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1800
SAMUEL THOMAS DOLE
WINDHAM IN THE PAST
BY SAMUEL THOMAS DOLE
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EDITED BY FREDERICK HOWARD DOLE
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AUBURN, MAINE MERRILL & WEBBER COMPANY MCMXVI
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. THE TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER II. THE EARLY SETTLERS
CHAPTER III. INDIAN TROUBLES AND MILITARY AFFAIRS.
CHAPTER IV. ECCLESIASTICAL.
CHAPTER V. ECCLESIASTICAL (Continued).
CHAPTER VI. DIVISION OF THE COMMON LANDS. DISPUTED BOUNDARY. INCOR- PORATION OF THE TOWN. PROPERTY OF THE TOWN. POOR LAWS. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TOWN.
CHAPTER VII. SCHOOLS.
CHAPTER VIII. WINDHAM IN THE REVOLUTION.
CHAPTER IX. WINDHAM IN THE WAR OF 1812.
CHAPTER X. INDUSTRIES, MANUFACTURES, ETC.
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER XI. INDUSTRIES, MANUFACTURES, ETC. (Continued).
CHAPTER XII. GROCERS AND GENERAL TRADERS. ASSOCIATIONS.
CHAPTER XIII. WINDHAM IN THE REBELLION.
CHAPTER XIV. EARLY HOMES, MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. NOTABLE INCIDENTS IN THE TOWN'S HISTORY.
CHAPTER XV. GENEALOGY.
APPENDIX I. ADDITIONAL GENEALOGIES.
APPENDIX II. TOWN OFFICERS.
Introduction by the Editor
The following pages were written by the Author as a labor of love. During the last twenty years of his life, he was con- stantly collecting and arranging the material here presented to the reader. He had access to all of the town records, including those of the original Proprietors, of which he made a verbatim copy. Churches and Societies generously loaned him their record books. In the genealogical division of the work, he was, in most cases, assisted by the Windham representatives of those families whose record is given, where there were any such rep- resentatives left in the town. Church, town, and family records furnished his material for the genealogies of the older families. who had no present representatives in Windham. He was pains- taking in establishing the truth of every statement herein made, and the keynote of the whole book is its absolute reliability.
After the author's death, the Windham Town History Com- mittee engaged the services of the present Editor to bring the History down to date (1914), and to secure additional genealo- gies, either from those older families whom Mr. Dole had not included in his work, or from those who had recently moved into Windham. For this purpose, the Committee sent the Editor a list of about ninety names of representatives of such families, now resident in the Town. A printed request was mailed to each of these representatives to furnish such material as he wished included among the genealogies in this History. About four months later, the Editor made a personal call upon all of these people whom he was able to find at home, for the purpose of collecting this material. To the others he mailed a second request for the same. All who supplied said material have their genealogies included in Appendix I. In arranging these family records, however, the history of the family, prior to its entering Windham, is, in most cases, omitted; except that the national origin has been given. Neither does the Editor claim to know, on his own authority, that the statements given in this set of
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INTRODUCTION
genealogies are correet; and the person who supplied the in- formation must, in all cases, be held responsible for their relia- bility.
Both in the Author's behalf and his own, the Editor wishes to express his hearty thanks to those residents of Windham, past and present, who have assisted in making this History pos- sible, by furnishing material obtainable from no other souree.
As one who is no longer a resident and voter in the Town, the Editor feels perfectly free to congratulate the citizens of Windham for the practical interest which they have shown in the preservation of their town records, by voting funds for the publication of this work.
FREDERICK HOWARD DOLE.
Medford, Mass., Jan. 17, 1916.
WINDHAM IN THE PAST
CHAPTER I
THE TOWNSHIP
The history of Windham. Maine, commences on Thursday, Nov. 20th, in that far off year, 1734, when Abraham Howard and Joseph Blaney, Representatives of the ancient Town of Marble- head, presented a petition to the Great and General Court for His Majesty's Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England, in which they stated that said township was of very small extent and the inhabitants more numerous than in most towns of the Province, so that they were much straitened in their accom- modation. They, therefore, prayed for a "Tract of Land for a Township for such persons belonging to said Town of Marble- head as will settle thereon."
