A gazetteer of the state of New-Hampshire by John Farmer and Jacob B. Moore ; embellished with an accurate map of the state, and several other engravings by Abel Bowen, Part 31

Author: Farmer, John, 1789-1838. cn; Moore, Jacob Bailey, 1797-1853. cn
Publication date: 1823
Publisher: Concord : J. B. Moore
Number of Pages: 318


USA > New Hampshire > A gazetteer of the state of New-Hampshire by John Farmer and Jacob B. Moore ; embellished with an accurate map of the state, and several other engravings by Abel Bowen > Part 31


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34


SUCCESS, an uninhabited town- ship, in Coos county, in lat. 44° 27', is bounded N. by Cambridge, E. by Maine, S. by Shelburne, W. by Shelburne, Maynesborough and Paulsburgh ; comprising an area of about 30,000 acres. There are sev- eral considerable mountains in this tract ; and two or three ponds .- Narmarcungawack and Live rivers rise here, and pass westerly into the Ameriscoggin. Success was


granted Feb. 12, 1773, to Benjamin Mackay and others; and is 143 miles from Concord.


SUGAR river. See Claremont.


SULLIVAN, a township in Chesh- ire county, in lat. 43º, is bounded N. by Gilsum and Stoddard, E. by Stoddard and Nelson, S. by Rox- bury and Keene, W. by Keene and Gilsum, containing 12,212 acres. The distance from Keene is 6 miles, from Concord 42 miles. The S. E. part of this town is watered by Ashuelot river. The soil produces rye, corn, oats, &c. There are 110 considerable ponds ; no elevations worthy of particular notice. This town was incorporated Sept. 27, 1787, and received its name from President Sullivan, the chief magis- trate of N. H. that year. There are two religious societies, congre- gational and baptist. Of the for- mer, Rev. William Muzzy, who graduated at Harvard college in 1793, was ordained in 1798. Over the latter Rev. Charles Cummings was ord. Oct. 24, 1810. Pop. 600.


SUNAPEE lake, is situated in the N. W. part of Hillsborough county and the N. E. part of Cheshire, in the towns of Wendell, New-Lon- don and Fishersfield. The centre of it is in lat. 43º 22/. It is 9 miles long and about 1 1-2 miles in width. Its outlet is on the W. side through Sugar river. In 1816, Lo- ammi Baldwin, Esq. and Professor John Farrar, were appointed a committee by the government of Massachusetts, with whom was as- sociated Henry B. Chase, Esq. ap- pointed by the government of this state, to explore and survey a route for a navigable canal from the Con- necticut to the Merrimack. The contemplated line of communica- tion was from the mouth of Sugar river, which empties into the Con- necticut, to the mouth of the Con-


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toocook river, which empties into central part of Surry, and the 3d the Merrimack. The survey com- prehended the shores of Sunapee lake, the elevation of the lake above the waters of the rivers, the highest of the falls in either of the rivers, and of the land adjoining,so that it might serve as the basis of a calculation of the expense of such water com- munication. By the report of this committee, itappears that the fall, each way from the lake to these rivers, exceeded 820 feet, which shews the impracticability of a project which, before the survey was made, was thought to be feasible.


SUNCOOK river rises in a pond between Gilmanton and Gilford. near the summit of one of the Sun- cook mountains, elevated 900 feet above its base. The water from this pond passes through two others at the foot of the mountains, and thence through a flourishing village in the S. E. part of Gilmanton, in- to Barnstead, where it receives sev- eral tributaries ; thence through Pittsfield and Epsom, and between Allenstown and Pembroke, into the Merrimack.


