USA > Maine > Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume III > Part 105
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(IV) John, second son of Joseph (2) and Abigail (Willard) Bridgham, was born Au- gust 27, 1729, and died at West Minot, Maine, July 31, 1840. He was a man of some promi- nence at Plympton, Massachusetts, and was a member of the committee sent to Boston be- fore the war, to consider the position of the colonists ; he was captain in the revolutionary war, his son John being corporal and his son Samuel fifer in the same company. He was a selectman, and in 1777 was representative to the general court. About 1781 he removed with his wife and children from Plympton to Shepardsfield, now Hebron, Maine, now in Oxford county, and became progenitor of a large number of descendants in that state. In 1788 he and his associates were granted by the legislature of Massachusetts eighteen thou- sand acres of land in Poland, Maine; Poland then included the present town of Minot, the city of Auburn, and part of Mechanic Falls. He married, February 28, 1754, at Plympton, Joanna Comer ; children : I. John, born May 16, 1754; married Sibella Shaw. 2. Joseph. 3. Willard, married Jemima. Packard. 4. Dr. William; see forward. 5. Samuel, married Lucy Hammond. 6. Tom. 7. Alden, married Sarah Lane, in 1791. 8. Joanna. 9. Cyrus.
(V) Joseph (3), second son of John and Joanna (Comer) Bridgham, was born April 8,
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1761, at Plympton, Massachusetts, and died January 24, 1851. September 1, 1789, he mar- ried Betsey, daughter of Benjamin Lane, born May 20, 1770, died 1840; children: I. Jo- seph. 2. Alvin, born April 15, 1792; married April 29, 1817, Jane Downs. 3. Alden, born April 9, 1795; married Margaret Downs. 4. Betsey. 5. Andrew, born January 5, 1798. 6. Sally, married Lewis Wilder. 7. Ellsworth, born April 25, 1803; married, March 17, 1831, Joan C. Pierce, and died in Charleston, Maine. 8. Sullivan, born July 5, 1806; married Janu- ary 25, 1835, Eliza Willey, and died June 18, 1888, at Charleston, Maine; children .: i. Vienna A., born December 1, 1835, married, November 11, 1855, Ansell Dunning, who died January 26, 1867; ii. Daniel, born July 22, 1838, was for over twenty years sergeant of police in Boston; married, August 9, 1868, Mary Lolie Cary, and had daughter Addie, who died young ; iii. Leland T., born February 4, 1843, married Addie F. McIntosh, resides at Arlington Heights, Massachusetts, and has seven children; iv. Eliza, born January 28, 1844; died January, 1845. 9. Olive, born Oc- tober 12, 1809; married C. Dunning. IO. Vienna, born January 30, 1813, married Charles B. Willey and lived in Cherryfield, Maine. 11. Levi, born July 4, 1814; was a farmer and apothecary; married Lucinda Libby ; lived and died in Dexter, Maine; five children. 12. Willard. 13. Rhoda, married Isaac Dunning.
(VI) Joseph (4), eldest son of Joseph (3.) and Betsey (Lane) Bridgham, was born De- cember 25, 1789, at Minot, Maine, and died May 17, 1857, at Charleston, Maine. He was captain in the war of 1812, and as all his friends and neighbors called him colonel, it is probable he had that rank in the Maine Militia ; in 1834 he was a member of the state legisla- ture, and was for many years postmaster at West Charleston, Maine. He was prominent in all the affairs of his town, and when he died his funeral was attended by nearly all its resi- dents, many in carriages, but the majority of the men walking by twos, and the procession reached nearly half a mile. February 19, 1817, he was married, by Rev. Henry Hale, to Mar- garet, daughter of Levi and Mary Bradley, of Bangor, born March 2, 1793, at Brewer, Maine, died at Bangor, March 19, 1883. Levi Bradley was for several years sheriff of Pe- nobscot county, Maine. Children of Joseph and Margaret ( Bradley) Bridgham: I. Wil- mot, born November 12, 1817; had wife Han- nah, and lived in Beddington, Maine; he died April 17, 1882. 2. Albert. 3. Margaret, born
January 25, 1823, died August 21, 1870, at Bangor ; never married. 4. Joseph, born July 18, 1827, married Mary J. Scribner, and died in Vassar, Michigan. 5. Zebulon, born Au- gust 2, 1831 ; married Hannah E. Walker; lived and died in Ashland. 6. Mary, born De- cember 1, 1834, died June 8, 1863, at Brewer, Maine; never married. 7. Hannah Maria, born March 5, 1837; never married, and died in Bangor.
