USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Dunbarton > History of the town of Dunbarton, Merrimack County, New-Hampshire, from the grant by Mason's assigns, in 1751, to the year 1860 > Part 14
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
ITEMS copied from a Map of the Town drawn in 1803, copied and improved from the original plan, prepared at Portsmouth in 1749.
On lot No. 8, range 6, is the stump of an apple-tree, planted prior to 1746. On lot 13, range 2, is to be seen the cellar of Samuel Stinson's house, and near it the remains of a sweet apple-tree, planted by him as first settler upon the lot. On lot 18, range 2, stood a pine of seven feet diameter, and also Page Fort. An elm and oak on lot 17, range 3, were seven feet in diameter; as also an oak on lot 10, range 3. On lot 15, range 5, was a pine, six feet; and on lot 16, range 3, stood a pine, ten feet in diameter.
Since writing the foregoing we have received a com- munication, from which we gather the following inform- ation relating to the Page family :
PAGE FAMILY-First Generation .- Benjamin Page, b. in Dedham, 57 miles N. E. of London, in 1640; came to / Haverhill, Essex Co., Mass., in 1660. He married Mary Whittier, Sept. 21, 1666. She died July 29, 1698. Their children were : Jeremiah, b. Sept. 14, 1667; Mary, b. Dec. 7, 1669 ; Ruth, b. Feb. 3, 1671; Benjamin, b. May 19, 1674 ; died from a scald, Dec. 23, 1678 ; Susannah, b. Oct. 28, 1676 ; Abiah, b. Dec. 15, 1678; Benjamin, b. June 30, 1681; Abraham, b. Dec. 15, 1683; Caleb, b. 1685 ; Rachel, b. June 23, 1689.
Second Generation .- Jeremiah Page, (son of Benjamin, 1st gen.) m'd to Deborah Kendrick, of Newburyport, Mass., June 2, 1696. Their children were: Mary, b. April 19, 1697 ; died July 1, 1717 ; Ruth, b. Nov. 9, 1699; d. Nov. 17, 1775 ; Jeremiah, b. March 28, 1701 ; Joshua, b. Feb. 28, 1702; Caleb, b. August 16, 1705; Abigail, b. March 23, 1707 ; Daniel, b. March 1, 1710; d. July, 1712.
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Caleb Page, son of Benjamin -1st genr. - m'd Miss Woodburn ; was a farmer in Haverhill, Mass., and died in 1752. His children were: Caleb, b. 1705, and Joshua, b. Feb. 28, 1702.
Joshua Page, son of Jeremiah - 2nd genr. - b. Feb. 28, 1702; m'd Hannah Dustan, Haverhill, Mass., Feb. 19, 1734. He died Oct. 26, 1756. His children were : Eliz- abeth, b. June 18, 1735 ; Peter, b. Oct. 11, 1738 ; Mehit- able, b. Nov. 19, 1740 ; Hannah, b. Feb. 20, 1741; Joshua, b. May 4, 1746 ; Jonathan, b. August 12, 1748 ; David, b. Feb., 1750 ; Daniel, b. April 16, 1754 ; Ruth, b. June 25, 1756.
request Demill
Third Generation .- Caleb Page, son of Jeremiah - 2nd gen. - b. August 26, 1705; m'd Ruth Wallingford, of Boston, Mass., in 1729, and resided in Haverhill for a time, when he removed to Atkinson, in 1749. He there owned land extending a mile, more or less, in every direc- tion from the site of the academy. He sold this land for the weight of his wife in silver dollars. The price amounted to about five thousand dollars.
In 1751 he moved to Dunbarton, then a wilderness. His daughter Elizabeth, who came there in 1752, has often stood sentinel at his fort for hours, with a loaded musket, on the lookout for enemies in the shape of Indians. She was accustomed to procure water from " One Stack Brook," bringing it thence in a gallon bottle, and perform the duties of cook for her father.
