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 7
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 7
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 7
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 7
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 7
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 7
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 7
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 7
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their number of unarmed men. The trumpeter, who was in the upper part of the house when the attack commenced, seized his trumpet and began sounding an alarm, when he was shot dead by an Indian upon the stairway. He was the only one of the party killed.
"Cummings who was wounded had his arm broken, but was so fortunate as to reach the woods while the Indians were engaged in the house. That night he lay in a swamp in the northerly part of 'Tyngsborough, about a quarter of a mile west of the great road, and a few rods south of the state line. The next day he arrived at the garrison near Tyngsborough village."(1.)
There were several of these garrisons in town to which the inhabitants fled in times of danger like the present, and where they usually spent their nights. " They were environed by a strong wall of stone or of hewn timber built up to the eaves of the houses, through which was a gate fastened by bars and bolts of iron. They were lined either with brick or plank. Some of them had port holes for the discharge of musketry." They were generally built of logs, and had the upper story projecting three or four feet beyond the lower story walls, for the purpose of greater security.(2.)
This last account of the attack contradicts that of Penhallow in some particulars, but as Penhal- low, who wrote the history of the Indian wars of that period, was an officer, and a cotemporary, his statement that half the number of troopers were destroyed is most probably correct. The circumstances of the surprise corroborate it. In a cotemporary Journal of Rev. John Pike of Do-
(1.) 1 N. H. Hist. Coll. 133.
(2.) Allen's Chelmsfood, 148.
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NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
ver, the attack is thus mentioned : "July 3rd, 1706, Capt. Pearson of Rowley marching with his troops to Dunstable, and being posted with part of his troops at one Blanchard's house, while they were at supper in the chamber, the enemy had slyly turned Blanchard's sheep into his corn, which he and his wife going out to restore, were both slain. The doors and gates being open, the enemy entered the house, killed Pearson's trum- peter with three other troopers, and wounded five more. At last they were driven out of the house with the loss of one Indian. Pearson was much blamed for not setting his sentinels out."(1.)
There is discrepancy and confusion in these accounts, probably arising from the fact that two attacks are blended together. Penhallow is prob- ably correct in his statement that the conflict with the troopers, and the death of Mrs. Cummings occurred at Cummings's house. Blanchard's gar- rison was at some distance from this scene, and he with most of his family, and others not men- tioned by Penhallow or Pike, were killed at the same time, as appears by the following extracts from the ancient records of the town. From these it would seem that the garrisons were attacked " at night."
"Nathaniel Blanchard dyed on July the 3rd at night 1706. Lydia Blanchard, wife of Nathaniel Blanchard, and Susannah Blanchard, daughter Nath'l Blanchard, dyed on July 3rd at night in the year 1706.
" Mrs. Hannah Blanchard dyed on July the 3rd at night in the year 1706.
" Goody Cummings, the wife of John Cum- mings died on July the third at night, 1706.
" Rachel Galusha died on July the 3rd, 1706." (1.) Pike's Journal. 3 N. H. Hist. Coll. 56.
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" After that," on the same day, says Penhal- low, "a small party attacked Daniel Galusha's house, who held them in play for some time till the old man's courage failed, when on surrender- ing himself he informed them of the state of the garrison ; how that one man was killed and only two men and a boy left, which caus- ed them to rally anew and with greater courage than before. Upon which one man and the boy got on the outside, leaving only Jacob [Galusha] to fight the battle, who for some time defended himself with much bravery, but overpowered with force and finding none to assist him, was obliged to quit and make the best escape he could. But before he got far the enemy laid hold of him once and again, and yet by much struggling he rescued himself. Upon this they burned the house, and next day fell on Amesbury." (1.)
Galusha's garrison was about two miles west of Weld's garrison, on Salmon brook, at a place formerly called Glasgow, where Henry Turrell now lives. Pike mentions the attack, but in a manner to show that our accounts are very im- perfect. "Near about the same time, or soon af- ter, they assaulted another house belonging to Jacob Galusha, a Dutchman. The house was burned, some persons were killed and some es- caped. The whole number said to have been slain in Dunstable at this time was nine per- sons."(2.)
In a note to " Penhallow's Indian Wars," by John Farmer, Esq., the following more particular account of this attack is given : "The savages disappointed in this part of their plan, (the at- tack on Weld's garrison) immediately proceeded to Galusha's, two miles distant, took posses-
(1.) 1 N. H. Hist. Coll. 49.