SURRY, a small township in Cheshire county, in lat. 43º 1', is bounded N. by Alstead, E. by Gil- sum, S. by Keene and W.by West- moreland and Walpole, containing 12,212 acres. It is 54 miles from Concord. It is watered by Ashue- lot river, on which there is a valua- ble tract of meadow land, extend- ing almost the whole length of the own. On the E. side of Ashuelot river is a steep and high mountain, on the summit of which is a pond of about 3 acres in extent, and about 25 feet depth of water. View- ing its elevated height and situa· tion above the river, it may be es- teemed as a natural curiosity. The Cheshire turnpike from Charles- own to Keene, passes through thel X


N. H. turnpike from Walpole to New-Ipswich passes through the S. W. part. Surry was originally part of Gilsum and Westmoreland. It was incorporated by charter, March 9, 1769, deriving its name from Surry in England. The first settlement was made in 1764, by Peter Hayward. He commenced clearing land and laboring on his farm in the summer preceding, ma- king his home at the fort in Keene. He practiced going to his farm in the morning, a :. d returning to the fort in the evening, guarded by his dog and gun, while many of the savages at that time were Jurking in the woods. 'The congregational church was formed June 12, 1769, of 8 males and 7 females. Rev. David Darling, who graduated at Yale college in 1779, was ordained Jan. 18, 1781 ; dismissed Dec. 30, 1783. Rev. Perley Howe, who graduated at Dartmouth college in 1790, was ordained Sept. 16, 1795. There are some persons professing to be of the Christ-ian and meth- odist orders, but of such, there are no regular chu ches. Surry con- tains 80 families and 90 rateable polls. Hon. LEMUEL HOLMES, a judge of the court of common pleas and a counsellor in 1793, resided in this town. Pop. 570.


SUTTON, a post-town in Hills- borough county, in lat. 43º 19', is 7 1-2 miles in length, and 5 in breadth, containing 24,300 acres. It is bounded N. by New-London, E, by Wilmot and Warner, S. by Warner and Bradford, and W. by Fishersfield. It is 17 miles from Hopkinton, 25 from Concord, 65 from Portsmouth and 80 from Bos- ton. The southerly and largest branch of Warner river enters this town on the S., runs a short dis- tance, and passes off' into Warner


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again. The northerly branch of country. On the W. is seen the this river runs nearly through the Sunapee lake, the Ascutney, and highlands in Vermont to the Green mountains ; on the S. the Sunapee and Monadnock ; on the E. you almost overlook Kearsarge ; and on the N. the Cardigan and White hills, with an innumerable host of mountains, hills and peaks, present themselves to view, of all shapes and sizes. On this hill and in the meadows at its foot, is found clay of a superior quality, in great quan- tities. Here are also found quar- ries of stone, remarkable for their dimensions, and valuable for their quality. These stones are found in extensive strata, of almost any thickness, length or width wished for. They are split and prepared for buildings at very little expense or labor, as nature seems almost to have given many of them the fin- ishing stroke. A mineral is found in this town resembling black lead. It is frequently used for paint, on roofs and doors of buildings, and produces a handsome and durable slate color. The soil in this town presents all the varieties of produc- tiveness and sterility ; and though the surface is diversified with a succession of hills and vales, and is often rough and mountainous, it, in many places, produces fine crops of wheat, rye, oats, Indian corn, and most of the other prod- ucts common to New-England. The original forest growth of this town, consisted of the white, yel- low, Norway and pitch pine, white and red cedar, hemlock, spruce, juniper, fir, poplar, bass, sugar ma- ple, white maple, white, red and black birch, beech, white and brown ash, white, red and yellow oak, elm, oil nut, or butternut. and some others. The principal road through this town is from Hop- centre of the town from N. to S .; affords several good mill seats, and is adorned with many pleasant and valuable meadows on its borders. Stevens' brook, another consider- able branch of Warner river, has its source on the W. side of Kear- sarge and runs about 4 miles in this town in a S. E. direction. There is also a large branch of Blackwater river, which has its source about the western confines of Kearsarge, and flows through this town in a N. E. course about 3 miles. On the margin of this stream, there is some rich meadow and interval land. There are several ponds, the most important of which are Kezar's pond, situated towards the N. part of the town, which is about 190 rods square ; and Long pond, situated at the south part of the town, 350 rods long and 70 wide. Kearsarge mountain extends more than half the length of Sutton on its E. side. Here this mountain has a grand and lofty appearance. From its firm and everlasting base, it raises its towering summit far above the clouds. In the morning, at the ris- ing of the sun, it throws its huge shadow over a vast extent of ter- ritory, comprising an immense num- ber of inferior mountains, hills, plains and valleys, and eclipses the sun to hundreds and thousands of its western inhabitans. Hundreds of people visit this mountain annu- ally, and climb to its top, where they have, in a fair day, a pleasing and picturesque view in every direction. King's Hill is situated on the W. part of Sutton. On the most elevated part of this hill, which rises within a few feet as high as Kearsarge, there is one of the most extensive landscape views in the