His first wife died in 1740. His children were : Caleb, b. 1729; Jeremiah, b. 1730; Elizabeth, b. 1736 ; Mary, -b. 1738. For his second wife he married Mrs. Carleton, who died in October, 1785. She was a large person, weighing 315 pounds. She was conveyed to meeting upon an ox sled, and when she visited a friend, her large . square arm chair, with circular back, was conveyed with her. At her death the chair became the property of Major Caleb Stark. [We may also add that in the same
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chair we are sitting while preparing this notice of the Page family.]
In March, 1753, the Governor of New-Hampshire sent Capt. Caleb Page, Col. Lovewell, of Dunstable, and Major Talford, of Chester, to survey and mark out a road from Stevenstown ( Salisbury ) to Haverhill, Coös Co. John Stark ( afterwards General,) who, having been conveyed over the route as an Indian captive the previous year, and being well acquainted with the wilderness, acted as their pilot. The Governor and Council sent Capt. Page a commission as one of His Majesty's justices of the peace. He declined being qualified as such, but requested the appointment for his son Jeremiah, by whom it was accepted.
His son Caleb, jr., was an ensign of Rangers, and slain in the action of Jan. 21, 1757, near Ticonderoga. He is said to have been the handsomest man of the Page race. He owned lot No. 18, in the third range. Captain Spike- man and Lieut. Kennedy fell in the same action. On this occasion fourteen were killed, six wounded, six miss- ing.
Mary Page m'd Deacon James Russell, of Bow, who died in 1797. Their children were Jeremiah P., James, Mary, Betsey, Peggy and Achsah. Captain Page and his second wife were buried in Heath's graveyard in Bow, within six feet of the road from Page Corner to Concord. A cluster of wild cat-tail willows grows up on their grave. His first wife was buried at Haverhill, Mass.
16 Fourth Generation .- Jeremiah Page, son of Caleb ( 3d „gen.), b. in 1730; died November 29, 1807; married Sarah Merrill, of Billerica, Mass .; b. 1732 ; m'd 1752; d. Sept. 15, 1807. Their children were: Caleb, b. in Dracut, 1753; d. June 3, 1816 ; m'd Mary Carleton, of Haverhill, Mass .; Sarah, b. in Dracut, Mass., Dec. 24, 1754 ; d. 1838; m'd Archibald Stinson. He died in 1824. Caleb and Sarah were left in Dracut till 1756, for fear of Indians. Jeremiah, b. July 29, 1756; d. 1842; m'd Elizabeth
3
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Carleton, of Haverhill, Mass. She died in 1847. Achsah, b. Sept. 25, 1760; d. Sept. 30, 1841; m'd Hon. Beard Plummer, March 17, 1804, who died Oct. 6, 1816 ; m'd for second husband, Enoch Coffin, April 18, 1822. He died in 1833. Elizabeth, b. Oct. 2, 1764; d. 1830; m'd William Tenney, 1781. He died October 22, 1838. John, b. Sept. 7, 1767 ; d. August 14, 1837 ; m'd Mary Story, March, 1811. She died May, 1838. Ruth, b. August 15, 1770 ; died 1804; m'd Dr. Symmes Sawyer, who died in 1835, aged 90.
Judge Page bought of Samuel Smith lot No. 17, third range, where he lived and died. He was one of the Committee of Safety, with Hogg and Sargent, in the Revolution. He was chosen a delegate to the State Convention in 1778, to form a constitution, receiving so much opposition from the Tories that his election was not effected until ten days previous to their assembling. He was the first member from Dunbarton to the General Court, and reelected many years ; was a justice of the peace and quorum, and judge of the court of common pleas for Hillsborough county. He was the king's sur- veyor, and as such performed much of the business of the State and county. He was an astronomer, and in 1804 calculated the total eclipse of the sun which hap- pened in 1806. He died a farmer at the age of 77.