Immediate action appears to have been taken on the foregoing petition, as the following entry in the Proprietors' Book of Records goes to show :
"In the House of Representatives :
Read and Voted: That there be and hereby is Granted a Tract of Land of the Contents of six miles square Lying Eastward and adjoining to the Township lately laid out to the Narragansett Grantees on the Back of Falmouth in the County of York .- And that John Wainwright Esqr., John Hobson and Daniel Epes Esqr., with such as the Honable Board shall appoint. be a com- mittee fully authorized to admit sixty inhabitants belonging to the Town of Marblehead that are most likely to settle and bring forward a new plantation, and that most need a grant of Land. And the Committee to lay out the said Township as also the first Division of Home Lotts in as defensible a manner as conveniently may be. The number of Lotts to be sixty-three, and to draw future divisions in equal proportions. Three of the aforesaid
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WINDHAM IN THE PAST
Lotts of Rights to be disposed of. One to the first settled Min- ister, one to the Ministry, and the other to the use of the school. This to be confirmed upon the Grantees fulfilling the following conditions. Aud for that Purpose that the committee shall have the sum of twenty-tive pounds each for the performance, ou con- dition that they he upon the spot and have an house built eighteen leet square and seven feet stud at the least, and also to have seven acres of Land bronght to English Grass and fitted for mowing. That they settle a Learned Orthodox Minister and build a con- venient Meeting- House for the publick worship of God within five years of their admission and that each Grantee pay the said Committee five pounds upon their admission, which shall be used for defraying the charge of the survey. The Remainder to be improved for the publick Benefit of the Plantation and upon failure of the Performances, The Right of such as fail to revert to the Province as if no such Grant had been made.
"In Council Read and Coneurred and
WILLIAM DUDLEY / EBENEZER BURRILLS Esqurs. are joyned in the Affair. "Consented to J. BELCHER.
"Examined PR. THADDEUS MASON Dept. Seety."
At the Massachusetts State House the Court Records show that the petition was passed in the House of Representatives Der. 14, 1734, and in the Council. on the 17th. In accordance with the foregoing vote of the General Court, the Committee appointed for that purpose repaired to Marblehead and admitted sixty of the inhabitants as Proprietors or Grantees of the new Township. A list of these, with the number of their individual lots. will be given later.
Their next action was as follows: "At a meeting of several of the Grantees. Ebenezer Hawkes. Mr. Thomas, and William Goodwin were appointed to accompany the Great and General Court's Committee to assist and advise in locating and laying out sd. Tract of Land with the First Division of Home-Lots."
Accordingly, on April 19, 1735. they assembled at Marble. head, with Mr. Rowland Houghton as surveyor employed by the Court's committee who accompanied them. They repaired to the grant of land and returned on the 17th of May. 1735.
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THE TOWNSHIP
The following is Mr. Houghton's report :
"Province of Massachusetts Bay .- At the desire of the C'om- missioners of the Great and General Court Appointed in Decem- ber last to Lay out the contents of a Township six miles square with the first Division or Home Lotts therein, on the Back of the town of Falmouth in Casco Bay. In answer to the Petition of Abraham Howard and Joseph Blaney Esques, in Behalf of sun- dry inhabitants of Marblehead. I have repaired with said Com- mittee accompanied by a committee of the Grantees to the new Granted Township and laid out and Plotted the same with the Home Lotts, having two chairmen to assist me namely Capn. Dominiens Jordan & Mr. Samnel Proctor, and in the proceeding therein I acted faithfully and according to my best skill. We began at a Place called Sacaripy-Falls in the Presumpscot River and so as the River runs to a Great Pond called Great Sebago Pond-Thence North 45 East 4 miles 120 rods. Thence South 45 East to Nth Yarmouth Back Line .- Thence 3 miles south 45 west to the corner of North Yarmouth and Falmouth Bounds south 24. 20 minutes west 8 miles and 60 Rods to Sacaripy Falls. The Plan was taken upon a scale of 200 rods to the inch, and contains Twenty-five-thonsand six hundred acres Ponds and Rivers included. And we judged according to our best observa- tion there was no more than the contents of six miles square of land in the Township Exclusive of water, which is humbly sub- mitted.
