USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Durham > History of the town of Durham, New Hampshire (Oyster River Plantation) with genealogical notes, Volume 1 > Part 18
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After the dismissal of Mr. Coe the church was without a pastor for more than eleven years, declining in numbers and strength. The Rev. Samuel Greeley was paid $32, for preaching four Sab- baths in 1807, and widow Margaret Frost was paid $16 for board- ing him. Probably there was preaching by others from time to time, of which there is no record. There were no additions to the church from 30 October 1790 to 22 June 1817, nearly eight- een years. At the latter date there were only seven members of the church. In 1814 the Rev. Federal Burt came to Durham as agent of the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. From that time until his ordination he preached here at intervals, a considerable portion of that period. Thus he became interested in the people and the people in him. With the aid of the aforenamed society and also of the New Hampshire Missionary Society, together with the strenuous exertions of a few persons in Durham, provision was made for the support of a minister, and 18 June 1817 the Rev. Federal Burt was installed as the fifth pastor of the church. His ministry was one of un- surpassed prosperity. Old prejudices were laid aside, and gen- uine piety was promoted. Soon additions were made to the
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
church and continued from time to time. The largest addition was in 1826, following a revival, resulting in part from a meeting of the General Association. Thirty-seven new mem- bers were thus gained, not all stable converts, since five of them were afterwards excommunicated. This revival was greatly aided by the labors of the Rev. Henry Smith, son of Ebenezer Smith, Esq., of Durham, a graduate of Bowdoin Col-
REV. FEDERAL BURT
lege and of Andover Theological Seminary. During Mr. Burt's ministry the membership of the church increased from seven to about seventy.
The Rev. Federal Burt was born at Southampton, Mass., 4 March 1789 and, therefore, named Federal. He was graduated at Williams College in 1812. He married Mary Pickering of Newington in July 1819. In 1827 he suffered the amputation of a finger and then of an arm. His health being impaired, he
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
was appointed editor of the New Hampshire Observer, and he edited that paper till his death, 9 February 1828. He is des- cribed as "a man of large stature, of generous, magnanimous spirit, of ardent temperament, yet of sound judgment. Pos- sessing superior conversational powers, much ability in extem- poraneous speaking, and being skilled in adapting himself to people of different classes and conditions, he was a leader among his associates." When he was called to Durham he had another invitation to Salisbury, Conn., where the prospects were more
flattering, but a committee of ministerial brethren from the vicin- age expressed their "desire to have the assistance of another fellow labourer in the hard & barren ground of the part of the vineyard in which our Divine Master has seen fit to station us," and so Mr. Burt accepted the call to Durham. This record may convince some that in "the good old times" the churches were not more prosperous than at present. The people were not more religious, nor did they like to go to meeting any better than now. The ministers had more trials and it was harder to collect regularly their meager salaries. The Revs. John Buss, Hugh Adams, John Adams and Curtis Coe, all had great trouble in collecting amounts due to them according to terms of contracts made.
It is recorded that Mr. Burt was accustomed to wear in the pulpit the clerical gown of black silk, and that after the preach- ing service the audience respectfully arose and stood while Mr. and Mrs. Burt passed down the broad aisle. Have reverence and respect decreased in these latter days?
It was during the pastorate of Mr. Burt that the first Sunday School was formed in Durham. At a meeting held at the school house, Sunday evening, 23 March, 1819, James Bartlett, Jedediah Ingalls and Abraham Perkins were chosen directors of the proposed school, whose duty it was to select instructors and have the government and management of the school. Joseph Hanson, Benjamin Mathes, Jr., and James Joy were another committee to procure clothing for the destitute and funds for the school. The following instructors and pupils are on record. Valentine Smith's class consisted of Hamilton Smith, Charles Parks, John Parks, John Odell, Daniel Holt and John Hanson. Miss Martha Leighton had under her care a class whose names. are not recorded, and the same is true of Mr. Joseph Hanson ..
