USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 49
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Miss Boit is the only woman in the United States known to be actively engaged in con- ducting a textile manufacturing concern. Al- though her numerous business duties are ex- acting, she finds time for various social and charitable organizations with which she is connected. She is a member of the Ladies' Aid Society of Massachusetts. She was for a time treasurer of the Aged Women's Home, and also of the Kosmos Club, a literary so- ciety. She is especially interested in the wel- fare of young girls, particularly those in the employ of her firm. and avails herself of every opportunity to further the progress and well- being of the wage-earners of her sex.
Thomas Bird, immigrant ancestor BIRD of the family was born in England about 1613. He settled in Dor- chester, Massachusetts, as early as 1640, when he was one of the proprietors of the
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town, and joined the church in 1642 under Rev. Richard Mather. He was a tanner by trade. His home was on what is now Hum- phrey street and his tanyard was nearly op- posite, to the northeast of the residence now or late of Thomas Groom and as late as 1871, perhaps later, traces of the yard and pits were to be seen. Jonas Humphreys and his son James were also tanners thereabouts. Bird was a citizen of good standing and was town bailiff in 1654. He died June 8, 1667, aged fifty-four years; his widow Ann died August 21, 1673. His will was proved July 17, 1667, giving one-third of his estate to wife Ann; his son Thomas to have ten pounds more than the other children, deducting the fifty pounds promised at his marriage, part of which is paid; naming also sons John and James, and daughter Sarah. Children: I. Thomas, men- tioned below. 2. John, born March II, 1641, died August 2, 1732. 3. Samuel, baptized April, 1664. 4. James, baptized April, 1647, died September, 1723. 5. Sarah, baptized August 12, 1649, died April 24, 1669. 6. Joseph, born September 26, 1665.
(II) Thomas Bird, son of Thomas (I) and Ann Bird, was born in Dorchester, Massa- chusetts, May 4, 1640, died January 30, 1709- IO. He married, February 2, 1665, Thankful Atherton, born 1664, died April II, 1719, daughter of General Humphrey Atherton. He was admitted freeman April 18, 1690. The inventory of his estate showed property valued at five hundred and seventy pounds, a large estate for his day. The heirs agreed on a settlement of the estate March 8, 1710-II. Children: I. Joseph, born October 1, 1666, died March 9, 1711-12. 2. Thankful, born February 6, 1667, married, 1700, Lieutenant Jeremiah Fuller, of Newton, Massachusetts. 3. Sarah, born October 24, 1669, married, April 7, 1709, Jonathan Jones. 4. Anne, born November 8, 1671, married, April 16, 1697, John Clark, of Newton. 5. Thomas, born August II, 1673, lost his life in the Expedi- tion to Canada in 1690, Captain John With- ington's company. 6. Mary, born January 26, 1674. 7. Submit, born May 13, 1678. 8. Mercy, born February 6, 1679. 9. Patience, born November 19, 1681, died December, 1728. 10. Patience, born November 27, 1683, died December II, 1757. II. Benjamin, men- tioned below.
(III) Benjamin Bird, son of Thomas (2) and Thankful (Atherton) Bird, was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, April 13, 1686, died there March 29, 1757. He was at one time a wharfinger in Boston and in his day
was an important citizen of Dorchester. He was constable of that town 1725 and 1727; selectman and assessor 1728, 1732; deputy to the general court 1729 to 1733 inclusive and I737. He and his son, Samuel Bird, were very prominent in opposition to the church and pas- tor, Rev. Jonathan Bowman, but a council of churches, 1746, sustained the latter. Bird had a thousand acres of school land in Lunen- burg, bought March 4, 1733-34, for four hun- dred pounds. He married at Ipswich Johan- nah Harris (intentions dated January 30, 1710). Children: I. Mindwell, born March 8, 1711-12, married, May 10, 1739, Ebenezer Parker, of Newton. 2. Mary, born July 4, 1713. 3. Anne, born November 27, 1714. 4. Sarah, born October 4, 1716. 5. Benjamin, born January 15, 1717, had land in Ashburn- ham. 6. Elizabeth, born July 27, 1721, died September 12, 1736. 7. Thomas, born Sep- tember 29, 1722, died October 27, 1722. 8. Samuel, born March 27, 1724. 9. Abigail, born June 20, 1725, died September 24, 1725. IO. Hannah, born September 29, 1726, mar- ried Norman Clark, of Newton. II. John, mentioned below. 12. Ruth, born May 16, 1730, died September 15, 1730. 13. Susannah, born March 20, 1731-32, married Enoch Glover. 14. Joseph, born June 9, 1733, died December 24, 1733. 15. Jonathan, born Janu- ary I, 1734-35.