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kinton to Dartmouth College, to is a society of universalists. With- which place it is 33 miles. Sutton was granted by the Masonian pro- prietors, in 1749, to inhabitants of Haverhill, Newbury and Bradford, Mass. and Kingston, N. H. It was called Perrys-town, from Obadiah Perry, one of its original and prin- cipal proprietors. The first settle- ment was made in 1767, by David Peaslee, who was soon followed by a considerable number of other set- tlers. "To the early inhabitants, it was not unfrequent to see the harmless moose approach their hunible cottages ; and the inoffen- sive deer was frequently seen feed- ing on their little improvements. The beaver,the otter, and the musk- rat sported up and down the rivers and brooks almost unmolested ; while the midnight howlings of the bear and wolf announced to them, their intended depredations on their fields, flocks and herds. Al- though the Indian was not seen, yet it seemed that he had just put out his fire and gone. His track was still plain and visible." On the W. bank of Kezar's pond, were several acres of land, which appeared to have been cleared of their origin- al forest. Here were found several Indian hearths, laid with stone, and with much skill and ingenuity. Here was found an Indian burial place. Gun barrels and arrows have been found in this sacred re- pository. Near the pond, have been found stone pestles, mortars and-tomahawks. A baptist church was formed in April, 1782, and in Oct. of the same year, Rev. Sam- uel Ambrose was ordained. He was dismissed in March, 1795. Rev. Nathan Ames succeeded in May, 1821. Number of communicants. 110. There is a free-will baptist society, over which Elder Elijah Watson was settled in 1818. There


in 10 years past, 5 persons have died more than 100 years of age, 1 at the age of 99, and 3 from 90 to 99. Jacob Davis died in April, 1819, aged 105; and in the week following, his wife, aged 99, with whom he had lived more thar. 70 years. After he was 100 years of age, he attended the polls, and vo- ted. Thomas Walker, a native of Wales, who died in March, 1822, at the age of 103, was a soldier of the revolution, and took part in several important battles, such as Saratoga, White plains, Brandy- wine, &c. Pop. 1573.


SWANZEY, a post-township in Cheshire county, in lat. 42º 51', is bounded N. by Kcene, E. by Marl- borough and Troy, S. by Richmond, W. by Winchester and Chester- field, containing 28,057 acres. It is 6 miles from Keene, 60 S.W. from Concord, and 78 from Boston. The principal streams are the Ashuelot and the S. Branch rivers. The former passes through Swanzey in a S. W. direction, and empties into the Connecticut at Hinsdale. This is a stream of much importance. and is made navigable for boats as far up as Keene, excepting a car- rying place about the rapids at Winchester. The South Branch unites with the Ashuelot about one mile N. from the centre of the town. The surface here is some- what diversified with hills, valleys, and swells of upland. Nearly one third part is almost perfectly level, consisting of nearly equal propor· tions of plain and interval. The level grounds are free from stone. The divisions of soil are interval. plain and upland. The principal production of the former is grass. which grows luxuriantly. The plains are easily cultivated, and produce rye, corn, &c. The up?


