USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > New Boston > History of New Boston, New Hampshire > Part 29
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At the age of fifteen Luther came with Mr. Waters to New Boston, and with him learned the tanner's trade. At the age of twenty-one he went to Weare, and subsequently to Hopkin- ton. But about 1798 he purchased the farm on which he resided until his death, and where he prosecuted the business of tanning.
In 1799 he married Mary, daughter of Jacob Hooper. They had eight children : Luther, who died unmarried ; Ruthey W., who became the wife of Dr. Samuel Gregg, now of Boston. She died in 1853, leaving five children ; Martha D., who mar- ried a Mr. Tileston ; Carrie A., who married a Mr. Stockbridge ; Anna S., who married a Mr. Howard; Abby T., who became the wife of a Mr. Wooster, and Josephine M .; Jacob Hooper,* who remains on the homestead, was born August 17, 1804 ; he married for his first wife, December 25, 1829, Asenath, daughter
* Mr. Richards, since the writing of this sketch, has died. His death oc- curred March 11, 1864, at the age of 59. Captain Richards's life was re- markably free from faults ; upright in all his dealings, fond of society, greatly beloved by his family, and respected by the community, he will long live in their recollection, while the Presbyterian Church and congregation will long deplore bis removal, as a kind, judicious, and faithful chorister for more than thirty years.
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of William B. Dodge, by whom he had three children, Margaret A., who became the wife of Dr. Atwood, and died in Virginia ; Evelyn M. and Frank S .; he married April 19, 1847, for his second wife, Nancy B., daughter of Ezra Dodge, of Beverly, Mass., by whom he has two children, Mary Eliza, and Frances Dodge ; Samuel Wardsworth, who died young ; Nancy P., who died unmarried ; Mary Anna, who became the wife of Robert Fulton, now living in Bedford, whose children are Lyman Hahneman, Luther Herbert, and Samuel Wardsworth ; Joanna Cummings, who married Nehemiah Trull, and died in Canter- bury in 1848, leaving one daughter, Abby Joanna ; Abby Hooper, who became the wife of Samuel G. Waters, and lives in Johnson, Vt., their children being Samuel H., Luther R., Wardsworth F., Ruthey G., and Mary A.
Mr. Richards, at the age of thirty, was thrown from a horse, and by this and other casualties was crippled for life, yet his indomitable energy overcame obstacles to which many would have yielded. Few men could accomplish more than he, in spite of great physical sufferings. Exact and scrupulously just in his transactions, he secured the confidence of others, and died September 22, 1857, aged nearly 85 years, greatly respected and sincerely lamented ; his mental powers being but little impaired, and a delightful christian peace continuing until the last.
Mrs. Richards died March 3, 1847 ; and Jacob H. Richards's first wife died December 12, 1846.
JOHN DODGE. - He came to New Boston in 1815, from Ham- ilton, Mass. His wife was Mary Dodge, of Wenham, Mass. He bought of Stephen Ferson the farm formerly owned by Paul Ferson, son of Dea. James Ferson. Mr. Dodge's children were John, Israel, Mary, Joseph, and Elizabeth.
John now lives on the homestead, his wife was Polly Dodge, of Hamilton, Mass., by whom he has three children : Joseph A., now of Plymouth, superintendent of the Concord and Montreal Railroad, marrying Mary Tewksbury, and having two children, Lizzie and John ; Mary Ann, now the wife of John S. Edwards, having two children, Andrew D., and Eugene; Casandana. Mr. Dodge's second wife was Mary T. Lovett, of Beverly, Mass., by whom he has five children : S. Emiline, now the wife of
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Miles Taylor, of Lake Village ; Israel T., now living in Lafay- ette, Indiana, marrying Julia M. Allen, of Woburn, Mass., and having one daughter, May; Jolin, who died young ; Eben, who married Fannic, daughter of Dea. Livemore Langdell, and lives with his father; and Andrew, unmarried, living in Indiana.