(IV) John Bird, son of Benjamin (3) and Johannah (Harris) Bird, was born in Dor- chester, April 22, 1729, and died in Needham, Massachusetts, August, 1810. He resided in Roxbury and Needham. He married, May 21, 1755, Mary Lyon, of Roxbury (by Rev. Benjamin Bird). He was a farmer. He was a soldier in the Revolution, a private in Cap- tain Robert Smith's company, Colonel Will- iam Heath's regiment in 1776; also in Captain Hopestill Hall's company, Colonel Lemuel Robinson's regiment, at Roxbury. He en- listed in the Continental army in the sum- mer of 1780, the descriptive list giving his age as fifty-one years, his complexion ruddy, stature five feet, ten inches and his residence Needham. He was in the company of Cap- tain Abner Howard. Their children, all born at Needham were: I. Mary, born March 9, 1756, died March 10. 2. Mary, born Feb- ruary 8, baptized February 13, 1757. 3. Hannah, born February 28. 1759, baptized March 4, 1759. 4. Sarah, born August 25, 1761, baptized August 30, 1761. 5. Abigail, born April 28, 1765. 6. Kata, baptized April 16, 1769. 7. Ebenezer, mentioned below. 8. Benjamin, baptized October 24, 1773. 9.
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Ruth, baptized August II, 1775. IO. John, baptized September 6, 1778.
(V) Ebenezer Bird, son of John (4) and Mary (Lyon) Bird, was born at Needham, March 30, 1771, and was baptized in the Needham church, June 9, 1771. He died at Ashby, Massachusetts, May 2, 1847. He be- gan his career on the homestead at Needham, helping his father with the farm, and he was educated there in the public schools. The Bird homestead was on the Boston turnpike in Needham. The overflow from the Bird Spring on the old farm feeds the Needham Water Reservoir. The farm contained several hundred acres. Ebenezer moved to Warwick, Massachusetts, but finally settled in Ashby. He was active in public affairs, and for a time was tax collector of Needham. He married, at Needham, Julia Smith. Children: I. William Smith, married Elizabeth Gardner, a native of England. 2. Ebenezer, Jr., mentioned below. 3. Amanda. 4. Julia, married Jeremiah An- drews, of Fitchburg, and had son, George Bird. 5. Mary, married Charles H. Crosby, of Boston, no issue.
(VI) Ebenezer Bird, Jr., son of Ebenezer (5) and Julia (Smith) Bird, was born at Needham, Massachusetts, April 19, 1802. He worked on the homestead at Needham and at- tended school there. He went with the family to Warwick and worked on the farm there with his father. He moved to Ashby with his wife when his father went thither and bought in that town the farm of Lewis Richardson, in the northern part of the town. The farm consisted of eighty acres of land. He lived on it until 1847, when he sold it and bought the present Bird farm at Framingham of Elijah Cloyes. He conducted this place until 1856, when he deeded it to his son Samuel. Ebene- zer then removed to Leominster, Massachu- setts, in 1859, and bought a home in which he lived until his death, April 25, 1884. He was a Unitarian in religion, a Whig and Republi- can in politics. He was active in town affairs in Framingham and held several offices. He was a member of the Ashby militia company. He married, October 28, 1824, Sally Knowl- ton, born April 8, 1805, died July 5, 1846, daughter of Elias and Pamelia (Fiske) Knowlton, of Warwick, Massachusetts. Chil- dren : I. Ebenezer Dwight, born March 23, 1826, died June 8, 1827. 2. Pamelia Fiske, born May 2, 1828, died December 4, 1828. 3. William Smith, born October 19, 1829, died in California. 4. Samuel Bradford, mention- ed below. 5. Sarah Elizabeth, born August 3, 1834, died January 5, 1871. 6. Francis
Dwight, born August 27, 1838, married, Aug- ust 27, 1885, Mrs. Lottie Fields. 7. Charles Herbert, born April 12, 1842, died March 6, 1901 ; married, June, 1867, Celia F. Chase, of Kingston, New York. 8. Henry Alfred, born June 21, 1846, died November 26, 1901 ; mar- ried, September 9, 1881, Maria Dampf, of Bavaria, Germany. Ebenezer Bird married (second), March 4, 1847, Elizabeth Child, born in Warwick, January 26, 1810, died July 20, 1860, daughter of Phinehas Child, of War- wick. Ebenezer Bird married (third) Decem- ber 16, 1861, Mrs. Abigail (Stanwood) Bar- ron, of Lisbon, Maine, born March 24, 1813, died April 9, 1899.
