USA > Maine > Oxford County > Oxford > Annals of Oxford, Maine, from its incorporation, February 27, 1829 to 1850. Prefaced by a brief account of the settlement of Shepardsfield plantation, now Hebron and Oxford, and supplemented with genealogical notes from the earliest records of both towns and other sources > Part 4
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Mr. Craigie and others secured a large tract of land, now Cambridgeport, erected a toll-bridge from Lechmere Point to Boston, which was called Craigies Bridge, and the cor- poration secured the removal of the county officies from
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Annals of Oxford.
Harvard Square to Cambridgeport in 1816, by the contri- bution of the land and buildings, a court house and jail that cost upwards of $24,000., and they also constructed Cam- bridge street.
In October 1807 a site for a botanic garden was purchas- ed by Harvard College, which Mr. Craigie enlarged by a liberal donation of four acres of adjoining land.
Soon after taking possession of the Hebron lands, Mr. Craigie appointed Mr. William Clark Whitney his attor- ney, "to care for his lands and interests in the town of Hebron, pay taxes, bring actions for trespass, execute deeds proper to convey lands and do other acts necessary for transferring the lands". In 1798 Mr. Craigie conveyed his Hebron lands to his brother-in-law, Bossenger Foster of Cambridge, the consideration named being $ 19,500. This transaction was probably a matter of convenience for the estate continued under the same management during the life of Mr. Craigie and even after its division among "The Craigie Heirs".
Evidently Mr. Craigie had great expectations from his Hebron venture, for he was not content in buying and sell- ing land, but he expended large sums of money in im- provements demonstrating the value of the land to the hus- bandman and the advantages of the water-power to the mechanic. He caused to be put under cultivation a large tract of the high land on the west bank of the Little An- droscoggin, erected a commodious dwelling-house, large barns and numerous out-buildings for keeping a large stock of domestic animals; in fact, the "Craigie Farm", so called, was an ideal home for a gentleman farmer. He utilized the exhaustless energy of Thompson Pond by dam- ming its outlet and by erecting mills for the manufac- ture of lumber and the grinding of cereals, making the nucleus of the flourishing Oxford village that to this day is frequently called by its ancient name, "Craigies Mills".
We may conclude that Mr. Craigie was a religious man, for in 1796 he was chosen one of the Wardens of Christ Church, and that he was a social man, for he is named among those present in the Mass. Grand Lodge of Free- masons, at the Feast of Saint John, December 27, 1778.
He was united in marriage January, 1797 with Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Bezaleel Shaw of Nantucket, who died, his widow, May 7, 1844 aged 69 years.
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Annals of Oxford
Checkered by many vicissitudes, the long and active life of Mr. Craigie closed September 19, 1819. He left no will, but his administration papers consist of more than fifty documents, most of them quite bulky. Heirs therein men- tioned are widow Elizabeth, Andrew, John and Thomas Foster, and Samuel Haven.
Paige's History of Cambridge says :-
BOSSENGER FOSTER, son of Thomas, was a gentleman of leisure and died in Cambridge, of gout, April 23, 1805. His wife was Mary, sister of Andrew Craigie and they had children, probably born in Boston, as follows :-
Bossenger, gr. H. C. 1787, lawyer, died unmarried Jan- uary 17, 1816 aged 48 years.
Elizabeth, m. Judge Samuel Haven of Dedham.
Andrew, gr. H. C. 1800, physcian in Dedham, m. Mary Conant 1813. He died 1831.
John, b. July 1782, gr. H. C. 1802, died unmarried 1836. Thomas, gr. H. C. 1805, physcian, town clerk, died un- married 1831 aged 46 years.
James, gr, H. C. 1806, lawyer, register of probate for a short time, died unmarried August 27, 1817.
George, gr. B. U. 1811, lawyer, died unmarried Sep- tember 4, 1817 aged 27 years.
Mary Craigie, died February 18, 1811 aged 16 years.