Israel lived where Eben Bartlett now lives, and died in 1852; Mary married Jonathan Dodge, and lives in the west part of the town, her children being Elizabeth, Alva, Lydia, Josephine, John E., and Daniel L. ; Joseph dicd young ; Eliza- beth became the wife of Joseph B. Cochran, son of Dea. Joseph Cochran, and lived with his father; her second husband was Nathaniel Whiting, of Francestown, her children being Sarah, Josephine, and Harvey.
ISAAC PEABODY. - His great-grandfather's name was Francis, and he came to this country in 1835 from Wales, England, set- tling in Topsfield, Mass., where he erected mills which have been in the possession of his descendants until now.
Mr. Francis Peabody was born in Topsfield, Mass., September 30, 1747, and came to New Boston in 1783. He purchased a farm of Robert Patterson, now known as the "Town Farm." He died May 13, 1826. He had eight children, six sons and two daughters, viz .: Lydia, Nathaniel, Isaac, Moses, John, Mary, Ezekiel, and Francis. Lydia was born October 5, 1772, married Thomas Willson, and lived in the cast part of the town, and died June 18, 1839, leaving no children. (For Nathaniel, see Sketches of Physicians.) Isaac was born Nov. 28, 1775, married Mary, daughter of Jacob Dodge, and lived on the homestead. He was elected an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and died January 23, 1832. He had children : John, who lives in Antrim ; Hannah, who married Nathaniel Coggin ; Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Hursey, of Croyden ; Daniel, who died in Hooksett ; and Isaac, who lives in Lowell, Mass.
Moses was born Dec. 22, 1778, and died Aug. 1, 1858. He married Elizabeth, daughter of James Cochran, and lived in New Boston. His children are: Ezekiel Cummings, Horace, who died in 1855 ; William Wason, who died in Salem, Mass., in 1851; Elizabeth Ann, who married Isaac Newton Fitz, of Lowell, Mass., and died Oct. 17, 1845; Mary Potter, who mar-
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ried Samuel Bellows, and died in Boston, July 1, 1839 ; Martha Jane, who died March 3, 1831, aged 13 ; James Coch- ran, who married Caroline Gibson, of Ashburnham, and died Sept. 13, 1847, aged 28; Harriet Newell, who was born Feb. 25, 1823, and became the second wife of Mr. Fitz, the husband of her deceased sister, and lives in Lowell, having two chil- dren, Frank Eugene, and Willie Fremont.
John, was born Jan. 16, 1781, and died Aug. 15, 1821, in Batavia, India. He married Elizabeth Manning, of Salem, Mass., in 1808, by whom he had three children. Commencing as a merchant in Salem, he soon entered upon a seafaring life. In 1813 he attempted to reach St. Domingo with a loaded ves- sel, and was captured by a British vessel, and was released in 1814. Having commanded several vessels bound to India, his last voyage was undertaken with enfeebled health in 1821, he reached Batavia, and died Aug. 15, 1821. He was a man of strict business habits, and of great integrity, and died sustained by faith in Jesus Christ. His daughter Elizabeth married a Rev. Mr. Elevenworth in 1813, and went to North Carolina, subsequently removed to Petersburg, Virginia, where he be- came a slaveholder, and there she died, leaving several chil- dren. The wife of Capt. John Peabody died in 1846, aged 57.
Mary married John P. Chapman, of Windsor, April 18, 1810; he died March 22, 1815, leaving three children. She is still living, at the age of 80, with her brother Francis, in Am- herst.
