USA > New Jersey > Burlington County > Burlington > History of the church in Burlington, New Jersey : comprising the facts and incidents of nearly two hundred years, from original, contemporaneous sources > Part 32
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" Sincere friend & Br " CHARLES H. WHARTON.
"P. S. Be pleased to inform Mrs Parker (with my Compts) that Mrs French's old Betty was buried yesterday in our Church- yard.
" The REV JOHN CROES, D. D., " New Brunswick, " New Jersey."
Postmarked " Burl Dec 24"
376
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
A VIGOROUS LETTER ON SEVERAL TOPICS.
Rev. Dr. Wharton to Rev. Dr. Croes.
"Jany 29th 1812.
" REVEREND & DEAR SIR
"Your letter of the 25th Inst. inclosing your very liberal dona- tion to poor is received. I have inclosed the note to Dr -, & wait only for an opportunity of sending it. On Friday last I went to Mount Holly in consequence of an invitation to dine with Major Cox on the occasion of his daugh- ter's wedding. I there met, as I expected, with the two Mr Wilmers, M' Turner, Mr Higbee & several of the Congregation. Mr has ordered Allison to transmit a copy of his sermon to each of our Clergy. I prevailed upon him to alter a few obnoxious expressions, & to omit a great body of annotations ; but could not persuade him to suppress them all. Indeed, I advised him as delicately as I could, not to print the Sermon at all, but he conceived that it had been mis- represented, & that its usefulness would exceed the disapproba- tion it might meet with. I suggested that this with me, was a matter of doubt ; & the event must show which of us is right. I corrected some of the first proof-sheets, but the Printer relied on his own accuracy as to others ; inserted sentences which I had marked for omission, & has, of course, sent it to the public- in rather an imperfect state. I have just finished reading Bp. Hobart's statement. It is powerfully written, & with me is con- clusive. How Bp. Brovoost, & the other advocates of Mr Jones can answer to God, or the Church for their conduct, I cannot conceive. If Jones be not a convicted schismatic, there- never was a person of that description, & we had better expunge one of the petitions of the Litany. Some think that the peace. of the Church of N. York is of such consequence as to authorize the call for a General Convention. What is your opinion ? Could such a measure be effectual in restoring harmony, & ob- viating any further dissentions of this nature, I should be clearly for embracing it. We want some decisive regulations for coercing the disturbers of the Church's peace, & punishing
377
IN BURLINGTON.
rebels to her constitutional authority. What is any Personal immorality, against which our Canons are levelled, compared to the crime of defeating the purposes of all religious associations by introducing confusion into the government, & deadly dissen- tions among the Members of the Church ? The cry of Tyranny & persecution is too stale a pretext to have any weight under the liberal polity of our Ecclesiastical institutions. It is too late in the day to renew in this Country appeals to the public feelings, which would have disgraced old Cartwright & the other Puri- tans in the reign of Elizabeth; of which, indeed, even they would have been ashamed. God change their hearts, say I, &- bring them to repentance & better minds, or enable our Zion, at any rate, to get rid of the author of all this mischief. Mrs W. sends her regards to you and yrs, & I remain
" Yr. respectful friend & aff'te Br " C. H. W. " The Revª John Croes, D. D., " Brunswick, " New Jersey." Postmarked " Burl" Jany 31."
CHRISTIAN HANCKEL, CANDIDATE FOR DEACON.
At a meeting of the standing committee at Burlington, on the 14th day of July, 1812, " documents were presented by Mr. Christian Hanckelt a candidate for the order of Deacon, which being taken into consideration, the following resolution was agreed to :
" Resolved, That the said Christian Hanckel be considered a candidate, from the said first day of October, 1812.
" The Rev. Mr. Wilmer, the Rev. Dr. Wharton, and Mr. Joshua M. Wallace, were appointed a committee to examine the said Christian Hanckel."
[Afterwards Rev. Dr. Hanckel a prominent Presbyter of South Carolina, who died in 1870, aged 82 years.]
+ "1811, Feb. 11th.
Baptized Christian Hanckel, an adult."-Parish Register.