(VII) Albert, second son of Joseph (4) and Margaret (Bradley) Bridgham, was born No- vember 3, 1819, at Charleston, Maine, and died March 2, 1886, at East Eddington, Maine, greatly lamented and universally re- spected." For several years he served as post- master of West Charleston; he was a farmer and mechanic, making a specialty of oars. In November, 1859, he removed to Bangor, Maine, where he carried on a small farm and worked at his trade. In his views he was a Democrat, but as he could not conscientiously indorse his party during the civil war and would not go over to the Republican party, at this time he took no part in political affairs. The last of his life he spent with his daugh- ter, Mrs. Charles H. Ford, who lived at East Eddington. July 28, 1849, he married Martha Campbell, daughter of Asa D. and Mary (Penny) Maddocks, of East Eddington, born January 12, 1829, died at Bangor, Maine, May 14, 1868; children: 1. Percy Albert. 2. Mar- tha Annette, born May 14, 1857, at Charles- ton, Maine, married, December 25, 1877, Charles H. Ford; lives in East Eddington ; children : i. Leonard Harris Ford, born July 28, 1878, graduated in class of 1900 from Uni- versity of Maine, studied medicine at Bowdoin Medical School, now practicing his profession at East Eddington ; ii. Bernice, died young. 3. Frances Mabel, born May 14, 1859, is unmar- ried and lives at Bangor, Maine.
(VIII) Percy Albert, only son of Albert and Martha Campbell ( Maddocks) Bridgham, was born November 5, 1850, at East Edding- ton, Maine; he attended the common schools of Charleston and high school of Bangor, Maine, and prepared for Bowdoin College, though on account of the death of his mother he did not enter that institution. From April, 1869, to April, 1872, he was assistant to the 'register of deeds of Penobscot county; in 1871-72 was clerk of the common council of Bangor. In July, 1872, he removed to Boston, where he entered the office of Alphonso J. Robinson, for the purpose of studying law, and by diligent work he progressed so well that he was admitted to the bar at Boston, in
1
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November, 1875, after which he was in part- nership with Mr. Robinson till 1880. Since June 8, 1887, he has been legal editor of the Boston Daily Globe, writing under the name of "People's Lawyer." Has published a book called "One Thousand Legal Questions An- swered by the People's Lawyer." In March, 1893, he joined Prospect Hill Congregational Church, at Somerville, Massachusetts, and be- came interested in the work of the Boys' Bri- gade, a Sunday school military organization, with the result that he became commander of the division of Massachusetts and Maine, with rank of major-general, and later commander of the department of New England. He takes great interest in all public affairs, and is well informed on subjects outside his profession. In 1879 he was member of the common coun- cil of Somerville. He is an enthusiastic mem- ber of the Masonic order, being affiliated with Mount Olivet Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Cambridgeport, Cam- bridge Royal Arch Chapter; Boston Council, Royal and Select Masters, and Cambridge Commandery, Knights Templar. September 12, 1870, he married (first) Lydia M. Went- worth; children : I. Albert Alphonso, born June 29, 1874, at East Boston, Massachusetts. 2. Gladys Ruth, born in December, 1882, at Somerville, Massachusetts, died March 5, 1883. 3. Gladys Ruth, born March 5, 1884, at Somerville. He married (second), October 9, 1901, Lillian Foster, daughter of John Paul and Charlotte Elizabeth Clisby, born at Ips- wich, Massachusetts, August 18, 1872, and they had one child, Alden Clisby, born March 10, 1903, at Somerville, died March 28, 1903. They have one adopted child, Kenneth Camp- bell, born March 28, 1904.
