USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Dunstable > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 12
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Tyngsborough > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 12
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hudson > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 12
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 12
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Litchfield > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 12
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashville > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 12
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hollis > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 12
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Merrimack > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 12
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When the French War broke out in 1755, an expedition under General Sir William Johnson, was planned against Crown Point, then in pos- session of the French. A regiment of five hun- dred men was raised in New Hampshire for this purpose, and the command of it was given to Col. Joseph Blanchard of this town. One of the companies which composed the regiment was
*14
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the famous Rangers, of which Robert Rogers was Captain, and John Stark, (afterwards Gen- eral,) was Lieutenant. The regiment was sta- tioned at Fort Edward, and " was employed in scouting, a species of service which none could perform so successfully as the Rangers of New Hampshire. Parties of them were frequently under the very walls of the French garrisons, and at one time killed and scalped a soldier near the gate of the fort at Crown Point. Late in the autumn the forces were disbanded, and the regiment returned to their homes." One of the companies composing the regiment went from Dunstable and the vicinity, and was commanded by Capt. Peter Powers of Hollis. Among the officers of the regiment we find the names of Jonathan Lovewell of this town, Commissary, Rev. Daniel Emerson of Hollis, Chaplain, and John Hale of Hollis, Surgeon. (1.)
The war still continued, and New Hampshire still furnished her quota of troops for the service. In 1759 another regiment, consisting of one thousand men, were ordered out from this State. Col. Blanchard having died the year previous, the command of it was given to Col. Zaccheus Lovewell of this town, a brother of Capt. John Lovewell. This regiment, of which one or more companies were from this vicinity, joined the main army under Lord Amherst, and was pres- ent at the taking of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, where it did good service. The next year a regiment of eight hundred men was raised, chiefly from this vicinity, commanded by Col. John Goffe of Bedford. They were present at the capture of St. John's, Chamblee, Montreal,
(1.) 5 N. H. Hist. Coll., 217, 218. 1 Belknap, 319.
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and Quebec, which wrested all Canada from France and put an end to the war. (1.)
There is scarcely in the annals of America a company of troops more famous than "ROGERS'S RANGERS." Their life was one scene of constant exposure, and their story reminds one of the days of romance. The forest was their home, and they excelled even the Indian in cunning and hardihood. Everywhere they wandered in search of adventures, fearless and cautions, until their very name became a terror to the enemy. Even in the post of danger, when the army was advancing, they scouted the woods to detect the hidden ambush, and when retreating they skir- inished in the rear to keep the foe at bay. If any act of desperate daring was to be done, the Rangers were " the forlorn hope." At mid- night they traversed the camp of the enemy, or carried off a sentinel from his post as if in mockery. Their blow fell like lightning, and before the echo had died away or the alarm sub- sided, another blow was struck at some far dis- tant point. They seemed to be omnipresent, and the enemy deemed that they were in league with evil spirits. The plain, unvarnished tale of their daily hardships and perilous wanderings, their strange adventures, and " hair breadth 'scapes " would be as wild and thrilling as a German legend.
Of this company, and of others similar in character, a large number belonged to this town. The records are lost and their names are princi- cipally forgotten. Besides the two Colonels, Blanchard and Lovewell, and the Commissary. Jonathan Lovewell, it is known that the sons of Noah Johnson, the last survivor of Lovewell's Fight, were in the war, both of whom were
(1.) 1 Belknap, 319, 320.
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killed. One of them, Noah was an officer, and was killed at the storming of Quebec, fighting under Wolfe. Nehemiah Lovewell was a Lieu- tenant in 1756, and a Captain in 1758 and 1760. Jonathan Farwell, William Harris, Thomas Killicut, Thomas Blanchard, Jonathan Blanch- ard, Eleazer Farwell, Benjamin Hassell, James Mann, Ebenezer Fosdick, Bunker Farwell, John Lamson, Simeon Blood, Thomas Lancey, Eph- raim Butterfield, John Carkin, James French, Henry Farwell, Nathaniel Blood, Joseph Combs, John Gilson, James Harwood, John Huston, Joshua Wright, William Walker, John Harwood and William Lancey, were also out during the war, as was also Lt. David Alld, and the gun which he then carried is still in the possession of his daughters.
