USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania : from its first beginnings to the present time, including chapters of newly-discovered early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume III > Part 21
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as "the most infamous set of wretches ever collected in any part of the terraqueous globe!" He refers to Connecticut as a "seditious State, which extended her blue-laws to the Susquehanna, and poured in there her jailbirds."
One of the most striking paragraphs in this "Petition" is the following: "Your petitioner begs the honorable Legislature to believe that he is not actuated by caprice in giving epithets of infamy to the Connecticut claimants, for it is a fact of notoriety that by far the greatest part of them were cropt or branded-that being the insignia of punish- ment in the penal laws of that inventive State. Such were and are the people improperly cherished by the Government of Pennsylvania, to the ruin of her faithful, brave, legitimate citizens!"
The concluding paragraph of the "Petition" reads as follows: "Your petitioner conceives that few persons have rendered more beneficial services to the State. He prays that the Legislature, now that he is old, will make such pro- vision for him as may render the residue of bis days comfortable. It will be no more than honestly compensating him out of his own earnings. * * * He was three months waylaid by the Yankee desperadoes, who avowed their purpose of assassinating him. They set fire to the house, in the night, over his head; murdered Capt. Samuel Read in the bed with him, and cruelly wounded Capt. Andrew Henderson. He was twice severely wounded by them." (For further extracts from Captain Patterson's "Petition" the reader is referred to pages 626, 703, 868 and 1064, hereinbefore, and various pages bereinafter.)
The following extracts are from the "Journal of the Pennsylvania Legislature." "December 16, 1807-Mr. Barnet presented a petition, accompanied with documents, from Alexander Patterson of Lower Smithfield, Northamp- tan County, praying, for a variety of reasons therein stated, for additional relief to that already granted him. Said petition and documents were read and referred to the Committee on Claims. * * * January 19, 1808-Mr. Ogle, from the Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the petition of Alexander Patterson, made report, which was read, as follows: 'That there was a law passed in favor of the petitioner in the year of our Lord, 1804, granting him the sum of $400., and also an annuity of $100. a year during his life; which appears to be an ample reward for the services he renderd his country. Therefore we offer the following: Resolved, That the petitioner have leave to with- draw bis petition.' On motion, said report was read a second time, considered, and adopted."
Alexander Patterson was married about 1764 to Margaret Patterson (born 1748), a niece of William Patterson, of Baltimore, Maryland, and they became the parents of two children, only one of whom-William A. Patterson -- grew to maturity. Captain Patterson died at Easton, Pennsylvania, April 11, 1822, after a lingering illness, and January 4, 1823, the Legislature of Pennsylvania passed an Act for the relief of his widow Margaret. She died in the borough of Easton January 4, 1837, in the eighty-ninth year of her age.
William A. Patterson, mentioned above, was born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in 1767. He was married to Elizabeth Giltner, horn at Heidelberg (now Cherryville,) Pennsylvania, in 1781, and they became the parents of four sons and three daughters. Three of the sons died without issue. The fourth son was Michael Patterson, born at Easton, Pennsylvania, March 11, 1804; died at Westham Locks, Virginia, April 17, 1877; married November 29, 1832, to Frances Wright, who was born at Northampton, Massachusetts, February 24, 1813, and died at Tecumseh, Michigan, September 28, 1860. The three daughters of William A. and Elizabeth (Giltner) Patterson were Margaret, who married John Sminck; Mary, who married Jacob Reese; Martha, who married John Opdyke. William A. Patterson died January 19, 1815, and his widow Elizabeth died at Easton February 8, 1851.
*See, "Pennsylvania Archives", Old Series, X: 30.
1329
Immediately on the receipt of this communication, on April 18th, Joseph Montgomery, Chairman of the Commissioners, wrote to Alexander Patterson, in part as follows *:
"The Commissioners * * beg leave to return you their sincere thanks for the Polite Wel- come you give them, as the Representatives of this State, to Wyoming. The sentiments you ex- press of using your endeavours and Personal Influence to promote the ends of our Mission in this County, viz., the Peace and Happiness of its Inhabitants, by burying in Oblivion the former ill treat- ment you, your associates, or fellow citizens might have received, are perfectly agreeable to us. "Allow us to assure you that, as our duty dictates, so our inclination will prompt us to hear with patience and pleasure what you may think proper to offer on this subject, and afterwards to determine with Candour and Impartiality on such Measures as may have a tendency to estab- lish Justice, Peace, and the regular exercise of Good Government in this part of Pennsylvania."