378
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
EXTEMPORE PRAYER AGITATED. +
"In the year 1813, a disposition was manifested by a few persons to meet on Sunday evenings for public worship in each other's houses ; dispensing with the order of Evening Prayer prescribed in the Prayer Book : and the same persons thought that it would improve the regular services in the Church, if the clergyman would offer an extempore prayer before, or after, his sermon. Neither idea was well received in the congregation of St. Mary generally. And the persons inclined to it, refered the matter to Dr. Boudinot, who, from his Huguenot descent and Presbyterian relations, it was thought, might favor it. Acting, however, under the advice of his friend and kinsman, Judge Wallace, who had been more straightly bred in the Church, he could not be brought to commit himself. He agreed however to refer the matter to the Rector and in certain queries signed ' A Layman,' he asked Dr. Wharton's opinion as to the mat- ter. The Rector, with great discretion, expressed his wish to consult Bishop White, whose opinion he felt sure would be re- ceived as conclusive. An original letter from the Bishop to Dr. Wharton, among the collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, gives the Bishop's views."
BISHOP WHITE ON EXTEMPORE PRAYER.
Bishop White to Rev. Dr. Wharton. " Sep. 26. 1813. " REVP & DEAR SIR :
" I recd your Letter of Tuesday & have an Opportunity, by Judge Wallace, of freely giving you my Opinion on ye two Points prominent in ye Inquiries addressed to you by The Layman. They are Extempore Prayer before & after Sermon, & Meetings in private Houses for Worship.
" In regard to ye former, I remember it to have been under- stood, in framing ye 34th Canon, that it was considered as intended against mixing Prayers of the Minister with ye pre- scribed Service. Further, as notwithstanding ye more energetic
¡ We are indebted to John Wm. Wallace, Esq , President of the Historical -Society of Pennsylvania, for this contribution, and the letter following it.
379
IN BURLINGTON.
Authority in ye established Church of England, there has been allowed therein ye Practice of praying before & after Sermon (some Ministers doing this very briefly in a Collect, & others more at length according to their own Conceptions) it seems to me not wise to endeavour to restrain ye Matter among us, by Ecclesiastical Authority. But when a Minister, because not prohibited, instead of a short Prayer confined to ye Impressing of religious Instruction on ye Minds of ye People, branches out in Petitions for sundry Matters before solicited from ye Desk, he could hardly give a more unequivocal Proof, that he has con- formed to ye latter in meer compliance with ecclesiastical Laws ; & that he is now indulging himself in a way of Praying, more agreeable to his Taste. I have known this done sometimes from what manifestly appeared a Disrelish for our Church Service ; & at other Times, from ye coxcomical Vanity of Self-exhibition. In either Case, I believe, that all judicious Members of our Church entertain a Dislike of ye Practice.
" As to the other Point, however moderately expressed by ye Layman, it is evidently intended to go to ye Question of those religious Societies which in all ye essential Properties of Social Worship, differ Nothing from an organized Assembly under ye Name of a Church. My Maxim has always been in Relation to such Societies, neither to encourage, nor to do any Thing to counteract them. I do not encourage them because, so far as my Knowledge of them extends, they have been conducted on such a Plan in ye best of ye Cases, as is alien from what is esteemed a rational Worship by our Church; & in most of ye Cases have been a meer Exercise of what are called Gifts : several Persons praying in Succession, generally for ye same Things ; which I consider worthy of abhorrence.
" If it be asked, why I would not exert myself to counteract such Meetings ; my principal Reason is, that of ye many which I have known from early Life to exist in this City, not one has lasted long. Which I take to have been principally owing to this, that Persons of real Piety & Virtue, after a while, discover that they have become associated with Persons so very faulty in important Points that ye Disrepute of their Characters lights on
380
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
all ye Members of a Body, formed on ye Principle of ye Profes- sion of an extraordinary Degree of Piety. I will also remark that ye Advocates of such Societies are scarcely ever known to have a Relish for such Prayer-Meetings as are sanctioned by ye Laws & ye immemorial usages, of our Church. The Reason is evident, in ye different Maxims by which ye two Species of Wor- ship are conducted.
" I remain, " Your affte Brother, "WM : WHITE."