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lands possess a deep and strong soil, and are divided into con- venient proportions of arable, mow- ing, grazing, orchard, and wood land. The original growth com- prises, with a few exceptions, the whole variety of perennial and de- ciduous forest trees. The pine af- fords sufficient lumber for local use, and a considerable quantity for ex- portation. From the maple, large quantities of sugar have been made. There is one pond in the S. W. part of the town, 1 mile in length and 3-4 of a mile wide. It is the source of the S. Branch. There is a min- eral spring, the water of which is impregnated with sulphate of iron. Some iron ore has been discovered. There are about 30 houses on the street, which is level, and extends N. and S. 21 2 miles. Few towns, so large, are less compact. There are 2 houses for public worship. There is a social library of 200 well selected volumes, incorporated June 10, 1802. There are 2 cotton factories, 1 cotton and woollen fac- tory, 3 carding machines, &c .- Swanzey was first granted by Mas- sachusetts, in 1733, to 64 proprie- tors, whose first meeting was at Con- cord, Mass. June 27, 1734. After the divisional line was run, it was granted July 2, 1753, by N. H., to 62 proprietors. Until that time it had been called Lower Ashuelot, from the Indian name of the river, which was originally Ashaelock. From 1741 to 1747, this town suf- fered much from Indian depreda- tions. Several of the inhabitants were killed and many were made prisoners. Massachusetts, under whose jurisdiction this town had re- mained for 13 years, withdrew her protection, and left the inhabitants defenceless, and exposed to the fu- ry of the savages. It was there- fore thought advisable to abandon


the place. The settlers collected together their household furniture, such as chests, tables, iron and brass ware, and concealed it in the ground, covering the place of con- cealment with leaves, trees, &c., and left their plantation to the dis- position of the Indians, who were not tardy in setting fire to their forts, which, with every house ex- cept one, they reduced to ashes. Most of the people went to their former places of residence in Mass. They returned about three years af- terwards, and nothing about their former habitations was to be seen, but ruin and desolation. The con- gregational church was first gather- ed in 1741, and Rev. Timothy Har- rington, a native of Waltham, Ms. was settled as pastor. He left the place in consequence of the war in |1747 ; was settled at Lancaster,Ms. in 1748 ; died Dec. 18, 1795, aged 80. He was a truly venerable and worthy divine. Rev. Ezra Carpen- ter was settled over this town and Keene, Oct. 4, 1753: dismissed soon after. Rev. Edward Goddard was ordained Sept. 27, 1769; dismissed July 5. 1798. Rev. Clark Brown settled Sept. 5, 1810; dismissed Aug. 16, 1815. Rev. Joshua Chan- dler was ordained Jan. 1819. The baptist church here was founded a- bout the year 1804. The number of deaths from Jan. 1810, to June 3, 1822, was 231. Pop. 1716.


SWIFT RIVER rises among the mountains in the ungranted lands N. W. of Burton, and passes through the town from W. to E. with great rapidity, and falls into the Saco in Conway. Its whole course is rapid, and in one place it falls about 30 feet in the distance of 6 rods, through a channel in the solid rock of about 12 feet wide-the sides being from 10 to 30 feet perpendic- ular height. At the upper part of


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these falls, are found several circn-|| consists of about 200 members, un- lar holes worn perpendicularly into der the pastoral care of the Rev Samuel Hidden, who was ordained Sept. 12, 1792. Here is also a large society and church of free- will baptists. Pop. 1442. the rock, several feet in depth and from 6 inches to 2 feet diameter. There is another small river in Tamworth of the same name.


T.


TAMWORTH, a post-township, Strafford county, in lat. 43º 51', is situated on the post-road from Con- oord to Portland, and about 58 miles from each; 30 miles from Gilford, and 120 from Boston. It is bounded N.by Burton, E. by Eaton, S. by Ossipee, W. by Sandwich, and contains 28,917 acres. There is no mountain situated wholly in this town. On the N. are the mountains of Burton, and the S. the line crosses a part of Ossipee mountain. The mountains to the N. have a romantic and picturesque appearance. The town lies in ridges and valleys, generally rocky and fertile. The principal rivers are Bearcamp,which passes through the town in an easterly direction, and discharges its waters into Ossi- pee lake ; Swift river, which rises near the N. W. corner of the town, and passing through its centre, mingles its waters with the Bear- camp ; and Corway river, proceed- ing from Corway pond, near Bur- ton ; and crossing the S. line of Tamworth, near the S. E. corner of the town, near which it empties into Bearcamp river. By these riv- ers, and other small streams, the town is uncom nonly well watered. On these streams is a great num- ber of excellent mill privileges. Tamworth was granted Oct. 14, 1766, to Jolin Webster, Jonatan Moulton and others ; and was set- tled in 1771, by Richard Jackman, Jonathan Choate, David Philbrick and William Eastman. The con- gregational church, in this town,