"By yr Honrs most Obdt Servt ROWLAND HOUGHTON. May ye 15. 1735.
" Examined pr. THADDEUS MASON Dep. Seety."
"In the House of Representatives June ye 18, 1735, the fore- going report was Read and it was
Ordered that the Survey and Plott be and hereby is accepted and the Lands therein Delineated and Described are Accordingly Confirmed unto the Grantees Admitted by a Comtee of the Court On Petition of Abraham Howard & Joseph Blaney Esqrs, in of sundry Inhabitants of Marblehead in Dee. last, Their Heirs and Assigns forever Respectively, Provided the Petitioners their Heirs and Assigns Effectually comply with and Perform the Conditions afforesaid in all Respects. Provided also that the
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WINDHAM IN THE PAST
Plott exceeds not the quantity of six miles square Exclusive of Pond & Water & does not interfere with any other Grant.
A true Copy.
"Examined pr. THADDEUS MASON. Depty Secry."
The foregoing action of the General Court is important and interesting, as it is the foundation on which rests all the land titles in Windham at the present time. On June 27, 1735, the committee appointed for that purpose met at Marblehead and proceeded to dispose of the sixty-three home lots as follows :
The first lot, or Number One, was disposed of for the use of the school, "Bounded at the North-westermost end of sd. Division of Home-Lots at a Large Pine tree marked E. B. 1, and on the North Eastward on a Road or IFighway, sd. Highway being about half a mile from Presumscot River, and on said Road or Highway to measure in breadth Ten Rods from sd. Pine tree. South East- ward, and from sd. Road or Highway and Return on Right angles and parallel lines home to Presumpscot River, be it more or less."
The remainder of the lots were bounded in the same manner as Number One, each being laid out ten rods wide and ends bounded east by the main road and west by the Presumpscot River. These lots extended 630 rods on the main road, beginning at the pine tree that marked the "North-westermost" end of the home lots and ended near the present Westbrook line. The venerable pine stood nearly opposite the residence of the late John Webb, Esq., and was destroyed by lightning in the early part of the last century. Its site is marked by a stone monument placed there by the town authorities many years ago.
The following is a list of the Grantees, with the lot drawn to each name :
No. 1. School.
No. 2. Calley Wright.
No. 3. Capn. Robert Parramore, Mariner.
No. 4. Revd. Mr. George Pigot.
No. 5. Micha Bowden, Carpenter.
No. 6. Samuel Stacey, tertius present, Master.
No. 7. Ebenezer Hawkes junr, Blacksmith.
No. 8. Richd. Dana, Gentleman.
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THE TOWNSHIP
No. 9. John Reed, Shoreman.
No. 10. Thomas Wood, Sailmaker.
No. 11. Robert Bull, Glazer.
No. 12. Thomas Chute, Taylor.
No. 13. Col. John Palmer.
No. 14. Nicholas Edgecome, Shoreman.
No. 15. Capt. Peter Coleman.
No. 16. James Sharrar, Servant to -?
No. 17. Nathaniel Bartlett, Innholder.
No. 18.
Benjamin Dodge, Chairmaker.
No. 19. Joseph Majory, Shoreman.
No. 20. Jonathan Proctor, Shoreman.
No. 21. John Stacey, Innholder.
No. 22. Richard Reed, Sailmaker.
No. 23. John Bailey, Brewer.
No. 24. Ebenezer Stacey, Shoreman.
No. 25. Thomas Bartlett, Fisherman.
No. 26. James Perryman, Innholder.
No. 27. Moses Calley, Shoreman.
No. 28. Robert Hooper, Merchant.
No. 29. Joseph Gallison, Shoreman.
