USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Rehoboth > History of Rehoboth, Massachusetts; its history for 275 years, 1643-1918, in which is incorporated the vital parts of the original history of the town > Part 3
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From the quit-claim deed of Philip, given in 1668, we learn that the first purchase of land, afterwards included in the original town of Rehoboth, was made of Osamequin, more commonly known to the English by the name of Massassoit, in 1641, by John Brown and Edward Winslow of Plymouth. (See deed p. 65.) This tract of land comprised the present towns of Rehoboth, Seekonk, the first and second wards of Pawtucket, and East Providence, R.I., and is about ten miles square. It had been granted by Plymouth Court, as appears from the records of the Rehoboth proprietors, to certain persons (probably of Hingham) for the settlement of a town, and Mr. Brown and Mr. Winslow were appointed agents to purchase it for the colony.
"Whereas the Court of Plymouth was pleased, in the year 1641, or thereabouts, to grant unto the inhabitants of Seaconk (alias Rehoboth) liberty to take up a trackt of lands for theare com-
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EARLY SETTLERS AND ANNALS
fortable subsistance, containing the quantity of eight miles square; and the Court was pleased to appoint Mr. John Browne and Mr. Edward Winslow for to purchase the foresaid trackt of land of Asamecum, the chief sachem and owner therof, which accordingly hath beene effected, and the purchase paid for by the foresaid in- habitants, according to the Court order," &c. (Proprietors' Rec- ords, vol. I, p. 1.)
No deed of this purchase is on record, but there is a deposition of John Hazell on the Plymouth Colony Records (Vol. II, p. 67), taken Nov. 1, 1642, which confirms the purchase: "John Hasell [Hazell] affirmeth that Assamequine chose out ten fathome of beads1 at Mr. William's and put them in a basket, and affirmed that he was fully satisfied therewith for his land at Seacunck; but he stood upon it that he would have a coat more, and left the beads with Mr. Williams and willed him to keep them untill Mr. Hubbard came up." "He affirmeth the bounds were to Red Stone Hill VIII. miles into the land, and to Annawamscoate VII. miles down the water." No record or deed from the colony to the town at this time is to be found on the Plymouth Records; but ref- erence to, and acknowledgment of, a grant of this land to several individuals is made in the confirmation deed of the colony in 1685: "Whereas Mr. Daniel Smith, as agent of the town of Rehoboth, answered at this Court, and showed, declared and made appear unto this Court by several writings and records, that the bounds of the said town of Rehoboth are as followeth: The first grant of the said township being eight miles square, granted in the year 1641, unto Mr. Alexander Winchester, Richard Wright, Mr. Henry Smith, Mr. Joseph Pecke, Mr. Stephen Paine, and divers others, for the settling of a town, which is now bounded from Puttukett river," etc. The same thing is repeated in the quitclaim deed of William Bradford, son of Governor Bradford, to the town, in 1689. This deed, after speaking of grants of land having been made to different townships, says: "Among others, in the year of our Lord 1641 [Gov. Bradford] granted to Joseph Peck, Stephen Paine, Henry Smith, Alexander Winchester, Thomas Cooper, gent., and others with them, and such others as they should asso- ciate to themselves, a tract of land for a plantation or township, formerly called by the natives Secunke, upwards of forty-five years
1 Delicate shells strung like beads and called wampum, the Indian currency. In 1641 this bead money was worth 5 shillings the fathom. Ten fathoms therefore amounted to £2.10s. English money, which was the cost of the township, in addition to which the chief made them throw in a coat.
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
since settled and planted, now called and known by the name of Rehoboth." These deeds will be taken notice of, and extracts made from them, when we come to the years in which they were given. The people, whose names are mentioned in both the above extracts as grantees, were of Hingham. (See Lincoln's Hist. of Hingham, pp. 42-48.)