In the expedition of 1760, Col. Goffe com- manded the regiment which mustered at Litch- field. His destination was Crown Point and Canada. A select company of Rangers was formed from the regiment, and the command given to Capt. Nehemiah Lovewell of this town. As a specimen of the military dress and discipline of the time, the following order is inserted. It is copied from Adjutant Hobart's record, and is dated Litchfield, May 25, 1760 : - " Col. Goffe requires the officers to be answerable that the men's shirts are changed twice every week at least ; that such as have hair that will admit of it must have it constantly tyed; they must be obliged to comb their heads, and wash their hands every morning, and as it is observed that numbers of the men accustom themselves to wear woollen nightcaps in the day time, he allows them hats; they are ordered for the future not to be seen in the day time with any thing besides their hats on their heads, as the above mentioned
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custom of wearing nightcaps must be detrimental to their health and cleanliness ; the men's hats to be all cocked, or cut uniformly as Col. Goffe pleases to direct." (1.)
September 26, 1757, the town voted, "that some measures be taken to settle the Gospel in this town " ; and four persons were selected to preach one month each, on probation. Nov. 7, they gave a call to Rev. Elias Smith, (a gradu- ate of Harvard in 1753.) but difficulty ensued, and Dec. 16, the call was retracted. (2.) It was a custom for those dissatisfied to enter their protest and as a curiosity and a specimen, the following is inserted :
"We the subscribers, being freeholders in Dunstable, do for ourselves protest against the choice of Mr. Elias Smith for our minister, which they have essayed to choose, and for these reasons; first, because we are not of the persuasion he preaches and indevors to maintain ; we are Presbyterians, and do adhere to the Westminster Confes- sion of faith ; and do declare it to be the confession of our faith; and that we are members of the Presbyterian Church in Londonderry - some 18 years - some 15 years, and have partaken of Baptism, and of the Lord's supper as frequently as we could, they being the sealing ordi- nances, and that we cannot in conscience join in calling or paying Mr. Smith. Therefore we plead the liberty of con- science that we may hear and pay where we can have benefit." JOHN ALLD, JEREMIAH COLBURN.
There was also a protest of David Hobart and others against his settlement, because, as they say, " Mr. Smith's preaching is contrary to our persuasion, and as we judge favors the Ar- minian scheme, which we judge tends to pervert the truths of the Gospel, and darken the counsels of God."
April 7, 1758, died Col. Joseph Blanchard.
(1.) Regimental Records, in Secretary's office, Concord.
(2.) Perhaps the founder of the sect of Christians.
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aged 53. He was born Feb. 11, 1704, and his grandfather, Deacon John Blanchard, was one of the first settlers of the town. His father, Capt. Joseph Blanchard, was town clerk, select- man and proprietor's clerk for many years, a very active and useful citizen, and died in 1727. On the death of his father, although young, Jo- seph Blanchard was chosen proprietor's clerk, which office he held, with a slight interval, during his life, and was constantly engaged in town business until his death. In early life he became distinguished as a surveyor of land, and was almost constantly employed in that capacity .- In conjunction with Rev. Dr. Langdon, of Ports- mouth, he projected a map of New Hampshire, which was published after his death, in 1761, and inscribed to "Hon. Charles Townsend, his Majesty's Secretary of War."
At this period no accurate maps of the State existed, and to prepare one from the then scanty materials must have been a work of great mag- nitude. Surveys were to be made, and informa- tion collected from every quarter. Most of the labor, of course, fell on Col. Blanchard. 'The greater part of our territory was then a wilder- ness, for our whole population scarcely exceeded 50,000, and the means of intercommunication were limited and difficult. But settlements were springing up rapidly, and the lands were be- coming every day more and more valuable, and accurate information of the localities was im- portant. Under these circumstances the map was considered of great value, and as a token of their estimate of it, Mr. Townsend procured from the University of Glasgow, for Mr. Lang- don, (Col. Blanchard having deceased, ) the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. (1.)
(1.) 1 Belknap, 312.
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Upon the dissolution of the connexion between New Hampshire and Massachusetts in 1741, and the accession of Benning Wentworth as Gov- ernor, Mr. Blanchard received the appointment of Counsellor of State by mandamus from the Crown. This was an office of great dignity and authority, and next to that of Governor, was the most honorable and responsible in the colonies, in the gift of the king. This office he held for a number of years, and probably until his death. In 1749, on the death of Chief Justice Jaffrey, he was appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature of the State, which office he held during life.
When the old French War broke out in 1755, an expedition was planned against Crown Point. New Hampshire raised a regiment of 500 men, and Mr. Blanchard was appointed Colonel. Of this regiment, the famous Rangers, under the command of Rogers and Stark, formed a part. The regiment was stationed at Fort Edward, and returned home in the autumn of the same year.