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
Miss Abigail Ballard taught the following, Mary Jackson, Mary Chesley, Laura Emerson, Susan Leighton, Louisa Doe, Jane Chesley and Sarah Chesley.
The class of Miss Sarah Richardson consisted of Mary Hull 13, Eliza Meserve II, Rebecca Pickering II, Betsey Henderson 9, Charity Willey 8, Dorothy Garland 7, and Adaline Griffin 15.
Miss Margaret Blydenburgh had for pupils, Martha Board- man, Harriet Pickering, Sarah Garland, Harriet Libbey, Mary Thompson, Mehitable Doe, and Elizabeth Holt.
Miss Charlotte Gregg had in her class Eliza Chesley 12, Eliza Ingalls 9, Clarissa Coos 12, Caroline Tego 17, Jane Parks 5, Fanny Hull II, Abigail Emerson and Mehitable Morse 7.
Miss Abigail Joy had as pupils Mary Davis, Caroline Follett, Lucy A. Hull, Jane Boardman, Mary Chesley, Lydia Yeaton, Elizabeth Yeaton 7, and Mehitable Bunker 7.
The successor of the Rev. Federal Burt was the Rev. Robert Page, who was born 25 April 1790, graduated at Bowdoin Col- lege in 1810, at Andover Seminary in 1815, was ordained and settled at Bradford, N. H., in 1822 and was installed at Dur- ham 3 December 1826. He specified in accepting the call that his small salary should be paid regularly. This was not done, and so he resigned his pastorate after a little more than two years. He was dismissed by Council 31 March 1831. The Council declared him to be "an able minister of Jesus Christ, highly esteemed in our congregations and approved and beloved by his brethren in the ministry." He afterwards labored with success at Hanover, Hillsborough and Lempster and died 12 January 1876.
The Rev. Alvan Tobey, D. D., succeeded Mr. Page. He was born at Wilmington, Vt., I April 1808, graduated at Amherst College in 1828 and at Andover Seminary in 1831. He began preaching at Durham the first Sabbath of October of 1831 and was ordained 20 November 1833. His salary was $500, of which $100 were paid by the New Hampshire Missionary Society. In 1854 the salary was increased to $650 in consequence of Mr. Tobey's proposal to withdraw. More than once he had to stir up the brethren to make due collections for his salary, yet he remained till January 1871. In 1867 subscriptions were ob- tained to nearly double his salary. Before that he declared that he received only half enough to comfortably support his
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
family. He was greatly esteemed and the church prospered under his ministry of nearly thirty-nine years. One hundred and forty-nine members were added to the church, thirty-four of them in the year 1868. Mr. Tobey removed to Somersworth, where he died 20 September 1874.
It was during his pastorate, in 1848-49, that the old meeting
REV. ALVAN TOBEY, D.D.
house was torn down and the new church was erected, which con- tinues unto the present day. Mr. Tobey saw the need of this and advocated it several years before the work was accomplished. Elder John Adams of Adams Point bought the old meeting house and with the lumber erected some boarding houses at Salmon Falls and Great Falls. Some of the round posts under the gal-
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
leries now form a part of the pagoda on the shore of the bay near the residence of Mr. Adams.
The new meeting house, or church, as some have since pre- ferred to call it, was erected on a lot purchased of Samuel Dun- star for $250. The contractor and builder was Moses H. Wiggin, Esq. The plans cost $31, and the cost of the furnace for heating it was $150. The total cost was $3,325. In 1851 an organ was put in at a cost of $500. The church was paid for by
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
sale of pews, a method of church building then much in vogue, which public opinion now disapproves as hostile to the general spirit and purpose of a christian church. The rich and the poor should meet together for worship, the Lord being the maker of them all. The easiest way of getting money for religious purposes is not always the best way. The new church was dedi- cated 13 September 1849.