(VII) Samuel Bradford Bird, son of Ebenezer (6) and Sally (Knowlton) Bird, was born at Ashby, Massachusetts, September 3, 1831, died at Framingham, February, 1907. He attended the public schools of his native town until sixteen years old, when his parents removed to Framingham, where he attended school also for a short time, taking a course later in a Lowell school. He taught school for six years, the first term in Fitchburg, the second in Ashby, and four in Southborough. He was successful in his profession, winning the love and confidence of his pupils while giving them instruction and training. Mr. Bird returned to the homestead of his father at Framingham, which he purchased in 1856, and where he made his home until his death. The farm is in the western part of the town and consists of the original estate less seventy- five acres, which were taken by the Metropoli- tan Water Board in connection with the water supply of Boston and suburbs. Mr. Bird was for many years local representative of the firm of J. L. Nason & Company, of Boston, real es- tate brokers. He was called upon constantly as an appraiser of real estate in Framingham, Marlborough, Northborough and vicinity, and has bought and sold real estate extensively. Mr. Bird was one of the most active and prom- inent citizens in public life in Framingham. He was assessor from 1869 to 1881, and chair- man of the board nine years, finally declining re-election. He was elected on the board of selectmen in 1871 and served ten years, dur- ing five of which he was chairman of the board. He was a member of the school com- mittee fifteen years, and town treasurer five years and a half, the first six months being the unexpired term of his predecessor. In 1886 and 1887 he represented Framingham in the general court, serving on the committee on public health, and as clerk of the committee on agriculture. He was road commissioner
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several years. He was moderator of the town meeting in 1875 and had the extraordinary record of one hundred and nine elections as moderator of Framingham town meetings. Such a testimony of confidence by one's townsmen is probably unparalleled in the state. His gifts as a presiding officer, his good judg- ment, his knowledge of town affairs and of parliamentary practice, his success in hand- ling difficult meetings made him in many re- spects the foremost citizen of the town, equally trusted and esteemed by men of both political parties. He was a director of the Framing- ham National Bank for eighteen years, resign- ing in 1905, was trustee of the Town Library for twelve years, was the treasurer of the first corporation of the Framingham Union Street Railroad, being a trustee and financing the company. In religion he was a Unitarian, and a life member of the American Unitarian As- sociation and of the First parish at Framing- ham, of which he was the treasurer. He was one of the original members of the Middlesex South Agricultural Society.
He married, November 28, 1861, Sarah A. Howe, who was born May 2, 1841, died Janu- ary 17, 1872, daughter of Ashbel and Laura (Nichols) Howe, of Southborough, Massa- chusetts. Ashbel Howe was a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Bird had no children.
The Parker family in England PARKER can be traced back to the earliest records. The name is derived from the Latin, Parcus, meaning a picketed enclosure or park, an enclosure for domestic cattle or a game preserve. The sur- names Parcus and De Parco are found in the Domesday Book. The name was spelt Parker as early as 900. Geoffrey Parker is noted in the reign of Edward I (901-925), living at Bexley on the eastern coast. From him de- scended a numerous posterity, including prob- ably the American progenitor, Thomas Parker. The family seat is at Berkshire, England. There are numerous Parker coats-of-arms, but that supposed to belong to the family of Thomas Parker, mentioned below, is: Gu. a Chevron, between three Stags, faces or. The early generations of this family in Massachu- setts were usually prosperous, prominent and devout. A careful study of the early records reveals no unworthy action.