Col. Blanchard married Rebecca Hubbard, [Hobart ?] by whom he had twelve children .- He died in this town and is buried in the Old South Burying Ground ; his tombstone bears the following inscription : - " The Hon. Joseph Blanchard, Esqr., deceased April the 7th, 1758, aged 53."
November 27, 1758, the town voted to give Rev. Josiah Cotton a call, and offered 178 milled dollars salary. Jan. 29, 1758, they added £5 sterling, making his salary about $200. The call was accepted,- the day of ordination ap- pointed, and the churches invited to attend to assist in the services. But a quarrel ensued as usual,-the opposition prevailed, and Mr. Cotton
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was not ordained. Protests were entered at every meeting by the minority, as each party in turn prevailed.
In 1759, in consequence of the divisions and the bitterness of feeling which existed, an Eccle- siastical Council was called to settle the difficul- ties. For many years there had been two chur- ches and two meeting-houses, but no minister .- After much trouble and effort, a compromise was made, and an union effected. Mr. Bird's meet- ing house was purchased by Jona. Lovewell, re- moved, and converted into a dwelling house, which is now occupied by Jesse Bowers, Esq., and the two societies again became one.
As the town at its public meetings settled and paid the minister, so it determined his creed, and we find accordingly, the following to us curious record. In 1761, a town meeting was called ex- pressly " to see what doctrines the town would support"; and it was voted, " that the Doctrines contained in the New England Confession of Faith are the standing doctrines to be defended by this Town."
July 19, 1762, an invitation was given to Mr. Jonathan Livermore to settle here. He was to receive £100, for a settlement, and £10 sterling per annum salary, " if he will fulfil the duties of a Gospel minister agreeably to the Congregation -. al persuasion, according to Cambridge Platform, and New England Confession of Faith." This proviso was adopted by a party vote, and was a renewal of the old sectarian difficulties of past years. Mr. Livermore would not accept and af- terward settled in Wilton.
During the next two years various preachers were heard, but not to general satisfaction. Al- though nominally united there was still a vari- ance at heart, and no attempt was made to settle
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a minister until August 1764. A call was then given to Mr. Thomas Fessenden, (a graduate of Harvard college in 1750,) and an offer of £100 settlement, and £50 sterling salary. Against this call three separate protests were entered by per- sons styling themselves "Presperterions," or Pres- byterians, because this mode of settlement was "contrary to the fundamental doctrines of chris- tianity," and " of our persuasion." Mr. Fes- senden accepted the call, but such was the spirit of discord that he was never ordained. He left town very soon after, for he commenced a suit at law against the town, for the recovery of his salary before May, 1765, and recovered judgment.
For nearly twenty years the town had been without a settled minister. Sept. 12, 1766, they gave a call to Mr. Joseph Kidder, (a graduate of Yale College in 1764, ) and offered him £132 6s. Sd. [about $450,] for a settlement, and a salary of £53 6s. 8d. lawful money, [or about $IS0.] Mr. Kidder accepted the invitation, and more fortunate than his predecessors, succeeded in being ordained March 18, 1767. After many years, old difficulties revived, and new ones arose .- Parties were again formed, and in 1796, by a reference of all disputes to a committee mutually chosen, the civil connection between Mr. Kidder and the town, ceased. He was the last minister over the town. He continued his relation to the church, however, as before, and preached to his society until his death, Sept. 6, IS18. Nov. 3, 1818, Rev. Ebenezer P. Sperry was ordained as his colleague, but was dismissed in April, 1819. (1.)
A picture of Dunstable as it was before the Revolution, and of the manners and customs, opinions and feelings, doings and sayings of the
(1.) Mr. Sperry is now or was recently Chaplain of the House of Correction, at South Boston.
15
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inhabitants, would be highly interesting. To sketch such a picture would require the hand of a master, as well as materials, which can now hardly be obtained. A few facts and anecdotes must serve instead.
Slavery was then considered neither illegal nor immoral. Several slaves were owned in this toivn ; one by Paul Clogstone. She was married to a free black named Castor Dickinson, and had several children born here, but before the Revo- lution he purchased the freedom of his wife and children. Slavery in New Hampshire was abol- ished by the Revolution.
