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ALLEN COUNTY PUH! ( HRANI 3 1833 01083 7331
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
HISTORY OF-
YORK COUNTY,
MAINE.
With Alllustrations and Biographical Sketches OF
ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.
PHILADELPHIA: EVERTS & PECK.
>
1880.
PRESS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., PHILADELPHIA.
PREFACE.
1191395
THE present volume is the first published History of York County, Maine. Although materials have existed for such a publication, they have not been found in any special or general collection, and the labor of collecting them chiefly from original sources, and of arranging them in a harmonious and conserntive narra- tive of events extending through a period of more than two hundred and fifty years, has been by no means a light or trivial task. How well or ill the labor has been performed is now left to the judgment of the intelligent reader. Doubtless some errors have crept into the work in spite of our utmost care and vigilance, but we trust that none are of so grave a character as to impair the general accuracy and value of the history. With regard to the plan of the work, it is only necessary to say that it has been arranged with reference to the most economical use of space, with a general and local department. The general history, embracing that which is common to the county at large, has been placed in a department by itself in the forepart of the book ; this has been followed by separate histories of the cities, towns, and villages of the county, interspersed with numerous biographies, portraits and other illustrations, and the whole carefully indexed to facilitate reference.
To the citizens of York County who have aided us in the work, we take this opportunity to return our thanks. Our acknowledgments are especially due to Hon. Edward P. Burnham, of Saco, a member of the Maine Historical Society, for a ready fund of valuable statistics which has been cordially placed at our command, and for information on several topies, rendering our labors less difficult than they otherwise would have been. Hon. Nathaniel G. Marshall, of York, has kindly reviewed considerable por- tions of our general history, and aided us materially in the preparation of the history of his native town. Like acknowledgments are due to Edward E. Bourne, Esq., and Daniel Remich, Esq., of Kennebunk ; to Hon. John M. Goodwin and Thomas Quinby, Esq., of Biddeford; to Rev. John G. T. Nichols, D.D., Rev. William J. Alger, George F. Calef, Esq., and Horace H. Burbank, Esq., of Saco. The York Institute, through its president and members, has furnished some valuable materials and given hearty encouragement to our enterprise. We also tender our acknowledgments to the members of the county press, and to the county and town officials generally.
The following-named gentlemen have been consulted and have rendered more or less assistance in matters pertaining to their respective town histories : Charles M. Came, Esq., and Asa L. Ricker, Alfred ; M. C. Hurd, Esq., Hon. Zebulon G. Horne, Horace Bodwell, Aeton ; John H. Stillings, Frederick A. Lord, Richard L. Goodwin, Berwick ; Hon. Samuel A. Hill, Robert A. Bradbury, Hon. Charles E. Weld, Bux- ton; Howard Brackett, Dr. W. B. Swasey, Hon. Caleb R. Ayer, Cornish ; John W. Clark, James K. Huntress, William R. Buzzell, Dayton ; George E. Ireland, John L. Jenks, Joseph Hammond, Jr., Eliot ;
3
4
PREFACE.
Deacon James Moulton, Melville B. Smith, Hon. H. K. Bradbury, Hollis; Dennis M. Shapleigh, J. R. Philbrook, M. F. Wentworth, M.D., Kittery ; Hon. James W. Grant, John R. Chamberlain, John E. Moody, Esq., Lebanon; F. W. Libby, Hon. A. Burbank, J. C. Lane, Limerick; Dr. S. M. Bradbury, Gen. William M. McArthur, W. G. Lord, M.A., Limington; Hon. Dimon Roberts, Hon. Hiram Waterhouse, C. W. Murphy, Esq., Hon. James Nason, Lyman ; Roscoe S. Holmes, J. M. Moulton, Stephen Adams, M.D., Newfield; Hon. John Hall, Haven A. Butler, Esq., Deacon Ebenezer Hobbs, North Berwick; Silas H. Cartland, Hon. Jolin Brackett, Parsonsfield ; John A. Dennett, Hon. Howard Frost, Deacon Stephen Dor- man, Sanford; Edwin A. Moulton, Esq., John Hemingway, Hosea Merrifield, Shapleigh ; Charles C. Hobbs, Esq., Hon. John B. Nealley, E. R. McIntire, South Berwick ; E. H. Hobbs, Isaac N. Deering, Henry Gowen, Waterborough ; Barak Maxwell, Wells; and Hon, Enoch Cousens, Kennebunkport.