At Wilkes-Barré, on April 19, 1783, Messrs. Jenkins, Denison, Gore and Ship- pard, the Committee of Yankee settlers, wrote to the Commissioners as followst :
"We are happy to find that the Legislative hody of the State have condescended to treat our late petition, lying before them, with that coolness and candour as to appoint Commissioners to come and make full inquiry into our cases, and make report to the House. And as we shall think it our duty straitly, strictly and truly to adhere to our petition, we shall think ourselves happy to give every true information to any inquiries that shall be thought necessary further to be made respecting our settlements, etc."
The same day Chairman Montgomery replied to this letter as followst:
"As it is our duty, so we will with pleasure pay attention to every piece of necessary in- formation with respect to your settlements at this place. Although it cannot be supposed that Pennsylvania will-nor can she, consistent with her Constitution-by any ex-post-facto law deprive her citizens of any part of their property legally obtained; yet, willing to do everything in her power to promote the Peace and Happiness of her citizens, [she] wishes to be informed fully of your case, that if your peaceahle demeanour and ready suhmission to Government render you the proper objects of clemency and generosity, she may be prepared to extend them to you.
"Therefore, we wish you to communicate to us, as speedily as possible, the names and numbers of those who first settled at Wyoming, who are now alive, and by whom those that are dead are represented; the names and numbers of those now actual settlers here, the quantity of land they respectively occupy, and the time they last came and settled at this place."
On Sunday, April 20th, John Jenkins, in behalf of the Committee of Yankee Settlers, wrote to the Commissioners in part as follows§:
"It is with pleasure we observe in yours of the 19th your readiness to attend to every piece of necessary information we shall he ahle to give in respect to our settlement in this place. How far the State can or will, by virtue of any ex-post-facto law, undertake to deprive any of the citizens of this State of any part of their property legally obtained by any of the claimants under their different claims, we shall not undertake to say or determine, as we suppose that, in general, Com- mon Law is to determine in such cases. Yet we are happy to hear that this State is willing to do everything in their power to promote the peace and happiness of her citizens.
"We take notice that, if our peaceable demeanor and ready submission to Government render us proper objects of clemency and generosity, we may probably expect to be made the happy partakers of such generous gratuities as they, in their abundant goodness, shall be pleased to bestow. *
* As to our peaceable demeanor and ready submission to Government, our petition now before the Honorable the Legislature of this State suggests to them that we are under their jurisdiction and protection, from which we have no disposition to recede. However, we would request to have a tender regard paid to the new and extraordinary circumstances in which we stand with regard to law matters. We have made continuance of our actions com- menced, with a view to have them taken up under the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania, agreeable to our aforesaid petition, and have neglected to pay any attention to the appointment of Represent- atives or Government officers, under the Connecticut jurisdiction; which facts evidence our in- tentions better than protestations.
"With regard to the next requisition, the calamities of war have so put it out of our power to give you that concise account we could wish at present, as most of our papers and records were thereby destroyed. But the Susquehanna Purchase was made in the year 1754 * by up- * wards of 1400 adventurers, who were joint tenants in common, one with another. * * In the year 1762, one hundred and nineteen of the aforesaid proprietors were here to possess them- selves of the said lands, in behalf of themselves and fellows; of which number John Jenkins, William Buck, etc., are contained in a list herewith exhibited, marked 'No. 1.' In October, 1763, we were dispossessed by the savages with the loss of many lives and much property.
"In the beginning of the year 1769 we again resumed our possessions and improvements (which we had made, before with great labour and expense) with the number of about 400, being partly of the aforesaid 119, or their representatives, whose names, according to our best recollec- tion, are herewith annexed, and marked 'No. 2.' *
* From that [time] our numbers were in- *See "Pennsylvania Archives", Old Series, X: 31. tSee Miner's "History of Wyoming", page 318. ¿ See ibid., page 319. §See the "Trumbull Papers", mentioned on page 29, Vol. I, for the original draft of this letter.
