grandson, Abiah Holbrook, son of my son, Samuel Holbrook, the one-half or moiety of my house and land in Boston, when he shall attain to the age of one-and-twenty years, he paying to his mother, Lydia Holbrook, 30s. per annum, during her natural life. I also give and bequeathe unto my said daughter, Lydia Holbrook, half an acre of salt meadow, lying in the neck called Kingman's Neck, that was formerly my father, Thomas Holbrooke's, to her and her heirs forever. And further it is my will, that if my said daughter Lydia shall dis- pose of herself in marriage, that there shall be no strip nor waste made upon any of the aforesaid lands any more than what may be needful for her own firing or repara- tion of her own housing, or fencing of the said lands.
I give unto my son-in-law, Simon Whitmarsh, £20 in money.
I give unto my grandson, Simon Whitmarsh, £20 in money.
I give unto my granddaughter, Ruth Darby, £15 in money. I give unto my granddaughter, Mary Jackson, £15 in money.
All the aforesaid sums to be paid by my executors within one year after my decease.
I give to my daughter, Hannah Pierce, £50 in money, to be at her disposal as she shall see cause. Also, I give unto my grandson, Azarikum Pierce, £15 in money. Also, I give to Ephraim Pierce, jun., £15 in money. I give to my granddaughter, Rachel Peck, £5 in money. All which legacies are to be paid by my executors within one year after my decease, which shall be in part payment of a bond under the hands and seals of Ephraim Pieree and Azarikum Pierce, bearing date June 14, 1697.
I give unto my grandson, Joseph Nash, £50 in money. Also, I give unto my granddaughter, Elizabeth Nash, £25 in money, to be paid in one year after my decease.
I give unto my grandson, Benjamin Ludden, £10 in money. I give to my grandson, John Ludden, £10 in money. I give to my grandson, Joseph Ludden, £10 in money. All the aforesaid legacies given to the Luddens, to be paid by my executors, as they shall attain to the age of one-and-twenty years. I give unto my grandson, James Ludden, one acre of salt meadow, lying on the Eastern neck which
-
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HOLBROOK.
was formerly his grandfather's, James Ludden's. I give unto my granddaughter, Eunice Ludden, £15, at her day of marriage, or when she shall attain the age of 18 years, which shall first happen.
I give unto my grandson, Joseph Edson, £15 in money. To my grandson, Josiah Edson, £15 in money. To my granddaughter, Experience Edson, £40 in money. All which legacies given to the Edsons, to be paid by my executors, as they shall attain to the age of one-and-twenty years, the sons, and the daughters, eighteen years.
I give and bequeathe unto my son, Ichabod, my dwelling house in Weymouth, that I now live in, with all the out-housing, orchard, and lands adjoining, by estima- tion between 40 and 50 acres, and also, all my salt marsh, lying in the neck, called Kingman's Neck, not before given ; also, all the remainder of my lands near the Physical Spring, not before given, also, all the 4 acres of salt marsh lying on the East side of the back river, in Weymouth. All which houses and lands I give unto my son, Ichabod, during his natural life, and to his wife, Sarah, as long as she remains his widow ; and after his decease and his wife's widow's estate, I give and bequeathe the said housing, orchard and lands adjoining, with the salt marsh, in the neck called Kingman's Neck, unto my grandson, Abiezer Holbrook, son of my son, Ichabod Holbrook, to him and his heirs forever.
I give unto my grandson, David Holbrook, son of my son, Ichabod Holbrook, the aforesaid salt meadow, lying Easterly of the back river, and the aforesaid land near the Physical Spring, after the decease of my son, Ichabod Holbrook and his wife's widow's estate, to be to him and his heirs forever. I give to my son, Ichabod, the one-half of my house and land in Boston, during his natural life, and to his wife as long as she shall remain his widow ; and after his decease and his wife Sarah's widow's estate, I give the said half of the house and land at Boston, unto his son, Elisha Hol- brook, and his heirs forever.
I give unto the reverend Mr. Samuel Torry, Pastor of the Church of Weymouth, £5 in money. And further it is my will, that if any of the grandchildren shall decease before they receive their portions, that then the portion of the deceased shall be equally divided amongst the surviving brothers and sisters of the same parents.