(V) Dr. William, fourth son of John and Joanna (Comer) Bridgham, was born 1756. He removed to Shepardsville, Maine, with his father, and afterward went to New Glouces- ter, where he resided until his death, August 4, 1837. He married (first) Anna, daughter of Roland Hammond, of Plympton, Massa- chusetts; (second) Lydia Smith, March, 1801. He had children: I. Dr. William Jr. 2. George, married Anna Nicholas, of Carlisle, Massachusetts. 3. Dr. Thomas W. 4. Lucy, became Mrs. Bennett. 5. Caroline, became Mrs. Buck. 6. Nancy, became Mrs. Clark. 7. Lydia. 8. Michael.
(VI) George, second son of Doctor William and Anna (Hammond) Bridgham, married Anna Nicholas, of Carlisle, Massachusetts ; children : I. Arville, married Ransom R. Bon- ney. 2. George, married Myrtilla Cole, of
Falmouth, Maine. 3. Anna, married Miles Long, of Buckfield, Maine. 4. Eveline, mar- ried Caleb Cushing. 5. Elbridge, married Apphia Bonney, of South Paris, Maine. 6. Lucretia, married James Curtis, of South Paris. 7. Prescott, born January 31, 1823, married, June 20, 1850, Lucy A. Foster, and died August 31, 1903, at Newtonville, Massa- chusetts. 8. Rosetta.
(VI) Dr. William (2), son of Dr. William (I) and Anna (Hammond) Bridgham, was born in New Gloucester, Maine, and married Hannah Bradbury. His children were : Thomas Sydenham, William P., Orville, Caroline, Hannah, Aurelia, and Mary Ann.
(VII) Thomas Sydenham, son of Dr. Wil- liam (2) and Hannah (Bradbury ) Bridgham, was born at Buckfield, Maine, where he was a farmer, and for a time kept a tavern. He mar- ried Lucretia Bell Sheppard, of Skowhegan, and had children : I. Thomas S., married Martha Farnham ; children : Ada, died young ; Harry; Belle, married Henry Nulty; Alice, died young. 2. Thomas. 3. Dr. Charles Burr ; see forward. 4. Sarah, deceased. 5. Henry, deceased. 6. William Henry ; see forward.
(VIII) Dr. Charles Burr, son of Thomas Sydenham and Lucretia (Sheppard) Bridg- ham, was born in Buckfield, Maine, May I, 1841. He studied for his profession under the instruction of his uncle, Dr. W. P. Bridgham, and in the Harvard Medical School. Before he could complete his course in the latter in- stitution he entered the army for civil war ser- vice, and was appointed hospital steward in Second Regiment Berdan Sharpshooters, be- came acting assistant surgeon, and while serv- ing in that capacity was taken prisoner at the second battle of Bull Run. He was paroled, and returning home completed his studies in the Bowdoin Medical School, and graduated in 1863. Having been released from parole under an exchange of prisoners, he re-entered the army as assistant surgeon of the Fifty- fourth Massachusetts Regiment, and served until July, 1864, when he resigned on account of disability, and resumed practice in his na- tive town. In 1868 he removed to Livermore, where he practiced ten years ; in 1878 returned to Buckfield, and resumed practice there, and in 1887 located at Cohasset, Massachusetts, his present home. He married, March 22, 1864, Addie M. Williams, of Buckfield, daugh- ter of Charles and Lydia (Withington) Wil- liams ; children : I. Mary Frances, married Henry Bates, and is now deceased. 2. Addie Ellen, married Herbert Withington. 3 and 4. Charles and Hattie Belle, twins, died 1880. 5.
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Henry Sydenham, died 1880. 6. Dr. Paul Chester, married Gertrude Murray, and has daughter Pauline. All residing in Cohasset, Mainc.
(VIII) William Henry, son of Thomas Sy- denham and Lucretia ( Sheppard) Bridgham, was born December 29, 1847, at Buckfield. He was reared in his native town, and there at- tended the public schools. At the age of four- teen he enlisted in the army, serving as a fifer. He afterward entered the employ of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, and later became connected with the Poland Spring Company, and is now engaged in the sale of spring water, with his residence at Lewiston, Maine. He married Georgietta Radcliffe ; children : I. Robert E., married Cassie Slat- tery ; four children: Ruth, Margaret, Angus and Myra. 2. Alice Maud. 3. Dexter Wil- liam; see forward. 4. Rebecca Lucretia, mar- ried Fred W. Record. 5. Grover Cleveland. 6. Frances Margaret. 7. Radcliffe Sydney.
