USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > New Boston > History of New Boston, New Hampshire > Part 27
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JAMES CROMBIE. - He was son of John Crombie, who em- igrated from the north of Ireland, and settled in Londonderry about the year 1720, marrying Joan Rankin Nov. 17, 1721, by whom he had nine children : Hugh, William, James, John, Eliz- abeth, Mary Jane, Nancy, and Ann.
James came to New Boston in 1783, and settled where C. F. Farley lives, having married Jane Clark, daughter of Robert Clark, of Londonderry, by whom he had six sons and two. daughters, all of whom were born prior to his coming to New Boston, except Clark. His children were as follows : - William, born Dec. 16, 1766, who married Betsey Fairfield, and settled in Fulton, in the State of New York, where he died Dec. 20, 1851, and where his wife died Aug. 9, 1855, aged 85 years ; Robert, born Dec. 12, 1768, who married Mary Patterson, daugh- ter of Dea. Robert Patterson, and settled in the northern part of the town : he was, for many years, a deacon in the Presbyte- rian Church, and died April 21, 1830, aged 61; John, who lived on the homestead ; Jane, born July 27, 1772, married James Cochran, son of John Cochran, and settled near his fa- ther, on Cochran Hill, where Mr. Cudworth now lives, and died there ; James, born Sept. 28, 1774, who married Joanna Jones, daughter of Dr. Jones, of Lyndeborough, with whom he studied, commencing the practice of medicine in 1798, at Temple, re- moving to Francestown in 1820, where he continued until 1850, when he removed to Derry, where he died with his son James H. Crombie, M. D., 1853 ; Samuel, born Aug. 2, 1778, who married Mary Cooledge, and removed to Waterford, Me., where he practiced medicine until his death ; Letitia, born Jan. 15, 1781; Clark, born in New Boston Sept. 14, 1784, who mar- ried Lucy, daughter of Daniel Dane, and settled near King's Mills, subsequently living where Mr. Prince now lives, and at present resides in South Reading, Mass., -his children are : Jane, James C., Daniel D., Sarah E., and Albert D. ; Jane be- came the wife of Butler Trull, of Goffstown, and died leaving five children ; James C. married and resided in Lowell, Mass., where he died, leaving one child ; Daniel Dane married in Lowell, Mass., and has one child ; he is agent for the Everett Mills, Lawrence, Mass., a gentleman widely known for his in- tegrity of character and business capacity, as well as for his
J.II.Buffard's Lith
Clark Crombie
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Q, Q, Crombie.
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loyalty to his country and spirit of enterprise ; Sarah E. be- came the wife of John Ammidon, a merchant in Baltimore, Md., and has two children ; Albert D. married Miss Greenwood, of Nashua, and has one child ; he is a successful merchant in Baltimore, Md.
Mr. James Crombie was a shoemaker, currier, and tanner, and was one of the most useful mechanics of his day ; generous in hospitality, high-minded and honorable in his dealings, social in his habits, diffusing happiness by his cheerful spirit and help- ing hand. His ready wit created mirth for the gloomy, and his christian fervor prompted to acts of piety. He was just the man for the time and the place into which Providence brought him. He died Jan. 7, 1814; and his wife, as good as himself, died May 25, 1815.