(I) Thomas Parker, immigrant ancestor of this family, was born in England, coming thence to New England on the ship "Susan and Ellen," sailing from London, March 31,
1635. He settled in Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1635, and was one of the founders of the twelfth church in the Massachusetts Bay col- ony. He was admitted a freeman, May 17, 1637, and was a proprietor of Lynn in 1638. He was one of the first settlers of the adjacent town of Reading, and was elected deacon of the church there and was one of the foremost citizens. He was selectman in 1661 for five or more years. He was a man of property and had difficulty in establishing the bounds of his estate. His homestead was within a radius of thirty rods of the town hall at Wakefield, formerly South Reading. He died August 12, 1683, and was buried in the burial ground at the east side of the Common in Reading. His will dated August 3, was proved December 18, 1683, bequeathing to his wife Amy ; sons John, Thomas, Nathaniel and Hananiah ; daugh- ters Mary and Martha ; grandchildren, Samuel and Sarah Parker ; to John "a great Bible that Boniface Burton gave me." His widow, Amy, died in Reading, January 15, 1690. Children : I. Thomas, born at Lynn, 1636, died July 17, 1699. 2. Hananiah, mentioned below. 3. John, born at Reading, 1640, married, November 13, 1667, Hannah Kendall. 4. Joseph, born 1642, died 1644. 5. Joseph, born 1645, died 1646. 6. Mary, born December 12, 1647, married Samuel Dodge, of Beverly. 7. Martha, born March 14, 1649. 8. Nathaniel, born May 16, 1651, married, September 24, 1677, Bethia Polly. 9. Sarah, born September 30, 1653, died October 26, 1656. 10. Jonathan, born May 18, 1656, died June 10, 1680. II. Sarah, born May 23, 1658.
(II) Lieutenant Hananiah Parker, son of Thomas (I) and Amy Parker, was born at Lynn, Massachusetts, about 1638, and died March 10, 1724. He settled in Reading on land bordering his father's farm on the main road from. Lynn to Lowell, now Lowell street, Wakefield. He was assessed there in 1667 for a house and farm; was admitted a freeman, October 15, 1679. He was ensign of the Read- ing Military Company in 1680; lieutenant in 1684. In 1679 he and two others were elected a committee to have charge of the construc- tion of a new meeting house. He served the town in many offices of trust and honor; was town clerk for a long period; school commit- teeman, selectman and representative to the general court. He was a farmer.
He married (first), September 30, 1663, Elizabeth Browne, who was born in Reading, December 10, 1647, died February 27, 1697, daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth Browne. The children of the marriage were: I. John,
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mentioned below. 2. Samuel, born October 24, 1666, married Martha Brown, of Cam- bridge. 3. Elizabeth, born June, 1668, mar- ried, November 17, 1695, Samuel Cowdrey, of Reading. 4. Mary, married Samuel Poole, of Boston. 5. Sarah, born February 20, 1672, died October 2, 1673. 6. Hananiah, born No- vember 2, 1674, died January 3, 1677. 7. Ebenezer, born February 13, 1676, married Rebecca Newhall, of Reading. 8. Hananiah, born April 30, 1681, died August 7, 1681. Lieutenant Parker married (second), Decem- ber 12, 1700, Mrs. Mary (Bursham) Bright, daughter of William Bursham, widow of Dea- con John Bright, of Watertown. She died January 4, 1736. Lieutenant Parker died Jan- uary 4, 1736, aged eighty-seven years.