(IX) Dexter William, second son of Wil- liam Henry and Georgietta (Radcliffe) Bridg- ham, was born in Buckfield, Maine, June 30, 1879. He was reared in his native town, and was educated there and in Auburn, Maine. He was of an industrious disposition, and at an early age became associated with his father in business. In 1900 he removed to Boston, where he has built up a successful business, being now manager and treasurer of the Windsor Mineral Spring Water Company. He married, April 19, 1906, Elizabeth Fitz- gerald, and they have one child, William Til- den, born January 19, 1907, at Dorchester, Massachusetts, where they reside. Mrs. Bridgham was born in Boston, December 12, 1883, daughter of James and Rose (Doherty) Fitzgerald. Her father was born in New York, son of Edward Fitzgerald, who was born in England, and came to New York, where he passed the remainder of his life. James, only son of Edward Fitzgerald, resided in New York, where he was engaged in a mercantile business : he died when Mrs. Bridgham was only three months old. Mrs. Bridgham's mother was born in Boston, daughter of Charles Doherty, who was of Irish descent, and a Mason in Boston. Mrs. Bridg -. ham was the only child of her mother.
Several members of the Hobbs HOBBS family came to Maine from Dover, New Hampshire, and pio- neers of this name have been identified with the settlement of several towns in York and other counties. Some of them were mill-
wrights and as such became instrumental in establishing the lumber manufacturing indus- try.
(I) IIenry Hobbs, an energetic young Eng- lishman, arrived in New England about the middle of the seventeenth century and settled in Dover, New Hampshire, where he received a grant of land in 1657 and another in 1658. He was married in Dover prior to 1661 to Hannah Canney, daughter of Thomas Canney, one of the prominent men of the town. Henry Hobbs inherited a large part of his father-in- law's estate and resided in that part of Dover known as Sligo. He died before July 4, 1698, leaving but one son.
(II) Henry (2), only surviving son of Henry (I) and Hannah (Canney ) Hobbs, in- herited his parent's estate and was an exten- sive farmer. He was a lifelong resident of Dover and attained a ripe old age. . The chris- tian name of his wife, whom he married prior to 1704, was Mary, but neither her maiden surname nor a list of their children appears in the records consulted.
(III) Thomas, son of Henry (2) and Mary Hobbs, was born in Dover, and learned the millwright's trade. In 1735 he went to Ber- wick, now North Berwick, accompanied by his brother-in-law, Benjamin Weymouth, and together they purchased of Thomas Spinney of Kittery a tract of eighteen acres of land containing the water power privilege which is now occupied by the Hussey Plough Works. The title deed of this property, which was written by Sir William Pepperell and ac- knowledged by him as a justice of the peace, is still in the possession of the Hobbs family. Having erected a sawmill Thomas Hobbs manufactured lumber, engaged in general mercantile business and in farming. He lived to be over ninety years old. December 12, 1721, while still residing in Dover, he mar- ried Elizabeth Morrell, born March 18, 1698, daughter of Nicholas Morrell, of Kittery, and a granddaughter of John Morrell, who was born in 1640. John Morrell, who was a mason by trade, was granted land in Kittery in 1668, and in 1676 removed to Cold Harbor (now Eliot), where in 1686 he was licensed to keep a ferry and a house of public entertain- ment. He was still living in 1720. He mar- ried Sarah, daughter of Nicholas and Eliza- beth Hodson, and was the father of Nicholas, Sarah, John, Edah, Hannah, Abraham and Elizabeth. Nicholas Morrell, who was born in 1667, was a blacksmith. His children were: Sarah (who married Benjamin Wey- mouth, previously mentioned), Elizabeth
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(married Thomas Hobbs), John, Robert and Anne. Mrs. Elizabeth Hobbs became the mother of three sons, Thomas, Joseph and Henry.