January 24, 1880.
W. W. C.
CONTENTS.
HISTORICAL.
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE,
CHAPTER
I .- Early Discoveries and Settlements .
II .- Patents Granted by the Plymouth Council 14
III .- First Civil Government in Maine 1:
IV. Administration of Thomas Gorges .
V .- Government under Alexander Rigby
VI .- Administration of Edward Godfrey
VII .- Jurisdiction of Massachusetts .
VIII .- Revival of the Gorges ('Inim . IX. Judinns of York County .
X .- The First Indian War
Br wi.k
XI .- Government under Danforth
XII. French and Indian War, 1688 92
XIII .- Continuation of Indian Hostilities .
XIV .- Civil Affairs under the Charter of 1691
1. mcm k
XV .- Progress of Settlements after the War
XVI .- Fourth Indian War .
XVII .- War between France and England .
L.yurth .
XVIII .- Conquest of New France
XIX .- Division of the t'ounty
X.X .- Period of the Revolution
XXI .- Undor the Constitution of Massachusetts
Water on_b
XXII .- Bench and Bar of York County
XXIII .- Beneh and Bar-(Continued) .
Limningt 1
XXIV .- Bench and Bar-(Continued ) .
XXV .- York County Civil List
XXVI .-- Legislatures of Maine 10;
Dayton
XXVII .- York County Press 115
..
Acton .
125
XXVIII .- Medical Profession
116
.. Shopleigh
. I
XXIX .- War of the Rebellion ( with rosters of the regimeuts . 120 SI PPLEMENT
BIOGRAPHICAL.
PAGE
Nonh Emery
75
William A. Hayes
David Sewall
Từ
Charles N. Cog-well
Moses Emery
faeing
William P. Prehle
Daniel Sewall
Ether Shepley
James Sullivan .
77 Philip Eastman
Judge George Tbacher
Daniel Goodenow
Dudley Hubbard
Nathan D. Appdeton
Prentiss Mellen .
Rufus P. Tapley
Edward P. Ilayman
John M. Goudwin
Cyrus King
Samuel Bradley .
fni ng
100
John Holmes
.John Shepley
William Lambert
Samuel W. Laque-
faling
Benjamin Greene
James M. S'one .
Judge Joseph Howard
Nathaniel G. Marshad
..
George W. Wallingford
Charles Traft n. M.D.
116
Nicholas Emery .
$5
.John A. Hlerry, M.D.
Judah Dana
Ilornce Baenn, M. D.
Joseph Dane
Orren Ross, M. D.
Samuel A. Bradley
Rosoe G. Dennett. M.D.
fa. ng
Joseph Bartlett .
Gen. William M. MeArthur
William B. Sewall
92
C'apt. George \, Deering
94 Cd. Horace Hl. Burbank
Samuel Hubbard
Franci- G. Warren, M. D.
Edward E. Bourne, LL.D. .
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES OI YORK COUNTY.
.
\ .wfichl
6
CONTENTS.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
PAGE
Capt. James F. Miller
122
Palmer Walker .
faeing 243
Horace Woodman
fueing
152
Daniel Remich .
244
Stephen and William Littlefield .
44
154
James K. Remich
245
Hon. John Fairfield
between 156, 157
James Osborn 246
Tristram Jordan .
facing
158
Joseph Hateh
247
Capt. Samuel and J. F. Hartley .
159
Stephen H. Berry
260
Rev. John T. G. Nichols, S.T.D.
162
Aaron Mckenney
260
Abraham Cutter .
166
Mark P. Emery .
. 260}
David Fernald
167
Abram L. Came .
. 260}
Benjamin Patterson
168
Aaron Clark
. 2603
John Johnson
172
Benjamin J. Palmer
. 2604
Thomas Quinhy .