(III) John Parker, son of Lieutenant Han- aniah (2) and Elizabeth (Browne) Parker, was born at Reading, Massachusetts, August 3, 1664, died January 22, 1741. His life covered an interesting period of the early growth of the colonies. He was a joiner by trade and built a shop where he made farm implements, furniture and various useful articles of wood. He taught his trade to all his sons and they in turn to theirs. The Parkers of Lexington were all skillful wood workers. John Parker was constable of Reading, fence viewer in Lexington in 1714, tythingman in 1715 and 1721, and was among the most important men of the town, as shown by his seat among the foremost in the meeting house. He and his family removed to Lexington in the spring of 1712 and settled on the homestead that ever since has been occupied by his family and descendants. He married, October 2, 1689, Deliverance Dodge, of Beverly, Massa- chusetts, born March 10, 1661, daughter of John and Sarah Dodge. She died March 10, 1718. Children: 1. Sarah, born july 5, 1690, died July 9, 1690. 2. Hananiah, born Octo- ber 10, 1691, died 1711; was in the service in Queen Anne's war, in the Annapolis Expedi- tion. 3. Andrew, born February 14, 1693, married Sarah Whitney, of Lexington. 4. Josiah, born April 11, 1694, married Anna Stone, of Lexington. 5. Mary, born Decem- ber 4, 1695, died 1709, aged fourteen years. 6. John, born and died 1696. 7. Edie, born August 19, 1697, died 1702, aged twelve years. 8. John, mentioned below.
(IV) John Parker, son of John (3) and De- liverance (Dodge) Parker, was born at Read- ing, Massachusetts, November 8, 1703. When nine years old he moved with his parents to Lexington and in 1730 to Shrewsbury. He and his wife were admitted to the Shrewsbury
church, 1732, and in 1738 to the Framingham church. He was a selectman of Framingham and also overseer of the poor and of the work- house. He was a private in the company of Captain Henry Eames during the French and Indian Wars. Of his seven children only two lived. He left a will. He died at Framing- ham, February 23, 1783. He married, at Shrewsbury, February 18, 1731, Experience Cloyes, born at Framingham, November 19, 1702, died at Framingham, October 13, 1780, daughter of Peter and Mary (Preston) Cloyes. Children: 1. John, born January 22, 1732. 2. Experience, born October 8, 1733. 3. Hana- niah, baptized September 21, 1735. 4. Abi- gail, born December 1, 1736. 5. Peter, men- tioned below. 6. Submit, born December 3, 1742, married Thomas Bent, Jr., of Framing- ham. 7. Nathan, baptized March 2, 1746.
(V) Peter Parker, son of John (4) and Ex- perience (Cloyes) Parker, was born at Fram- ingham, October 3, 1738. He succeeded to the homestead at Framingham and in addi- tion to farming followed his trade of shoe- maker. He became one of the leading citi- zens of the town, and was on the committee of correspondence during the Revolution and also one of a committee of the town to pro- vide for the families of the soldiers. He was on a committee to fix prices of labor and country produce, manufactured goods and inn holders' charges and was one of a committee of fifteen to examine the new constitution, May, 1780. He owned much real estate in the vicinity of Salem End, Framingham, and built a house on the same site where Peter Parker now resides. He and his wife were admitted to the church in 1763. He was se- lectman from 1777 to 1782 inclusive; town treasurer in 1783 and 1786; constable and tax collector. He was a member of Captain Eames company of Alarm men in the French and Indian war in 1757. He died November 5, 1803.
He married, December 8, 1761, Ruth Eaton, born in Framingham, February 16, 1744, daughter of Noah and Hannah Vin- ton Eaton. Children of Peter and Ruth (Eaton) Parker were: I. John, born No- vember 16, 1762, married Deborah Lamb, of Framingham. 2. Nathan, mentioned below. 3. Abigail, born December 15, 1766, married, June 8, 1803, Lovell Howe, of Marlborough. 4. Ruth, born January 8, 1769, married, November 8, 1785, Joseph Bigelow, Jr., of Holliston. 5. Experience, born February 19, 1771, married Luther Hav- en, of Framingham. 6. Patty, born April 15,
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1773, married, November 1, 1793, Eleazer Bullard. 7. Sally, born May 25, 1775, mar- ried, April 21, 1800, William Eames, of Hol- liston. 8. Peter, born March 16, 1777, died December 17, 1784. 9. Josiah, born April 26, 1779, married, April 8, 1804, Olive Stone, of Framingham. 10. Artemas, born December 20, 1781, died August 28, 1825; married, Jan- uary 21, 1806, Almy Clark, of Framingham. II. Ann, born April 25, 1784, died January 8, 1785. 12. Peter, born July 10, 1787, died May 7, 1788.