Although the town had been purchased of the Indians, and granted to a number of individuals for the purpose of making a settlement, it does not appear that any general and permanent settlement was made here earlier than about the year 1643. We find, however, one individual residing at "Seacunck" as early as 1642. This was John Hazell, whose deposition relative to the sale of "Seacunk" by Osamequin has been already given. He was then residing at "Seacunck" (Nov. 1, 1642), and we find further mention made of him at the same Court in November:
"John Hassell [afterwards written Hazell in the Town Records] doth acknowledge himself to owe the king, to be leveyed of his lands, goods and chattells, &c. £XX. if he fayle in the condicon following: The condicon that the said John Hassell shall either take the oath of allegiance to the King, and fidelitie to the Govern- ment, betwixt this and March Court next, or els remove his dwell- ing from Seacunk." (Plym. Col. Rec., vol. II, p. 67.)
The £20 which he acknowledged himself to owe the king was a fine for contempt of Court, as appears from the following:
"August 2, 1642. It is ordered that a warrant be sent to fetch John Hassell, that lives at Sickuncke, to answer his contempts at the General Court: which was made and signed by all the assistants present." (Plym. Col. Rec., vol. II, p. 55.)
John Hazell continued to reside at "Seacunck," where he had lands granted him in 1669. And he appears to have owned largely before, for, in describing the bounds of the grant, mention is made of "his other allotment, being six hundred acres, bounded on the east with his fresh meadow and a little run of water and a cedar swamp; on the west side Patucet river; on the north side the woods; on the south side the towne land; only the Island and little upland above mentoned is part of the six hundred acres." (Plym. Col. Rec., vol. II, p. 193.)
"Seacunck," we have seen, was first granted to people of Hing- ham; but they were soon joined by Mr. Newman and the majority of his church at Weymouth, in their projected settlement; and
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EARLY SETTLERS AND ANNALS
it is even possible that some of the people of Weymouth were among the original grantees of 1641, though none of them are among the names mentioned. It appears, however, that those whose names are given were a committee acting for "themselves and divers others."
The first meeting of the original planters of Rehoboth to be found on record, is dated at "Weimoth the 24th of the 8th month1 [October], 1643." The record is as follows:
"At a general meeting of the plantores of Seacunk, it was ordered,
"(1) That the [illegible] lottes shall not exceed the number of sixty and five, and in case anny of those that have these lottes granted already fale, that Goodman [illegible] of Cambridge to be admitted of he please; and in case so manny fale as may limit to sixty, then not to exceed sixty lottes.
"(2) It is agreed that the ground that is most fit to be planted and hopefull for corne for the present to be planted and fenced by such as possess it according to [illegible].
"(3) It is ordered that those that have lottes granted and are [illegible] inhabitants shall fence the one end of their lottes and their part in the comon fence, in the same time, by the 20th day of April next, or else forfit their lottes to the disposal of the plantation; and likewise to remove themselves and family to inhabit [torn off] by this time twelvesmonth, or else forfite their lottes againe to the plantation, allowinge them their necessary improvements, as they in their discretion shall think meet.
"(4) That if anny damages shale fale out by anny man's partic- ular fence, the owner of the fence shale pay the damage, and if [torn off] generall fence, then those persons that one the fence to pay [torn off.]" (Rehoboth Rec., vol. I, p. 1.)
The next meeting of the proprietors was held at Weymouth, "the 10th day of the 10th month" (December), when regulations were made as to the planting of corn. The teacher to have a certain portion from each settler. Servants, after four years, to be inhabitants and entitled to their privileges. Richard Wright employed to build a corn-mill.
During the year 1643, and probably before any other division of land had been made other than for house-lots, the proprietors were required individually to give in the value of their estates, in order that the allotments of land might be made accordingly, as appears from the Proprietors' Records:
"About the year 1643, a joynt agreement was made by the in- habitants of Sea-conk alias Rehoboth, ffor the bringing in of their
1This is Old Style. The year then commenced the 25th of March. See note on page 58.
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
estates; that soe men's lotments might be taken up according to person and estate, as alsoe for the carrieing on of all publick chardges both for present and future; furtheremore the means and interest of what is heare expressed is that by which lands, now granted by the Court of Plymouth to the towne, is to be divided according to person and estate, as is expressed in this following list.