174
Joel M. Marshall
. 2602
Ebenezer C. Staples
176
William Emery .
facing 261
Josiah Calef
178
Sylvester Littlefield
264
Edward P. Burnham
179
J. B. Vanee
facing 268
George Scamman
180
Moses A. Safford
. 275
Oliver Dyer
180
Wilson Hammons
. 275
Cornetins Sweetser
181
Asa L. Ricker
276
Aaron McKenny
182
Lorenzo R. Ilersom
faeing
298
George A. Carter
183
William J. Copeland .
between 302, 303
James M. Deering
183
Brackett JJall
facing 304
Mo-es Lowell
184
James J. Prescott
310
Samuel A. Milliken
185
Isaac Varney
312
John Gitpatrie
185
William Hill
. 312
James D. Patten
185
Albert C. Buffum
313
Paul Chadbourne
186
Benjamin Nason
faeing 316
Daniel M. Owen .
IS6
llon. John JJ. Burleigh
323
Eli Edgeromb
facing
186
Samuel G. Dearborn .
facing 330
Henry Simpson . Ira ('. Doe .
187
llon. Abner Burbank
339
Abel I1. Jelleson .
facing
188
Samuel C. Adams
354
Barnabas E. Cutter
190
Abijah Usher
facing 364
Simon Newcomb .
66
191
Ilon. Ellis B. Usher
366
Timothy Shuw, Jr.
..
192
llon. Nathaniel J. Miller
367
James A. Strout .
4.
194
George A. Frost .
370
Leonard Andrew-
between 196, 197
lion. B. F. Ilanson
371
Inies Andrews .
196, 197
George Nasson .
372
Simeon P. MeKennes
facing 198
Jeremiah Moulton
64
373
Esreff 11. Banks
204
Darling H. Ross
374
Joshua Moore
between 204, 205
Thomas Goodall .
376
Deacon Thomas H. Col
205
John Storer
377
Seleneus Adams .
206
Joseph Ridley
378
Samuel Peirson .
207
llon. Enoch Cousens
facing
378
Non. William Berry
209
Charles W. Smith
Jeremiah Golfsbrough
209
The Strout Family
392
Willinmn P. Haines
209
Burak Maxwell .
facing 400
Cul. Josiah Hobb-
210
Arthur McArthur
between 402, 403
Reuben M. Hobbs
211
William M. MeArthur
402, 403
Enoch 11. MeKenney .
212
Sylvester Bartlett
facing
408
John T. Smith .
212
lliram Jones
416
Dr. Thomas Haley
213
Newell Goodwin .
418
Capt. Jotham Benson
214
Melvin Wentworth
422
Simon M. Blake .
214
Thomas M. Wentworth
422
Capt. Charles O. Clark
facing 220
Joel G. Ilersom .
422
Ilon. E. C. Moody
224
Edmund Goodwin
1 ctween 432, 433
George Donnell .
231
Ivory and Levi Bragdon
facing
434
dames A. BragJun
232
Ilenry Ross Thing
437
Horace Portor
facing
234
Rensselaer W. Thing .
437
Seth E. Bryant .
237
Charles F. San born
442
.James ti. Cousens
238
Rev. Daniel Little
241
Col. John Smith .
442
.
193
William Emery .
facing 368
Charles Hardy .
186
Maj. Thomas Churchill
33]
PAGE
CONTENTS
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Outline Map of York Contog profried Portrait of Moses Emery
John Holmes (steel
66 Edward E. Bourne stell
= William B. Sewall
.. Philip Eastman
.4 Daniel Goodenow steel
.. Rufus P. Tapley
Samuol Bradley
Samuel W. Luques
.. Col. Jas. M. Stone
Residence of N. G. Marshall ( with portmis
Portrait of Dr. Charles Trafton .
Dr. John A. Berry
.. Dr. Ilurace Bacon
Dr. Francis t. Warren
Dr. Orren Ross
.. Dr. R. G. Dennett
CITY OF SACO.
Residence of Joseph G. Deering
.. Horace Woodman with portrait
Portraits of Stephen and Win. Littlefield .
Portrait of Hlon. John Fairfield between 1 00. 107
Tristram Jurdan faring 15%
John F. Hartley 1 .. +
.. Rev. John T. G. Nichols (steel
162
Abraham Cutter
..