The successor of Mr. Tobey was the Rev. Henry Laurens Talbot, born 4 August 1836 at East Machias, Me. He was graduated at Andover Seminary in 1870 and was installed at
14
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH "A day in thy courts is better than a thousand."
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
Durham, I January 1873. He was dismissed at his request 13 March 1882 and made his residence in Durham until his death. During his pastorate twenty-five new members were added to the church.
The Rev. Samuel H. Barnum was the next pastor. He was graduated at Yale College in 1875 and at Yale Theological Sem- inary in 1879. He preached about three years at Salisbury, N. H. He began his ministry in Durham 30 July 1882 and was installed 25 April 1883. During his pastorate was organized the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. He was dis- missed 25 March 1890, having accepted a call to Cornwall, Vt.
The church was then without a settled pastor till 30 April 1895, during which time the Rev. Charles H. Chapin acted as pastor. He was educated at Cornell University and had preached at Acworth and Lyme, N. H. During his pastorate the church was repaired and enlarged, and a new organ and a new furnace were put in.
The Rev. Oliver D. Sewall commenced preaching in Durham, I April 1895. He was born at Chesterville, Me., 23 January 1865 and was graduated at Bowdoin College in 1887 and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1892. He was pastor at Strong, Me., two years. He was installed at Durham 30 April 1895, and remained two years. He was assistant pastor at Brookline, Mass., from 1897 till 1909, and has since been pastor at Great Barrington, Mass.
The Rev. William S. Beard was born in Harwich, Mass., 9 June 1870, son of the Rev. William Henry and Mary Adelaide (Parker) Beard, grandson of the Rev. Spencer Field Beard. He was graduated from Phillips Academy, Andover, in 1890, from Yale Academic in 1894 and from the Yale Divinity School in 1897. After serving a short time at Westchester and at South Killingly, Conn., he accepted a call to Durham, where he began his work in July 1897. He was ordained and installed 28 Sep- tember 1897, and remained till the last Sunday in June 1908. During his pastorate the parsonage was purchased and en- tirely remodeled; the chapel was moved from its old location to its present one and was enlarged, providing parlor, study, dining room and kitchen. The church and chapel were painted and renovated, newly cushioned and carpeted and refitted with elec- tric lights, and water was introduced. Mr. Beard was secre-
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
tary of the Village Improvement Society and served six months on the school board. He was called to the First Congregational Church at Willimantic, Conn., where he began his work in September 1908, and where he still is pastor.
The successor of Mr. Beard was the Rev. Telesphore Taisne, son of Augustin and Clara (Le Vigne) Taisne, born in Caulery, France, 29 May 1876. He was educated at the French-American College, Springfield, Mass., graduating in 1899, and in Hartford
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Theological Seminary, graduating in 1902. He was ordained to the Congregational ministry at the French church, Marlboro, Mass., 25 November 1902, and remained with that church two years. From 1903 to 1909 he was pastor of the Sixth Street Church, Auburn, Me., where he was a member of the school board. He began preaching in Durham the first Sunday in February 1909, and was installed as pastor 18 May of the same year, where he remained till his death, 23 December 1911, from
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
typhoid fever. He married, 2 July 1902, at Westfield, Mass., Winifred N. Chisholm, daughter of Oscar H., and Julia (Cuson) Chisholm, who survives him. During his pastorate he taught very acceptably several classes in French in the college and the last year of his life he had charge of the chapel exercises. Mr. Taisne was regarded as one of the stronger preachers of his denomination, and his untimely death cast a gloom over the community.
The present pastor of the church is the Rev. Fred T. Knight, who was born in Boston, Mass., 12 August 1859. He was edu- cated at the Boston Latin School, Harvard, 1881, Harvard Law School, 1884, Hartford Theological Seminary, 1895. He prac- tised law ten years in Boston. His pastorates have been in Quincy, Mass., 1897-1900, Stamford, Conn., 1902-04, North- bridge, Mass., 1904-08, Harwich, Mass., 1910-12, Durham, I December 1912 to the present time. He married, 29 June 1898, Cara W. Hanscom.