JOHN CROMBIE. - He was son of the foregoing James Crom- . bic, born July 30, 1770, marrying Lydia Clark April 28, 1800, daughter of Ninian Clark, Esq. He lived with his father, and had for children : Ninian Clark, who was born Jan. 20, 1801, and married Rebecca Patten, of Derry, Oct. 29, 1829, and lives in New Boston, having for children : Nancy Moor, John Clark, Moses Colvard, Harriet Rebecca, and James Patten ; Mary Ramsey, who was born July 27, 1802, and married James Wilder, living and dying near the mills now owned by Mr. Hopkins, her children being : John Crombie, James Watter- man, and Charles Styles ; Jane, born Nov. 17, 1803, and died young ; Harriet, born April 26, 1806, who married William C. Cochran April 26, 1831, and died Aug. 16, 1839, leaving two sons, Thomas Ramsey and John Crombie, and two daughters, Lydia Clark and Margaret Anna ; Letitia, born Jan. 27, 1808, and died young : Samuel Cooledge, born May 22, 1810, and was accidentally killed June 11, 1814; John, born Feb. 9, 1812, who married Eliza Patten, of Derry, April 26, 1828, lived in Nashua, and died JJan. 19, 1855, leaving five children : Harriet, Mary, Eliza, John, Lydia, and Frances Rebecca ; Samuel Cooledge, born April 20, 1814, who married Susan Choat, of Derry, Jan. 28, 1841, and now lives in Burlington, Vt., his wife dying March 19, 1857, their children being Mary Pinkerton, William Choat, Lydia, and Rufus ; Nancy Moor, born March 26, 1816, and died May 5, 1830 ; William Hamil-
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ton, born Sept. 3, 1818, who married Adeline Cheney, of Derry, June 22, 1842, and lives in Davenport, Iowa, his chil- dren being Etta Velora, Sophia Clark, Emma Frances, and Frank Hamilton.
Mr. John Crombie was a house carpenter, learning the trade from Dr. Hugh McMillen. After his death, which oc- curred April 24, 1839, in the 69th year of his age, his affec- tionate pastor, the Rev. E. P. Bradford, wrote thus of him : - " Mr. John Crombie will long be remembered by a numerous circle of friends and acquaintances as a virtuous, intelligent, and useful member of society. Possessing a great share of that most valuable of intellectual properties, common sense, his inquiries were directed, from an early period of his life, chiefly to those subjects which are of practical importance to mankind. Though he had enjoyed the advantages of a com- mon education only, which were comparatively small in his childhood and youth, the inquisitive and discriminating char- acter of his mind led him to search diligently for general knowledge, of which he obtained a very valuable treasure. His sound judgment, combined with a generous and benevo- lent disposition, rendered this knowledge highly useful in its application to the important purposes of life. He was often called to assist in compromising difficulties between conflicting parties, who placed great confidence in his wisdom and impar- tiality. He always manifested an enlightened regard for the institutions of revealed religion. He often expressed his con- viction of the need of the gospel in the prevalence of its spirit, in order to the happiness of human society. He be- lieved it also to be the grand instrument of preparing men for a better world. In consistency with these views, .he ever took an active and liberal part in supporting it in the religious society of which he was a member, and in extending it to the destitute. Every enterprise which in his view was judiciously projected for advancing the public good, received his cheerful approbation and support. From the worldly substance which Divine Providence bestowed upon him, he was in the habit of distributing generous portions among the poor. His guests, whether relatives, acquaintances, or strangers, he treated with great hospitality and kindness. His house was the abode of
JABuMynl'a Lich
N. C. CROMBIE.
Saviour.
OBITUARY. - Died in New Boston, on the 15th inst, N. C Crombie, Esq., aged 79 years, for some fifteen of the last of which he was disabled from manual labor by great bodily infirmity, con- fining him for several of the last, almost entirely to his house, in the end, helpless, to his bed. This long illness ke bore with great patience, no complaints ever falling from his lips.
Mr. Crombie belonged to one of the carly, sol- id, families of the town -- Scotch-Irish, determin- ed, laborious, intelligent, patriotic, high-minded, upright, Christian. He was one of four sons, two of whom died before him, John, for years the en- ergetic, trust-worthy manager of railroads in Northern New-Hampshire and Central Vermont ; Samuel, who died about a year since, largely en- gaged in the lumber-business in Burlington, Vt. One brother survives, William, residing in Dav- ; enport, Iowa.
The subject of this notice was long one of the substantial, capable, reliable business men of his town, confidel in as entirely trust-worthy in all the relation's of life ; holding for many years va- rious town offices ; guardian of the orphan ; coun- sellor and protector of, the wi.low; executor of wills ; administrator of estates ; an obliging neigh- bor; a trust-worthy friend; weil-informed in na- tional affairs ; a liberal supporter of the institu- tions of the Gospel ; constant attendant on public worship so long as health permitted ; his life that of the humble Christian, though from distrust of his personal piety, he had not made public pro- fess on of religion. His end was peace. To his family, his neighbors, and to the town, his death is a great loss. w. C.