.. David Fernald .
..
Benjamin Patterson .
..
John Johnson .
..
172
Thomas Quinby
Ebenezer C. Staples .
1:6
Josiah Calef steel .
Edward P. Burnham steel
: George Seamman
.. Oliver Dyer (steel'
Cornelius Sweetser
Aaron MeKenny steel
hetweer Is2. Es
Residence of Aaron MeKenny .
..
Portrait of James M. Deering
George .1. Carter
.
Portrait et Hon. Sylotelat . 4
View of the soak (vilt 266
Portrait . J. B. Vam
N-a L. R .ker
KITTERY.
View at the Papperall ..
facing 24
BERWICK.
Emcing = 1
44
29, -
Between 2.
NORTH BERWICK.
facing
Charles llardy .
tween 100. 197
Residence of lames Andrews with portrait
.. 10%. 1 -
Portrait of Simeon P. MeKenney
taring
llon. E. Il. Banks
..
between 201. 20
Deacon Thomas HI. Cole teel
Seleneus Adams (steel
= Samuel Peirson 2019
Jeremiah Goldsbrough
fing
KENNERI NA.
-
HUATON.
\LI'RI:D).
-
la It ≥ 261
Ilon. Moses Lowell
1>4
John Gilpatric . ..
4. Samuel A. Milliken .
46 James D. Patten
1×6
.. Daniel M. Owen
186
Eli Edgecomb .
taring
186
..
186
Ira C. Doe
CITY OF BIDDEFORD.
Portrait of Abel il. Jelleson
B. E. Cutter
Residence of Simon Newcomb with portrait
Portrait of Timothy Shaw, Jr. .
James A. Strout
4. Leonard Andrews
Joshua Moore
SOITHI BERWICK.
& ng
.
1
1 1
=
11 1 . M.
Portrait 4 brex: Door
!1.
241
21;
faring
1:4
2 0, 20 }
f.siin2 260)
Henry Simpson
8
CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PARSONSFIELD.
PAGE
Residence of C. F. Sanboro ( with portraits) facing 324
Maj. Thomas Churchill (with portraits) between 326, 327
T. S. Churchill ( with portraits )
:
326, 327
16
C. C. Perkins
Portrait of Samuel G. Dearborn
facing 330
Wm. D. D. Churchill
331
16
Portraits of C. O. Nute and Wife
331
LIMERICK.
Portrait of Abuer Burbank
339
NEWFIELD.
Portrait of Samuel C. Adams
HOLLIS.
Residence of the Inte Ellis B. Usher .
facing 362
=
44 " Nathaniel J. Miller .
Portrait of Abijah Usher .
Ellis B. Usher (steel)
..
366
..
Nathaniel J. Miller (steel)
SANFORD.
Portrait of William Emery
facing 368
370
Residence of B. F. Hanson (with portrait)
= George Nasaon (with portrait) 16 372
Jeremiah Moulton (with portrait)
373
Portrait of Darling II. Ross
374
4.
Residence of Joseph Ridley (with portraits)
Portrait of llon. Thomas Goodall (steel) 376
John Storer (steel) . 377
Dr. Alvah Dam 378
KENNEBUNKPORT.
PAGE
Residence of Ilon. Enoch Couseus (with Portrait)
facing
378
Charles E. Perkins
380
380
View of the Parker House, etc.
16
382
Residence of S. H. Gould (with portrait)
384
View of Ocean Bluff Hotel
441
WATERBOROUGH.
Portrait of Charles W. Smith
facing 388
Residence of H. L. Strout (with portrait) .
WELLS.
Portrait of Barak Maxwell
facing 400
LIMINGTON.
Portrait of Arthur McArthur
between 402 and 403
66
Wm. M. MeArthur
402 and 403
ELIOT.
Residence of Sylvester Bartlett (with portrait)
.
facing 408
LEBANON.
Residence of the late Thomas M. Wentworth
facing 412
Joel G. Hersom
.
4I4
66
Hiram Jones (with portrait)
¥
416
Newell Goodwin (with portrait) .