1330
creasing * until the fatal 3d day of July, 1778, when great numbers of our friends and most valuable inhabitants were slain by the savages and those of a more savage nature, and the whole country laid waste, our houses and buildings consumed by fire, our household goods and large stocks of cattle, horses, sheep and hogs, with our farming and other utensils, destroyed and carried off by the enemy, and we, in a most savage and inhuman manner, drove out into the the country in a state of desperation and distress-a scene which must astonish all human nature to describe, and we are not able to paint it. Our old men, women, widows and children were dispersed into all parts of the country, destitute of bread, clothing, or anything to subsist on.
"But a large number of the yet remaining and living inhabitants, being fired with a fervent zeal for the cause of their country, were determined, instead of throwing themselves on the lemency of their friends and fellow-citizens of the world, to surmount all danger, collected them- selves together, and, on or about the 4th day of August then next, resolved to come into this place, with the assistance of the company of brave Continental troops raised here and then com- manded by Capt. Simon Spalding; retook the country, drove off the savages, regained some trifling part of our effects, and the possession of our lands, being our all.
"Since which we have, by many hard and hazardous skirmishes, attended with the loss of many lives and considerable of the effects acquired by our industry, held the same to this time; which has afforded great comfort to the widow and the fatherless children, the destitute and the naked-not only to those at present improving here, but, by the people who improve here paying rent for the lands that belong to the widow and fatherless (that are dispersed in the wide world), they are greatly relieved and comforted. The most, or all, of this, has been done at our expense and charge, and been a safeguard to the frontiers of our good neighbours and friends with whom we wish to live in peace.
"We herewith transmit a list of the names of part of the first settlers, in 1762 and '63, as far as we can at present recollect. Also a list of the widows and orphans."
With respect to the "lists" referred to in the foregoing letter, Col. John Franklin, in his "Brief" (mentioned in the note on page 1325), makes the following statement: "The Committee of Settlers returned a list of the first settlers, as far as could be recollected; a list of the then present settlers, and the number of the widows and fatherless. The number of widows was 144, and of the fatherless children, 565-whose husbands and fathers had fell as a sacrifice in defense of the cause of America."
A contemporaneous copy of the list of "first settlers" referred to by the Committee and Colonel Franklin, as above, was discovered among the "Trumbull Papers" a few years ago by the present writer, and is fully described on page 403, Vol. I. of this work .* At the same time early copies, or duplicates, of two other lists were discovered among the "Trumbull Papers" (Vol. VIII, document 290), the originals, or duplicates, of which were undoubtedly the other lists referred to in the communication of the Committee of Settlers and in Colonel Franklin's "Brief." These two last mentioned lists follow, being now printed for the first time.
"A Catalogue of those that were killed in the Battle of 3d of July, 1778, and left Families, with the Number of Childrent. Those marked x are now present.
"Col. Dorrance. x
8
Lieut. Asa Stevens. x
8
Major Garret.
10
Lieut. Waterman.
4
Capt. Durkee X
4
Lieut. Shoemaker x
3
Capt. Ransom.
Lieut. Gaylord
3
Capt. Bedlock [Bidlack].
4
Lieut. Steward [Stewart]. X
1
Capt. Buck
1
Lieut. Atherton.
Capt. Whittlesey.
3
Eusign Asa Gore.
X
1
Capt. McKerican.
Silas Gore.
3
Capt. Geers, . . 6
Wm. White. x
4
Capt. Steward [Stewart] x
10
Jeremiah Bickford
Capt. Wigton
4
Titus Hinman. 6
Lieut. Wells.
9
Anderson Dana. 8
Lieut Pierce. x 2
Darius Spafford 1
Lieut. Ross 5 Peter Wheeler. 3
*Since page 403 was printed the writer has learned that Elkanah and Rodolphus Fuller, whose names appear in the list of settlers of 1762, were brothers-sons of Samuel Fuller of Preston and Mansfield, Connecticut.
tUnquestionably the makers of this "Catalogue" either drew on their imaginations or indulged in some wild guess- work when they set down "the number of children"-at least in several instances. For example: It has been well ascertained that Major Garrett was the father of only four children; Capt. Samuel Ransom was survived by nine children; Capt. Lazarus Stewart was the father of only seven children; Jonathan Slocum was survived by ten children (including Francis, who, in 1783, was held in captivity by the Indians); Charles Gaylord had only one child; Nathaniel Johnson was survived by two sons and one daughter-Oliver, Charles and Anna-so we have been in- formed hy a descendant.