And it is my will, that if my Indian servant, Anthony, doth behave himself well, that he have his freedom in 12 years after my deccase. And further it is my will, that if my wife see cause not to live in my house, she shall have what provisions she shall have occasion for her own use, for three months after my decease. All the remainder of my estate, whether real or personal, wheresoever it may be found that is not before given by this my last Will, I give and bequeathe unto my son, Ichabod Holbrook, and his heirs forever. And do hereby ordain and constitute my son, John Holbrook, and my son, Ichabod Holbrook, with Ephraim Hunt, Esq., to be my executors to this my last Will and Testament. And I do hereby give unto the said Ephraim Hunt, £5. And I do desire my loving friends, John Rogers and Joseph Dyer, and my brother, Stephen French, to be overseers to see to the performance of this my last Will and Testatment, and do give to cach of them 20s., in remem- brance of my love.
In witness that this is my last Will and Testament, I do hereby make void and null all former wills by me made whatsoever, and do sign, seal, declare and publish this to be my last Will and Testament, the 12th day of July, 1699.
The mark S of John Holbrook, and a scal.
Signed, sealed and published, in presence of John Pratt, Ephm. Burrell, Joseph Drake. [Suff. Prob., XIV, III.]
11. 19. John,3 s. in Scituate on the ancient Hoar farm, bequeathed by his father ; m. Abigail Pierce, dau. of Capt. Michael P., who was slain at Attleboro', 15
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HOLBROOK.
Gore [Cumberland] in his desperate fight with the Indians in Philip's war, had I. Tho.,4 b. Jan. 15, 1671, at Wey., d. prior to 1699; II. Elizabeth, 4 Feb. 2, 1672, at Scituate, and alive 1699; III. Abigail,4 May 11, 1675, and alive 1699 ; Iv. Experience,4 Feb. 22, 1677, and alive 1699;
24. v. Hannah,4 Jan. 11, 1679, m. Josiah Turner, 1700 ; VI. Sarah,4 July 11, 1680, and alive 1699 ; VII. Deborah,4 Aug. 22, 1683, m. Joseph Briggs, 1703 -- 4.
42. 27. VIII. John,4 Nov. 19, 1686, m. Sarah Chrittenden, May 3, 1709.
13. 28. Samuel,3 sergt., was admitted to the freeman's oath, Oct. 12, 1681, -- enjoyed the confidence of his kinsmen-was appointed by his uncle Tho., July 25, 1695, to see to the execution of his will-d. intestate before Oct. 3, of the same year, when administration was granted to his wid. Lydia. [Suf. Prob., vol. 11, p. 168 and vol. 17, p. 284.] He pr. settled near or with his father, Capt. John, and had by wife Lydia -, at Weym.
- Wales ; II. Mary,4 Nov. 18, 1686,
29. I. Elizabeth,4 Sep. 30, 1684, m. d. yg. ; III. Sarah,4 m. Wm. Hunt, 1713.
53. 32. IV. Samuel,4 Feb. 19, 1688, m. Hannah Adams, aunt to Gov. Adams.
57. 33. v. John,4 Dea., Apl. 29, 1690, " d. Jan. 28, 1762, in his 72d yr." 34. VI. Joseph,4 Jan. 26, 1694, d. prior to July 11, 1711.
65. 35. VII. Abiah,4 who inherited half of his grd. father's house and land in Boston.
18. 36. Ichabod,3 inherited the homestead of Capt. Holbrook, at Old Spain, m. Sarah Turner, who d. a widow, Dec. 20, 1739. He had,
71. 37. I. Abiezer,4 May 7, 1689, d. Feb. 17, 1761, m. Ruth Vinson.
80. 38. II. David,4 Sep., 1690, m. Marcy Pittey, 1716; III. Sarah,4 Jan. 13, 1694, d. Oct. 10, 1725 ; Iv. Elisha,4 inherited half his grd. father's house and land in Boston.
86. 41. v. John,4 Nov. 28, 1699, five days after the death of Capt. John his grd. father.
27. 42. John,4 m. Sarah Chrittenden, May 3, 1709, and inherited the estate in Scituate, bequeathed to him by his grd. father, Capt. John, and had,
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