418
Melvin Wentworth (with portraits)
422
SHAPLEIGH.
Residence of Edmund Goodwin (with portrait)
.
bet. 432 and 433
Portraits of Ivory and Levi Bragdon
facing 434
lleury R. and R. W. Thing
437
354
362
364
367
George A. Frost
371
375
393
x
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.
BY W. W. CLAYTON.
CHAPTER I.
EARLY DISCOVERIES AND SETTLEMENTS.
Maine Discovered in 1524-Charts of Ramusin-Champlain's Voyages -Charter of Acadia-French Settlements in Maine-English Ex plorers-First English Chartor-Popham Colony -- Voyages of Capt. John Smith.
MAINE was undoubtedly the first portion of New Eng- land taken possession of by any European nation. Aside from the discoveries of the Scandinavians and Northmen, who at a very remote period of antiquity are said to have penetrated to these shores and made a settlement in Rhode Island, we have positive evidence that Maine was discovered by Giovani da Verrazano, an Italian navigator, under the auspiees of Franeis I., king of France, in 1524. This was seventy-eight years before the first English navigator, Gosnold, had arrived on the coast of Maine. Verrazano took possession of the country in the name of the king of France and carried the news of his discovery to Europe, in consequence of which Crignon, the French geographer, was seut out in company with Capt. Parmentier, in 1529, to obtain accurate information respecting the country. Sailing southwestward from Cape Breton "a good five hundred leagues towards the country of Florida," they took aeeurate observation of the direction of the coast, determined the latitude and longitude, noted the natural products of the country, and the character and habits of the natives. In- formation was thus obtained for the first valuable contribu- tion to the eartography of Maine, which was published in the celebrated collection of Ramusio, in Italy. in 1556. Thus it appears that the French and the Italians were the first geographers of the coast of New England, and that students in those countries were studying the geography of Maine more than half a century before the subject had awakened any interest in England. Ramusio says he had compiled his maps and charts, " such as they were, not be- eause he thought them perfect or complete, but because he wished to satisfy the desire of Italian students, entertaining the hope that in some time to come they would be im- proved."*
Crignon, who wrote the descriptive portion accompanying the map of New France in Ramusio's collection, says,-
"Going beyond the Cape of the Bretons. there is a country contig- nous thereto, the coast of which trends to the west a quarter south-
west to the country of Florida, and runs alung for a good five hundred langues, which vonat was discovered fifteen years ago, ty Master Gi vani da Verrazano, in the natur of the King of France and Madame In Regente : umof this country is Called by many ' La Français, and even by the Portuguese themselves. le end is towar is FUrria, under Ts west and 3s north. The inhabitants of this country are a Very pleasant, tractable, and peaceal to people. The country at unde with all sorts of fruit -. There grow oranges, almonde, wild grape , and many other fruits of odoriferons trees, The country Is namnel by the natives . Norumbegs,' and between it and Brazilie a great guff n who h are the islands of the West Indies discovered by the Span arde. +
This remarkable passage is, no doubt, historically as well as geographically correct, and overturns the theories of some of our English writers with regard to the discovery of this country, and the nation to whom that honor be- longs. It was known to the Portuguese, the Spanish, and the French navigators, who made various voyages to the northern part of the coast during the first half of the six- teenth century. The latter nation laid claim to the country southwestward from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, including Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and Maine and their right seems to have been generally recognized by the other nations of Continental Europe. It is called New France in all the earlier charts and collections, and also in the Latin geogra- phy of John De Laet, which was published at Leyden as late as 1614.$ André Thevet, a French navigator, visited the Penobscot in 1556. Ile gives the following description of his entrance into that river :
" Here we entered a river which is one of the finest in the world. We call it Nurumhega. It is marked some charte a4 tiran l River. The natives call it Agoney. ( pun its banka the French formerly erected a small fert, about ton leagues from ila mouth. It was called the Fort of Neuthbega, and surrounded by fresh water."
We learn from this that the French, at a very early day. claimed the eastern part of Maine ; that charts had been made of its coast and principal rivers, and that they had
+ 1bid., p. 2 1.