(4th Genr.)-Joshua Page, son of Joshua ( 3d gen.) b. May 4, 1746 ; m'd 1770, Anna Runnels, of Boxford, b. Feb. 18, 1749. She died 1806. He lived and died in Haverhill, Mass., May 23, 1806. Children : Hannah, b. Jan. 1, 1771 ; Samuel, b. July 10, 1772; Joshua, b. April 25, 1774 ; Caleb, b. March 4, 1776; Joseph, b. Oct. 17, 1777 ; d. Oct. 3, 1778 ; Joseph, b. Jan. 15, 1779; William, b. Oct. 10, 1780 ; Ruth, b. April 27, 1782; Susannah, b. Jan. 25, 1784 ; Mary E., b. May 26, 1785 ; Sally, b. July 12, 1788; Dudley, b. March 30, 1790; Anna, b. April 27, 1792.
William Page married Hannah Heath ; children : Mary, b. August 17, 1767 ; Abigail, b. Dec. 25, 1768 ; Hannah,
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b. Dec. 28, 1770; Sarah, b. Sept. 2, 1773 ; Ruth, b. Oct. 7, 1776; David, b. Feb. 1, 1779; Betsey, b. March 9, 1781; Laban,* b. August 4, 1783; Susannah, b. Nov. 11, 1785.
[L. s.] PROVINCE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
By ISAAC RINGE, Esq., Surveyor-General of His Majesty's Lands within the Province aforesaid.
TO JEREMIAH PAGE, of Dunbarton, Esq., GREETING.
By virtue of the power and authority to me given by His Majesty's commission, I do hereby authorize and depute you, the said Jeremiah Page, to be my Deputy- Surveyor for this purpose only, viz: To survey, admeas- ure and make out a certain tract of land, lately granted by the proprietors of Mason's claims, in said Province, to John Fisher, Esq .; which tract is bounded as follows, viz : Beginning at the north-west corner of New Concord, or No. 8 ( so called ), on the curve patent line ; from thence, running by said No. 8, to the north-east corner thereof ; from thence to the southerly corner of Parry's town ( so called ) ; from thence, by the south-westerly side of said Parry's town, to the north-west corner thereof; from thence west to the curve line ; from thence, on the curve line, to the first point where the bounds begin, in order that you may ascertain the north-west corner bound of said New Concord, or No. 8 ( so called ).
.
I herewith send the bounds of said township, as taken from the records, viz : Beginning at a stake and heap of stones, at the north-westerly corner of Monadnock, No. 7, ( so called ), which stake and stones are on said patent line, formerly run by Joseph Blanchard, junior, Esq .; from thence runs by said No. seven, south, eighty degrees east, six miles and an half, to a stake and heap of stones ;
Settled in Concord.
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from thence north, twenty-eight degrees east, eight miles, on ungranted land, to a beech tree; from thence north, eighty degrees west, six miles and an half, to patent line aforesaid ; from thence southerly by said patent line, to the bounds first mentioned. And you are to make due return of your doings unto me, with all convenient speed, upon oath.
Given under my hand and seal, at Portsmouth, this first day of July, in the eleventh year of His Majesty's reign, Anno que Domini 1771. Isc. RINDGE.
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
HILLSBOROUGH SS. DUNBARTON, June 17, 1805.
To the Hon. DAVID STORY, Esq., one of the Justices of the Peace for the County of Hillsborough : In behalf of said State complains Caleb Stark, and gives your honor to understand that one " Use me Well," a pedlar, who de- clares that to be his name, and not to be his name, being a transient traveler, trader and pedlar, and also offering a yard-stick, and declaring it to be the measure he uses, that is short measure, with an intent to defraud the good people of this State, and contrary to the law in that case made and provided : Therefore he prays your honor to issue your warrant to apprehend said "Use me Well," that he may be dealt with as to law and justice shall appertain. CALEB STARK.
.
JOHN WHIPPLE and ABRAHAM B. STORY, witnesses.
Mr. " Use me Well" was arrested by a warrant from Mr. Justice Story, but we have no report of the proceedings, to show what was the result, or whether the person's true name was " USE ME WELL," or some other convenient appellation .- Minutes from Jeremiah Page's Justice Docket.
In 1789, one Abel Rowell was arrested, and charged with burning the meeting-house in Hopkinton, on the
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complaint of Thomas Bailey, Benjamin B. Darling and Philip Greeley.