JEBufford's Lith.
A. D. Lemmbic
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domestic order, peace, and happiness. He was permitted to live with the wife of his youth nearly forty years, in bonds of the most affectionate mutual regards. As a mechanic, Mr. Crombie was skilful and enterprising, and characterized for his habitual and persevering industry to the last moment of his active life ; and many are the inhabitants of this region who, as they lie down to rest at night, may feel indebted to it for 'a shelter to their heads.' Many the sanctuaries of the Lord, whose spires point to heaven, are the 'workmanship of his hands ;' and while they remind us of the ' wise master- builder ' who laid his foundation there, should admonish us of the only 'pathway ' to a heaven of peace and rest. Mr. C. bore his last sickness, which was sometimes very distressing, with great patience and resignation to the will of God. He apparently enjoyed the unclouded exercise of his reason till within a few minutes of his death. He often expressed a hope of a blessed immortality only through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ. He died, as he had lived many years, a member of the Presbyterian Church. His widow and children, who survive him, have experienced a heavy bereavement in his death. But their sorrows are alleviated by the belief that he has entered into everlasting rest."
Mrs. Crombie, highly esteemed for her many excellences of character, which made her household the abode of domestic happiness, died May 9, 1849, aged 73.
LEMUEL MARDEN. - He was born Aug. 30, 1745, and came from Bradford, Mass., about 1786, where he married, in 1769, Hannah Greenough, born May 21, 1750, the youngest of six daughters ; she died Oct. 20, 1843, aged 73. He settled where the late Jonathan Marden lived, purchasing of Daniel Hardy, of Bradford. His children were Hannah, Greenough, Solo- mon, Nathan, Francis, Samuel, Mchitable, Jonathan, and Sarah. He died Jan. 9, 1819, aged 74.
Greenough, his son, was born Oct. 17, 1772, and married Sybil, daughter of Benjamin Hardy, of Hancock, Oct. 10, 1802, having learned the trade of a mason in Bradford, Mass. He bought the farm on which he now lives of Porter Sawyer, who bought of Nathaniel Fairfield, who bought of the heirs of Ralph Inman, one of the original proprietors of the town, liv-
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1
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ing in Cambridge, Mass. erected the first cabin.
Fairfield felled the first trees and Mr. Marden's children are : Lemuel, who married Clarissa M'Collom, and lives where William Campbell died ; Levi, John Langdon, Lyman, Cynthia, Sybil, Abigail, David, and William Greenough. Mr. Marden, though ninety-one years old Oct. 17, 1863, retains to a remarkable degree his mental faculties and physical energies, superin- tending a large farm, and transacting his business with great exactness.
Jonathan Marden, a son of Lemuel, was born July 5, 1788, and married Sally Foster December 31, 1815. She was born at Ashby, Mass., February 8, 1763. Their children are : Eliza- beth Foster, born February 6, 1817 ; John Foster, born July 6, 1818 ; Jonathan, born September 26, 1820 ; Harriet Newell, born August 29, 1822; Alfred, born November 22, 1828; Charles, born July 21, 1830 ; and George Waterman, born Oc- tober 17, 1832. Elizabeth F. became the wife of Caleb Reid June 1, 1842, and removed to Beaver Dam, Wis., in 1855, where she died May 4, 1861, aged 44. Jolin F. married Jerusha H. Adams, of Milton, Mass., and has four children ; Harriet Newell married Frederic H. Ober, of Hopkinton, May 29, 1845, and lived in Nashua. After his death she became the wife of George Hall, of Brookline; Jonathan married Eliza Jane Norton, of Vermont, March 9, 1847, by whom he had one child. His second wife died in 1863.
Alfred married Augusta H. Emerson, of Francestown, Dec. 30, 1852, and lives in Beaver Dam, Wis., though now in the army of the Cumberland. He has one child. Charles married Harriet Butterfield, of Nashua, March 14, 1855, and lives at Beaver Dam, Wis., having two children. George Waterman married Abby M. Sawyer April 1, 1858, who soon died, and he married Asenath B. Hovey, of Peterborough, where he now resides.
