USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Northfield > History of the town of Northfield, Massachusetts : for 150 years, with an account of the prior occupation of the territory by the Squakheags : and with family genealogies > Part 29
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To Capt. Phinehas Stevens at Northfield."
The next day 5 Indians were seen skulking above West river mountain ; and some cattle feeding above Hinsdell's fort were fired upon.“
These signs of fresh hostilities spread consternation all along the frontier. Orders were immediately issued to raise 100 effective men ; 25 to be posted at No. 4, 10 at the Ashuelots, 5 each at Fall-town, Colrain and Northfield, and 50 were to be employed in scouting.
Early in July, levies were raised out of several Middlesex and Worcester regiments, and ordered to rendezvous at Northfield. The company, comprising 56 men, was put under command of Capt. John Catlin of Deerfield. Some Deerfield and Northfield men were attached to it. The men were mustered July 13, and discharged Oct. 12. On the roll are the following Northfield names : Lt. Elias Alexander, Sergt. John Stratton, Sergt. Thomas Taylor, Sergt. Moses Wright, Daniel How Jr., Samson Freeman, Hezekiah Elmer. Twelve of the men went up from Framingham, viz. Corp. John Butler, Fuller Putnam, Jona. Cole, Moses Parker, Edmund Town, Stephen Hastings, Jona. Farwell, Henry Snow, Joseph Young, Sam- uel Adams, Josiah Stone, Jona. Brewer. This company was bil- leted one-half the time at Northfield and one-half the time at Keene. The allowance for billeting per man per week at Northfield was 8 shillings, at Keene 10 shillings 7 pence 3 farthings, new tenor.
The Northfield militia company reorganized, choosing Samuel Hunt, Captain, Hezekiah Stratton, Lieut., Nathaniel Mattoon, Ensign.
In the war now closed, Northfield was a depot of stores and rally- ing point of men for the valley frontier. The headquarters of com-
I Mass. Archives, LIII, 346.
276
History of Northfield.
mand was at Northampton and Hatfield ; but the headquarters of service was at Northfield. The four well built forts in the village afforded a temporary lodgment for squads and companies, as well as a permanent station for garrisons. It was convenient and central for the scouts and rangers that went east to Townsend and vicinity, as well as those that took more northern routes. It was the most northern point to which provisions and stores could be safely sent at all times, without a special guard. Then it had a large acreage of rich meadow and tillage lands, which could be relied on for grass and grain. And as the residence of Mr. Doolittle, the oldest and best known surgeon in the region, whose house was a fort, it necessarily became a retreat for disabled soldiers and their friends. All these things gave the town prominence in social and financial as well as in military affairs.
This advantage of natural position and resources, was commonly supposed to insure corresponding prosperity. Some of the lower towns were envious of her chance to grow rich out of the war. The Provincial authorities were disposed to cut down allowance for sub- sisting men and horses, because Northfield could afford to supply food and forage cheaper than other points. That Capt. Hunt and Ensign Field, and a few of the large landholders, and the traders, and black- smiths, and shoemakers were individually benefited is certain. Their inventories of personal property went up rapidly.
But the cost of all farming operations was greatly increased. And the drain of the material force of the town, by taking off so large a share of the active young men, was a serious drawback. The de. moralization of war was, however, its most deplorable evil. The temptation to enlist in scouting and ranging parties, growing out of the large bounties offered for scalps, and the freedom and excitement of perilous adventure, drew many into these companies; and the pay and occasional bounty proved insufficient to meet necessary expenses, and recklessness as to means and ends was the result. The ragged and hungry Ranger sometimes supplied his wants, without inquiring into the rights of property and life. And the comparatively idle life of the garrison soldier, with no care for supplying daily wants, in- duced habits of shiftless and thriftless living, which were not easily thrown off. Rev. Mr. Doolittle in his Narrative forcibly remarks, " great numbers of our young men enlisted, and have been kept in pay and idleness, to the ruin of many of them and the hurt of the country."
1750. This was a year of peace and recovery. Garrisons of 10 men
277
The Old French and Indian War.
were kept at Fort Dummer and 15 men at No. 4 ; but the forts at Northfield were deserted of soldiers.
March 5, at the annual meeting, the town voted to forbid the cut- ting of timber on the undivided lands north of the Ashuelot and on the west side of the Connecticut ; and a committee was instructed to prosecute all breaches of this order.