DEACONS, AND DATES OF THEIR ELECTION
Nathaniel Hill, 1718
Samuel Emerson, 1718
John Ambler, 1718 James Nock, 1721
John Williams, 1722 James Langley, 1724 Joseph Wheeler, 1732
Jonathan Thompson, before 1738 James M. Smart, 1869
Ebenezer Smith, before 1752
Benjamin Wheeler, before 1766 Jeremiah Burnham Hubbard Stevens, before 1765
Lieut. John Smith
Nathaniel Norton, before 1777 Samuel Joy, 1791
Valentine Mathes, 1781, de- clined to serve
Walter Bryant, 1781 Abraham Perkins, 1819 William Wiggin, 1826 John Thompson, 1835 William Tuttle, Jr., 1869
John E. Thompson, 1874 Winthrop S. Meserve, 1877 Albert Young, 1894 Charles H. Pettee, 1896
Arthur F. Nesbitt, 1907 Forrest E. Cardullo, 1912 Charles E. Hewitt, 1913
PARSONAGES
The first parsonage, occupied by the Rev. John Buss, was near the first meeting house, by the oyster bed, and was burned in 1694. Just where Mr. Buss lived afterward does not appear, but
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
there is a tradition that he lived on the parsonage lot, just south of the road from the Falls to the Point.
Another parsonage was built in 1739, on an acre of land bought of Lieut. Samuel Smith, and Lieut. Jonathan Thompson and Lieut. Francis Mathes were a committee to receive a deed for the same. The price paid was £31. This land was near the top of the hill as one goes from the Falls to the Point, on the north side of the road after passing the road to Newmarket, in
THE PARSONAGE
the rear of the small house now called the Johnson house. The town records say that this parsonage was sold in 1831 for $26.50. Here lived the Rev. John Adams and the Rev. Curtis Coe.
The house built about 1720 by the Rev. Hugh Adams, a few rods south of the so-called Sullivan house, was occupied by him and later by the Rev. Mr. Tobey, and has been called a parsonage, though it was never owned by the parish. It was removed to the north side of Denbow's brook, on the road to Newmarket, was repaired and is still in good condition.
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HISTORY OF DURIIAM
The present parsonage of the Congregational Church was built by Capt. Andrew Lapish Simpson before his marriage to Lydia Kelley, 23 September 1840. The barn was the old house owned and occupied by William Odiorne, ship-builder and com- missioner for the preservation of forests. He married Avis, daughter of the Rev. Hugh Adams. He sold his "mansion house" to Timothy Meader in 1770. Afterward it was owned by Robert Lapish, and then by his son-in-law, Andrew Simpson, and by Capt. Simpson until about the time of his marriage. His widow, Mrs. Lydia (Kelley) Simpson, died 31 May 1895, aged 81 years and four months. She joined the church in Durham, 10 February 1833, and was always liberal in its support. She is remembered as kind and benevolent, a friend to the church and to all in need; one whose social qualities drew around her many friends. She bequeathed this house to the Congregational Society in Durham and to the Durham Library Association. The latter sold their half to the former, and the house has been used as a parsonage since 1895. Capt. Simpson was a noted sea-captain and doubled Cape Horn twenty-six times. He was representative several years in the State legislature. He died 18 December 1870.
THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN DURHAM
The organization of this church was due to the efforts of the Rev. William Demeritt, who was ordained at Lee, II July 1816, together with the Rev. Israel Chesley. The audience was so large that the meeting house could not hold them. A hay-rack was turned upside down, and the bottom of it was used as a platform for the ordination ceremonies.
Elder Demeritt was a minister of commanding presence and popular gifts. He served in the ministry gratuitously on prin- ciple. He also acted as selectman in 1812, 1833 and 1834. He is said to have baptized and married more persons than any other minister in his region of country. The baptisms were by immersion just below the bridge, and sometimes the ice was cut from the river in preparation for the solemn rite.