Francis was born Feb. 6, 1793, and married Lydia Peabody, of Topsfield, Mass., who was born Jan. 12, 1797, on the 23d of Dec., 1819. His children (all born in New Boston) are : Aaron Francis, born Jan. 2, 1821, married Paulina A. Nettle- ton, of New York, July 24, 1849, and moved to Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, in 1851; John, born Jan. 17, 1822, and died Nov. 30, 1824 ; Ann Maria, born May 22, 1824, married Rev. Charles Seccumb, of Salem, Mass., Aug. 4, 1850, who was or- dained Aug. 8, 1850, as a Home Missionary, and went to St. Anthony, Min., the same year, and became pastor of the first Congregational Church formed in that State, and here his wife died Feb. 28, 1853 ; John, born Nov. 9, 1827, married Fannie E. Sargent, of Milford, March 22, 1859, and lives in Brook-
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line, being elected a Deacon in the Congregational Church in . that place in 1860 ; Lydia E., born Sept. 7, 1829 ; David, born Dec. 17, 1831, and married Lucy D. Tolman, of Wilmington, Mass., and moved to St. Anthony, Min., having had two chil- den : Francis, born Oct. 13, 1860, and Charles W., born May 17, 1862, and died Aug. 10, 1863 ; Margaret Brigham, born April 23, 1837; George Wellington, born Oct. 11, 1838; Daniel Augustine, born June 29, 1842, enlisted Oct., 1861, in the Fifth New Hampshire Regiment, Co. I, was in the battle of Fair Oaks, returned home Oct. 2, 1862, an invalid, and is now on the pension list (1864).
Mr. Francis Peabody removed to Amherst in 1846, where he now resides, waiting for " the rest that remaineth for the people of God," surrounded by christian children.
DAVID COLBURN, son of Ephraim Colburn, removed from Ded- ham, Mass., to New Boston in the year 1795. He settled in the westerly part of the town, upon the farm formerly owned by Capt. Burns, where he remained until his death. He was succeeded by his son Ephraim, who owned, and with the ex- ception of a few years, lived upon the farm during his life. At the time of his death it was in possession of his son Luther, the present owner. David Colburn married Rebecca, daughter of Thomas Richards, of Dedham. They had a numerous fam- ily, only three of whom were living when they came to town, - Edward, Ephraim, and Tryphena.
Edward, the oldest, married Betsey, daughter of Ebenezer Newell, of Needham, Mass., to which town he removed in 1822, and died in 1833.
Tryphena married Capt. Jacob D. Dodge, and is now residing in Nashua. She has had a numerous family, only four of whom are now living, two sons and two daughters.
Ephraim, the second son, married Rachael, also a daughter of Dea. Newell, of Needham, in April, 1804. He died May 19, 1855, aged 78 years. His widow, who still has a home upon the old farm, is now 78 years of age.
They had seven children : Leonard, born Aug. 17, 1804; Willard, born January 9, 1807; Luther, born Aug. 16, 1811 ; Horace, born Sept. 28, 1815; Mark, born May 12, 1818; Ephraim, born May 1, 1821, and Reuben, born April 8, 1826.
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Leonard, the oldest son, married Mary T., daughter of Capt. Livingston, of New Boston. He was always a resident of New Boston, and during the last years of his life resided near the Upper Village, where his widow still lives. He died in July, 1856.
They had four children : William W., Ephraim Warren, Emma J., and James L. William graduated at Dartmouth College, in 1861, and is now Principal of the High School in Manchester, N. H. Warren married Lizzie S. Roper, of Fran- cestown, where he now resides. Emma married Dea. John N. Dodge, of New Boston. James enlisted into the 9th Reg. N. H. V. in Aug., 1862, and is now in the army.
Williard, the second son, married Sarah, daughter of Joseph Gilbert, of Francestown. They lived in New Boston till 1853, when they removed to Manchester, where they still reside.
They had eleven children : Rachael N., Willard E., Sarah G., Hannah R., David W., Maria W., Carrie S., Mary E., Les- tina L., Margie C. D., and Joseph G.
Rachel married David S. Todd, of New Boston, in the fall of 1854, and died in March, 1857.
Willard has been twice married, and is now living in Ches- ter. Sarah married James More, of Manchester, and died in 1856. Hannah married Eri Harvey, of Manchester, and died in February, 1864.
David enlisted as private in the 2d Regt. N. H. V. in the spring of 1861; was promoted to orderly sergeant, which po- sition he held at the time of his death. He was married to Miss Lucy Proctor, of East Washington, N. H., while home on a furlough in the spring of 1863, and was killed on the 2d of July following, at the battle of Gettysburg, after having safely passed through all the battles in which his regiment had been engaged previous to that time.
Maria is now residing in Manchester. Carrie married Emerson Dunham, and is also in Manchester. Lestina and Joseph are with their parents. Margie died in May, 1854.