THE REV. JOHN HUBBARD .- After the failure of the effort to settle Mr. Isaac Lyman in the ministry, Mr. John Hubbard of Hatfield, a graduate of Yale College 1747, was employed to preach on probation.
" At a legal meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Northfield, duly warned and convened on the 5th of March 1750, Chofe Capt. Ebenezer Alexander moderator : Voted, To give the worthy Mr. John Hubbard £133 6 8 lawful money, to be paid in the following manner, viz. £53 6 8 on the firft day of Sept. 1750, and £80 on the 5th of March following, on condition he fettles in ye work of ye Gofpel Miniftry amongft us. Voted, To give Mr. John Hubbard £66 13 4 lawful money of this province annually, at the rate of filver at 6 shillings ard 8 pence the ounce, during his continuance in the work of the miniftry amongft us. Voted, To provide Mr. Hubbard with fuch fupply of wood as his family fhall ftand in need of, during his continuance in the work of the miniftry amongft us."
" Having confidered of the above mentioned votes of the inhabitants of the town of Northfield refpecting my fettlement and falary, I do fully and heartily give my confent and accept thereof. As witnefs my hand this 5th of March A. D., 1750. JOHN HUBBARD.
An ecclesiastical council was called and he was ordained May 30.
At a meeting of the town Oct. 7, it was voted that Dr. Watts's Paraphrase of David's Psalms be sung on the Lord's Day and at other times, instead of the New England version.
Preparations were made the last year to resettle some of the de- serted farms near the Ashuelot and on Merry's meadow, and to put up some dwelling houses, on the west side of the Connecticut. Capt. O. Bridgman had previously rebuilt his fort and was living there with his family. Josiah Sartwell and his son-in-law Caleb How were living at Sartwell's block-house. And in the spring of this year (1750) Capt. Joseph Stebbins and Ens. Samuel Stratton built log-houses on their lands. The former stood 80 rods south of Stebbins's island (some large apple trees now mark the place of the old cellar hole) ; the latter was set on the Fifth meadow, a little south-easterly from the present farm-house of Frederick Brown, who owns the place. A year or two later, Benoni Wright built a log house some distance
278
History of Northfield.
above Stebbins. On the east side, John Evens rebuilt on the old site. Sergt. Thomas Taylor built on the meadow a half mile above Evens ; Robert Cooper and his son Aaron returned to their home- stead at the lower end of Merry's meadow ; Peter Evens Jr. (known as Deacon Peter) settled not far from Cooper ; and Daniel Shattuck re-occupied his partially destroyed block-house. Col. Hinsdell had never deserted his fort. Moses Belding built near the Ashuelot.
1751. THE TOWN FORTS .- There was an article in the warrant for the March meeting, " to see if the town will pull down and dispose of the forts." The same article was in the warrant for March 1752. At a meeting Feb. 5, 1753, the town voted, "that as they would have no farther use for their forts, a committee be chosen to sell and dispose of them."
This year (1751) John Averill, wife and son Asa, William Gould, wife and son John, Amos Carpenter and wife, all of Northfield, and Atherton Chaffee, removed to township No. I, now Westminster Vt.
The proprietors of the townships on the east side of the Connecticut. above Northfield, granted by Massachusetts, now applied to the Province of New Hampshire for new grants. Most of the original planters, and others, had returned to their lands ; and Gov. Benning Wentworth, for reasons of policy not necessary to be recapitulated, issued charters to all applicants.'
1752. The township known as No. 2, was regranted by the name of Westmoreland, Feb. 12, 1752. Among the grantees were Philip Alexander, Simeon Alexander, Eben' Hinsdell, Samuel Hunt, Enoch Hall, John Alexander, Simeon Knight, John Taylor, John Chandler, Josiah Foster, Valentine Butler, Daniel How, Daniel How Jr., Caleb How, Abner How, Josiah Willard, Samuel How, Edward How, Samuel Minot, John Rugg, Jona. Cole, Michael Gilson, John Brown, William How. At the town meeting March 31, 1752, Caleb How was chosen proprietors' clerk, assessor, and one of the committee to lay out the lots ; Daniel How was on the committee to let out the grist-mill, and to call future meetings, the notifications for which were required to be posted up at Northfield, Winchester and at home.