8
1331
Jona. Weeks ...
5
Eaton Jones.
Philip Weeks. .
X
3
Silas Benedict. . . .
4
Benj. Leach.
1
Jabez Beers, .
1
Danl. St. John.
2
David Goss
1
No. of children, . 136
John Williams. 4
Joseph Crookes.
1
Abel Palmer
7
Jos. Staples
5
Jabez Darling
4
Harding. 2
James Headsall. .
4
Miner Robins. .
1
John Brown.
4
Henry Pencil.
x
6
Francis Leopard
2
James Hopkins
2
Elisha Richards.
7
Gilbert Danthorn [Denton],
x
6
Danl. Lawrence.
Ezekiel Hamilton
3
Constant Matthewson
1
Wm. Parker
1
Wm. Woodringer
6
Ichad. Tuttle.
3
Ebenr. Roberts.
5
Nicholas Manvil.
6
Parker Wilson.
3
John Vangorder x
2
Asahel Jearoms
6
Jos: Shaw.
6
Jno. Van Wye.
5
Stephen Fuller .
1
Saml. Bellamy
1
Jno. Finch.
6
Michael Rood.
3
Dan'l Finch
7
Wm. Davidson
1
Constant Searls
S
Elipht. Follet.
6
Jno. Murphy X
3
Thos. Foren.
4
Henry Bush. x
3
Saml. Roberts. 6
Saml. Williams. 8
74
"The following died of sickness since the commencet. of the War & left Families whose dependence is on their interest to these lands.
Benj. Cole. 2
Elisha Swift.
6
Wm. Kellogg.
7
Jenks Coser [Corey?]
3
Winchett Matterson.
9
Elijah Inman. x
2
Nathl. Howard. 1
"N. B .- Killed by the Salvages in Skirmishes :
Jonathan Slocum x
7
John Perkins. 2
John Jemerson [Jameson] x
3
Asa Chapman. x
4
Elihn Williams 2
Uriah Marvin
2
Asahel Buck x
2
Jonathan Pritchard
%
9
Jz. Abbott.
8
Thos. Sawyer
3
Edward Lester x
1
Saml. Roberts.
6
Samuel Jackson 6
Asa Upson. x
3
John Comstock x
8
"This copy is signed in behalf of the Comtee.
[Signed]
'JOHN JENKINS,
"NATHAN DENISON,
Committee."
"Attest : "Wm. Sherman."t
"OBADH. GORE,
"SAM'L SHIPPARD,
116
"Killed by Salvages:
Nathan Wade.
"The following* belonged to the Conti- nental service, & left widows, &c .:
David Walker,
x
5
Nathl. Johnson.
5
Charles Gaylord
6
Rufus Williams.
3
Robert Spencer. Baker
4
David Bixby
>
Seth Marvin. 2
Nathl. Fry. x
3
Joseph Dewey
3
Jesse Coleman .
?
George Downing ..
6
James Locke.
U
Wm. Crookes. L
Benj. Hatch.
1
145
Elias Roberts. 7
Timothy Rose.
4
Isaac Campbell 10
John Franklin.
7
Cyprian Hibbard 2
Benedict Satterlee. 5
Jonathan Hunstock [Hunlock]. x
3
David Marvin.
2
Ezekiel Pierce.
1
Joshua Bennet X
8
Gad Marshall 7
Jacob Sly 4
Wm. Smith ..
7
Timothy Keyes. 5
Obadiah Gore. X
1
Amos York.
6
Jos. Blanchard
6
John Gardner
1
Harding .
3
Aaron Start
8
Wm. Dunn
6
Joseph Ogden.
3
Japhet Utley .
Noah Pettebone.
John Cartwright
Peter Ousterhout
Jeremiah Coleman. 1
John Hurlbut 6
*Of the twenty-one names appearing in this list of Continental soldiers only twelve are found in existing Army rolls. This list, therefore, is the only known authentic record showing that David Walker, Ezekiel Hamilton, Nathaniel Johnson, - Baker, Samuel Bellamy, Michael Rood, Joseph Dewey, Samuel Roberts and Samnel Williams served their country in the Continental Army. +A son of the Hon. Roger Sherman of Connecticut.