(2.) Pike's Journal. 3 N. H. Hist. Coll. 56. His name was Daniel.
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NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
sion of and burned it. One woman only escaped. Had the company at Weld's armed and immedi- ately pursued, they might probably have pre- vented this disaster; but they spent so much time in arming and getting their horses, that the enemy had an opportunity to perpetrate the mis- chief, and escaped uninjured.
" The woman above mentioned, when the In- dians attacked the house, sought refuge in the cellar, and concealed herself under a dry cask. After hastily plundering the house, and murder- ing, as they supposed, all who were within it, the Indians set it on fire, and immediately re- tired. The woman, in this critical situation, at- tempted to escape by the window, but found it too small. She however succeeded in loosening the stones, till she had opened a hole sufficient to admit of her passage, and with the house in flames over her head, she forced herself out and crawled into the bushes, not daring to rise for fear she should be discovered. In the bushes she lay concealed until the next day, when she reached one of the neighboring garrisons." (1.)
In the Records of the General Court of Mas- sachusetts, mention is made several times of these conflicts. The sum of £4 was granted to " Rob- ert Rogers, of Rowley," who was "one of Capt. Peirson's company when attacked by the Indians at Dunstable, and was wounded by a spear run into his breast." (2.) The sum of £10 was also allowed to Capt. Peirson, "for the scalp of an Indian enemy slain the last summer by him and his company at Dunstable, to be by him distri- buted and paid to such of his troops, and the inhabitants of said town, that were at the gar- rison when and where the Indian was slain."
(1.) 1 N. H. Hist. Coll. 133 : note. 1 Belknap, 173: note.
(2.) Mass. Military Records. May 26, 1707.
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In 1712 we find the following petition of Dan- iel Gallusha, in which he states, "that about six years past, when the Indians attacked and took the house of Daniel Gallusha, his father in Dunstable, he being posted there under her Maj- esty's pay, and serving there with his own arms, while running hastily to take his own gun, by mistake took one of the public arms, and the en- emy pressing sure upon him, he was forced to make his escape, the house being burned by the enemy, with his gun and others therein. Upon which Col. (Jonathan) Tyng stops forty shil- lings of his wages for the said gun." (1.) This is perhaps the person called by Penhallow, Jacob Galusha.
The Indians still remained in the vicinity, and a few days afterwards this company of " troop- ers " fell into an ambuscade, and lost several of their number. The only circumstances now known are contained in the following brief notice : " Joseph Kidder and Jeremiah Nelson, of Row- ley, were killed 10th July, 1706, and John Pick- ard mortally wounded, and died at Billerica on the 5th August following." (2.)
Within a few days the Indians again made their appearance. "July 27th. Lt. Butterfield and his wife, riding between Dunstable and an- other town, (Chelmsford,) had their horse shot down by the enemy. The man escaped, the woman was taken, and Joe English, a friendly In- dian, in company with them at the time, was slain." (3.) This attack is said to have taken place at Holden's Brook, a little south of the State line.
(1.) Mass. Military Records, 1712, page 225.
(2.) 1 Belknap, 172 : note.
(3.) Pike's Journal. 3 N. H. Hist. Coll. 57.
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NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
After the escape of Joe English from the Indi- ans and the deception he had practised upon them, they determined upon revenge. This am- buscade was the consequence, and the story is thus told more at length as handed down by tra -. dition : " After his return to Dunstable, Joe with another soldier was appointed to guard Captain Butterfield and his wife on a visit to some of their friends in the upper part of Chelmsford. They were mounted on horseback preceded by Joe, with his gun loaded, and the other soldier following in the rear.
"In passing Holden's Brook, now in Tyngsbo- rough, a party of Indians discovered them, who immediately fired after they crossed the brook. killed the horse on which Capt. Butterfield and wife were riding, and then rushed on to kill their prey. Joc had gone too far from the brook to ef- fect his retreat, and he being the principal object they wished to secure, they pursued him. Capt. Butterfield and the other soldier made their es- cape, but Mrs. Butterfield was taken prisoner.
"Joe espying on his left a considerable thicket of woods, ran towards it with all possible haste, but he found the Indians gained upon him. He, therefore, turned round, faced them, and present- ed his gun, upon which they fell immediately to to the ground. This gave Joe some advantage, and after taking breath he set out again for the thicket. This he repeated several times, when the Indians, finding he was likely to escape by his near approach to the woods, with which they knew he was perfectly acquainted, and where he could easily conceal himself, one of them fired, and the ball entered the arm with which he car- ried his gun, which he was immediately com- pelled to drop, and ran with greater speed than before. He was just on the point of entering the
*8
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HISTORY OF
thicket, when a second ball entered his thigh and brought him to the ground.