In those days it was customary to drink at all meetings, whether of joy or of sorrow. The idea which was long after in vogue - " to keep the spirits up, by pouring spirits down " - seems to have been then universally prevalent. Even at funerals it was observed, and in the eyes of many it was quite as important as the prayer .- The mourners and friends formed themselves in a line, and an attendant with a jug and glass passed around, and dealt out to each his or her portion of the spirit ; and the due observance of this ceremony was very rarely omitted. It is said that sometimes "one more thirsty than the rest," after having received one " portion," would slily fall back from the line, under some pretext or other, and re-appear in a lower place, in season to receive a second portion. (1.)
(1.) This is stated on the authority of Mrs. Kidder, wife of Rev. Mr. Kidder, an eye witness.
CHAPTER XII.
REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF DUNSTABLE.
FROM the commencement of our Revolutionary difficulties, a deep and universal feeling of indig- nation pervaded the community. The men who had settled in the wilderness, and defended their homes from the attack of the "Indian enemy," and had built them up a great and goodly her- itage, unaided by stepdame England, were not the men quietly to yield up their dear bought rights without a struggle. Their love for the mother country was never very strong, for there was little cause for gratitude, and the first ap- proach of oppression and wrong was the signal for resistance. This feeling was stronger in New England than in the other colonies, and manifest- ed itself, at an earlier period, because the Puri- tans, having been forced to leave their Father land by oppression and insult, and having made for themselves a new home in the wilderness, unassisted and unprotected, felt it a more grievous and insufferable wrong, that England should ,seize upon the first moment of prosperity, to heap upon them new oppression and new insults here. The division of New England into townships, - those " little democracies " as they were aptly called,- each self-governed, where every citizen feels that he is a part of the commonwealth, has municipal rights and duties, and learns to think and act for himself, was an excellent school
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for training up the Fathers of our Republic, and teaching them the principles of self-government upon a more extended scale.
During the long succession of encroachments, which preceded and caused the Revolution, the inhabitants of this town were not indifferent .- They had watched the storm as it gathered, and knew its consequences must be momentous .- After the establishment of the boundary line in 1741, which severed us from Massachusetts, no right to send a representative was conceded for many years. At that period this right was a favor granted by his majesty, through his " be- loved, and trust-worthy Benning Wentworth, Governor of his Majesty's Province of New Hampshire," and bestowed only upon the loyal and obedient. In 1774, however, when a colli- sion with England began to be very generally expected, the General Assembly of New Hamp- shire claimed for itself the exercise of this right, and allowed certain representatives from towns not heretofore represented a seat and a voice in their councils. Immediately a petition was pre- sented from this town, asking the privilege of representation, which was granted. (1.)
September, 1774, Jonathan Lovewell was sent as a delegate to the Convention, which met at Exeter soon after, for the purpose of choosing delegates to the FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS .- At the same town meeting the town voted to raise a sum of money "to purchase a supply of ammunition "; and also voted to pay their pro- portion of the "expenses of the Delegate to the Grand Continental Congress," which met at Philadelphia the same month, and which pub- lished a DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, and formed an
(1.) 2 Province Papers. Towns, 253. In Secretary's office.
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" association not to import or use British Goods." From this time every movement for liberty met with a hearty response.
January 9, 1775, Joseph Ayers and Noah Lovewell were chosen to represent the town in the Convention which met at Exeter, April 25, 1775, for the purpose of appointing delegates, to act for this State in the Grand Continental Con- gress, to be held at Philadelphia, May 10, 1775. At this meeting, with a spirit characteristic of the times, and evidently anticipating a Declara- tion of Independence, they chose "Saml. Roby, Jona. Lovewell, Joseph Eayers, Benjamin Smith, John Wright, Benjamin French, James Blanchard and John Searle, a Committee of Inspection to see that the Result of the late Continental Con- gress be carried into practice, and that all persons in this town conform themselves thereto."
Another meeting of this Convention was holden at Exeter, May 17, 1775 ; at which the same delegates attended, and which after several ad- journments, formed a Constitution for the Gov- ernment of the State. This Constitution, which is dated January 5, 1776, was the earliest one formed in the United States. (1.) It was adopted at the suggestion of the Continental Congress of May, 1775 ; but it was a bold step, for it was a denial of the right of England to rule over us, and a virtual Declaration of Independence. It provided for a House of Representatives, and a Council of twelve men to be chosen by the House, and to form a separate body like our Senate .- There was to be no Governor, but the powers of the executive were vested in the Council and House jointly. If the dispute with England continued longer than one year, the members of the Council were to be chosen by the people.