SAMUEL MARDEN. - He was the son of Solomon, born March 24, 1775, who was the son of Lemuel Marden. He was born November 18, 1804. Phebe Noyes was born November 3, 1802. They were married July 1, 1828. Their children were : Mary, born April 20, 1829, died April 24, 1829 ; Lydia Maria, born July 31, 1830; Harriet Campbell, born April 6, 1832,
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married George Hall, Jr., March 11, 1857, and now resides in Nashua ; Mehitable Jane, born April 10, 1834, died March 11, 1854; James, born February 23, 1836, married H. Jennie Park May 19, 1863, now resides in Springfield, Mass. ; Henry, born December 9, 1837, graduated at Dartmouth College 1862 ; George, born August 26, 1839, married Sarah Lizzie Mansfield November 11, 1862, served in the Union Army, 16th Regiment N. H. V., from November 1862 to August 1863; Mary Ellen, born September 30, 1841 ; Lora Ann, born August 11, 1843 ; Samuel Lewis, born June 23, 1845.
BENJAMIN DODGE. - He came from Beverly, Mass., marrying for his wife a Dodge. He " followed the seas " from his child- hood, and commanded a ship for many a year prior to his com- ing to New Boston, and for a long time after his family came here ; visiting almost every country on the globe. He settled where Mr. Irving now lives, some improvement having been made by a prior settler ; and was accustomed to entertain his family and neighbors with the narrative of his adventures whenever he visited his home. His children were Benjamin, Gideon, and Antipas. Antipas lived where his father died, in New Boston ; Gideon lived and died near his father's ; Ben- jamin was born April 13, 1758, in Beverly, Mass., and married, November 24, 1780, Eunice Boutwell, who was born November 14, 1761, in Reading, Mass., and died November 21, 1811. His second wife was Widow Mudgett, of Weare, born August 17, 1774, in Andover, Mass., to whom he was married March 15, 1812 ; she died December 5, 1838. Mr. Dodge died January 13, 1831.
He first settled near the Rev. S. Moor, then in Sullivan, sub- sequently in Amherst, and finally in the northern part of New Boston, where he died. His children were : Elizabeth born January 13, 1783, who married Lieutenant Solomon Dodge May 25, 1805, and lived where Israel Dodge, her son, now lives, she died December 6, 1840 ; Lydia, born June 18, 1787, who married Samuel Gregg November 11, 1811, and lived in Deer- ing, she died November 8, 1826; Charlotte, born February 23, 1790, who married James Boutwell December 20, 1810, and died January 17, 1844; two daughters dying young ; Monice, born June 23, 1799, who married Mr. Samuel Dodge
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February 6, 1817, and lives in New Boston ; Achsah born July 6, 1802, who married Captain Rodney George, of Windham, March 16, 1832, and now lives in Tewksbury, Mass ; Rebecca, born February 20, 1806, who married Jacob Bailey February 6, 1825, and lived where John Lamson resides, but now lives a widow in Nashua, having a daughter who married William, son of Greenough Marden ; Sarah, born November 27, 1813, who ยท married Captain Jonathan Gove Kelso, of New Boston, April 11, 1837, and now lives in Charlestown, Mass .; Mary W., born Sept. 4, 1816, who married David A. Kendall, of Mont Vernon, April 25, 1837, and died June 28, 1856, these last two being the children of his second wife. Benjamin, born January 22, 1777, remained on the homestead, marrying, November 22, 1821, Mary, daughter of Dea. John Smith, of Francestown, whose children are : John Newton, who married Emma Jane Colburn July 1, 1858, and lives with his father ; Persis Board- man, who married Robert Peaslee, of Weare, in 1846 ; Mary Jane, who married William Taylor in 1853, and resides in Medford, Mass .; James Smith, who married Sarah Evelyn, daughter of Jesse Beard, and is a merchant in Andover, Mass. ; David Campbell died young ; Sarah Elizabeth, who died young ; and Sarah Nancy.