THE STATE OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
" A committee appointed by the Convention in the Diocess of New Jersey, in May, 1814, for the purpose of examining the state of the Church, in that diocess, and ascertaining what improvements have taken place, since the sitting of last General Convention :
"With pleasure, proceed to the state of St. Mary's Church, at Burlington. This congregation, long respectable and flourish- ing, continues to preserve its rank among the first in the diocess, as well with respect to the number and piety of its members, as the value of its funds, and the decency and neatness of its Church. The latter has lately been enlarged, and very much improved and beautified by a new arrangement of its pulpit and pews.
" From the last report of the Rev. Dr. Charles H. Wharton, its Rector, it appears that the congregation consists of fifty-six families and thirty-eight communicants ; that the number of baptisms, since the last General Convention, has been sixty, and that, in November last, about thirty-six persons, were confirmed by the Right Rev. Bishop White."-Convention Journal.
THE DEATH OF WILLIAM SMITH.
" 1814, Oct. 1st. Buried William Smith, aged 84, a Vestry- man of this Church."-Parish Register.
381
IN BURLINGTON.
He is remembered as standing at the Church door, at Christ- mas, Easter, and Whitsunday, with a box to receive the quarterly offerings of the people. t
DR. WHARTON'S ON OFFICIATING AT MT. HOLLY. " Oct" 17th 1814
" GENTLEMEN
" The increasing hardness of the times renders it necessary for me to look out for some additional sources of income to sup- ply the losses which my own little funds are continually ex- periencing .- The $600 paid me from the funds of the Church are not equivalent to the value of 300, 3 years ago-so that after considerable retrenchments, I foresee some embarrassment in my expenses. I have as yet made no arrangement in any quarter ; and although I do not conceive myself bound by my original engagement with the Vestry of this Church to officiate oftener than once every Sunday, yet the uniform kindness which I have experienced from them for more than 16 years, and their willingness to contribute to my emoluments & com- fort as far as they have been able have induced me to mention my intention, & to request their approbation of an offer of part of my services to another congregation of our Church. It has been intimated to me that the congregation at Mount Holly would readily accept of such an offer on my part ; which would be to officiate in that Church every other Sunday morning, & then return to Burlington in time for afternoon service, except- ing in the months of December, Jan'y, February & March. During these months I would engage to attend occasionally only.
"On this plan, divine service would be performed at least once a day on every Sunday throughout the year, and twice on
+ In the account book of that date are these items- "1813
Dec 25 By Collection at Christmas at the Door 1814 Communion Table,
$6.50
7.88
14.38
April 11 By Collection yesterday Easter Sunday at the door
5.85
Communion Table
7.59
13.44
May 13 By Collection yesterday (Whitsunday) at the door
2.86
Communion Table
5.511
8.371
382
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
every other Sunday for 8 months. Such are my present inten- tions, if the future state of my health should permit me to realize them, & should they meet with your chearful approbation.
" I remain, Gentlemen, your sincere " friend & h'ble servant in Xt " CHARLES H. WHARTON." "To the Vestry."
SECOND ELECTION OF A BISHOP FOR NEW JERSEY.
Aug. 30th, 1815. The annual Conventon of the Diocese of New Jersey, was held, in St. Michael's Church, Trenton. A sermon was delivered by the Rev. Charles H. Wharton, D. D., Rector of St. Mary's Church, Burlington. 3
The Rev. John Croes, D. D., President of the last Convention, took the chair. The other clergy present were the Revds John C. Rudd, of Eliz- abeth Town ; Simon Wilmer, of Swedesborough ; James Chap- man of Perth Amboy; John Croes, Jun., of Shrewsbury ; Lewis Pintard Bayard, of Newark ; George Y. Morehouse, Deacon, of Mount Holly.
Eighteen parishes were represented by lay-deputies, those from Burlington being Joshua M. Wallace, William Coxe, and Jackson B. French.
" The Rev. Mr. Rudd, by the sixth article, took the chair, as President. On motion of the Rev. Dr. Croes, it was resolved, that the thanks of the Convention be presented to the Rev. Dr. Wharton, for his sermon delivered this day, at their request.
"On motion, the Convention went into the election of a Bishop, by orders, and the Rev. Messrs. Chapman, and Wilmer, and Rob- ert Boggs, Esq., were appointed a committee to receive and count the ballots.