Mar. 4, 1752, Capt. William Syms sent a memorial to the N. H. legislature, offering to raise a company of 500 men to explore the Coos (Cowas) country, and cut a road thither from No. 4, with a view to settling the rich meadows there. The St. Francis Indians, who
1 Farmer's ed. of Belknap's Hist. of N. H., p. 305.
279
The Old French and Indian War.
claimed this country, sent a delegation to Capt. Phinehas Stevens at No. 4, threatening war, if the English made a settlement there ; and the project was given up.
1753. Capt. Ebenezer Alexander and 94 others, petitioned Gov. Wentworth for a regrant of the territory cut off from Northfield by the new state line, and the lands adjacent up to the line of township No. r. In accordance with this petition, the charter of Hinsdale, embracing the lands of both sides of the river, was issued Sept. 3, 1753. At the first meeting of the inhabitants, Sept. 25, Orlando Bridgman was chairman, (appointed by the charter) ; Daniel Shattuck, John Evens, Benoni Wright were chosen selectmen ; Col. Eben" Hinsdell clerk ; John Evens, treasurer; Caleb How, constable ; Joseph Stebbins Jr., Thomas Taylor, surveyors ; Peter Evens, tythingman ; Col. Hinsdell, Josiah Willard, O. Bridgman, Caleb How, Joseph Stebbins Jr., committee to lot out the land ; Aaron Cooper, field driver.
Sept. 26, an alteration was made in the charter by which the above grant was divided into two towns, the line of separation being the west bank of the river ; and both towns were called Hinsdale.
An article in the Northfield town warrant for the March meeting was, " to see if the town will clear off the incumbrances and encroach- ments made upon the town street and highways." The width of the main street, and the convenience thereof, made it a sort of receptacle for all cast-off things. If one wanted his premises protected against swine and cattle, he built a Virginia fence in front as well as at the sides of his home-lot, as none other was proof against their snouts and horns. And the custom of letting these animals run at large in the highway, made it a repulsive rather than an attractive place ; and broke down the distinctions which are always associated with a well kept lawn and a neatly enclosed dooryard.
The logs for timber and building stuff, drawn in on the winter snow, were left in the street ; and so were the sleds. The cart, if it got broken, was left here, as it would be in the way if put near the buildings. Sometimes the pig-pen was established in the highway ; sometimes the cow-yard ; and always the sheep-fold for summer use. These with their common accessories made a most unsightly incum- brance. And during the war, barracks for horses had been erected in the street near the different forts, to be convenient for guarding, and handy for mounting in case of an alarm. Altogether, the en- croachments had accumulated to a degree repugnant to the taste of even that utilizing age ; and they were cleared off -to await the
280
History of Northfield.
necessities of another war, or the annual convenience of adjacent house-holders.
In the same warrant was an article, " To see if the town will give liberty to Moses Field, Doctor Andros and Simeon Alexander, to cut away the seats in the body of the meeting house, and make them- selves a pew." According to the fashion of the time, the body seats were long benches without backs. An alley ran down the centre from the front door to the pulpit, separating the women's side from the men's side ; and there was an alley round near the walls, with a fixed bench on the wall side. The sittings were assigned to individuals and families from time to time, by a committee appointed for the pur- pose by the town. Each seat was " dignified " or classed according to its eligibility of location, those next the pulpit in front being con- sidered the highest in rank. Families were seated according to some stated rule of distinction - sometimes by age, sometimes by property, sometimes by respectability, difficult of definition as is the term. Strange complications, and jealousies, and heart burnings, and strifes grew out of this custom of seating the meeting house. Some disliked their seatmates, and stayed at home ; some disliked their seats, and applied to the town for redress, or took a seat of their liking, when they were liable to be taken in hand by the tythingman. And so human nature developed its peculiarities ; and evinced its need of meeting houses and Gospel ordinances, even inside those meeting houses, and under the direct influence of those ministrations.
It was not uncommon for two or three families to combine and get leave to build a pew for their especial use. The town's permis- sion was usually coupled with some condition, such as, that they would pledge themselves to sit no where else, or to make a new window or maintain the one next their pew. Sometimes the request was granted on condition that the pew-builders should take care of the meeting house for a term of years.