Bound over to the superior court at Amherst, and also confined in the jail at that place.
April ye 13, 1793. Received of John Gould (constable) six shillings, being a fine for breach of Sabbath.
August ye 1, 1793. Received of Joseph Towne a fine for riding ye 28 of July (Sabbath), five shillings.
August ye 11, 1788. "Thomas Mills, Compt. vs. Gould, Respondt. The respondent pleads guilty to stealing one sheep, valued at fifteen shillings, and two shillings with it; for which he was sentenced to pay a fine of twenty shillings, or be whipped thirteen stripes, which was done by Archibald Stark, constable.
Pay damages, Cost of suit, 0 19 4
£1 13 s. 6d.
" For damages and cost, he was ordered to be sold to labor for three months, to work, to any citizen of the United States, by said Mills, the complainant.
JEREH. PAGE, Jus. Peace."
The prisoner was sold at the tavern of Israel Clifford, and employed to break and clean flax. After he had dressed as much as he could carry, he escaped with it to parts unknown.
All the judges, at this period, signed blank writs, and among Judge Page's papers are many accounts for blanks signed for Edward St. Loe Livermore, Peter Green, Arthur Livermore, Charles Walker, Philip and Obadiah Carrigain, and others, practising lawyers of Hillsborough and Rock- ingham courts. The judge was a calm, quiet, agrecable man, and seldom ruffled by any event. One of his saying's was that " molasses caught more flies than vinegar." The Page family were of English origin.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM STINSON.
William Stinson was one of the early settlers of this town under the Masonian Grant, of 1751; was born of Scottish parents, in Ireland, March 15, 1725. From that country, while young, he emigrated with his father to Londonderry, in New-Hampshire. In the year 1751-2 he commenced a settlement in Starkstown, where for a time he lived alone in a log cabin. While he thus dwelt in this plain and unpretending abode, he received as a visitor the Rev. David McGregore, who dined with him. " Not having a table," says the historian of Londonderry, " nor anything that would answer for a better substitute, he was obliged to make use of a basket, turned up. The Rev. Mr. McGregore having been requested to solicit a blessing, pertinently and devoutly implored that his host might be blessed 'in his basket and in his store.' This was literally verified, as Mr. Stinson became one of the most wealthy men in the vicinity. He abominated idle people. He acted a prominent part in the settlement of the township, and filled, with credit to himself, many offices of trust and importance. Industrious and prudent in the management of his personal affairs, he became one of the most substantial freeholders within twenty miles of his residence."
We have heard from those present accounts of the fes- tival at his house when two of his daughters were married. It continued two days, on each of which a wedding was solemnized. On this occasion the spirit of Scotch-Irish hospitality was exhibited in bounteous profusion. There, " clansmen and kindred, and brothers and all," were bid- den, and answered the invitation by their personal appear- ance. The whole affair may truly be considered as a generous "outpouring from the horn of plenty," such as our town has not since witnessed.
The parties most particularly interested in these festiv- ities were Moses Chandler, of Hopkinton, and Miss Nelly Stinson ; Mr. Silas P. Mosure, of Salem, Mass., and Miss Eliza Stinson. The officiating clergyman was the Rev. Walter Harris.
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This double wedding celebration happened the year after the death of Captain Stinson. The lady who married Silas P. Mosure made an unfortunate match. She afterwards married David Page.
Thomas, the fourth son of Capt. William Stinson, senior, inherited a portion of his father's large estate, with his mansion house. His farm, after a number of years' occupancy by him, became the property of Deacon James Patterson, who, after residing upon it a few years, reconveyed it to the Stinson family. Mr. Patterson was an intelligent and scientific husbandman. He introduced many improvements upon the estate. We heard of him last as living in an active, " green old age," in some town in Massachusetts. His son James has traveled much in Europe, and is now head of the carrier department of the Boston post-office.
In 1796 Captain Stinson presented a clock to the town, which was placed on the gallery in the old meeting-house, fronting the pulpit. Within a few years it has been torn from its place, and demolished by the school-boys of the vicinity, who, in their heedless ravages, manifested neither respect for the sanctity of the place or the generosity of the donor.