The First Christian Church was organized 4 December 1819 and held its first meetings in private houses and in the old school house west of the residence of Mrs. Albert L. Comings. The brick meeting house was built on the site of the old George
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
Chesley dwelling house, which was burned 24 September 1823, when widow Sarah Chesley and Patrick Cogan, who had been a quartermaster in the Revolution, perished in the flames. The brick church was dedicated 20 January 1825.
The following brief but sufficient agreement was made by the first members of this church:
We the subscribers, professed followers of Jesus Christ, agree to strive to walk together in the spirit of a Church of Christ, to take the scriptures for our guide and Christ our head, to watch over each other for our benefit, the strong to bear the infirmities of the weak, and so fulfill the law of God, to be known by the name of the First Christian Church in Durham.
The organizing members were Daniel Mathes, Robert Mathes, James Chesley, Benjamin Mathes, Ebenezer Doe, Richard Kent, John Meader, Ebenezer Parsons, Benjamin Dame, Isaac Water- house, William Demeritt, Aenon Barhew, Deborah Chesley, Mrs. Lapish, Elizabeth Durgin, Sally Chesley, Susan Mathes, Betsy Mathes, Sally Doe, Olive Emerson, Mary Demeritt, Comfort Laskey, Sally Parsons, Susan Chesley, Mary Dame, Drusilla Wiggin, Hannah Pendergast, Nancy Fowler, Abigail Demeritt, Betsy Randall, Lovey Whitehouse, Margaret Appleton, Lois Smart, Mrs. Henderson, Loisa Doe, Abigail Leighton, Lovey Edgerly, Olive Smart, Avis Bodge, and Sally Mathes.
Elder Elijah Shaw became the minister of this church in 1842, when there were thirty-four male members and fifty female members; notwithstanding twenty-three members had died since its organization and forty had joined other churches. Rev. Elijah Shaw was born at Kensington, N. H., 19 December 1793 and died at Fall River, Mass., 5 May 1851. He served as pastor at Salisbury, Mass., Portland, Me., Lowell, Mass., Durham, Franklin, N. H., and Fall River, Mass., and also as editor of the Christian Journal. Elder Mosher was chosen pastor in 1850 and Elder J. S. Smith in 1862.
The Christian Society was incorporated. in 1850 and the fol- lowing persons signed its Constitution: James Langley, Daniel Mathes, Stephen Reynolds, Gideon C. Pitman, James Smart, Jacob Sheppard, Thomas B. Mathes, Clement M. Davis, Thomas Bartlett, Samuel Runlett, Richard Follet, Daniel Lee, John Ellison, William J. Chesley, William Walker, Samuel E. Mosher, William W. Jackson, Timothy Demeritt, Nathan Keniston, Caleb G. Cloutman, Albert L. Gleason, J. S. Smith,
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
H. W. B. Grover, Charles H. Whitehorn, Willard C. Tufts, William D. Langley, Marcus M. Estabrooks, Albert Young, and Job. R. Giles.
The church gradually declined and the brick meeting house was sold at auction, with the land adjoining, 11 June 1889, to the Town School District, for $255. The proceeds were divided among the pew owners, the final dividend being made in 1894.
ROADS
For some years after the first settlements in Dover the rivers were the only highways, and the only vehicles were boats. When horses came into use, bridle paths were made through the forests, following probably in some instances old Indian trails. These were gradually widened to permit the hauling of masts and tim- ber. The winding paths of least resistance were followed, little care being taken to avoid steep hills or to cut them down. The brooks and shallow streams were forded. Bridges and carriage roads came much later. For the Mast Roads in Durham see Miss Mary P. Thompson's Landmarks in Ancient Dover for a full description.
The first road of which there is any historical mention is that from Oyster River Point, now Durham Point, to "Hills Mill," at the Falls, in 1659, when this highway was presented at Court because of its bad condition. The path at the head of John- sons' Creek was presented at the same time. This was the path leading from the Falls to Cochecho.