The question of constructing a new county from the northerly portions of York and Cumberland was opened years before its consumation and some of the towns chose committees of conferrence as early as 1795, but nothing of record shows action on the part of Hebron until a town meeting held November 12, 1803, at which time Samuel Paris was chosen a delegate to meet in convention at Paris to take into consideration the expediency of forming a new county, and he was directed to oppose the taking of any part of York county for the intended county.
A new county was incorporated March 4, 1805 by the name of OXFORD, and Paris became the shire-town. Frank- lin county was mostly made from it in 1838, and when An- droscoggin county was incorporated in 1854, several Ox- ford towns were included. The first court, being that of Common Pleas, was held in Paris in June, 1805, Samuel Frye of Fryeburg, presided with Samuel Paris of Hebron and Luther Cary of Turner as associates. Cyrus Hamlin of Paris was Clerk, and David Learned was Sheriff.
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Annals of Oxford.
Franklin is reported as saying that "the war recently closed was only a Revolution, the war for Independence is yet to be fought". The new government was generally satisfactory at home, but the "Star Spangled Banner" received little consideration abroad, even France who had been the friend in need, failing to interest the States in her quarrels, commenced a course of outrages upon American shipping, and hostilities actually began at sea. The Indians on the frontier with violence opposed the advance of emi- gration, the Barbary States of Africa pirated American ships on their coasts, and England notwithstanding the trea- ty of peace and amity, disturbed the commerce of the coun- try in the most aggravating manner. Under these strained foreign relations a Federalist congress passed retaliatory acts, known as the "alien and sedition laws", which proved so unpopular as to cause the perpetual retirement of the party. The judgment of its successor was not infallible, for on the advise of Pres. Jefferson, congress passed the "Embargo Act", which sent most of those engaged in the maritime trade into bankruptcy and paralyzed business on the sea-board.
These distracting events do not appear to have seriously disturbed the inhabitants of Hebron, Mr. Whitney's sales of land were uninterupted, new settlers continued to come in and notwithstanding its being a long days journey to Portland, and the postage on a letter represented more than an hour of labor, we are certain that our ancestors kept themselves well informed in politics as well as other mat- ters and were rejoiced by the news of an equitable treaty with Napoleon, the punishment of the Tripolitan pirates by Preble, and the Indians by Harrison ; while the prevailing sentiment in Massachusetts was not in favor of a renewal of hostilities with the mother country, the yeomanry were not greatly disturbed by the declaration of war with Great Britain, June 3, 1812.
Congress authorized Pres. Madison to inrease the regu- lar army to 25,000 men, to call for 50,000 volunteers and to strengthen the navy. Hostilities commenced on the Can- ada border with disastrous results, which however were partly atoned for by success upon the sea; the first time in half a century an English ship-of-war struck her flag to a foe of equal force. The number of Hebron men who were engaged early in the war is unknown by the writer.
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Annals of Oxford
July 1814 Sir Thomas Hardy sailed from Halifax with con- siderable force for land and sea service. Eastport and Cas- tine were captured and consternation spread along the coast. Gov. Strong ordered out the militia, and that the defen- ces along the coast should be strengthened at once. The people in Portland were thoroughly alarmed, some families left town, the banks removed their money and the most val- uable goods were taken into the country for safety.
The Oxford and Cumberland county regiments went into camp at Portland with Gen. Alford Richardson of North Yarmouth in command. Between six and seven thousand men responded to the governer's call.
"AND MUSTERED IN THEIR SIMPLE DRESS, FOR WRONG TO SEEK A STERN REDRESS."
The law at the time required every free, able-bodied, white male citizen of the age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years, except those exempted by law, to be enrolled in the militia and were required to provide themselves with a good musket or firelock, with bore suf- ficient for balls eighteen to a pound, a sufficient bayo- net and belt, two spare flints, and a knapsack, a pouch with a box therein to contain not less than twenty-four car- tridges suited to the bore of the musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of powder and ball.
The militia records of Maine, in the war of 1812, on file in the Adjutant Generals office at Augusta, name officers of the Ist Regiment of the Ist Brigade, to which Captain Samuel Robinson's Company was attached, as follows :-- William Ryerson, Paris, Lieut. Colonel.