X2


TEMPLE, post town, in Hillsho- rough county, in lat. 42° 49', is bounded N. by Greenfield and Lyndeborough, E. by Lyndebo- rough and Wilton, S. by New-Ips- wich and Mason, and W. by Shar- on and Peterborough. It is 6 miles in length; its medial breadth is 3 1-2 miles. Temple is 12 miles from Amherst and 40 from Concord. The several streams which empty into Souhegan river at Wiiton, rise among the mountainous tracts on the W., and generally from sour. ces within the limits of Temple .- This town is of considerable eleva- tion. The prospect towards the E. and S. is very extensive, and presents a rich and diversifed scenery. From the highest point of elevation, in a clear atmosphere, about 20 meeting houses may be seen by the naked eye. The sur- face is very rocky and uneven. The soil is tolerably good, and every part of it may be improved to advan- tage, either for tillage, mowing,pas- turage, or woodland. This place is free from early frosts. For the last 35 years, there has been no general mortal sickness. In 1813, there oc- curred 137 cases of fever, of which only 7 died. The deaths for 15 years past, have annually averaged about 14. The congregational church was organized Oct. 2, 1771. at which time, Rev. Samuel Web- ster, from Salisbury, Mass., was or- dained. He died in 1778, aged 35. Rev. Noah Miles, his successor, was ordained in 1782 There is a ibrary in this town called the "Co- 'umbian Library," incorporated in 1797, having 237 volumes. Temple


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is the easterly part of what was called Peterborough Slip. It was incorporated Aug. 26, 1768. Hon. FRANCIS BLOOD, a representative to the general court, a senator, counsellor, judge of the court of common pleas, and brigadier gener- al, resided in this town. Pop. 752. TENERIFFE. See Milton.


THORNTON, a post township in Grafton county, in lat. 43º 54', is bounded N. by Peeling and Lin- coln, E. by ungranted land and Gillis' and Foss' grant, S. by Camp- ton, W. by Ellsworth and Peeling, containing 28,490 acres, including Thornton Gore. It is 12 miles from Plymouth, 58 from Concord, and 120 from Boston. It is watered by 'Pemigewasset river,passing through the town from N. to S., by Mad riv- er at the S. E. extremity, and by several small brooks. On Mill brook, there is a cascade, of which the water falls 7 feet in 2 rods, and then falls over a rock 42 feet per- pendicular. The soil is suitable for wheat, rye, oats, flax, &c. The intervals on the Pemigewasset are very productive. There are many elevations, but none distin- guished for a remarkable height. Maple sugar is made in considera- Dle quantities, frequently from 500 to 1000 lbs. by one family. Thorn- ton was granted July 6, 1763, to Matthew, James, and Andrew Thornton and others. It was first settled in 1770, by Benjamin Hoit, whose son Benjamin was the first child born in town. Thornton was incorporated Nov. 8, 1781. A con- gregational church was formed, and Rev. Experience Esterbrooks was ordained Aug. 10, 1780 ; afterwards dismissed. Rev. Noah Worcester, now D. D., of Brighton, Ms., was or- dained in 1787; dismissed in 1810. There are 2 meeting houses, one of which is used as a town house.


There are several religious denom- inations in this place. Number of deaths from 1810 to 1822, 75. Pop. 857.


TROY, a small township in Chesh- ire county, in lat. 42º 50', is boun- ded N. by Marlborough, E. by Jaf- frey, S. by Fitzwilliam, and W. by Richmond and Swanzey. It is about 60 miles from Concord. The soil and productions of this town are similar to those of Fitz- william. Possessing but few water privileges, its advantages for mills and factories are limited. The in- habitants are principally agricultu- ralists. This town was taken from Marlborough and Fitzwilliam, and incorporated June 23, 1815. A congregational church was organ- ized Sept. 14, 1815. Rev. Ezekiel Rich was installed at the time the church was formed. He was dis- missed July 18, 1818. Rev. Seth E. Winslow has since been em- ployed. The church has about 30 communicants. Pop. 700.