ANDREW BEARD. - He came from the north of Ireland in 1766, and stopped at Litchfield a few years, and then located himself where James Buxton lives, where he erected a house, at the raising of which a man was accidentally killed. He soon left this place, and permanently settled where Alfred N. Hardy now lives, that beautiful eminence long being known as " Beard's Hill." He died June 19, 1798, aged 88. His son Joseph, who was four years old when his father left Ireland, married Margaret McMillen, of Franceston, in 1784, and settled where his son Jesse now lives - a Mr. Mackintosh having com- menced a settlement there. The children of Joseph Beard were: Anna, yet living unmarried, retaining great vigor of mind ; Sarah, Jesse, James, now living in Vermont ; Lydia, who mar- ried John Langdell ; Mary, who married John Stone, and lives in Vermont ; Joseph Goardly, who died young. His son Jesse succeeded his father on the homestead, marrying, November 23, 1826, Elizabeth Sweetser, daughter of Benjamin Fairfield, Esq.,
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and their children were Cordelia Clark, Edwin, Joseph, Horace Philbrick, now a merchant in Andover, Mass., marrying in 1862, Frances R. Shattuck, of Andover, Mass. ; Evelyn Sarah, who was married June 1, 1858, to James Sinith Dodge, a mer- chant in Andover, Mass. ; Selwin Felt and Mary Josephine. Mr. Beard has buried all his children but the two living in An- dover. He has been a remarkably successful educator, com- mencing teaching in 1814, and ending in 1860, having taught 67 terms, and having been a superintending school committee 21 years ; taking great interest in vocal music, he has taught 87 singing schools. Mr. Beard was born February 17, 1789, and though 74 years old, has kept pace with the world's prog- ress, and yet seems young, in sympathy with the young, and alive to every effort for their improvement.
William, the oldest son of Andrew Beard, was born October 20, 1751. His father it seems was a blacksmith, and was born in the county of Antrim in the year 1710. In 1749 he married Lydia Goardly, and when they came to New England they had four children ; two sons and two daughters. She excelled in the manufacture of linen cloth.
In June, 1775, he was at work building a house for his father on their new farm, when the news came that the British were landing in Boston. With the leave of his father and mother he immediately repaired to Charlestown in defence of his coun- try, was at the battle of Bunker's Hill, and was one of the forty volunteers who brought some cattle across the neck, under a raking fire of the enemy, in order to prevent their capture. In 1777 he received an ensign's commission, and was one of the scouts that commenced the attack on the enemy at Bennington. He was in several engagements, but was never wounded.
When he was done serving his country, he returned home and lived with his father on the farm. March 20, 1790, he married Jane Burns, of Bedford, by whom he had seven chil- dren, three sons and four daughters. They lived on the same farm till their death.
Although entitled to a pension, he nobly refused to draw it. His death occurred Jan. 2, 1832; his wife died Feb. 9, 1830.
Sally Beard, daughter of Andrew Beard, married George Robinson, of Tyngsborough ; both died young.
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Lydia, daughter of Andrew Beard, married Leslie Gregg, of New Boston, had seven children, one son and six daughters, afterwards moved to Goffstown, where they both died.
Rachel, the youngest daughter, married Thomas Christie, of New Boston, and moved to Hartland, Vt. ; had nine children, three sons and six daughters.
Andrew Beard, the son of William Beard, was born Jan. 30, 1791. In 1816 he married Elizabeth Cochran, daughter of Dea. Joseph Cochran, by whom he had three children. She died Jan. 11, 1826 ; he afterwards married Rachael Marshall, of Weare, and moved to Newport, N. H., and died March 30, 1860, aged 69 years.
John, son of the above-named Andrew Beard, was born Dec. 16, 1817. Married Emily Marshall, of Unity, and now lives at Rock Island, Ill. Margaret, the daughter of Andrew, married Hiram Angel, of Newport, and died, July 23, 1857 ; their son died in infancy.
John, son of William Beard, was born May 5, 1793, died Sept. 25, 1807, aged 14 years.
Sarah, daughter of William Beard, was born August 10, 1795 ; Sept. 24, 1822, married Moody Marshall, of Weare, and had eight children, seven sons and one daughter.