Ebenezer Rawson, Paris, Major.
Simeon Cummings, Paris,
Major.
Henry Rust Jr., Paris,
Sergeant Major.
James Hooper, Paris,
Chaplain.
Enoch Burnham, Paris, Adjutant.
Quarter Master.
Benjamin Chesley, Paris.
Alanson Mellen, Paris, Pay Master.
Benjamin Chandler, Norway, Surgeon.
Willian Bridgham, Buckfield,
Surgeon Mate,
Bartholomew Cushman, Paris, Lewis Stowell, Paris,
Drum Major.
Abner Pratt, Paris,
Fife Major.
George Bridgham,
Waiter.
Quarter Master Serg't.
There was attached to this Regiment three companies of
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Annals of Oxford.
Cavalry raised in Turner, Minot and Livermore, the staff officers of the battalion being :---
John Greenwood, Hebron, Major.
Thomas Brown, Minot,
Adjutant.
Ezra Brett, Paris,
Quarter Master.
Levi Bartlett, Paris,
Quarter Master Serg't.
ROLL OF CAPT. ROBINSON'S COMPANY.
Samuel Robinson, Hebron, Captain.
Stephen Pratt, Hebron, Lieutenant.
Andrew Cushman, Hebron,
Ensign.
SERGEANTS. Keene, Seth
Stephen Perry.
Littlefield, Samuel
Oliver Perkins,
Maddox, Henry
Eleazer Holmes.
Mixer, Joseph
Dean Andrews.
Moore, John
CORPORALS.
Morton, Mathias .
Nathan Wright.
Morton, Richard
Abraham Dean.
Penley, William
Alexander Nelson.
Pratt, Benajah
Gennett Holbrook.
Pratt, Zebedee
Artemas Turner, MUSICIAN. PRIVATES.
Perkins, Isaiah
Allen, Samuel
Perkins, Luther
Allen, Solomon
Perry, Benjamin F.
Andrews, Loved
Richmond, Eliab
Blair, Reuben
Riggs, Job L.
Bean, Abiatha
Robbins, Calvin
Benson, Samuel
Robbins, Lebbeus
Brown, Samuel
Rowe, Joseph
Cushman, Zebedee Jr.
Russell, Solomon
Chadbourne, Zebulon
Shaw, Francis
Dean, Henry C.
Shepard, Green
Dunn, Isaiah
Staples, Andrew
Emery, William
Staples, David
Fuller, Nathaniel Jr.
Staples, Simeon
Fuller, Ira
Soule, James Jr.
Farris, Hezekiah
Tarbox, Lemuel
Gammon, Wilmot
Thayer, Peter
Holmes, Solomon Hayes, Dennis
Washburn, Eli
Herrin, John
Waterman, John
Hilborn, Robert
Weston, Josiah
Hamden, Levi
Wood, Absalom
Wright, Samuel
Keene, Joshua
Washburn, Isaac
Perkins, Joseph Jr.
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Annals of Oxford
The Field and Staff officers of the 3d Regiment Ist Brigade, to which Capt. Isaac Bearce's Company was at- tached were as follows :-
Cyrus Clark, Minot,
Lieut. Colonel.
Henry Farwell, Buckfield,
Major.
Levi Merrill Jr., Turner,
Major.
Joseph Keith, Minot,
Adjutant.
Nathaniel Cushman, Hebron,
Qr. Master.
Benjamin Bradford, Turner,
Surgeon.
Samuel DeCoster,
Sergt. Major.
Calvin Bridgham,
Qr. Mr. Sergt.
Levi Bryant Jr.,
Drum Major.
Alden Bumpus,
Fife Major.
ROLL OF CAPT. ISAAC BEARCE'S COMP'Y.
Isaac Bearce, Hebron,
Captain.
Stephen Myrick, Hebron
Lieutenant.
Alvan Turner, Hebron, SERGEANTS.