TUFTONBOROUGH, post town, Strafford county, in lat. 43º 40', is about 50 miles from Concord, situ- ated on the N. E. shore of Winne- pisiogee lake ; bounded N. E. by Ossipee, S. E. by Wolfeborough, S. W. and W. by the lake, N. W. by Moultonborough. There are several ponds in this town, togeth- er with many small streams running into the lake. The soil is alter- nately good and indifferent; the surface, an interchange of rough and pleasant grounds. There are several arms of the lake stretching far into the town, and presenting to the spectator, from the elevated parts of the town, a succession of beautiful views. Tuftonborough was originally granted to J. Tufton Mason,and took its name from him. It was settled about 1780, and in- corporated Dec. 17, 1795. Among


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the early settlers were Benjamin, through Newport. Perry's moun- Bean, Phinehas Graves and Joseph Peavey. There are societies of congregationalists, baptists and methodists ; of the latter, Rev. Jo- seph Kellum is pastor. They have a meeting house ; and there is also a commodious town house. This has generally been a healthy town. The spotted fever prevailed in 1816, and numbers fell its victims. Pop. 1232.


U.


UMBAGOG lake, is a large body of water, situated mostly in the state of Maine, and extending about 300 rods in width along the E. of the townships of Errol and Cambridge, in N. H. This lake is very imper- fectly known ; is said to be about 18 miles long, and in some parts 10 wide ; being but little inferior to Winnepisiogee, in extent and beau- ty. Its outlet is on the W. side, in Errol, its waters flowing into the Ameriscoggin.


UNCONOONOCK, a mountain .- See Goffstown.


UNITY, post-township, in Chesh- ire county, in lat. 42º 51', is bound- ed N. by Claremont and Newport. E. by Goshen, S. by Lempster and Acworth, and W. by Charles- town, containing 24,447 acres. It is 43 miles from Concord, 88 from Portsmouth and 90 from Boston .- The 2d N. H. turnpike and the post road from Goshen to Charles- town pass through this town. Lit- UPPER Coos, a name formerly applied to the tract on the Connec- ticut, now comprising the towns of Lancaster and Northumberland,and the towns opposite, in the state of Vermont. tle Sugar river has its source in Whortleberry pond and Beaver meadow, in the N. part of the town, passes through its centre, and ernpties itself into the Connecticut at Charlestown. Cold pond, the W. head of Cold river, is partly in this town. From Gilman's pond, in WAKEFIELD, a post.township. Strafford county, in lat. 43º 35', is the E. part of Unity, proceeds a branch of Sugar river, flowing 100 miles from Boston, 50 from


tain is in the S. W. part, and part- ly in Charlestown. Unity is an uneven township, and abounds in rocks. They are principally the common granite ; some are oriental granite. The soil is highly favora- ble for grazing. It is excellent for flax, few towns in the state produ- cing a greater quantity. From 5 pecks of seed sowed in 1821, were raised, without any extraordinary cultivation, 25 bushels of flax seed, of the best quality, and 700lbs. of good flax. The agricultural pro- ducts in 1820, were 21,000lbs. of butter, 30,000lbs. of cheese, 72,- 000lbs. of beef, 85,000lbs. of pork, 5,700lbs. of flax, 600 barrels of ci- der. Unity was granted by char- ter, July 13, 1764, to Theodore At- kinson, Meshech Weare, and 45 others. It was called Unity, from the happy termination of a dispute which had long subsisted between certain of the inhabitants of King- ston and Hampstead, claiming the same tract of land under two differ- ent grants. The first settlement was made by John Ladd and Mo- ses Thurston, in 1769. Joseph Perkins the only native graduate, proceeded A. B., at Williams' col- lege, in 1814. There are metho- odist, baptist and friend societies, each of which have meeting hou- ses. Charles Huntoon, Esq., one of the first settlers, died here in 1818, aged 93. Pop. 1280.




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