No. 30. Nathan Bowen, Gentleman.
No. 31. James Skinner, Gentleman.
No. 32. Abraham Howard, Esquire.
No. 33. Ministry.
No. 34. First Settled Minister (Rev. John Wight).
No. 35. Nathaniel Cogswell, Joyner.
No. 36. Benjamin Hendly.
No. 37. Samuel Lee, Esquire.
No. 38. Benjamin James, junr., Fisherman.
No. 39. Francis Bowden.
No. 40. Rev. Wm. Edward Holyoke.
No. 41. John Oulton, Esq.
No. 42. Isaac Mansfield, Joyner.
No. 43. Jedediah Blaney, Carpenter.
No. 44. Joseph Howard.
No. 45. Joseph Sweet, Merchant.
No. 46. Samuel Brimblecome, Shoreman.
No. 47. Joseph Griffin.
No. 48. Capt. Joseph Smithurst, Mariner.
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WINDHAM IN THE PAST
No. 49. William Ingals, Shoreman.
No. 50. Jeremiah Allen, Merchant.
No. 51. John Felton, Shoreman.
No. 52. Joseph Blaney, Esq.
No. 53.
Andrew Tucker, Shoreman.
No. 54. Humphrey Devorix.
No. 55. Nathaniel Evans. Chairmaker.
No. 56. John Homan.
No. 57. William Mayberry, Blacksmith.
No. 58. William Goodwin, Carpenter.
No. 59. Thomas Frothingham, Hatmaker.
No. 60. Ebenezer Hawkes. Blacksmith.
No. 61. Giles Ivreamy, Carter.
No. 62. Isaac Turner, Joyner.
No. 63. James Pearson, Painter.
The residence of all these grantees was Marblehead, except Benjamin Dodge of Beverly, Nathaniel Cogswell of Haverhill, and James Pearson of Newbury. By an act of the General Court, June 19. 1735, the Grantees were empowered, as a cor- porate body. to choose officers, hold meetings, and transact the business of their township.
By virtue of this act. the "Proprietors. " as they are styled henceforward. held their first regular meeting at Marblehead, on June 27, 1735. The following are the several votes then and there passed with reference to the improvement of the new town- ship :
"Abraham Howard was Chosen Moderator for this Present Meeting.
"William Goodwin was Chosen Props. Clerk.
"Voted, that a Comtee be Chosen at this meeting.
"Voted, that there be five men Chosen for a Comtee.
"Voted, that William Goodwin. Joseph Blaney. Esq., Abra- ham Howard, Esq .. John Oulton, Esq., and Mr. Nathan Bowen be the Comtee.
"Voted, that Joseph Blaney, Esq., be Treasurer.
"Voted, that the Comtee Draw up what they think proper for the best Method in order for the speedy Carrying on of the Settle-
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THE TOWNSHIP'
ment for the good of the Proprs. and report the same for their Consideration at the adjournment of this Meeting.
" Tofed, to adjourn to Friday next. being the fourth day of July next at four of the Clock in the afternoon. July 4. 1735."
The Proprietors met. according to adjournment, and the Com- mittee appointed at the previous meeting reported as follows :
"Whereas the Lot number one extends half a mile from Pre- sumscot River to a large Pine Tree Marked E. B. 1. being on the Northermost Corner of the Range of Lots on the Main Road, and by mistake of the Surveyor. the Main Road is so laid out that the other End of the Range of Lots measures at least three quarters of a mile, which is a great inconvenieney, the furthermost End of the Road being so far from the River."
In order to remedy this mistake it was
"Voted, that for bringing Each of the Lots as near as possible to the contents of ten acres, the said Road or Highway be now Run. Beginning at the aforesd Pine Tree marked E. B. 1. and to Run straight such a Course. (as near as possible) on a parallel line with the Common Course of the River through the whole of the Lots, so as to make both Ends of the Range of the Lots on an equal depth from sd. River and that each Lot Shall Return at a Right Angle from the sd. Road to the River.