Crafts, Samuel Jr.
Gideon Cushman Jr.
Curtis, Ashley Jr.
Jabez Barrows.
Cushman, Isaac Jr.
Silas Bumpus. CORPORALS.
Davy, Simeon Jr.
Timothy Norton.
Davy, Solomon
David Bicknell.
DeCoster, Jacob Jr.
Elias Tubbs.
DeCoster, Roger
Ebenezer Dunham. MUSICIANS.
Dunham, James Jr.
William Bumpus.
Dudley, Nathan
Ezekiel Merrill.
Farris, William
PRIVATES.
Fuller, Barnabas
Barrows, Cornelius
Fuller, Robert Jr.
Barrows, George
Glover, Joseph
Barrows, Job C.
Gurney, Lemuel
Barrows, Reuel
Hutchinson, Henry
Bearce, Gideon Jr.
Irish, Simeon
Bearce Levi
Keene, Nathaniel
Benson, Caleb
Keene, Snow Jr.
Besse, Seth
Marshall, Aaron
Bicknell, Cyrus
Marshall, John
Bryant, Amos
Merrill, Giles Jr.
Bumpus, Jesse
Merrill, Moses
Bumpus, Lemuel
Morgan, Solomon
Carmon, Luther
Morton, Job
Ensign.
Cushman, Reuben
Drake, Alpheus
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Annals of Oxford.
Morton, John
Stedman, Samuel W.
Packard, Isaac
Sturdevant, Francis Jr.
Packard, Lewis
Sturdev. nt, Joseph
Perkins, Ebenezer
Sturdevant, Nathaniel
Pratt, Barnabas
Washburn, Peleg
Pratt, William
Washburn, Stephen
Richardson, Stephen
Whittemore, John
Rowe, Benjamin
Whittemore, Levi
Rowe, Joseph
Whittemore, Samuel Jr.
Rowe, Samuel
Whittemore, William
Stedman, John
The Hebron men in their grey homespun were proba- bly equiped as the law required with the addition of a keg shaped canteen dangling from a cross-belt and their knap- sacks filled with blanket. rations and other articles, to the carrying capacity of the owner. They are said to have been a jovial band and that they took up the line of march for the defence of the beleaguered seaport amidst much enthu- siasm, but no doubt the adieus were whispered with many misgivings and silent tears. Capt. Bearce's company arriv- ed at Portland on the 13th day of September and Capt. Rob- inson's one day later. Portland was then a town of only about 7,500 inhabitants but from its maritime and strategic importance was the most notable place east of Boston. The principal enterance to its harbor was guarded by forts Preb- le on Cape Elizabeth and Scammel on Leavitt's House Is- land, which were maned by about 200 regulars under Gen. John Chandler : an inadequate force but all that were at the time available for the relations between the regulars and the "melish" were not sufficiently harmonius to admit of a joint occupancy and the latter would serve no where except under officers of their own choosing. A "Committee of Safety and Defence" had made such preparation to repel invasion as they were able, and to provide shelter and food for this large army was a serious question, camp equipage was not plentiful, Fort Burrows just built on the bluff at Fish Point, was soon filled, and to provide for the remainder, ropewalks and sail-lofts were cleared and converted into barracks.
Tradition is silent regarding the privations and sufferings of the soldiers in "Camp Portland", without doubt they had their troubles, but it was currently reported that the boys were not entirely confined to the beef, bread and water di- et of the commissariat but the laxity of discipline gave for-
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Annals of Oxford
agers ample opportunity to vary their regular bill of fare.
There were however times when something more serious than a holyday parade was threatened : for the troop were hardly settled in camp before the British squadron appeared in the offing and its flagship, the "Bulwark", seventy-four guns, repeatedly sailed in a daring manner almost within the range of the guns of Fort Preble, each time causing a general alarm. On the 24th of September, the enemy hav- ing sailed away, the militie were dismissed, except a detail of about 1, 200 who were placed under the command of Col. Ryerson and continued in the service until the first of Nov.