" The committee, after examining the votes, reported that there were,
" For the Rev. John Croes, D. D., 4 Clergymen, 15 Churches.
" For the Rev. Charles H. Wharton, D. D., 1 Clergyman, 5 Churches ; and that,
" The Rev. Dr. Wharton and the Rev. Dr. Croes did not vote.t
+ Only two months previous, Dr. Croes had been elected to the Episcopate of Connecticut. And while the committee of that Diocese were in correspon- dence with their Bishop-elect, in regard to his support, consecration -and removal, the Convention of New Jersey, elected him with great unanimity to the Episcopate of that Diocese. New Jersey was his home, and with two nitres before him, he took the one which would allow him to remain among his old friends .- Beardsley's History of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut.
383
IN BURLINGTON.
" The election being in favour of the Rev. Dr. Croes, the Con- vention proceeded to sign the Testimonial, required by the third Canon of the General Convention. t
"The Convention, on motion, went into the election of a Stand- ing Committee, and of Deputies to the General Convention. For the Standing Committee, in addition to the President, who is ex- oficio President of that body, the following were appointed : the Rev. Dr. Wharton, Rev. John Croes, Jun., Rev. L. P. Bay- ard, Joshua M. Wallace, Robert Boggs, Isaac Lawrence, Isaac H. Williamson.
" For Deputies to the General Convention : the Rev. Dr. Wharton, Rev. John C. Rudd, Rev. S. Wilmer, Rev. J. Chap- man, Joshua M. Wallace, Josiah Harrison, William Chetwood, Peter Kean."-Convention Journal.
A SUNDAY SCHOOL ORGANIZED.
In the spring of 1816, a Sunday School was organized, in St. Mary's Parish, in the building of the Burlington Academy, through the efforts of Charles P. McIlvaine, and others. Mr. McIlvaine was then but a little more than seventeen years of age. On the first day of the opening of the Sunday School, about forty children were present, and six teachers, viz : Charles P. McIlvaine, Thomas Aikman, Mary Wallace, Rachel Wal- lace, Susan Sterling, and Bertha S. Ellis. }
PROSPECTS FROM THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Aug. 28th, 1816, the Rev. Dr. Wharton appends to his paro- chial report : " That the congregation is attentive and regular ; and that, from the establishment of a Sunday School, consisting of about 150 persons, there is a promising prospect of a consid- erable accession to the Church."
¡ The Rev. John Croes, D. D., was consecrated as the first Bishop of New Jersey, on Sunday, Nov. 19th, 1815, in St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia, by the Rt. Rev. William White, D. D., presiding Bishop, the Rt. Rev. John Henry Hobart, D. D., Assistant Bishop of New York, and the Rt. Rev. James Kemp, D. D., Suffragan Bishop of Maryland. For a full biographical notice of Bishop Croes, see Sprague's Annals, pp. 378-383.
į Mrs. Davidson, formerly Bertha S. Ellis, communicated.these facts to me. in Burlington, May 25th, 1872. G. M. H.
384
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
GIFT OF A BAPTISMAL BOWL.
The Parish received a silver baptismal bowl, which, in Sep., 1839, (together with a piece of silver presented by Mrs. Kath- rine Pierce, in 1745,) was made into an alms bason, having on the bottom of it this inscription : "Presented by Elias Boudinot, LL. D., for the use of St. Mary's Church in Burlington, 1816."
THE SUPPORT OF A BISHOP.
Extract from the minutes of St. Mary's Church, of Jan. 1st, 1817.
"A circular letter to the Rev. Doctor Wharton, Rector, accompanied by a book containing an extract from the minutes of the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocess of New Jersey, respecting the mode of raising subscrip- tions for the support of a Bishop in this State, and recommending the circulation of subscriptions for said purpose, was laid before the Vestry by the Rector according to the desire of a Committee of the Vestry of the Church at New Brunswick, and requesting that suitable persons might be appointed by the Vestry of this Church to circulate a subscription book 'through this Parish,' &c., &c. In consequence of which M. Hancock and Mr. Wal- lace were appointed a committee for the said purpose."
"A true Extract certified by " JOSHUA M. WALLACE, Sec'y."
A LEGACY FOR CHANDELIERS.