Lemuel Fitch
1332
"A list of settlers* who are actually settlers now Present and claimers of the land.
"Wm. Avery
Henry Elliott
Benjamin Jones
Solomon Avery
Frederick Eveland
John Jenkins
Joel Abbott
John Earl
Benjamin Jenkins
Sam'l Ayres
Richard Fitzgerald
John Jenkins, Jr.
Prince Alden
Jonathan Fitch
Joseph Kinne
Prince Alden, Jr.
Stephen Fuller
Abner Kelsey
Asel Atherton
John Fuller
Abner Kelsey, Jr.
James Atherton
Hugh Forseman
Nathan Kingsley
James Atherton, Jr.
Jabez Fish
Lawrence Kinne
Col. Zebn. Butler
Solomon French
Joseph Leonard
Benj. Bailey
John Franklin
Nathaniel Landon
Thos. Baldwin
James Frisbie
Elisha Leffingwell
Lord Butler
Roasel Franklin
Lawrence Myers
Moses Brown
Jonathan Forsythe
Thomas MeClure
Asa Bennet
Samuel Gore
William Miller
Isaac Bennet
Obadiah Gore
Ebenezer Marcy
Charles Bennet
Cornelius Gale
Robert McDowel
Wm. Buck
Willard Green
John McMillan
Oliver Bigelow
John Garnsay
Thomas Neill
Thos. Brown
Daniel Gore
James Nesbitt
Ishmael Bennet
Solomon Goss
William Nelson
Elisha Bennet
Nathaniel Goss
Phineas Nash
Richard Barnum
Philip Goss
Asel Nash
Ishmael Bennet, Jr.
Benjamin Gardner
James Nobles
Caleb Bates
Stephen Gardner
Jedidiah Nobles
James Brown
William Gardner
John Nobles
John Budd
Lemuel Gustine
John O'Neal
David Brown
Justus Gaylord
John Phillips
Charles Bowe11
Reuben Herrington
Thomas Park
James Bidlack
Joseph Hageman
Abraham Pike
Isaac Benjamin
John Hageman
Josiah Pell Daniel Pierce
Asel Burnham
John Hollenback
Abel Peirce
Isaac Baldwin
John Hyde
Phineas Peirce
Henry Burney
Elijah Harris
Giles Purman
John Blanchard
Robert Hopkins
William Ross
Elijah Buck
Samuel Hover
Thomas Reed
Matthew Billings
Richard Halstead
Josiah Rogers
Thos. Bennet
Abraham Harding
Jonah Roger's
Solomon Bennet
Henry Harding
Henry Richards
Richard Brockway
Thomas Harding
Samuel Ransom
Ebenezer Beeman
Benjamin Harvey
Geo. Palmer Ransom
Chester Bingham
Elisha Harvey
John Roberts
Andrew Blanchard
Thomas Heath
Robert Roth
Nathan Beach
Timothy Hopkins
William Stark
Nathan Cary
John Heath
William Slocum
John Cary
William Heberd
Wm. Hooker Smith
Barnabas Cary
Ebenezer Heberd
Simon Spalding
Preserved Cooley
Christopher Hurlbut
James Sutton
Manasseh Cady
John Hurlbut, [Jr.]
Joseph Sprague
Nathl. Cook
Samuel Hallet
Josiah Stanburrough
Reuben Cook
John Hammond
Giles Slocum
James Cole
Lebbens Hammond
Jabez Sill
Benj. Cole ·
Josiah Hammond
John Paul Schott
Jonathan Corey
Isaac Hammond
Samuel Shippard
Elias Church
Isaac Hammond, Jr.
William Stewart
Peleg Comstock
Peter Harager
George Stewart
Sam'l Cummings
Andrew Harager
John Smith
Jedidiah Cummings
George Harager
James Smith
Col. Nathan Denison
Daniel Ingersoll
John Scott
- Dudley
Elijah Inman
David Sanford
Elisha Drake
Rev. Jacob Johnson
Obadiah Scott
Robert Davenport
Sabin Johnson Tustus Jones .