Moses Wright, Simeon Knight and Joel Bigelow removed from Northfield this year, and settled in Rockingham Vt., to be driven back by war within two years.
Pasturing the Commons, was one of the necessities of those days, but was attended with inconveniences, and risks, and loss. Each owner of stock adopted a mark, which was recorded on the town book, and put upon his cattle before they were turned out. It was usually a peculiar slit or hole in the ear, or a brand for young stock, and a mark on the horn for old cattle. Young cattle often wandered off for miles, and had to be hunted up in the fall. This spring, Jona- than Belding turned out a black mare to pasture on the commons.
281
The Old French and Indian War.
She strayed southward below Miller's river, and in the fall was taken up as an estray by Aaron Cook of Hadley, and advertized ; where- upon she was claimed by George Patterson of Pelham, who kept her three years, and sold her. In '57 she was owned by Abner How of Amherst, and was found and identified by Mr. Belding. The legal time of recovery having passed, Mr. B. petitioned the legislature for a special act empowering him to reclaim the mare ; and such an act was passed Dec. 31, 1757.
SHEEP .- All the sheep in town were gathered into one flock about the 20th of April, and put in charge of a shepherd, till the 20th of October. He took them abroad every day and brought them in at night to be folded. This year Hezekiah Elmer was shepherd, and was paid 6 pounds old tenor per month, each owner sharing the ex- pense. The principal flocks were owned by Rev. Mr. Hubbard, John Stratton, Phinehas Wright, Dr. Eben' Field, Eben' Field Jr. and Capt. Samuel Hunt.
DIVISION OF THE REMAINING COMMONS .- Fourth division. At a legal meeting of the Proprietors of the Common and Undivided Lands in Northfield, held Monday April 9, 1753, it was voted, To lay out that part of the common and undivided lands in Northfield that lyeth north of the Third Division (so called), and the common lands on the west side of the Connecticut river. Voted, That each poll mentioned in the list of valuation of estates made by the assessors of Northfield in the year 1751 shall draw 20 a. of land in the aforesaid division, and the estates shall draw equally upon the pound according to the list of valuation. Voted, The first lot shall begin adjoining the north side of the Third Division. Voted, That an allowance be made for a county road of 6 rods wide across every man's lot, and a highway of 2 rods wide adjacent to all the general fields and meadows lying against sª Division. Voted, To draw lots by tickets. Voted, That the clerk shall draw lots for the absent proprietors. Voted, That when a lot happens to fall against some former grant or a pond so as to cut off the lot, then part of s4 lot shall lye on one side and part on the other of sa grant or pond.
The first 14 lots lay on the east side of the river ; lot No. 15 lay partly between Capt. Bridgman's farm and Cold spring meadow, and partly west of Capt. B.'s farm, which part is 160 rods north and south, and bounded on the north and west by the ancient town lines. The lots from 15 to 57 inclusive lay north of the state line (now in Ver-
282
History of Northfield.
non, Vt.) ; from 58 to 78, south of that line, and extended to the north line of Bennett's meadow.
The following list of proprietors in the fourth division indicates the names of all the resident land owners and tax-payers in 1751, and the relative valuation of each ; and will be a convenient table for reference and comparison. The names are arranged in the order in which the lots were drawn.
No.
Names.
Acres
No.
Names.
Acres
No. Names.
Acres
I Sam'l Merriman, 62}
27 Sam'l Holton, 199}
53 Dan'l Elmer,
20
2 Josiah Foster,
274
28 Tho's Stebbins, 20
54 Abra'm Elgar,
324
3 Serg't Jo. Petty's heirs, 70
29 Lt. Joshua Lyman, 189
55 Jacob Elmer, 20
4 Israel Warner,
20
30 Moses Dickinson, 40
56 John Avery, 574
5 Rememb Wright, 236
31 Dea. S. Smith,
246
57 Steph. Belding,
139₫
6 Phinehas Wright,
126
32 Benj. Brooks,
115%
59 Philip Alexander,
272
8 Lt. Wm. Wright,
142
34 Wm. Holton,
20
60 Aaron Burt,
8zł
9 wid. Martha Dickinson, 89
35 Eben'r Stratton,
25
61 Lt. Hez. Stratton, 2002
Io Simeon Alexander, 1564
36 John Stratton,
30
62 Hez. Elmer,
20
1 1 Samuel Field,
1474
37 Jona. Janes, 2484
63 Dr. Bildad Andros, 88}
12 Dan'l Brooks,
59%
38 wid. Sarah Petty, 222
64 John Motfatt,
271
13 Paul Field,
166.