* Folsom say. Saca and Buldefinf. p. 9. " The discovery of New England may justly he aspri ed | Bartholomew Goen od. an enter prising and intelligent navigat ir, whi, in the year )f ) performed a voyage 1 this part of North Ameri a, before In wen to the cir zed world." He also says page 15 " The French were Motorwhat behind the English in making voyages of hervery to the Ameri an - pli- nent " The truth is, they were nearly a century ahead of them, if we except the voyage it the ( abut", wh . so far as we kn .w. mere y passed by the coast New England, with it setting foot on any For- tion of it.
Novus Orbis INew Werlli, etc. ib. n. c. 19.
Singularities of Antarcti . France, otherwise called Amer a.
* Maine Historical Collections, vol. i. p. 227.
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9
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.
built a fort upon the Penobscot, ten leagues above its mouth, before the year 1556.
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The first movement of the French towards the establish- ment of a colony in this territory was made near the begin- ning of the seventeenth century. On the 8th of November, 1603, Henry IV. of France granted to De Monts the charter of Acadia, embracing all the country on the North American coast from the fortieth to the forty-sixth degrees of north latitude. There can be no doubt but that the English charter of 1606 was an infringement upon this grant, the French having the prior right as the discoverers and occu- pants of the country. De Monts having obtained a com- mission as Lieutenant-General of New France, fitted out his expedition for the establishment of a colony in Acadia in 1604. He was accompanied by Samuel de Champlain, who four years later founded the city of Quebec, and who had previously explored the river St. Lawrence.
Champlain was commissioned to join the expedition of De Monts as royal geographer, with instructions to make discoveries, prepare maps and charts, and report directly to the crown. He remained three years in the Gulf of Maine, faithfully executing these orders under circumstances of great hardship and peril; and the record he has left is a marvel of accuracy, patience, and indomitable courage. The entire coast line of Maine was reconnoitred and described, and charts made of the principal harbors, which were published in Paris, under his own personal supervision, in 1613.
The expedition of De Monts was prepared with great deliberation, and its composition arranged with thoughtful reference to the needs and possibilities of the future colony. The company numbered on its rolls soldiers inured to for- eign service, sailors who were familiar with American waters, skilled mechanics, and gentlemen of rank. De Monts sailed from Havre de Grace on the 7th of April, 1604, in a ship commanded by Capt. Timothée, in com- pany with the Sieurs de Poutrincourt, Champlain, and other gentlemen. On the 10th of April, the other vessel, commanded by Capt. Morel, of Honfleur, with the Sieur de Pont-Grave and the rest of the company, sailed with stores to join De Monts at Canseau, which had been selected as the place of rendezvous. While at sea De Monts changed his purpose, and directed his course far- ther to the westward. On the 1st of May he sighted Sable Island, on the 8th the mainland at Cape la Heve, and on the 10th made a harbor at the present Liverpool, called by him " Port Rossignol." On the 13th the party disembarked at " Port au Mouton," and proceeded to erect shelters, having determined to await here the arrival of their consort, in search of whom a small party was sent towards Canseau in a shallop, with letters of advice.
On the 19th of May, Champlain, accompanied by the Sieur Ralleau, secretary of De Monts, and two men, left " Port au Monton" for the purpose of making a reconnois- sance of the coast. He rounded Cape Sable and skirted the western shore of Nova Scotia to nearly the present site of Annapolis, and then returned to " Port au Mouton" about the middle of June. On the following day the com- pany, now increased by the arrival of the other vessels, abandoned their temporary shelters, and following the
course which Champlain had taken, diligently explored the south and north shores of the Bay of Fundy, but without determining upon a place for their settlement. Pro- ceeding westward from the mouth of the St. John, they discovered the cluster of islands now known as "The Wolves," and the island of Grand Menan, called, as Champlain says, by the natives, "Manthane." Passing by the present site of Eastport, they entered Passama- quoddy Bay, and ascending the St. Croix River, disem- barked on an island and began the necessary preparations for their winter's residence. The settlement called the " Holy Cross," which gave its name to the river, was the first attempt to plant a colony on the shores of Maine. The island on which it was made is now called Neutral or De Monts' Island.
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