" The Indians were highly elated with the pros- pect of taking vengeance on Joe, and they had al- ready in their minds, prepared the keenest and most excruciating tortures for their victim. Joe was not ignorant of the suffering that awaited him, and wished to provoke them so much that they might despatch him at once. They soon came up to him, and vented their feelings in all the expressions of savage triumph and pleasure .- " Now Joe, " said they, "we've got you." Joe immediately made them a gesture and a reply of such insulting scorn, that they were highly irritat- ed. His purpose was answered, for they des- patched him with their tomahawks without fur- ther ceremony." (1.)
Joe English was a grandson of Masconnomet, chief Sagamore of Agawam, (Ipswich, Mass.) As one of his heirs he owned an interest in large tracts of land lying in that vicinity and upon the Merrimac, which he conveyed by various deeds in 1701 and 1702. (2.) Many are the stories which are related of his courage, his fidelity, his adventures, and his hair breadth escapes. His death was lamented as a public loss. The Gen- eral Assembly made a grant to his widow and two children " because he died in the service of his country." (3.) And his memory, although hum- ble, was long cherished as one who fell by the hands of his own brethren, on account of his friendship for the whites.
We find no further mention of damage done by the Indians in Dunstable for many years, although they made frequent and bloody attacks upon
(1.) Indian Anecdotes, 161. Farmer's Historical Catechism, 24.
(2.) Maiss. Military Records, 1706.
(3 ) His signature was a bow with the arrow drawn to its head. History of Rowley, 373, 381.
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NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
other neighboring and frontier towns. There were incursions, indeed, and alarms, for in March, 1710, it was " voted and agreed upon by the inhabitants that the selectmen should take care in order to obtain some help and assistance from the country, by a petition to the General Court." This was done only in cases of great emergency. A company of "snow men " were kept scouting, and ordered here for the protec- tion of the settlement, under Col. Tyng, and garrisons established at several places at which the settlers dwelt. The history of the frontiers until the close of the war, in 1713, is but a series of attacks, burnings, captivity, and massacre. " From 1675 to 1714 it is estimated that Massa- chusetts and New Hampshire lost 6000 young men and male children, including those killed and those who were made captives without ever being recovered."
In November, 1711, the inhabitants still lived principally in garrison houses, where soldiers under the pay of the Colony were stationed con- stantly for their defence. From a return of the number, location, and situation of these garrisons made to the General Court at that time, it appears that there were seven garrisons, containing thir- teen families and eighty-six persons, in this town. This perhaps did not include the whole number of families in town. If it did. the number had diminished more than one half since 1680-a striking proof of the dangers and sufferings of the early settlers.
The following is a list of the garrisons, num- ber of families, number of male inhabitants in each garrison, number of soldiers stationed in each garrison, and the whole number of inhabi-
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tants in each garrison.
The "Queen's Garri-
son " was probably Brook. (1.)
Wataanuck, at Salmon
Names of Garrisons.
families.
No. of
male inhab. No. of
Soldiers.
No. of
Total.
1
Col. (Jonathan ) Tyng's,
1
1
6
8
2
Mr. Henry Farwell's,
3
3
2
28
3
Mr. (John) Cummings'
2
2
2
21
4
Col. (Sam'l) Whiting's,
3
0
1
S
5
Mr. (Thomas) Lund's, Queen's Garrison,
1
2
1
4
21
Mr. (John) Lollendine's, Total,
1
0
4
13
17
19
86|
In June, 1713, a grant of £10 was made to Samuel Whiting, who had been "taken captive and carried to Canada " during the war, but had escaped, and who, in consequence of wounds and sufferings, was still under the doctor's care and unable to labor. (2.)
It was probably some time during this war that Richard Hassell, (a son of Joseph Hassell killed in 1691,) was taken captive by Indians on Long Hill in the south part of the town and carried to Canada.
Thus feeble and suffering had been the condition of the settlement for many years. Fear and des- olation reigned every where. Compelled to dwell in garrisons, and to labor at the constant peril of life, how could the settlers thrive? Dunstable was scarcely more advanced in 1714 than it was in 1680, so disastrous had been the effects of the long and bloody wars. Many of the most useful
(1.) Mass. Military Records, 1711.