After a protracted and contentious meeting of the Com- missioners a treaty of peace was signed at Ghent on the 24th day of December 1814. The conditions were that all territory taken by either party, during the war, should be restored, and there were some details of arrangement for establishing boundaries, and respecting future intercourse, but nothing is said of the impressment of seamen which was the chief cause of the war. Inasmuch however, as Great Britain has never since attempted such outrages, this question may be regarded as having been settled for all time by the war.
In compliance with an act of the Legislature, passed on the 19th day of June 1819, the electors of the District were notified to assemble in regular meeting, on the fourth Mon- day of July then next, and give their votes on the question of the District becoming a separate and independent State.
The total vote was 24,223, of which 17,091 were for sep- aration. The vote of Hebron was 14I, of which only 61 fa- vored separation. Agreeably to the provisions of the Act of June 19th, a Convention for forming a Constitution for the State of Maine assembled in the Court House in Port- land on the IIth day of October, 1819 and made choice of William King of Bath for Chairman and Robert C. Vose of Augusta for Secretary. Two hundred and seventy-four Delegates were present, and after voting to submit the re- sults of their deliberations, with an address, to the people of Maine, adjourned October 29th, to meet January 5th, 1820 and examine the returns of the votes of the several towns on the question of accepting the same. At the adjourned meeting it appeared that the whole number of votes return- ed was 10,899, of which 10,025 were in favor of the costi- tution and 873 in opposition, a small negative vote consid-
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Annals of Oxford.
ering that 30 of the Delegates to the Convention declined to sign the report. The delegate from Hebron was Alex- ander Greenwood, and on the question of accepting the constitution, the vote stood at 70 yeas and 3 nays. Maine was admitted into the Union by Congress on the 4th day of March 1820 and became a State on the 16th day of the same month. The first election of state officers took place on the 3d day of April 1820, at which time William King of Bath was elected Governor by the votes of 21,083 to I, 031 scattering. The first Legislature convened in Portland on the 3Ist day of May, Henry Rust Jr. of Norway, repre- senting the towns of Hebron and Norway, they having been classed together.
The state valuation was estimated at $20,962,778.74 and the number of polls at 59,368; the town valuation was $117,500. with 350 polls. The population of the town of Hebron as shown by the first census (1790) was 530, that of the second 981, that of the third 1, 21I, that of the fourth 1,727, that of the fifth, including that of Oxford set-off the previous year, was 2,029.
DIVISION OF THE TOWN.
The public spirit of Dr. Craigie and the enterprise of his agent, Mr. Whitney, brought many settlers into the west- ern part of the town, making Craigie's Mills the center of a flourishing business and adding materially to the popula- tion. There was very little business connections between the eastern and western sections, and on account of the length of the town its municipal affairs were necessarily conducted with considerable inconvenience to the freehold- ers, making a division of the town desirable, and finally decided upon at a town meeting held on the third day of November 1828, when it was "Voted that William C. Whitney, Stephen Myrick, Gideon Cushman Jr. and Win- throp B. Norton be a committee to report to this meeting three discreet men from the neighboring towns to be a com- mittee to examine the relative circumstances of each end of the town and if any difference, how much the one shall pay to the other in case of a division and make their report to the meeting in December next."
"Voted to divide the town by the Matthews pond and streams". John Turner of Turner, Enoch Hall of Buck- field and Thomas Hill of Paris, were reported by the com- mittee for referees and accepted by a vote of those present.
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Annals of Oxford
Stephen Myrick and Samuel H. King were chosen a committee to notify the out-of-town committee, attend their meeting and show them the situation of the town, and in case one or more of said committee shall not attend, to choose others in their stead to fill vacancy.