Capt. Stinson died August 21, 1803, aged 78. He left a large real and personal estate. A considerable portion of his real property is owned by his grandsons, Charles and William C. Stinson, who are industrious and wealthy agriculturists, as also respectable members of society. The former has held several town offices, and in the years 1859 and 1860 was elected representative to the legislature.
Capt. WILLIAM STINSON, junior, second son of William, senior, was an excellent farmer and intelligent man. He was often employed in town affairs ; was liberal and hospitable. His wife was a superior woman, and his house one of the most agreeable visiting places in town. He was the father of Charles and William, above named ; as also of several daughters, one of whom, Letitia, is the wife of Col. William Kent, of Concord. Capt. William Stinson, jr., died April 8, 1822, aged 60.
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JOHN STINSON, brother of the above, was two years at Dartmouth college. He held at times the principal offices of the town; was selectman twenty-three years, and four years representative ; also major of the ninth regiment.
He was a man of firm principles and spotless integrity. Attached in early life to the cause of the democratic republican party, he was a strenuous advocate of popular rights and religious freedom. He exerted a powerful influence over the affairs of his native town.
DAVID STINSON, brother of William, senior, was slain by the Indians while hunting on Baker's river, in Rum- ney, April 29, 1752. His companions in the hunt were William Stark, John Stark and Amos Eastman. The name of Stinson has been bestowed upon a pond and brook in the vicinity of the place of his death. For par- ticulars of this affair, see Memoir of Gen. Stark.
Family Record .- William Stinson, b. March 15, 1725 ; Agnes Caldwell, b. June, 1734; married March 26, 1754. Children : David, b. Dec. 18, 1754; Margaret, b. Feb. 29, 1756 ; Mary, b. Nov. 15, 1757 ; Agnes, b. March 3, 1760; William, jr., b. March 4, 1762; Jean, b. March 17, 1764 ; James, b. June, 1769; Thomas, b. August 15, 1771 ; John, b. Oct. 17, 1773; Nelly, b. April 10, 1777 ; Elizabeth, b. July 3, 1779 ; Mary, b. Jan. 25, 1782.
ARCHIBALD STINSON was born August 31, 1740. He. was a thrifty farmer and large proprietor of land ; a firm patriot in the trying days of the Revolution, and ardently supported the republican administrations of his coun- try. He, with eight others, voted for Jefferson in 1796. The persons who thus voted were Archibald Stinson, John Stinson, Thomas Ayer, Israel and Jonathan Clifford, Simon Bailey,* Maj. Caleb Stark and Asa Burnham.
We remember Mr. Bailey as a well-informed, plausible and polite old gentleman. He was exceedingly firm in his republican principles, and zealous in their support. He was commonly called "Governor Bailey," but in copying all the votes ever given in this town for Governor, we found none recorded for Simon Bailey. He died at a great age. He was once moderator, and frequently sealer of leather. He wore shorts, with knee-buckles, and boots or shoes, with pointed, turning upward toes. In personal appearance he resembled President Van Buren, more than any person we ever saw.
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Jonathan Clifford is now living. These individuals may therefore be considered as the founders of the democratic republican party in this town. Their vote, at this time, was confirmed by the Presidential election of 1800-1801, which placed Thomas Jefferson at the head of the nation.
In 1789, June 22, Mr. Stinson, in company with Wil- liam Tenney, contracted to build the meeting-house, and finish the same on or before the first day of November, 1790.
He acquired a handsome estate, and was reputed as an honest, liberal and active member of the community. He was particularly indulgent and agreeable to young persons.