Luther, the third son, married Mary S., daughter of Samuel Todd, of New Boston, Oct. 15, 1835. She died in Aug., 1841.
He married Hannah E., daughter of Nehemiah Story, of Goffstown, May 3, 1842. By his first marriage he had two
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children : Mary J., born March 4, 1837, and Martin L., born April 26, 1839. By the second marriage, five children : Hattie E., born Dec. 1, 1843 ; Emmie M., born April 18, 1850 ; Frank N., born Oct 19, 1852; Addie N., born Dec. 24, 1855, and Charles S., born April 11, 1860.
All are living at the present time except Frank, who died July 31, 1854. Martin served as Lieut. in the 16th Reg. N. H. V., in Louisana.
Horace, the fourth son, died Sept. 16, 1816. Mark, the fifth son, married Caltha, daughter of Capt. Cyrus Lufkin, of Weare, in June, 1843. They reside in Weare, and have two children : Cyrus L., and Edson.
Ephraim, the sixth son, married Sarah J., daughter of Wil- liam Taylor, of New Boston, in 1850. She died in July, 1859.
He married Charlotte Barron, of Merrimac, in August, 1860, and is now living in Merrimac. He has one son, William Henry, born in February, 1853.
Reuben, the seventh son, married Hannah Gould, daughter of Elijah Gould, of Antrim, in 1849.
In 1853 he married Miss Mary J. Holt, of Francestown, and now resides in Manchester. By the first marriage he had one daughter ; by the second one son, Otis H., born in 1854.
BENJAMIN BUXTON was born in North Reading, Mass., in 1753. In early life he resided in the family of Rev. Eliab Stone, the pastor of a church in that place, under whose in- struction he commenced the study of Latin. But the Revolu- tionary war breaking out, he forsook his Latin, and hastened to the defence of his country. Soon after the commencement of the war, he went out in a privateer, which, having made a suc- cessful voyage, was returning with the crews of the vessels she had captured on board, when they suddenly rose, got possession of her, and took her into Halifax. Subsequently lie was in- pressed on board of a British man-of-war, where he was kept till the close of our Revolutionary struggle. In that situation he was treated with great severity, because he would stand up for his country. As often as the British officers vilified it, assuring him that, together with Washington, it was going to ruin, he replied to them, "Sir, I wish I was with him." He was be- labored unmercifully with blows, till, on a certain occasion
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under such treatment, he turned on his heel, and knocked the boatswain down; at which, some recommending to " take him aft,"-that is, to have liim executed, - the boatswain said, " No, I won't; I'll hang him myself." Giving him a few light blows, he turned away from him, and the same day drew him into his berth to drink grog with him, saying, "Buxton, you are a good fellow."
During his service in the British navy, he acquired consider- able reputation as a seaman ; and after his discharge from that service he followed a seafaring life a number of years, in the capacity of a shipmaster.
About the year 1796 he removed from Danvers, Mass., where he had resided for some time, to New Boston. He was nat- urally of an upright, frank, and generous disposition, having no heart or tact to secure advantages in trade; which may be illus- trated by a single incident. Col. Daniel Flint, of North Read- ing, coming into the country with him, to assist him in select- ing and purchasing a farm, said to him, "Now, Buxton, let me do the trading, and don't you say a word." But, having ex- amined the farm which he purchased, and learned the price at . which it was held, he immediately forestalled all attempts to get it at a cheaper rate, by saying, " Cheap enough, Col. Flint, cheap enough !"
Soon after he came to New Boston the death of his little daughter was sanctified to him for his religious awakening and hopeful conversion. He then made a public profession of re- ligion, and was ever after noted for his consistent christian life and regular attendance on the institutions of the gospel. His youngest son he consecrated to God, with a special desire that he should become a minister of the gospel. Through God's covenant faithfulness, his prayers for this object have been an- swered. In 1813 he died, aged 60 years, a good man, and greatly lamented.
Capt. Buxton, in 1786, married Hannah Flint, of North Reading, who was born Feb. 5, 1759, and died in the year 1837. They had six children.