Jane, daughter, of Wm. Beard, was born March 8, 1802, and settled in New Boston, had five children.
William, the son of William Beard, was born May 6, 1798. Nov. 8, 1825, married Eleanor McMillen, daughter of Dr. Hugh McMillen, of New Boston ; settled on a part of his father's farm called the Jordan Lot. He has six children, four sons and two daughters.
Asa M., the son of William Beard, 2d, was born Nov. . 8, 1827. In 1850 he married Lucy J. Trull, of Goffstown ; has four children, and lives in New Boston.
Ann Augusta, daughter of William Beard, 2d, was born May 18, 1829, and in 1858 married John Gilmore, of New- port ; has one child, and lives in New Boston.
Sarah M., daughter of William Beard, was born Feb. 5, 1836. In 1858 she went to Marshfield, Indiana, as a school- teacher ; January, 1862, married Levi M. Cronkhite, of that place, where she now lives.
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Cornelius W., son of William Beard, was born Sept. 29, 1840. Sept., 1861, he enlisted in a company of sharpshooters, was in several battles, received a severe wound at the battle of Antietam, and was killed in a skirmish with the rebels at Gettysburgh July 4, 1863, aged 22 years, 7 months, and 5 days, - a brave soldier and a pure patriot.
James M. G. was born May 27, 1844; in 1862 he published an Almanac called the " New England Calendar, and Miscel- laneous Year Book." In March, 1863, he went to Indiana as a school teacher, in which business he is still engaged.
Eliza and Louisa, twin daughters of William Beard, Sen., were born Feb. 15, 1806. Eliza married Jacob Bartell, of Lynn, had one child, and died in 1852, aged 47. Louisa mar- ried Hiram Campbell, of Bedford, settled in New Boston, had four children ; afterwards removed to Nashua, N. H., where she died, in 1840, aged 43 years.
WILLIAM KELSO. - He was born in Londonderry, being the son of Alexander Kelso, whose wife was a Kelso, daughter of William Kelso. Alexander, with three brothers, came from the North of Ireland and settled in Londonderry, and died when William was fifteen years old; and William came to New Boston about 1763, though his sister Margaret came some years earlier, being the wife of Capt. George Cristy, who settled where Dea. Sumner L. Cristy now lives. William married Agnes Kelso, and settled first where Leonard Merrill lives, and after clearing a few acres, sold to his brother Daniel, and then settled where Mr. Robert Kelso now lives, near Joe Eng- lish, buying of Eleazer Boyd, who cleared a few acres and reared a small house. Mr. Kelso had six children : Nancy Richards, who died Jan. 30, 1831, aged 50; Elizabeth, who died March 2, 1839, aged 60; Ann, who died Nov. 8, 1851, aged 81 ; John, who died March 2, 1850, aged 74; and William, born April 9, 1785. John (the son of William) succeeded his father on the homestead, and married Gizzy, the daughter of Dea. Robert Patterson, and his son Robert lives on the homestead, the boundaries of which have not been altered since Eleazer Boyd sold it to his grandfather William, though in all other respects it has been changed for the better. Mr. Robert Kelso, in 1841, married Juliana Perkins; of Windsor, their chil-
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dren being Henry, Mary L., and Helen A. William, the youngest son of the elder William, and brother of the fore- going John, settled where he now lives, buying his farm fifty- three years ago of Mr. Clapp, who bought of Coburn, who bought of Sawyer, who had it of Archibald McAllister, the son of John, the first McAllister in New Boston. This Wil- liam married, in 1823, Susannah Coggin, of Mont Vernon, and their children are Susannah, Eliza, Catherine, William, who lives with his father, Alfred, and Nancy A.
William Kelso, at the head of this sketch, died Jan. 19, 1823, aged 83; and his wife died April 7, 1825, aged 77. His brother Daniel lived on Leonard Merrill's farm, marrying Mary McAllister, daughter of John, having twelve children: Alex- ander, John, Ann, William, Daniel, Robert, Annanias, Eliza- beth, Thomas, Mary, David, and Jonathan Gove.
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