1. Mrs. Bur
Ruth Ingram ac- cepted in her place.
Richard Bullock's.
2. Widdow Walker
50 00 00
3. John Read 300 00 00
300 00 00
Thomas Wilmot's.
34. Robert Morris 94 10 00
35. Edward Bennet, now 134 10 00
5. The Schoolmaster 50 00 00
6. Will Cheesbrook 450 00 00
7. Mr. Winchester 195 00 00
8. Richard Wright 834 00 00
9. Mr. Newman
330 00 00
38. Mathew Pratt 239 00 00
39. John Megg's 120 00 00
11. Walter Palmer
419 00 00
40. Thomas Clifton, now 160 00 00
12. James Clark, now John Perrum's.
71 00 00
13. Ralph Shephard, now
121 10 00
James Redewaye's.
14. Zachariah Roads
50 00 00
40 00 00
16. John Perrum 67 00 00
17. John Millar 69 10 00
18. Samuel Butterworth 50 00 00
19. George Kendrick
50 00 00
20. Abram Martin
60 10 00
48. Will. Carpenter 254 10 00
21. The Teacher 100 00 00
22. Edward Seale
81 00 00
23. John Browne
50 00 00
50. Robert Titus,
156 10 00
24. Mr. Howward
250 00 00
25. Mr. Peck
535 00 00
26. Mr. Obediah Holmes, now 100 00 00
Robert Wheaton's.
27. Edward Smith
252 00 00
John Woodcock's.
55. Peter Hunt 327 00 00
29. Thomas Hitt
101 00 00
56. Robert Martin 228 10 00
30. James Walker, now John ffitche's. 1
50 00 00
31. Thomas Blyss 153 00 00
Rice Leonard's.
58. Richard Bowen
270 00 00
(Proprietors' Records, vol. I, p. 1.)
At a meeting of the proprietors of Seekonk (the date of which is torn off, though it was probably among the first), it was voted
1 Instead of a capital letter, the small letter is frequently doubled.
134 00 00
42. Tho. Cooper 367 00 00
43. Robert ffullor 150 00 00
44. John Allen
156 00 00
45. Ralph Allen
270 00 00
46. Edward Gillman, now Joseph Peck's. 306 00 00
47. Tho. Houlbrook 186 10 00
49. John Houlbrook, now Nicholas Ide's. S
186 10 00
now Robert Jones's.
51. Will. Sabin 53 00 00
52. Stephen Payne 535 00 00
53. Mr. Browne 600 00 00
54. Edward Patteson, now 50 00 00
28. Job Lane, now Robert Abell's.
50 00 00
£ s. d.
£ s. d. 100 00 00
32. The Governor's lot, now 200 00 00
33. Isaack Martin, now 50 00 00
4. John Cooke which still is in the \ town's hands.
Rich. Bowen's, Jr.
36. The Pastor 100 00 00
37. Mr. Henry Smith 260 00 00
10. Will. Smith
196 10 00
Stephen Payne's, Jr.
41. Joseph Torry, now John Peck's.
15. John Mathewes
57. Robert Sharp, but now 106 00 00
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EARLY SETTLERS AND ANNALS
that nine men should be chosen to order the prudential affairs of the plantation, who should have power to dispose of the lands "in lots of twelve, eight, or six acres, as in their discretion they think the quality of the estate of the person do require." This applied to house-lots. It was further ordered, "that all other lots to be divided according to person and estate. One person to be valued at £12 sterling in the division of lands, and that no person should sell his improvements but to such as the towne shall accept of"; also voted, "that the meeting-house shall stand in the midst of the town."
On "the 21st of the 4th month" (June), a town meeting was held, but the records of it are so mutilated as to be mostly illegible. It appears, however, to relate to a new division of land. It was resolved that on every fortieth day a meeting should be held by all the inhabitants "for the consideration and acting of such necessary affairs as concern the plantation."