(2 ) Mass. Military Records, 1713.
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NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
inhabitants had been slain or taken captive, heads of families especially. Some had removed to places more secure from Indian depredation, and deserted all. Few, very few emigrated to what might well be termed "the dark and bloody ground," and it was no time for marriage feasts when the bridal procession might at every step become a funeral one, and the merry laugh be drowned by the rifle and the war whoop.
"The war on the part of the Indians," says Bancroft, " was one of ambushes and surprises. They never once met the English in open field ; but always, even if eight fold in number, fled timorously before infantry. But they were secret as beasts of prey, skilful marksmen, and in part provided with fire arms, fleet of foot, conversant with all the paths of the forest, patient of fatigue, and mad with a passion for rapine, vengeance, and destruction ; retreating into swamps for their fastnesses, or hiding in the greenwood thickets, where the leaves muffled the eyes of the pursuer.
" By the rapidity of their descent they seemed omnipresent among the scattered villages, which they ravaged like a passing storm, and for years they kept all New England in a state of alarm and excitement. The exploring party was way- laid and cut off, and the mangled carcasses and disjointed limbs of the dead were hung upon the trees to terrify pursuers. The laborer in the field, the reapers as they went forth to the harvest, men as they went to mill, the shepherd's boy among the sheep, were shot down by skulking foes whose approach was invisible.
" Who can tell the heavy hours of woman ?- The mother if left alone in the house feared the tomahawk for herself and children. On the sud- den attack the husband would fly with one child.
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the wife with another, and perhaps one only es- cape. The village cavalcade making its way to meeting on Sunday, in files on horseback, the farmer holding his bridle in one hand and a child in the other, his wife seated on a pillion behind him, it may be with a child in her lap as was the fashion in those days, could not proceed safely, but at the moment when least expected bullets would come whizzing by them, discharged with fatal aim from an ambuscade by the wayside .- The forest that protected the ambush of the In- dians secured their retreat. They hung upon the skirts of the English villages 'like the lightning on the edge of the cloud.' " (1.)
"Did they surprise a garrison ? Quickly," writes Mary Rowlandson of Lancaster, "it was the dolefullest day that ever mine eyes saw. Now the dreadful hour is come. Some in our house were fighting for their lives : others wallowing in blood : the house on fire over our heads, and the bloody heathen ready to knock us on the head if we stirred out. I took my children to go forth, but the Indians shot so thick that the bullets rat- tled against the house as if they had thrown a handful of stones. We had six stout dogs but not one of them would stir.
" The bullets flying thick, one went through my side, and through my poor child in my arms." The brutalities of an Indian massacre followed. "There remained nothing to me," she continues being in captivity, " but one poor wounded babe. Down I must sit in the snow with my sick child, the picture of death, in my lap. Not the least crumb of refreshing came within either our mouths from Wednesday night till Saturday night, ex- cepting only a little cold water. One Indian, and then a second, and then a third would come
(1.) 2 Bancroft's United States, 102.
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NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
and tell me : 'Your master will quickly knock your child on the head.' This was the comfort I had from them ; miserable comforters were they all." (1.)
Such was the life of the early settlers of Dun- stable, and could our plains unfold the bloody scenes and heart touching events which have here taken place, their story would be as strange and thrilling as that of Mary Rowlandson. These scenes have indeed passed away, and their actors are well nigh forgotten, but we ought nev- er to forget that our soil has been sprinkled with their blood, and that to them we owe most of the blessings which we enjoy.
(1.) Mary Rowlandson's Narrative, 12-15.
CHAPTER VI.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY FROM 1702 TO 1737.
For many years after the death of Rev. Mr. Weld the ecclesiastical affairs of the the town are involved in much obscurity. No minister was settled here during the war, and no records remain of the proceedings of the town until 1710. Yet during this long struggle, although the settlement was nearly deserted, the public services of the church were not neglected in their distress and care for self-preservation. In June, 1705, the General Court granted £26 to the town for the support of the ministry for the year ensuing.(1.) Who was the minister at this period is not known certainly, but probably it was Rev. Samuel Hunt, as in September, 1706, he was desired by the Governor and Council to continue at Dunstable, by the following order : (2.)
" Boston, Sept. 4th. 1706. I am ordered by his Excel- lency the Governor and Council to acquaint you, that your service as minister at Dunstable is acceptable to them, and desire a continuance thereof, and they will endeavor to promote yr. encouragement by the General Assembly as formerly, and hope they will be prevailed with to make it better: I am sir,
your humble servant,
ISAAC ADDINGTON, Sec'y."