At the close of his Parochial Report for 1817, Dr. Wharton adds : " A legacy of 266 dollars has been left to the Church, by the late Miss Riche, to purchase chandeliers and branches for the Church, which purpose has been complied with." Also, that " a new roof has been put on the Church the present sum- mer."
STATE OF THE CONGREGATION.
Aug. 19th, 1818. The Rector appends to his parochial report these words : " Attendance at Church, tolerably regular, and becoming more so. No immoralities prevailing in the con- gregation, nor any dissensions to interrupt Christian love and
385
IN BURLINGTON.
harmony. It is contemplated to institute a Tract Society, with a view to a general circulation of pamphlets, containing the doc- trines and devotional exercises of the Church."
DEATH OF JOSHUA M. WALLACE.
" 1819, May 19th. Buried Joshua M. Wallace, an old and pious officer of this Church. He died on the 17th."-Parish Register. The following is the inscription on his altar-tomb : " In memory of Joshua Maddox Wallace, born October 4th, 1752, died May 17th, 1819. A man of eminent piety, disin- terested Benevolence and active usefulness. A scholar and pro- moter of learning. Brought up in the bosom of the Church, and attached to her principles, he was ever active in her ser- vice, frequently in her councils, and for many years a Warden of this congregation."
A LAY READER LICENSED FOR BURLINGTON.
In the address of Bishop Croes to the Convention held Aug. 18th, 1819, he says : " Licenses have been granted to Clarkson Dunn, a candidate in this Diocess to officiate as a Lay Reader, in the vacant churches at Woodbridge and Piscataway ; and to Charles McIlvaine, a candidate in the Diocess of Pennsylvania, to officiate, in the same capacity, at St. Mary's Church, Burling- ton, in the absence of its Rector, the Rev. Dr. Wharton."
DONATIONS TO THE EPISCOPAL FUND.
At the same Convention, (1819,) the Rev. John C. Rudd, who was appointed at the preceding Convention to visit the congregations of the Diocese, and solicit donations to the Epis- copal Fund, reported the names of eleven Churches visited, in each of which, he says, " Divine Service was performed and he preached a sermon, and explained the object and design of his visit. When application was made in St. Mary's Church, Bur- lington, many of the congregation were absent, and other circumstances united to prevent as general a call upon the con- gregation as was intended." In his statement following we find this item : " St. Mary's, Burlington, subscribers 9-amount $85. Unpaid $2."
2 B
386
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
RESIGNATION OF THE PARISH CLERK.
"Burlington, April 20th, 1820.
"Gentlemen of the Vestry of St. Mary's Church Burlington N. J., I beg leave respectfully to present the following consider- ations, in regard to the relations in which I stand to this Church.
" As I have acted as Collector and Clerk,t I am somewhat acquainted with the state of the funds of the Church-as they are somewhat depressed-and as many highly respectable Churches have no Clerk-I have thought it my duty to present my resignation, not from any alienation of affection to any mem- ber of your body or because of any supposed neglect, on the contrary I feel myself under strong obligations to the Vestry & congregation for their Friendship and Politeness.
"Very Respectfully " your Humbel Servt. "THOS. AIKMAN."
SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR A NEW ORGAN.
" The subscribers desirous of improving the worship in the Church by an Organ, # engage to pay the sum annexed to their respective names.
" Burlington, June 21, 1820.
" Mrs. Tace Wallace, $30; Mrs. Susan V. Bradford, $30; Mrs. Watson, $20 ; Mrs. McIlvaine, $15; Mr. John B. Wal- lace, $30; Mr. Tyler, $30; Mr. Robert Fielding, $20; Mr. Wm. McIlvaine, $10; Mr. Wm. Watson, $10; Mrs. Keen, $5 ; Mr. Horace Binney, $20; Mr. Charles Chauncey, $10; Mr. Charles Bancker, $10; Mr. Wm. Griffith, $10; Mr. Levett Harris, $10 ; Mr. John L. Harris, $5; Mr. J. B. French, $5 ;
7 "July 31, 1820. Rec'd from Jackson B. French, Treasurer of St. Mary's Church, Forty Dollars for my salary as Clerk to said Church for the year ending at Easter 1820.
" $40.
THOMAS AIKMAN."