"At a town meeting, the 31st day of the 4th month [June], 1644, lots were drawn for a division of the woodland between the plain and the town. Shares were drawn to the number of 58 as follows:
1. Mr. Winchester, 25. Robert Titus,
2. Mr. Leonard,
26. Edward Seale, ,
3. Peter Hunt,
27. George Kendrick,
4. William Cheesborough, 28. [illegible],
5. Ralph Allin,
29. Thomas Bliss,
6. John Holbrook, 30. The Pastor's,
7. John Perram,
31. Stephen Payne,
32. Edward Smith,
33. William Smith,
10. William Carpenter,
34. James Clark,
35. The Governour,
36. Edward Bennett,
13. Edward Patterson,
14. James Browne,
15. Richard Bowin,
16. Mr. Newman,
17. Mr. Peck,
18. Walter Palmer,
19. Abraham Martin,
20. John Sutton,
21. Robert Morris,
22. John Matthewes,
23. Issac Martin,
24. James Walker,
43. John Meggs,
44. William Sabin,
45. Mr. Henry Smith,
46. Zachery Roades,
47. Edward Gilman,
48. Thomas Clifton,
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11. Ephraim Hunt,
12. Samuel Butterworth,
37. Obadiah Holmes, 38. Mr. Browne,
39. Thomas Cooper,
40. Thomas Holbrooke,
41. Thomas Hitt,
42. John Allin.
8. The Schoolmaster,
9. Matthew Pratt,
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
49. Joseph Torrey, 54. Mr. B- [illegible],
50. Thomas Dunn,
55. The Teacher,
51. Robert Martin, 56. John Cooke,
52. Widow Walker, 57. Ralph Shepard,
53. John Miller, 58. John Reade."
On "the 3d of the 5th month [July], 1644," the inhabitants signed a compact in the following words:
"This combination, entered into by the general consent of all the inhabitants, after general notice given the 23d of the 4th month.
"We whose names are underwritten, being, by the providence of God, inhabitants of Seacunk, intending there to settle, do covenant and bind ourselves one to another to subject our per- sons [torn off], (according to law and equity) to nine persons, any five of the nine which shall be chosen by the major part of the inhabitants of this plantation, and we [torn off] to be subject to all wholesome [torn off] by them, and to assist them, according to our ability and estate, and to give timely notice unto them of any such thing as in our conscience may prove dangerous unto the plantation, and this combination to continue untill we shall sub- ject ourselves jointly to some other government.
Walter Palmer,
Edward Smith,
Edward Bennett,
Robert Titus,
Abraham Martin,
John Matthewes,
Edward Sale,
Ralph Shepherd,
Samuel Newman,
William Cheesborough,
Alex. Winchester,
Henry Smith,
Stephen Payne,
Richard Bowen,
Joseph Torrey,
Ralph Alin, Thomas Bliss, George Kendricke,
James Clark, Ephraim Hunt,
Peter Hunt,
John Allen, William Sabin,
William Smith, John Peren,
Thomas Cooper."
Zachery Rhoades, Job Lane,
"The 12th of the 5th mo. [July], 1644. At a meeting upon public notice given, it is ordered that such as shall have allot- ments in the three divisions of lands presently to be laid out by Mr. Oliver and his partner, Joseph Fisher, and shall not pay the
Richard Wright,
Robert Martin,
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EARLY SETTLERS AND ANNALS
surveying of it, by the 28th of the 8th month [October], next, at Boston or Dedham, according to the proposition of Mr. Oliver, shall forfeit all such lands laid out in the three aforesaid divis- , ions, into the hands of the nine men entrusted with the town affairs, who are desired to undertake with Mr. Oliver to satisfy him for the laying out of the aforesaid divisions.
"It is further ordered, the day above written, that Will. Chees- borough is to have division in all lands of Seakunk for a hundred and fifty-three pounds besides what he is to have for his own pro- portion, and that in way of consideration for the pains and charges he hath been at for setting off this plantation."