Caleb Spencer
John Dorrance
Thomas Joslyn
Edward Spencer
Amos Draper
William Jackson
Daniel Sherwood
James Dodson
Joshua Jewell
William Stage
John Dodson, Jr.
Turner Johnson
Uriah Stevens
Richard Didson
Crocker Jones
Thomas Stoddard
Joseph Elliott
Robert Jameson
Benjamin Smith
*It will be noticed that no woman's name appears in this list; and, so far as can be ascertained, the name of no man under twenty-one years of age appears.
Solomon Squire
Stephen Davenport
Nathan Bullock
Matthias Hollenback
1333
Oliver Smith
Joseph Tyler
Richard Westbrook
Oliver Smith, Jr.
Benjamin Tuttle
William Williams
Jacob Smith
Lebbens Tubbs
Nathaniel Williams
Peter Smith
Samuel Tubbs
Jabez Winship
Frederick Shove
Samuel Treadway
Jonathan Woodworth or Woodward
Jacob Smither
Isaac Underwood
Walter Watrous
William Trucks
James Whitney
Asher Williams
Job Tripp
Caleb Whitford
Robert Young
Joseph Thomas
William Warner
John Young."
Jonathan Terry
Nathan Waller
[Total, 246.]
Abraham Westbrook
At Wilkes-Barré, under the date of April 22, 1783, Alexander Patterson, in behalf of the Committee of land-claimers, sent to the Commissioners the follow- ing letter *:
"The Committee are honoured by your answer to their address. The Assurance you are pleased to give them of attention to the rights of the Citizens of this State, calls for their Grateful Acknowledgments, and so perfectly harmonizes with the Sentiments of the Committee That we are instructed to Commit ourselves wholly to your Direction in future; and in doing this are Confident that our rights are in the Hands of those who will have a watchful eye over them.
"We are Sorry to Observe so much of the Old leaven Remaining in the Sentiments of the People of Connecticut & Expressed in their last Conference with your Honours. Their Humanity would, it seems, permit us and our Assosiates to Gow any where over the wide world, no matter where, Provided they may enjoy our Lands. They Cannot Conveniently spare us one foot for the Support of our Families. We think this an ungrateful return to the good People of this State, and so far short of the Expectations of the Legislature whose Humanity and Pity Consigned to Oblivion all Past Offences by a Law for the Purpose; And whose wisdom pointed out the only way of information to the House of Assembly of the Real dispositions of the Contending Parties. We beg leave only to Suggest to your honours that we have reason to think the Obedience to the laws of this state by many of those people will not be durable-Unless such Pledges are taken by your Honours as cannot admit of any evasion or denial hereafter. If that Assurance be once given, and the Pretended Claim under Connecticut Relinquished in writing Publickly, Planely and unequivically, we wish them Afterwards every Indulgence that your Honours may Judge Gener- ous in us, and worthy of the Approbation of the Assembly of Pennsylvania, and all the World.
"We propose to give them leave, with Covenants of Warrant, for holding their Possessions one year from the first day of March next, at the end of which they shall deliver up full Possession of the whole. They shall occupy half the Lands, Mow half the Meadows, Dwell in the Houses they now Possess, and Cultivate their present Gardens; and if they have any opportunity of disposing of their Hutts, Barns or other Buildings, they shall do it, and remove them off at any time between the present day and the first of May, 1784. The other Moiety or half of the Cleared Lands and Meadows to be possessed by us and our Associates, and no Impediment be thrown in our way to enjoy. The Revd. Mr. Johnson to have the full use of all the grounds he Tilled for two years, ending the first of May, 1785. The Widows of all those whose Husbands were killed by the Savages to have a further indulgence of one year after Ist May, 1784, for half their posses- sions, & a square in the Town to be set apart for their use, to which they may remove their houses: and at the end of the term sell them to the best advantage for their own use.
"We think a refusal of these terms hardly possible; but if Stubbornness and Disaffection to the laws of this State are yet to continue, we trust your Honours will be convinced that on our parts we have not had in view merely our own private interest, but that our offer will appear Just and Charitable before God and Man."
Having duly considered the foregoing communication, the Commissioners transmitted a copy of it, accompanied by the following lettert, to the Committee of Settlers the same day.
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