In 1663 Philip Chesley and Patrick Jameson were chosen "to lay out the heigways from Oyster River to Cochechae and make the heigways fitt for horse and foot and bring thear a Compt of thear charges to the Townsmen."
In 1664 Capt. Ralph Hall and Dea. John Hall were ordered to lay out a highway from Lamprill River fall to the water side in Great Bay, through what was afterward called Doe's Neck, in Newmarket, then a part of Dover. See page 32.
In 1686 John Woodman, Thomas Edgerly, Nicholas Harrison, John Wingate, and John Tuttle, selectmen, reported that they had laid out highways as follows: "from Willies Creeke near Bickfords Ferry unto Oyster River fall," and also a road to "Bel- limans banke falls, neare along as the path goes fouer Rods in breadth as it was formerly laid out by John Bickford and John Woodman by a Towne order." They also reported that they had "bin Uppon the high wayes betwixt Oyster River and Lam- perele River & have laid out the high wayes as the path goes to be fouer Rod wide from Oyster River falls to Lampriele River falls, or about fortie Rods above it as may be most convenient,
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SULLIVANS FALLS LAMBREY RIVER
THE POOL AT SULLIVANS FALLS
LAMPREY RIVER SECOND FALLS, OR SULLIVAN'S FALLS In this vicinity Gen. John Sullivan had six mills, The water power has not been used for a long time.
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
and we have Laid out a highway from oyster River falls unto the freshett or over the River into the Commons by Edward Smalls of fower Rod wide near as the Path now goes."
In 1701 it was voted in Dover town meeting "that a highway be laid out from the mast path to the Cheslies mill on Oyster River over the freshet, to run by Edward Smalls and so clear threw to the old way formerly Laid into the commons by Edward Smalls and so to Lamperele Second Falls maintaining the same breadth." This is the southerly branch of the Mill Road, after crossing Oyster River at Chesley's Mill, where the ruins of the old dam are plainly seen. On this road or near it lived Jabez Davis and Dea. John E. Thompson in more recent times, whose lonely abandoned house is perched upon the bank close to the railroad cutting. Here was once a fine farm, with beautiful shade trees and orchard and five miles of well laid stone wall. Further out on this road, now abandoned, lived Edward Small two hundred or more years ago. In Mr. Caverno's lower field and near the river is an old cellar, where some say Mr. Bal- lard built a house, but the land seems to be described in a deed from Jonathan Woodman and his wife, Elizabeth, of Dover, for "ye Natural Love & affection wch I have & bear to my Sister Mary Small of Moniemay." The conveyance was of twenty acres on the "south Side of Oyster River Betwixt ye Mill Pond & ye River" and the date was 10 June 1707.
In the year 1719 there was a petition for the reopening of the old road from the Falls along the northwesterly side of the freshet, or mill-pond. The original petition is of great interest, since it has the autograph signatures of over forty of the men of Oyster River at that time. The petition is here given with the names underwritten, except two or three that can not be de- ciphered easily.
To the Worshipfull Justices now siting at porthmouth the Compleint of us the Subscribers hombly shueth that where as the town of Douer have granted and Laid out highways at the hed of oyster River and also Land Laid out for a Landing place for Laying of Timber & other goods which now fenced up by Cap Nathanil Hill and sons is great damage to the Inhabitenc there for their
RESIDENCE OF THE LATE DEA. JOHN E. THOMPSON
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
halling of timber wood and fencing which we hope your Worships will consider the matter and do his Majesties subjects Justice in that affair.
Solomon Davis
Thomas Davis
David Kincaid
Moses Davis
Joshua Davis
John Tasker
Abraham Clark
Edward Pomry
Thomas Drew
James Clark
William Drew
Tomas Drew
Eli Clark
Clement Drew
Samuel Davis
Joseph Jenkens
Peter Mason
Joseph Smalle
William Pitman
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