"At a general meeting of the town of Seacunk, being the 9th of the 10th month [December], 1644, at lawful warning given, by reason of many meetings and other strong causes for the easing of the great trouble and for the [illegible] and the deciding of con- troversies between party and party, as well as the proposing of men's levies to be made and paid, and for the well ordering of the town affairs, as may stand with future equity, according to our former combination, the inhabitants of said place have choose these men here named:
Alexander Winchester,
William Smith,
Richard Wright,
Stephen Payne,
Henry Smith,
Richard Bowen,
Edward Smith,
Robert Martin."
Walter Palmer,
The first meeting of these townsmen, as they were styled, was on "the 3d day of the 11th mo. [January] 1644," when they voted to give Robert Morris, "in consideration for the spare lot he hath taken," the first lot in the next division.
"The 26th of the 10th mo. [December] 1644, at a meeting of the town it was ordered, that, for time past, and for time to come, that all workmen that have or shall work in any common work, or shall work for any particular men, shall have for their wages for each day's work as followeth: for each laborer, from the first day of November until the first day of February, 18d. a day, and for the rest of the year 20d. a day except the harvest, that is to say while men are reaping harvests.
"It is ordered that the work of 4 oxen and a man for a day [torn off], shilling and sixpence; and that for 6 oxen and a man seven shillings; and for eight oxen and a man, eight shillings."
"The 10th of the 11th mo. [January] 1644, at a meeting of the townsmen it was agreed upon that all those that are underwritten have forfeited their lots for not fencing, or not removing their families according to a former order, made the 24th of the 8th month, 1643; therefore we do enter upon them for, and in the
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
behalf of the town, to be disposed of as the town shall think meet, only paying them for their necessary charges, according to a former order:
Ralph Shepherd,
John Meggs,
James Browne,
Thomas Cooper,
Mr. Leonard,
John Sutton,
Mr. Peck,
Edward Gilman,
Obadiah Holmes,
Tho. Holbrooke,
James Walker,
John Holbrooke,
The Governour's lot,
Mr. Browne,
Matthew Pratt,
Edward Patteson,
Thomas Dunn,
Ephraim Hunt.
"It is ordered, the day and year above written, at a town meeting, that all men that have lots granted upon the neck of land, shall fence so much fence as the number of his acres cometh to, by the 15th day of the 2d month, or pay 2s. for every rod that shall not be fenced.
"It is ordered that no man shall fall any tree or trees within the space of eight rods of the road and of house-lot, upon the forfeit of 6s. 8d. for every tree fallen without the consent of the owner of the lot.
"It is agreed that Edward Bennett shall have the ground that his house standeth upon, and so much of the breadth of the ground as he hath railed in to the edge of the hill towards the brook."
"The 17th day of the 12th mo. [February], 1644, at a town meeting it was agreed upon, that whoever hath not convenient land to plant, for present getting of corn, shall be allowed to plant so much as they can break up this year, and shall have it six years, and then to fall to the town again, either upon Manton's neck or else upon the back side of the lots on the south-east side of the town."
"The 26th of the 12th mo. [February], 1644, at a meeting of the townsmen, Richard Wright, Richard Bowen, Alexander Win- chester, Walter Palmer, William Smith, Edward Smith, being present, it is ordered that the recording of any man's land in the town book shall be to him and his heirs a sufficient assurance forever.
"The same day it is ordered that no man's lands shall be re- corded until he shall bring to the Town Clerk a note for his lands, butted and bounded."
It will be observed that the records thus far bear the date of "Seacunk" or "Seakunk." Though the proprietors purchased their land of the Plymouth Colony, yet it appears from the com- pact signed by them on becoming "inhabitants of Seacunk," that
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EARLY SETTLERS AND ANNALS
they considered themselves independent of any jurisdiction but their own, though they were afterwards claimed by both Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay. In 1645, they submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of the Plymouth Court, or, rather, were assigned to that by the Commissioners of the United Colonies, and were incorporated by the Scripture name of Rehoboth, - a name selected by Mr. Newman; for, said he, "the Lord hath made room for us."