Family Record .- Archibald Stinson, b. August 3, 1740, married March 19, 1771. Children : William, b. May 25, 1772; Jeremiah, b. April 4, 1775; John, b. Sept. 27, 1777 ; Sally, b. Sept. 27, 1779 ; Betsey, b. Sept. 24, 1781; Polly, b. Oct. 10, 1784. Archibald Stinson, senior, died July 3, 1824, aged 85. His wife died Monday, Dec. 11, 1838. The following was written by a friend soon after the death of Mr. Stinson :
" Died at his residence in Dunbarton, after a distressing illness, July 3, 1824, Mr. Archibald Stinson, aged 85 years. He was among the first and most enterprising settlers of that town, and for a number of years past a member of the Congregational church in that place, and to all appearance a true believer and firm supporter of the Cross of Christ. He expired with the fullest confi- dence in the hope of a blessed immortality. He was a firm and undeviating patriot ; but although living in the days of the glorious struggle for American Independence, a fractured limb disqualified him for the duties of the field. He contributed largely and willingly to the support of that contest; and the war-worn veteran in the service of the Republic ever found a home and asylum under his roof, and his door was ever open to the helpless poor. He was unassuming in his manners, and modest without servility. He was ardent in his attachments and warm
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in his affections ; ever ready to incommode himself to oblige a friend. In his death an aged widow whom he has left will lament the loss of a kind and affectionate husband; his children that of an indulgent parent; his connections and numerous friends a warm-hearted, benev- olent fellow-citizen and friend."
JOHN STINSON, jr., son of the preceding, related the following wolf story. When a boy he was sent with a young sister, from his home near the meeting-house, to carry their dinner to his father and workmen, then mak- ing hay in a meadow more than a mile distant. The dinner basket contained, among other matters, a quarter of roasted lamb.
While following a path through the woods on the hill, a half mile south-east of the present residence of J. C. Ray, Esq., they were met by a wolf, which halted in the path directly in their front. The children, upon this apparition of an enemy disposed to dispute their "right of way," placed the basket on the ground, and retreated slowly backward, keeping " their faces to the foe."
The wolf advanced, and when they had seen him com- mence his dinner ( probably the first cooked meal he had ever tasted), they fled home, raised an alarm, a turn-out of hunters ensued, and a large wolf was slain in the course of the day.
Mr. Stinson afterwards received from his father the farm and meadow to which he was conveying the dinner as before mentioned. The land contained several noble groves of rock maples, of which several hundred were tapped annually, which sometimes produced two flour barrels of sugar.
Of this annual product he sold but a small portion. Of the remainder, not required for his family's consumption, he made liberal donations upon all applicants. His gen- erosity in this and in many other respects rendered him a popular favorite, particularly with the "young plants of grace" in his vicinity. He said he wished "to gain the
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good will of the children, for they would remember him in his old age."
We have not yet heard of one of them who did not kindly remember his generosity to them in youth. In the prime of his life he was one of the most active men of this region in all farming operations-particularly as a hay-maker and reaper. He died April 7, 1858, aged 82. Mrs. Stinson is still living in comfortable health for a person 86 years of age.
We have heard Mr. Stinson relate the following anec- dotes of his adventures in the olden time :
While on his way to market with a load of produce, he put up for the night at a tavern a few miles north of Boston. In the evening a party of young gentlemen and ladies from town came to the same inn for a frolic and dance. The entrance door of the dancing hall having a window, Mr. Stinson thought he was doing no harm in looking through it at the performance. He was observed by the company, one of whom took from a table, covered with decanters and glasses, one of the former and threw it at his head. The window and bottle were broken, and the visage of the spectator slightly wounded. Amid the shouts of merriment elicited from the party by what they considered a capital joke, the injured person retired, mut- tering to himself that he would "be even with them." He proceeded to the stable-yard and took out the linch- pins of the chaise wheels. The dancers departed at a late hour. On his way to town next morning our friend saw a few of the results of his experiment ; no persons, how- ever, were injured.
At one of the election shows at Concord many years ago, a person exhibited, among other matters, in a temporary shanty, two large live rattle-snakes in a box covered with glass. A party of Dunbarton and Weare men, full of fun and mischief, all being stout, athletic persons, proposed to Mr. Stinson, who particularly hated the serpent race, to kill them, assuring him that they
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would cover his retreat, and accordingly disposed of them- selves in such positions as to effect their object.
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