"Voted, that Each Home Lot have Ten Acres more of Land added to it on the other side of the Main Road, at the front of sd. Lots and to correctly measure on the same lines and the same Breadth as they will be when altered according to the foregoing vote, and the sd. addition to be accepted by and Divided among the several Propts. of the Lots which are opposite to them.
"Voted, that the Main Road at the front of the Range of Home Lots and the three roads from sd. Main Road to the River, Be as soon as Conveniently can be done Cleared and made as passable as may be thought proper for the present, at the General Charge of the Proprietors or Grantees that the bounds of each Lot may be easier found and Improved.
"Voted, that for carrying on of the Proprietors Meetings for the Future, that hencefoward there shall be Annually a Pro- prietors' Meeting Called on the first Thursday of the Month of
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WINDHAM IN THE PAST
March, until otherwise ordered by the Proprs and the Comtee for the time being are hereby Impowered to Issue out their Noti- fication signed by the Clerk pr. their Order for sd. Meeting, and at sd. Meeting to make Choice of a Clerk and any other Officers for the year Ensuing, and also Transact any other Business Sig- nified in the Notification; and this Comtee shall have power to call any other meeting or meetings as Occasion shall call for. always having regard to the several Laws made and provided in such cases.
"Voted, that all the Notifications and Meetings of the Pro- prietors During the term of five years shall be at the Town House in Marblehead and not Elsewhere.
"Voted, that when and as often as Ten or more of the Propers shall judge a Propers meeting to be necessary they signifying the same under their hands to the Comtee for the time being, with Reasons and Occasions thereof. the sd. Comtee shall within two days after such application made to them Order a notifica- tion for calling sd. meetings to act upon such affairs as shall be laid before them by sd. Proprietors."
"Ang. 8, 1735, at a meeting of the Propers or Grantees held according to notification.
"The notification Read :
"Voted, Mr. Richard Dana be Chosen Moderator for this pres- ent meeting.
"Voted, whether a Sawmill be built at a General Charge. Passed in the Negative.
"Voted, that the affair Relating to the Granting of a place for a Sawmill be omitted for the present. no person of the Proprietors appearing to undertake the same.
"Voted, that this meeting be adjourned to Thursday the 21st Instant at 3 of the clock in the afternoon."
"Aug. 21st, 1735. At the adjournment, it was
"Voted, that the Affair of the Boundary lines between the Tract of Land and the Towns of Falmouth and North Yarmouth be Deferred till further Consideration.
"Voted, that the affair of new Running the Roads at the head
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THE TOWNSHIP
of the Lots be Deferred till some persons present themselves to go on the Land in order to clear the Roads.
"Voted, that the sum of Thirty Five pounds nine shillings be Raised on the Proprietors or Grantees in order to make up the sum to pay the several Accts. which are allowed.
"Voted, that the sum of Forty Shillings be added to the aforesd sum of Thirty Five Pounds nine shills To purchase a Suitable Book to Record all further Business Relating to this Society of Proprietors,"'-
"Dec. 11, 1735. At a meeting of the Proprietors according to Notification.
"The Notification being Read Mr. John Bailey was Chosen Moderator of this present meeting.
"Voted, that the Great and General Court be petitioned for the Effectual Establishing of the Bounds and line between the Towns of Falmouth and North Yarmouth and the Tract of Land granted Proprs or Grantees.
"Voted, that the Present Comtee, Viz: John Onlton, Esq .. Joseph Blaney, Esq., Mr. Nathan Bowen, and William Goodwin, be and hereby are Impowered in the name and behalf of the Propers or Grantees to Petition the Great and General Court to appoint some Suitable persons to Establish & Settle the Boundary line between the sd Tract of Land and the head line of Falmouth & North Yarmouth and that the same be forwarded as soon may be.
"Voted, that a sufficient Cart Bridge be built over the Pre- sumscot River at the General Charge of the Proprs or Grantees in the most Convenient place above Sacaripy Falls, and be built as soon as the season will permit.
"Voted, that the affair of building the public Meeting House be Deferred till further Consideration.