Next on the town records follow the registers of the lands of the proprietors. Here we find the following names: Mr. Alex- ander Winchester, Mr. Howard, Peter Hunt, William Chees- borough, Ralph Allin, John Holbrooke, John Peram, the School- master, Matthew Pratt, William Carpenter, Samuel Butterworth, Edward Patteson, James Browne, Richard Bowen, Mr. Samuel Newman, Mr. Peck, Abraham Martin, John Sutton, Robert Mor- ris, John Matthewes, John Fitch, Robert Titus, George Kendricke, Robert Sharp, Thomas Bliss, The Pastor, Stephen Paine, Edward Smith, James Clarke, William Smith, The Governour, Edward Bennett, Obadiah Holmes, Mr. John Browne, Thomas Cooper, Thomas Holbrooke, Thomas Hett, John Allin, John Meggs, Wil- liam Sabin, Henry Smith, Zachary Roades, Edward Gilman, senior, Thomas Clifton, Joseph Torrey, Widow Walker, Richard Ingram (now Ingraham), The Teacher, Thomas Loring, Ralph Shepherd, John Reade, John Miller, Richard Wright.
Baylies, in his Memoir of Plymouth Colony, has inserted Robert Fuller in the above list, but the date of the registry of his land is not till 1652, though it stands on the record in the place he has assigned to it. The name of Thomas Wilmot (now written Will- marth) is also found in the same list, though I am confident that there were none of that name in town at so early a period as 1645; and another name appears to have been erased, and this written over it in a handwriting of more modern date.
"The 16th of the 1st mo. [March], 1645, at a general meeting of the towne upon public notice given, it was agreed that all the fence in the general field shall be fenced by the 23d of this present month; and whosoever shall be negligent, and not repair or set up his fence by the day above written, shall pay sixpence for every rod deficient, and the damage that shall come to any man by the same.
"The same day, the men after mentioned were made choice of to view the fences and to judge of the sufficiency of them, viz: Richard Bowen, Robert Titus, William Smith, Captain Wright,
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HISTORY OF REHOBOTH
Alexander Winchester, Thomas Bliss, Stephen Payne and Thomas Cooper.
"The same day were made choice of for townsmen those men whose names are underwritten, for one whole year, viz:
Mr. Browne, Thomas Cooper,
Stephen Payne,
William Carpenter,
Mr. Henry Smith, Robert Martin,
Edward Smith."
"The 16th of the 1st mo. [March], 1645, it was agreed upon by the towne that the towne shall be divided into two parts for the making of the foot bridges and the keeping of them, and the high- ways leading to them to be done by the whole town; the division to begin at the Widow Walker's and so on to Will. Carpenter's and so on to half; and Robert Martin and Thomas Cooper were made choice of to be surveyors to oversee the work."
"29th of the 2d mo. [April], 1645, at a town meeting it was agreed upon that if any person or persons shall be lacking in [illegible] to the number of six months shall pay 12d. for every default, to be laid upon their goods and chattells.
"The same day, Richard Bowen, Walter Palmer, Stephen Payne, Robert Martin, William Carpenter, and Peter Hunt were made choice of to hear the grievances of all those that their meadow is defective, and give allowance to every man according as they in their discretion shall think meet, both in fresh meadow and salt, when they have viewed the meadows that are yet un- lotted, and shall give to every man as they shall fall by lot.
"It is agreed that they shall lay out lots to those that have not according to their estate. That they shall begin at the upper end of the meadow next to the fresh water. That if there shall not prove fresh meadow enough to satisfy all that want fresh meadow, that then for them to give salt for fresh. It is agreed that these six, or any four of them, shall determine of any of those particulars above mentioned."
"The 28th of the 3d mo. [May], 1645, at a meeting of the towns- men, Richard Wright, Richard Bowen, Walter Palmer, Mr. Henry Smith, Mr. Winchester, William Smith, and Edward Smith being present, it is ordered that a levy shall be made and forthwith gathered, of 12d. on each £100 estate, to be paid either in butter at 6d. a lb. or in wampum: and it is also concluded that Robert Titus and William Sabin shall be collectors of said revenue."
"The 31st of Maie, 1645, at a meeting of the town upon public notice given, Stephen Payne and William Carpenter were chosen to go to Plymouth, to the Court, to certify the town's minds."
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