"Mr. Samuel Hunt, Clerk."
(1.) Mass. Ecclesiastical Records, 1705.
(2.) Mass. Ecclesiastical Records, 1707; page 239. Mr. Hunt graduated at Harvard College, 1700.
٥
4
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NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
Mr. Hunt continued his ministry at Dunstable until the spring of 1707, when he was ordered to accompany the expedition against Port Royal as Chaplain of the forces, as appears by the follow- ing petition, (1.) upon which the sum of £18 was allowed :
" The Petition of Samuel Hunt, Clerk, sheweth :
" That your petitioner has served as minister at Dunsta- ble ever since the fourth of Sept. 1706, having received a signification from this Honorable Board, under the hand of Mr. Secretary Addington, that the same was desired by your Excellency and Honorables; intimating withal that your petitioner should have the same encouragement as formerly, (or better,) which your petitioner understood to be the same as he had at Casco Bay, which was fifty-two pounds per annum, and his board. And on the 23d April last past, yr. petitioner was dismissed from that service in order to go to Port Royal, when he had served 33 weeks at Dunstable aforesaid, for which your petitioner has not yet received any salary-aud yr. petitioner prays that the same may be allowed as aforesaid. SAMUEL HUNT."
" Dec. 5, 1707."
As early as the 1st of October, 1708, Rev. Samuel Parris commenced preaching in Dunsta- ble, and the General Court granted him £20 per annum for three years or more, toward his sup- port. (2.) He remained here until the winter of 1711 or the spring of 1712, but how much longer is unknown. Mr. Parris was previously settled at Salem village, (or Danvers) and in his society and in his family, it is said, commenced the famous "Salem Witchcraft" delusion of 1691, which led to the death of so many innocent persons, and which filled New England with alarm, sorrow, and shame. (3.)
"Sept. 12, 1711. [It was] agreed upon to re-
(1.) Mass. Ecclesiastical Records, 1707, page 239.
(2.) Mass. Ecclesiastical Records, 1709, 1710, 1711.
(3.) Upham's Lectures on the Salem Witchcraft. Mr. Parris died in Sudbury, Mass.
9
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HISTORY OF
payr the meeting house, it being left to the se- lectmen to let out the work, and take care for the boards and nails."
After Mr. Parris left Dunstable, public worship still continued, and the pulpit was supplied con- stantly, for in June 1712, the General Court grant- ed " £10 to Dunstable for the support of the min- istry the last half year," and in June 1713, £10 more " for the year past." This is the last record of any assistance granted to the town by the col- ony. With the return of peace, prosperity smiled upon the settlement. New settlers thronged in, farms were extended, and the inhabitants were enabled to bear their own burdens.
In 1713, Rev. Ames Cheever, who graduated at Harvard in 1707, was preaching in Dunstable. Nov. 20th, 1713, it was voted, " that the resident proprietors of Dunstable pay Mr. Cheever £40 a year." How much earlier Mr Cheever com- menced his labors is uncertain, but he continued preaching here until June, 1715, at which time he received a call. " At a General 'Town meet- ing of the Inhabitants legally warned, at Dun- stable, on June the 6th, 1715, Then voted and agreed, that Joseph Blanchard is to pay to Mr. Cheever his money that is due him, and upon discoursing with him, if he seems to incline to settle with us, then to declare to him, that the Town at a meeting voted that they would readily consent that he should come and settle with us, and have the same encouragements as to settle- ment and salary as was voted him at our last meeting concerning him. Also, voted that Jo- seph Blanchard shall deliver a letter to Mr. Short, (Rev. Matthew, who graduated at Har- vard, 1707) or some other minister, to come and preach with us for some time."'
In those days, ministers were settled for life,
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and it was customary for the Town to give them a ministerial farm, or a certain sum of money by way of deficit, which was called a settlement .- He received an annual salary in addition. This settlement was usually, in a town like Dunsta- ble, from £SO to £100 in value, while the salary ranged from £50 to £100 per annum.
Mr. Cheever, however, did not accept the call to settle, and soon after a Mr Treat was preach- ing here. "Nov. 2d, 1715, it was voted for to desier Mr. Treat to continue with us sum time longer, and to give him as before, which was 20 shillings a Sabbath. Also, voted that Sarg't Cumings should be looking out for a minister in order for settlement."
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