39 Lt. E. Wright's heirs, 20
65 Benoni Wright, IIO
14 Jos. Stebbins,
189
40 Eben'r Severance, 68
66 Randall Evens,
152}
15 Ens. Muses Field,
911
41 Jos. Alexander, 23}
67 Zeb. Stebbins,
25
16 Wm. Orvis,
100
42 Nehem. Wright, 122. Ï
69 Seth Field,
155
18 John Grandy,
21
44 Henry Kenny,
127}
71 Philip Mattoon,
35
20 Capt. Eb'r Alexander,
72 John Holton,
104
21 Eben'r Warner,
121
47 Cape. Sum'l Hunt,
446
73 Luc's Doolittle,
1374
22 Moses Evens,
2533
48 Eben'r Field Jr.,
155
74 Benj. Miller,
20
23 Beriah Grandy,
28!
49 Sam'l Stratton,
35
75 wid. Lyd. Doolittle, 106
24 Alex'r Norton,
45
so wid. Marg't Petty, 37₫
76 Elie'r Patterson, 129
25 Dea. S. Root,
85
SI Hez. Stratton Jr.,
32.5
77 Dr. Eben'r Field, 119
26 Benj. Rose;
.
493
52 Joseph Petty,
105
78 Aza'h Wright,
186
46₺
17 Abijah Prince,
20
43 Wm. Holton Jr., 1172 20
70 Abijah Hall,
95
19 Joseph Burt,
1073 1582
45 Isaac Mattoon,
46 Nath. Dickinson,
35
68 Hez. Eliner Jr.,
58 Lt. Jona. Belding, 2872
7 Eliezur Stratton,
25
33 Ens. Nath. Mattoon, 232
THE FIFTH DIVISION. - The next spring, what is known as the Fifth Division of Commons was made. It embraced three several tracts of land : the first was a strip 30 rods wide from the original north east corner of the town westerly 1100 rods to the choice lots east of Merry's meadow, 9 lots ; the second tract began on the plain east of Daniel Shattuck's and extended southerly to the new Province line, 49 lots ; the third began north of Bennett's meadow, where the Fourth Division ended and extended south to Deerfield line, lots numbered 59 to 78 inclusive. A poll drew 5 acres ; and a pound valuation just one-fourth as much as in the Fourth Division, the list of proprietors being the same.
INDUSTRIES. - The new mechanics and tradesmen, starting busi- ness in Northfield during this period were : blacksmiths, Simeon
-
283
The Old French and Indian War.
Alexander, who set up a shop in the street near the Dea. Alexander home-lot in '44 or '45 ; Joshua Lyman moved from Fort Dummer and built a shop in front of his home-lot about '47. Carpenter : John Avery was a master builder here in '44 ; he was taxed here in '51, and received grants in the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Divisions of Commons. Shoemaker : Ens. Moses Field was at work at his trade in 1750. His shop stood on the south west corner of the Great swamp. Some of his charges were ; for making a pr. of mogasins, 9 shillings ; men's shoes, 18 shillings ; women's shoes, 19 shillings ; men's pumps, 4 shillings ; women's pumps, 3s. 8d. Hatter : Samuel Root commenced making hats immediately after the close of the war, probably in 1750. He charged from 20 to 42 shillings for beaver hats, and 12 to 20 shillings for hats made of coon and muskrat furs. Physicians : Ebenezer Field was a medicine man, who used certain specifics and odd mixtures, which he claimed to be sovereign remedies for disease [see ante, p. 164]; Dr. Bildad Andros (sometimes written Andrews) came to Northfield after the death of Mr. Doolittle, and was here till '55. He was a surgeon of much skill, and was often attached to the forts or with marching regiments in time of war. Merchants : Joseph Brooks had a store in town ; but how early he commenced business is unknown ; Aaron Burt was engaged in trade in '44, at the old store by E. H. Colton's.
+
CHAPTER IX.
The Last French and Indian War. 1754-1763.