The referees submited their report at a legal meeting held on the 22d day of December, as follows :- "The subscri- bers, a committee agreed upon by the inhabitants of Hebron at a legal meeting of said town holden on the third day of November instant, for the purpose of adjudging and deter- mining on what terms said town shall be divided, making Matthews pond and streams a dividing line between the Eastern and Western parts of said town, having met agree- ably to previous notice at the house of Rev. Joseph Hutch- inson, proceeded to examine the roads and bridges and at- tended to the statements made to us by Stephen Myrick Esq. and Col. Samuel H. King, agents of the respective paris of the town, do adjudge that the inhabitants of said town living to the Eastward of the said Matthews pond and streams shall pay to the inhabitants of said town living to the Westward of said pond and streams the sum of $500. Hebron November 19th, 1828. John Turner, Enoch Hall, Committee. Thomas Hill Jr.
"On receiving the report of the committee on the divis- ion of the town, it was voted to accept the report and choose a committee of three to carry it into effect. Voted that Joseph Hutchinson, Simeon Perkins and William C. Whitney be said committee".
A petition was presented to the Legislature on the tenth day of January 1829 in words as follows :--
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Maine.
We, the subscribers, a committee for and in behalf of the town of Hebron, represent that the local situation of the town of Hebron is such as to disommode the inhabitants in transacting their business, by reason of its great length, and no convenient center, wherefore your Petioners pray that said town of Hebron may be divided by Mattews pond and streams so called agreeable to a vote of said town in a legal meeting for that purpose, held the 22d day of Dec. 1828.
As in duty bound will ever pray.
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Annals of Oxford.
Dated at Hebron the twenty-ninth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty- eight.
Joseph Hutchinson, Simeon Perkins, Committee.
The petition appears to have taken the regular course without opposition and the prayer granted by the passage of a Bill entitled :-
AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE TOWN OF OXFORD.
Approved February 27th, 1829.
Sec. I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives, in Legislature assembled, That so much of the town of Hebron, in the County of Oxford, as lies south west of Matthews' Pond, so called, and the inlet of said Pond, running from Paris, and the outlet of the same Pond running into Minot, be, and hereby is incorporated into a town by the name of Oxford ; and the inhabitants thereof are hereby vested with all the powers, privileges and im- munities, which the inhabitants of other towns within this State, do or may by law enjoy.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That said town of Ox- ford shall pay to said town of Hebron the arrears of all taxes which have been legally assessed together with their proportion of all debts due from and assessments which may have been voted by said town of Hebron, at the time of the passing of this Act ; such proportion to be ascertained by reference to the last valuation of said town of Hebron. And said town of Hebron shall pay to said town of Oxford the sum of five hundred dollars. And said town of Oxford shall receive their proportion (to be ascertained as aforesaid) of all debts and taxes due, and of all the personal property belonging to said town of Hebron at the time aforesaid.
Sec. 3, Be it further enacted, That all persons who now are, or may hereafter become chargeable as paupers, shall be considered as belonging to that town, on whose territory they may have gained a legal settlement, and shall be sup- ported by the same. And said town of Oxford shall be holden to pay their proportion of the expenses incurred for the support of all paupers actually chargeable upon the town of Hebron, at the time of the passing of this Act.
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That the ammunition,
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Annals of Oxford
military equipments, and camp equipage belonging to said town of Hebron, at the time of the passing of this Act shall be divided between said towns of Hebron and Oxford in proportion to the number of persons enrolled in the Militia, in said towns respectively. And the records, public papers and documents belonging to said town of Hebron at the time aforesaid, shall be kept alternately year by year by the respective Clerks of said towns; and while such records, documents and papers are in possesston of the Clerk of one of said towns, such Clerk shall, on application of either of the Selectmen or Assessors, or of the Clerk of the other town, furnish a certified copy of any part of the same free from expense, until otherwise agreed upon by said towns.
Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That any Justice of the Peace, within said County, is hereby empowered to issue his warrant to some inhabitant of said town, hereby incor- porated, directing him to notify the inhabitants thereof, to meet at such time and place, as he shall appoint, to choose such officers as towns are empowered to choose at their annual meetings.
Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That said towns of He- bron and Oxford shall constitute a district to elect one Rep- resentative (Oxford having the privilege to elect the first Representative chosen after the passing of this Act) to the Legislature of this State, until otherwise provided by law.
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