(1.) 4 N. H. Hist. Coll.
*15
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Of this Council, Jona. Blanchard of this town, was a member in 1776.
From the first the people of New Hampshire, who as the royalists complained, "had never set any good example of obedience," were desirous and prepared for a collision ; and no sooner did the news of the fight at Lexington on the nineteenth of April, 1775, reach the State, than the whole population rushed to arms. In these movements the citizens of Dunstable were among the most zealous; and the military spirit derived from their fathers, and the military experience of many in the French Wars, was roused at once into activity by the noise of the conflict. Instantly they hur- ried to Concord to avenge the blood of their fel- low-citizens. Who and how many were these " minute men " we do not know ; but the town paid over $110.00 for their expenses. Within less than a week a company of sixty-six men was organized at Cambridge, under Capt. Wm. Walker of this town, forty of whom, including the officers, were also from Dunstable. The fol- lowing is the Company Roll : (1.)
WILLIAM WALKER, Captain.
*James Brown, 1st Lieut.,
#Daniel Warner, Sergeant,
*John Lund, do.,
¡William A. Hawkins, do.,
¡Francis Putnam, do.,
*Medad Combs, Corporal,
*Abijah Reed, do.,
*John Lovewell, do.,
*Phineas Whitney, do.,
* William Harris, Drummer,
*Paul Woods, Fifer,
*Eliphalet Bagley,
*Simeon Butterfield,
#Stephen Chase,
Peter Honey,
#Joshua Severance,
* Paul Clogstone,
#Nehemiah Winn,
*Joel Stewart,
*Philip Roby,
*Jonathan Harris,
*William Harris, jr.,
* Archibald Gibson,
*Benjamin Whitney,
*Jonathan Danforth,
*David Adams, Jason Russell,
*Benjamin Bagley, Moses Chandler,
#Joseph Greeley,
(1.) In the office of the Secretary of State.
*From Dunstable. ¿ From Wilton. #From Hudson.
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*David Adams, jr.,
+Henry Stevens,
*Nehemiah Lovewell,
+Jonathan Gray,
*Henry Lovewell,
+Isaac Brown,
*William Roby, 2nd Lieut.,
*Eleazer Blanchard,
+Hart Balch,
*Richard Adams,
+Stephen Blanchard,
*Ebenezer Fosdick,
*William Butterfield,
*Simeon Hills,
*James Harwood,
*Ichabod Lovewell,
*John Snow, Moses Chamberlain,
*Jacob Blodgett, Silas Chamberlain, Mansfield Tapley,
+Nathan Abbott,
+Timothy Darling,
*Oliver Woods,
+Daniel Brown,
+Theodore Stevens,
+Israel Howe,
*Jonathan Emerson.
The whole male population of the town at this time between the ages of sixteen and fifty, was only 128; so that nearly one half the able-bodied inhabitants must have been in the army, at the first call of liberty, a month before the battle of Bunker Hill. From no other town in New Hampshire was there so large a number in the army, as appears by the returns; and we record a fact, so honorable to their patriotism and cour- age, with a feeling of no little pride.
'The Convention which met at Exeter, April 25, 1775, a few days after the fight at Lexington, organized two regiments, for the assistance of their brethren in Massachusetts. But the men were not to be recruited ; they were already in the field. Within two weeks, more than two thousand men from New Hampshire had joined the army around Boston ; or more than one sev- enth of the whole population of the State, be- tween the ages of sixteen and fifty. From these the two regiments were formed and placed under
*From Dunstable. +From Wilton.
*Nehemiah Wright,
+Henry Lovejoy,
¡Eliphalet Blanchard, jr.,
tAsa Cram,
*Abel Danforth,
*James Gibson, David March,
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the command of Col. Stark and Col. Reed, of which this company formed a part.
It may be a matter of curiosity worthy of record, to give the abstract of returns of popula- tion, number of soldiers in the army, in May, 1775, number of males between the ages of six- teen and fifty not in the army, and ratio of sol- diers to the male population. This had been required at an early period by the Convention, in evident anticipation of a rupture with the mother country, in order to ascertain our actual condition and resources. The original returns also included the number of arms, deficiencies, quantity of powder, &c., all of which are now in the office of the Secretary of State, and furnish an admiral specimen of the forethought of the patriots of that day. (1.)
Counties.
Number Population. of males in army.
Num. | No. males | Ratio of soldiers] negr's fiom 16 to to male popula- and 50 not in slaves the army. 50. tion fiom 16 to
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