THE THREE GATES OF CANADA - COL. WILLIAMS'S PLAN OF DEFENCE FOR WESTERN FRONTIERS - RANGING COMPANIES - BOUNTY FOR PRISONERS AND SCALPS - NEW FORTS AT NORTHFIELD - REV. JOHN DENNIS - POTATOES - CAMPAIGN OF 1755 - LIEUT. ELIAS ALEXANDER - KILLING OF CALEB HOW, AND CAPTURE OF JEMIMA HOW AND OTHERS - ATTACK NEAR HINSDELL'S FORT - CAMPAIGN OF '56 - ZEBEDIAH STEBBINS AND REUBEN WRIGHT - CAMPAIGN OF '57 - SURRENDER OF FORT WILLIAM HENRY AND THE GREAT ALARM - SUBMIT BELDING- CAMPAIGN OF '58 - KILLING OF ASAHEL STEB- BINS - CAMPAIGN OF '59 - ROGERS'S EXPEDITION AGAINST ST. FRANCIS - SURRENDER OF MONTREAL - COST OF THE WAR - MISCELLANY.
HE treaty of Aix la Chapelle proved to be little more than a truce. The Indians continued their depredations till June 1749 ; and re-commenced hostilities in May 1754. Assured that there could be no permanent peace to her American Colonies, so long as the French power was dominant on the northern frontiers, Great Britain determined to effect the conquest of Canada.
The gates to the French possessions on the St. Lawrence, were, . I, by way of the River St. Lawrence ; 2, by way of Crown Point and Lake Champlain ; 3, by way of Lake Ontario. The reduction of Canada then involved the taking of Louisburg, which had been restored to the French by the late treaty ; the capture of Crown Point ; and the capture of Fort Niagara and its out-post Fort Du . Quesne.
The English government called on the Provinces to furnish their full quotas of men to these great expeditions, which were placed under command of British officers ; and the intermediate frontiers were left in the main to look out for themselves.
The settlements on and near the Connecticut river were, as here- tofore, exposed to direct attacks from the Indians living on the St. Francis river, and in its vicinity, as well as from the tribes further west.
PLAN OF DEFENCES FOR THESE FRONTIERS .- Col. Israel Wil- liams, commanding the northern Hampshire regiment, writing to Gov. Shirley Sept. 12, 1754, says :
285
The Last French and Indian War.
" I conclude by this time you are fully informed of the hoftile attacks of the Indians and the mifchiefs done by them on our frontiers [the capture of the family of James Johnfon at No. 4, Aug. 30, and the raid on Dutch Hoofuck two days before.] It's now open war with us. * My fituation. makes the weftern frontiers the more immediate object of my attention * I beg leave therefore to lay before y" Excellency what I think will be beft for our defence. My plan is, that there be a garrifon at Fall-town, another at Morri- fon's in Colrain, two at Charlemont, Maffachufetts Fort, and a garrifon at Pontoofuck. The people are preparing for their defence, as I fuppofe ; and the charge of making thefe places fufficient will not be very great to the govern- ment.
I propofe that there be at leaft 50 men at Fort Maffachufetts, 30 at Pontoo- fuck, they to maintain a conftant fcout from Stockbridge through the wefterly part of Framingham townfhip, and the weft townfhip at Hoofuck to the fu fort, and from thence to the top of Hoofuck mountain : That there be 14 men at Fall-town, 20 at Morrifon's, and 12 at each garrifon in Charlemont, these to perform a conftant fcout from Connecticut river againft Northfield to the top of f" Hoofuck mountain. Thefe fcouts thus performed will crofs all ye roads the enemy ever travel to come within the aforefaid line of forts. There will doubt- lefs be more wanted for the protection of fome places within the line. How- ever, if the fcouting be faithfully performed, there will not, I apprehend, any confiderable body of the enemy get within ye line aforefaid undifcovered ; and they will be a great reftraint upon fmall parties, who will be afraid of being enfnared. I propofe that fome of the men pofted at Fort Mafachufetts be employed to waylay the roads from Crown Point. The enemy generally when they leave that place come by the foutherly fide of the Lake or Drowned Lands, leave their canoes, and come down to Hoofuck ; or they may turn off to the eaft ; let which be the cafe, that fort is beft fituated to fend parties from for the purpofe aforefaid to gain advantage.
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