(IV) Captain Thomas (2), son of Thomas (1) and Elizabeth (Morrell) Hobbs, was born in Dover in 1726. He was a merchant and a farmer, and one of the most influential residents of North Berwick in his day, serving as a selectman in 1771-72-76-77. He served in the French and Indian war, and as a member of Captain Ichabod Goodwin's Berwick com- pany participated in the battle of Ticonderoga in July, 1759. His death occurred October 18, 1818, at the age of ninety-two years. He married Mary Abbott, daughter of Joseph Ab- bott, of Berwick, and she died March 18, 1818, aged seventy-nine. Their children were : Sheldon, born in 1760; Stephen, 1761; Wil- liam, 1767; Nathaniel, see next paragraph; Theodore, 1771; Frances, 1776; and Mary, 1779. Sheldon Hobbs entered the Continental army for service in the revolutionary war in 1775, when fifteen years old, and in 1776 marched with a company from Maine to the Hudson river, leaving Kittery December 17, and arriving at Peekskill, New York, January 7, 1777.
(V) Colonel Nathaniel, fourth child of Captain Thomas (2) and Mary (Abbott) Hobbs, was born in Berwick, September 22, 1768. As a young man he engaged in farm- ing, lumbering and trading, and he eventually succeeded to the possession of the homestead. Erecting the nord N. Hobbs Inn he opened it to the public in 0 04, and for many years this commodious anefcomfortable hostelry was a desirable resting face for travellers. Colonel Hobbs was a man of untiring energy and he continued in business until his death, which occurred November 12, 1850. For a number of years he was prominently identified with the state militia and held a colonel's commis- sion. He and his brother William were dele- gates to the convention which framed the state constitution. In his religious belief he was a Universalist. He married Patience Nowell, of North Berwick, daughter of Major Jona- than Nowell, a revolutionary soldier who served under General Washington. Patience died November 12, 1828, aged fifty-eight years. She was the mother of four children : Hiram H., Wilson, George and Sally, all of whom grew to maturity.
(VI) George, third child and youngest son of Colonel Nathaniel and Patience (Nowell) Hobbs, was born in North Berwick, May, 1800. In his youth he assisted his father in
farming, but having developed an aptitude for trade he engaged in mercantile pursuits and became well established as a general store- keeper in his native town. His business ca- reer, however, was of short duration, as he died in the prime of life, May 28, 1828. As a supporter of the Whig party he took a lively interest in political affairs, and he was active in the state militia, attaining the rank of lieu- tenant-colonel. In 1823 he married Nancy Kent, born in Rochester, New Hampshire, August 1, 1798, daughter of John and Tem- perance (Lapish) Kent. Her grandfather, also named John Kent, who was of the New- buryport or Gloucester Kents, went from Massachusetts to Durham, New Hampshire, and resided there for the remainder of his life. He left two children : Nancy, who became the wife of Major William Cutts, of Kittery, and John. (N. B. The "Kent Genealogy," by Vernon Briggs, states that the ancestry of these Kents has not as yet been identified.) John Kent, son of John, was a native of Dur- ham. He went from Rochester to South Ber- wick, and thence to Somersworth, New Hamp- shire. He was drowned in the Piscataqua river, April 16, 1816, at the age of forty-five. Temperance, his wife, was a daughter of Cap- tain Robert Lapish, a shipbuilder of Durham, going there from Newcastle, New Hamp- shire. She bore him five children: Mehita- ble, Temperance, Nancy, John and Kinsman. Nancy Kent, third child of John and Temper- ance (Lapish) Kent, married Colonel George Hobbs, of North Berwick, as previously stated, and became the mother of two chil- dren: Nathaniel, see next paragraph, and Georgiana, who was accidentally burned to death at the age of four years. Mrs. Nancy Kent married for her second husband Daniel Hodsdon, M. D., and her death occurred Feb- ruary 27, 1891.