"Voted, that there be three suitable persons appointed to cversee and carry on and perfect the building of the aforesd Bridge and Likewise to new lay out the Home Lots and Clear the Roads according to former votes.
"Voted, that William Goodwin. Mr. Isaac Turner and Mr. Ebenezer Hawkes be the persons appointed for sd. work.
WINDHAM IN THE PAST
"Voled, that the sum of Twenty six shillings be Leveyd and Raised on each of the sixty drawn lots as an additional Tax to the Forty Shillings formerly voted. and the same to be paid into the Treasury at or before the sixteenth day of March next En- sning and to be drawn ont for the Defraying the Charges which shall arise in the building of the Bridge and Clearing the Roads and new laying out the first Division of Home Lots."
"March ye 3, 1737. At the Annual Meeting. Mr. Ebenezer Hawkes was Chosen Moderator for sd. meeting.
"Voted, Mr. William Goodwin be Clerk for the year Ensuing.
"Voted, that Sufficient Bridges be Built over the Several Brooks or Runs of water so as to make passable for Carts from the Bridge over Presumscot River to the fartherest home lot from sd. Bridge.
"Voted. whether the Publick Meeting House be built as soon as may be. Passed in the negative."
The foregoing votes, copied verbatim from the Proprietors' Book of Records, give us some idea of the interest these men had in their grant, and the efforts put forth to effect its settlement.
The three eross-roads mentioned ran from the main road to the Presumpscot River and were located as follows: The first, between Home Lots 12 and 13: the second, between 32 and 33; and the third, between 52 and 53. The locations of the first and last were changed in 1761 to suit the convenience of the settlers. The elearing of the roads and building the necessary bridges over the brooks, several of which existed within the limits of the home lots, was doubtless a heavy tax on the Proprietors. Never- theless, on Dec. 11, 1735. they voted to "build a Bridge across the Presumpscot above the falls at Sacaripy." as they believed their grant extended to that point. Accordingly, we find that the bridge was built and henceforth known as the "Great Bridge." The cost of building the bridge and clearing the road to the home- lots was £293.18.9, and it was also "Voted, to allow John Giles and Nathan Millet £10 each for their labors, and in Recompenee for the casualty that befell them in said service." What hap- pened to these gentlemen, history saith not, but there the vote stands approved, after the lapse of nearly two centuries. The above bridge, while it was doubtless a great convenience to the
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THE TOWNSHIP
settlers of New Marblehead, as Windham was then called, was also a source of much expense to them; as, from spring freshets, floating ice and logs, it frequently sustained serious injuries. Hence it was never regarded with much favor by most of the Proprietors.
THE FIRST MEETING HOUSE
The Proprietors of New Marblehead having thus partially fitted their grant for settlement, now took measures to fulfill another important condition imposed by the Great and General Court, namely : "To build a convenient Meeting House for the publie worship of God." The first notice we find of any action on their part in regard to this condition was on Dec. 11, 1735, when it was
"Voted, that the affair of building the publick Meeting House be deferred for further Consideration."
On March 3, 1737, a similar vote passed in the "negative." But, on June 9th of that year, it was
"Voted, that the Publick Meeting House be built as soon as may be." At the same time it was also
"Voted, that the Present Comtee shall take under their Con- sideration of what dimension and form. with the price (as near as possible) of the Meeting House, and lay the same before the Proptrs or Grantees at the Adjourment of this meeting for their approbation."
At the adjournment. the Committee then reported that. in their opinion, "a meeting house suitable for sd. Township at present be abont forty feet long and thirty feet wide and ten feet high from the bottom of the cell (sill) to the upside of the plate, the building of which so as to make convenient accommodation will cost near one hundred pounds."
"Voted, that the Publick Meeting House be built on the westernmost corner of the lot of ten acres to be laid to the min- isterial lot." This was on Home Lot No. 33. on the easterly side of the main road, near the residence of the late Col. Edward Anderson.
"Voted, that a space of ten poles square be cleared arround
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WINDHAM IN THE PAST
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