(VI) Nathan Parker, son of Peter (5) and Ruth (Eaton) Parker was born at Framingham, October 23, 1764, died August 17, 1826. He had the Parker homestead at Framingham and was a farmer. He was admitted to the First Church at the same time as his wife, in 1792. He served on the side of the government in suppressing Shay's Rebellion. He was a . member of the Framingham artillery in. 179, one of the original members. He married, in Newton, March 17, 1791, Catherine Murdock, born in Newton May 2, 1765, daughter of Aaron and Lydia (Ward) Murdock. His wife died November I, 1836. Children: I. Harriet, born October 10, 1793, married, March 20, 1821, Josiah Bigelow, of Framingham. 2. Preston, born May 10, 1796, drowned October 10, 1798. 3. Maria, born April 16, 1799, married, Decem- ber 9, 1819, Abijah Fay, of Southborough. 4. Preston, born November 4, 1802, died August 20, 1804. 5. Peter, mentioned below. 6. Catherine, born August 21, 1806, died Octo- ber 30, 1842.
(VII) Dr. Peter Parker, son of Nathan (6) and Catherine (Murdock) Parker, was born at Framingham, June 18, 1804, and died at his residence at Washington, D. C., January 10, 1888. He worked on the homestead and at- tended the public schools in his youth, fitting for Yale College where he was graduated in the class of 1831. He then studied theology in Yale Divinity School and was licensed to preach August, 1833, but chose medicine as a profession and was graduated from the Yale Medical School in 1834. He was appointed by the American Board a medical missionary to China, and was ordained in the ministry by the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, May 16, 1834. He embarked for China, June 3, 1834, and reached Canton, October 29, fol- lowing. Soon afterward he went to Singa- pore to study the Fuhkeen dialect, returning to China, August, 1835, and November 4 fol- lowing opened the Opthalmic Hospital in Canton, originally intended for the treatment
of eye diseases, but it soon became by force of circumstances more general in its scope. In 1837 he visited Loochoo and Japan on the ship "Morrison" in order to return to their homes some shipwrecked Japanese sailors. He was one of the founders of the Medical Missionary Society of China and for many years was its president. The work of his hos- pital was interrupted by the breaking out of the Opium War between England and China after upwards of twelve thousand cases had been treated at the hospital. Dr. Parker re- turned to America, visiting friends also in England and Scotland, and as a direct result of his efforts a wide spread interest in his work developed, auxiliary societies were formed and the sum of six thousand dollars raised for his medical work.
Dr. Parker married at Washington, D. C., March 29, 1841, Harriet Colby Webster, daughter of John and Rebecca Guild (Sewall) Webster, of Augusta, Maine. He returned with his wife to China in 1842 and she had the distinction of being the first foreign white woman to reside in Canton. In 1844, with the consent of the prudential committee of the American Board, he accepted the appoint- ment from the Hon. Caleb Cushing, United States Minister to China, of the position of secretary and interpreter to the Legation. He rendered important service to his country and Christianity in this position. The draft of a treaty had been prepared by Minister Cush- ing and translated into. Chinese prior to the arrival at Canton of the Imperial Commis- sioner Ki Ying. This treaty was referred to deputies appointed by each of the two com- missioners to be examined in detail. One of the Chinese deputies was Pwan Tze Shing, son of Pwan Ting Kwa, a Hong Kong mer- chant, a former patient of Dr. Parker, who was an American deputy. Dr. Parker had successfully removed a large polypus from each nostril and later had had the merchant's wife, the deputy's mother, also as his patient. So when in the progress of the work, the dep- uties came to the seventeenth article which granted to Americans the right to rent sites and construct "homes, places of business and hospitals and cemeteries," Pwan Tze Shing, evidently as a graceful tribute of acknowl- edgment of the services of the physician as well as a public recognition of the claims of the Christian religion, proposed to add "And temples of worship." The amended clause was adopted by the deputies, accepted by the commissioners, and became a part of the Treaty. Whether the prompting of a per-
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