(VII) Judge Nathaniel (2), only son of Colonel George and Nancy (Kent) Hobbs, was born in North Berwick, September 10, 1824. His preliminary studies in the com- mon schools were followed by a course of ad- vanced instruction at a private school. At the age of fourteen he went to reside with his grandparents, whom he assisted in farming for a number of years, and about 1850 he engaged in the leather business at Danvers, Massachu- setts, in company with Gilleon and Stackpole. He was also in business in Boston for some time. Returning to North Berwick in 1857 he spent the succeeding two years as a law stu- dent in the office of Abner Oakes, of South Berwick, and having completed his profes-
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sional studies at the Harvard Law School was admitted to the bar in 1860. He immediately began the practice of his profession in his na- tive town, where he rapidly obtained recogni- tion as an able attorney and a wise counsellor, and he has ever since transacted a profitable general law business in North Berwick, a period of nearly fifty years. For the past thirty-six years he has served continuously as judge of probate for York county, having been originally elected in 1873 and retaining office through subsequent re-elections and re-elected in November, 1908, for four more years. Aside from his public and private professional duties Judge Hobbs has found time to interest himself in other spheres of usefulness-po- litical, charitable, benevolent, etc. In politics he is a Republican and for the years 1866-67 was a state senator. He is a Master Mason, affiliating with Yorkshire (Blue) Lodge of North Berwick, and he attends the Free Bap- tist church. Some years ago he became espe- cially interested in the welfare and develop- ment of Good Will Farm at Fairfield, Maine, an institution organized for the purpose of providing a comfortable home, practical edu- cation and a healthy moral atmosphere for im- perilled boys and girls, who through force of circumstances are in need of industrial en- couragement and christian example. In 1897 he was chosen a member of its board of direc- tors and in 1903 was elected president to suc- ceed Moses Giddings, Esq., of Bangor. Good Will Farm has been in operation some twenty years, and the results already obtained cannot be too highly estimated. On September 29, 1853, Judge Hobbs married Sarah Ann Pen- hallow Paine, daughter of John J. and Mary Paine, of Melrose, Massachusetts; she died February 6, 1854. His second wife, whom he married February 5, 1860, was Ellen Frances Eastman, daughter of Dr. Caleb Eastman, of York. Her death occurred May 3, 1901.
HOBBS Among the early families of New England were three of the surname Hobbs, whose immigra- tion dated to the time of the Puritans of the first half of the seventeenth century. Tradi- tion says they were brothers, and that one re- turned to his mother country, while the other two-Maurice (or Morris) and Henry re- mained. Henry settled in Dover and his de- scendants removed to what is now North Berwick, where some of them still reside. Some of the descendants have adopted the spelling Hubbs, but this is not general and is
found only in a few recent generations in iso- lated branches.
(I) Maurice (or Morris) Hobbs was the progenitor of the New Hampshire and Maine families of that surname. He was born about 1615 and settled in the town of Hampton, New Hampshire, sometime between the years 1640 and 1645, removing from thence in the latter named year to Rollinsford, where he settled on the bank of the river. He took the oath of allegiance to Massachusetts in the fall of 1648. There is an interesting tradition re- garding the immigration of Maurice Hobbs and the circumstances which impelled his ac- tion. The story is told by Dow in his valuable "History of Hampton" (New Hampshire) and can be best retold here in the words of that versatile writer : "He (Hobbs) has been paying his addresses to a young lady who for some cause not mentioned, turned him off, and thereupon he determined to emigrate to America. When the lady knew of it she re- lented, and knowing he would pass her resi- dence as he proceeded to embark, placed her- self in his view, hoping to bring about a reconciliation. To her grief, she found him inexorable; and although she accosted him with the affectionate inquiry, 'Whither goest thou, Maurice?' yet he deigned not to turn his head or look back upon her; and they never saw each other more." Maurice Hobbs married (first) Sarah Estaw, who died May 5, 1686, and she bore him the following chil- dren : William, John, Sarah, Nehemiah, Mor- ris, James, Mary, Bethia, Hannah and Abi- gail. William Estaw, father of Sarah (Es- taw) Hobbs, was one of the grantees of Hampton and one of its first settlers. He was made freeman in 1638, and is said to have been a widower when he came to the town. He represented Hampton at the general assem- bly three years. His children were Sarah and Mary Estaw, the latter of whom married Thomas Marston. Maurice Hobbs married (second) Sarah Swett, June 13, 1678, daugh- ter of Captain Benjamin and Esther (Weare) Swett. She was born November 7, 1650, and died December 8, 1717. Captain Benjamin Swett was a noted character in early Hampton history and was killed by Indians, June 29, 1677. One son was born of the second mar- riage of Maurice Hobbs, also Maurice by name.
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