1. Hannah was born May 17, 1787 ; died Sept. 12, 1860 ; mar- ried Abner Dodge, who was born Oct. 21, 1788 ; died Sept. 24, 1852. They were professors of religion, of consistent piety ; had eleven children.
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Eloisa was born Aug. 5, 1808 ; married Abner Dane June 9, 1840 ; a few years after their marriage removed to Nashua, where they now reside.
Jacob was born July 1, 1810 ; an ingenious mechanic ; expe- rienced religion in his last sickness ; died at his paternal home in Nashua, Feb. 2, 1849.
Ezra was born Sept. 9, 1812 ; married April 10, 1838 ; a pro- fessor of religion ; has two sons ; resides in Danvers, Mass.
Benjamin P. was born Dec. 13, 1814 ; married Oct. 12, 1848 ; has two children ; is a professor of religion ; resides in Stacy- ville, Iowa.
Mary B. was born Feb. 3, 1817 ; married Samuel Dane ; is a professor of religion ; has had several children ; resides in New Boston.
Reuben was born Dec. 15, 1818 ; married Mary Cochran ; has one daughter ; is a professor of religion ; resides in Man- chester.
Abner B. was born June 1, 1821 ; died April 16, 1822.
Abner B. was born April 9, 1823 ; married Mary G. Hall ; resides in Nashua.
James F. was born Oct. 26, 1826 ; died Dec. 20, 1834.
Anna M. was born May 11, 1828 ; is a professor of religion ; resides in Nashua.
Margaret was born April 26, 1831; was a professor of re- ligion ; a sweet singer ; died July 9, 1855.
2. Charles was born Aug. 27, 1789.
3. James F. was born Nov. 9, 1792 ; married Lucinda Coch- ran in 1819, and they had four children : Charlotte Flint, Fran- ces Gove, John Cochran, Eliza Dalton.
Charlotte was born Jan. 1, 1820 ; died Nov. 24, 1838.
Frances was born Jan. 15, 1824; became the wife of J. Richards Dodge Oct 20, 1846.
John was born Feb. 29, 1828 ; married Henrietta S. Norris, of Sandusky, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1853.
Eliza was born June 15, 1832 ; became the wife of Edward P. Ransom Aug. 7, 1855, and died at Newburyport, Mass., Feb., 1857.
Mr. James F. Buxton resides with his son, in Springfield City, Ohio, where his wife died Dec. 27, 1857, aged 62.
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4. Abigail was born Oct. 8, 1796 ; died Aug. 8, 1850 ; was a professor of religion ; married James Cochran, by whom she had eight children.
5. Mary was born Jan. 31, 1799 ; died Oct. 6, 1802.
6. Edward. (See page 135.)
ROBERT PARKINSON. - His ancestors were all of the genuine stock, Scotch Irish. His father, whose name was Henry, en- tered Nassau Hall College from Londonderry, and graduated. He served in the Revolutionary war, and was at one time quar- termaster in Col. John Stark's regiment. In an old manuscript of his it is found recorded that his "constitution was broken while in the service ; " and this is given as a reason why he spent his days in farming and teaching, instead of pursuing a profession. It is said that he excelled as a classical scholar ; and in his day he fitted many students for Dartmouth College. His wife was a McCurdy, and aunt to the late James and John McCurdy, of New Boston.
Robert Parkinson, his son, was born in Francestown May 18, 1781, and passed his youth in Concord and Canterbury, and purchased a lot of land in Columbia, then a wilderness, as was no small portion of Coos County at that time. He spent the summer of 1809 there, "in camp," and clearing land, sowing winter grain, and building a house of hewn timber, the first in the settlement of so much pretension, there being only two or three houses, and those of round logs.
In February or March, 1810, he was married, by Rev. Mr. Bradford, to Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Kelso, one of the sturdy farmers who cleared away the forests, and laid the foun- dations of the civil and religious institutions of the town. His wife was Mary, daughter of John McAllister, and they had nine sons and three daughters, and all lived to adult years.