¿ There had been, at least one organ, in the Church, before this, as the fol- lowing bills show :
" Burlington 4th April [1801] Received of Wm Coxe Esq Seven Pounds Two Shillings & Sixpence on account for work done at St Mary's Church for the Organ gallery having signed another receipt on the Account -Account Book. WILLIAM T. NEAL."
" Recd. Aug 11th 1804 from William Coxe, Treasurer of St. Mary's Church Thirty Dollars for repairing & tuning the organ CHARLES TANS"
| Account Book.
387
IN BURLINGTON.
Mr. Charles Kinsey, $5; Mr. John Birkey, $3; Mr. C. Felft, $2; Mr. Polhemus, $5; Mr. John Larzelere, $5; Dr. Wm. I. Coxe, $5 ; Mr. Henry Rogers, $5; Miss Maria Monnington, $2; Miss Ellen Hancock, $2.50; Miss Amy Hancock, $2.50 ; Mr. Adam Price, $2; Mr. David Allinson, $3; Miss Ann Monnington, $1.50; Mr. Joseph McIlvaine, $10; Mrs. Ship- pen, $10; Mr. Robert Fielding, $100; Mrs. General Bloom- field, $50; Mr. John Ackerman, 25c .; Miss Bayard, $10. Total, $493.75."
" BACKWARDNESS TOWARDS BAPTISM."
Aug. 23d, 1820. The Rector appends to his annual paro- chial report, these words : " Attendance regular and devout. Attachment to the Church and her services, sensibly increasing, excepting a backwardness towards the sacrament of baptism, which the Rector has not been able, with all his efforts, to counteract."
ALTERATIONS IN THE CHURCH.
"On June 28th, 1821," says Bishop Croes in his address to the Convention, "I visited St. Mary's Church, Burlington, but did not perform any service, as the Church was undergoing alterations and repairs. The congregation of St. Mary's is in an increasing state ; and, through the liberality of its members, and the particular exertions of a lady, it has lately ornamented its Church and improved its sacred music, by the addition of a handsome organ."
At the same Convention the Rector reports, "That the Church has been enlarged and improved; that the congrega- tion is increasing, and in general, regular and attentive; that many of the pew-holders, however, neglect being baptized them- selves, or bringing their children to that Christian ordinance."
ELIAS BOUDINOT, LL. D.
" 1821, Oct. 26th. Buried Elias Boudinot, former President of Congress." 1-Parish Register.
¡ His monument in St. Mary's Churchyard has this inscription :
" Here lie the remains of the Hon. Elias Boudinot, LL. D., born May 2d, A. D. 1740, died Oct. 24th, A. D. 1821. His life was an exhibition of fervent piety,
388
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
"Elias Boudinot was born in Philadelphia, May 2, 1740, from French Huguenot ancestry, who came to America soon after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. He received a good educa- tion, and entered upon the practice of the law in New Jersey. He early espoused the cause of the colonies in their differences with Great Britain, and in 1777 was appointed Commissary- General of prisoners, and in the same year elected a member of the Continental Congress. In 1782 he was made President of that body, and signed in 1783 our treaty of peace with Great Britain. At a subsequent date he was elected a member of the Congress of the United States under the present constitution. In 1796 he was appointed by President Washington, Director of the Mint, an office which he held till 1805, when he retired from all public employments, and fixed his residence in Burling- ton, and devoted himself to benevolent and literary pursuits. He became a trustee of Princeton College in 1805, and endowed it with a cabinet of natural history. In 1812 he was a member of the A. B. C. F. M., and in 1816 was made the first President of the American Bible Society ; an institution in which he ever took great interest, and to which in a single donation he gave $10,000, a great sum of money at the time. His wife was a sis- ter of Richard Stockton, the signer of the Declaration, whose own wife was a sister of Mr. Boudinot. He had one child, a daughter, who became the wife of the Hon. William Bradford, Attorney- General of the United States in the presidency of Washington. Mr. Boudinot died at his residence, at the northwest corner of Talbot and Broad streets, in Burlington, October 24, 1821, and is buried in the grounds of St. Mary's Church; upon the services of which church he was a devout attendant from his coming to Burlington, in 1805, till his death."-John Wm. Wallace.
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