Mr. Parkinson's wife was born April 5, 1781. Immediately after his marriage he proceeded to Columbia, and spent the first twelve years of wedded life there in his log house, in which there were born two sons and two daughters. Here he became. involved, and lost his property, partly in consequence of being " bound," and having to pay another's debt, and partly by an investment in lumber, which was rendered unsalable by tlie " Embargo," and became disheartened. But his noble wife was
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equal to the position in which this change of fortune placed her. Before leaving New Boston she professed her faith in Christ and all the precious promises of the Bible, by uniting with the Presbyterian Church. And the hope she had pro- fessed gave full proof of its genuineness : in the darkest and stormiest hour it was an anchor to her soul, sure and steadfast. Possessing, by nature, a cheerful temperament, untiring energy, a fortitude which succombed to no hardship, a love which many waters could not quench, and a clearness of perception which never failed to distinguish between a lowly position and low- ness of character ; - with these natural gifts rooted in, and vitalized and beautified by, the faith which is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen ;
" Let cares like a wild deluge come, And storms of sorrow fall ; "
still she could move calmly on in the path Providence had as- signed her, without a faltering step or a murmuring lip, and wear herself out in feeding, clothing, instructing, counselling, and inspiring with self-respect, courage, and hope, the little flock to whom she was far more then wealth and high position. And in the rich triumphs of faith she went to her eternal rest March 4, 1837, aged 56.
In 1821 Mr. Parkinson with his wife and children returned to New Boston, and lived near the base of Joc English, not far from the school-house in Captain Lamson's district. In that school-house the children, born in Columbia, were baptized by Rev. Mr. Bradford, as there was no church in that settlement. The scene at their baptizing is described as most intensely in- teresting and solemn. In that little red house Mr. Parkinson's children, for the first time, attended school ; whatever they had learned before had been taught them by their faithful mother. In speaking of that school the Rev. Royal Parkinson, their fourth child, thus speaks : " Among the best remembered school- mates of those days were Clark B. Cochrane, the sons of James Wason, and the elder sons and daughters of Dea. Robert Wason. My brother Henry and sister Frances attended at the same time ; and my impression is that Gerry Whiting Cochrane, brother of Clark B., and one or two of their sisters, attended
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that first winter school. From it have come three college grad- uates, two ministers, one minister's wife, one lawyer, judge and member of congress, one state senator, one alderman, at least four leading and successful city merchants ; all reliable men, of sterling character, and not less than half a score of suc- cessful teachers. Perhaps I should be justified in adding to this catalogue a poetess, since, if L. Theresa Lamson, now Wason, was not my schoolmate, and I am not sure, she was my pupil, for I subsequently taught there, as did my sister Frances."
Royal Parkinson, the second son of Robert, was born in Columbia November 8, 1815. When but eight years old he went to live with Captain James F. Buxton, " a man in whom," he says, "I never saw a mean act; and that his wife was a woman of great kindness and worth, no inhabitant of New Boston need be told." After four years Captain Buxton remov- ing to Nashua, young Parkinson labored in different places during summers and attended or taught schools winters; aid- ing his mother in the support of the family. "Among my teachers," he says, "in New Boston were Augusta Kelso, now Lawrence, B. B. and C. B. Cochrane, Putman Bradford, David Atwood, and William and Jesse Beard. The last named had few equals, and I have never known his superior, as a teacher. My fitting for college," he continues, " was away from New Boston, but yet under New Boston inspiration and auspices. Prominent among those who inspired me with courage to make the attempt, outside of my own family, were Mr. Bradford, and by their kind words and worthy example Edward Buxton and Clark B. Cochrane, and chief among those who aided me in executing it, were Captain Buxton and his wife. During the time of my academical studies they resided in Nashua, and the greater part of the time I had a home with them, and all its conveniences and comforts, in exchange for what 'chores' I did, more or less."
Mr. Parkinson entered Dartmouth College in the spring of 1839 and graduated in 1842, and entered immediately the office of Hon. George Y. Sawyer, of Nashua, as a law-student, and was connected with it two years, though engaged in teaching the larger part of the time. In the mean time old religious
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