USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of Perry County, Pennsylvania, including descriptions of Indians and pioneer life from the time of earliest settlement, sketches of its noted men and women and many professional men > Part 20
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James Cameron.
Hugh Gormly,
Michael Marshal.
John Marshall.
John McCallaster.
William McClintock.
John Ardery.
James McClure.
John Baker.
John Smith.
Joseph Childers.
William Brown.
Charles McCarty.
Robert Galbreath.
William Galbreath.
Abram Johnston.
Robert Boyd.
John McBride.
Robert McClurg.
David Martin.
James Findley.
William Cunningham.
John Douglass.
John Taylor.
The above is the list as recorded in the Pennsylvania Archives for Oc- tober, 1777, although the number is quoted in some records as fifty-one.
Fifth Company .- Captain, Frederick Taylor; First Lieutenant, Daniel Hart; Second Lieutenant, Matthew McCoy; Ensign, Thomas Watson.
Hans Kilgees.
William Spottwood.
Edward O'Donald.
Thomas Shedswick.
Pattrick Grant.
Andrew Linch.
Robert McClintog.
Robert Irwin.
James Wymer.
Hugh McCraghan.
Matthew Merrot.
James Miller.
Richard Morrow.
Thomas Purdy, Jr.
William Watson.
William Taylor.
Hugh Miller.
James Maxwell.
Clifton Bowen.
William Martin.
Richard Stewart.
Andrew Irwin.
Robert Huey.
John Faddon.
William Williams.
Samuel Glass.
Daniel Graham.
Robert Adams.
Hugh Gibson.
William Neeper.
Joseph Nelson. Andrew Kinkead.
William Adams. John Gardener.
Evidently the clerk of this company erred in spelling proper names ; O'Donald is likely O'Donnel: McClintog, Mcclintock; Wymer, Weimer : Shedswick, Sedgwick; Linch, Lynch; McCraghan, McCracken; Faddon, McFadden, and Gardener, Gardner.
Sixth Company .- Captain, Edward Graham: First Lieutenant, Samuel Adair ; Second Lieutenant, Samuel Whittaker ; Ensign, George Smiley.
William Cree. William Lewis.
John Jamison. Henry Heatly.
Francis McQuoan.
Alexander Brown.
John Coulter.
John Kellem.
Thomas Boyd.
James Nelson.
Matthew White. Hugh Law. William McKee. James Kerr.
Joseph Gormely.
John Marshall.
Thomas Barnet.
Michael Marshal.
Robert Dawson. Samuel Ewing.
Thomas Shaw.
Samuel Rayney.
William Carson.
William Blaine.
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HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Hugh MeClintock.
Edward West. Henry Glass.
John Rea, Jr. John Elliott. John Smylie. Alexander Gaely. Moses Hays.
Alexander McCoy. James Thompson.
John Nelson. John Nelson, Jr.
In January, 1778, according to the Pennsylvania Archives, the enroll- meut was as above, yet it is quoted at some places as seventy-eight.
Seventh Company .- Captain, John Buchanan ; First Lieutenant, William Nelson; Second Lieutenant, James Ewing; Ensign, Benjamin Junkin.
Samuel MeClelland.
Samuel Fisher.
Daniel Stuard.
Robert Graham.
James Hodkins.
John Camble.
John Riddle.
Daniel Marrit.
Matthew Kerr.
Thomas Elliott.
John Miller.
Patrick Kain.
James Hamilton.
Alexander Murray, Esq. V
Samuel Neesbit.
William Erwin.
John Cowburn.
Henry Savage.
William Shehan.
Moses Kirkpatrick.
Joseph Kirkpatrick.
Peter Patterson.
John Smith.
William McKee.
David McKee.
Archibald Marrin.
Henry Kelly.
Robert Cumins.
Alexander Kelly.
Thomas Willson.
John Ross.
John Kinkead.
George Logan.
Adrew Kinkead.
John Cord.
Robert Neelson.
James Byard.
The State Archives contained the above list only, yet the roster is quoted at some places as containing fifty-five names.
Eighth Company .- Captain, Thomas Clark; First Lieutenant, Joseph Neeper ; Second Lieutenant, William Hunter; Ensign, James Fergus.
James Officer.
George Douglas. John Cree.
Robert Wiley.
Robert Holliday.
Samuel Barnhill.
John Mitchell.
James Carson.
Joseph Patten.
John McKebe.
Joseph Shields.
William Kerr.
Matthew Morrison.
Henry Skivington.
Michael Baskings.
Robert Murray.
Alexander Maxwell.
John McCurry.
George Miller.
Joseph Kilpatrick.
Richard Stuard. John White.
William Murphy.
Matthew McBride.
Andrew McKee.
Michael Walters.
James McKebe.
John Wright.
Thomas McIntire.
William MeKebe.
Joseph Sharp.
William Logan.
Thomas Townsley.
John McClintoch.
George Morrah.
CHAPTER X.
PERRY COUNTY TERRITORY IN THE WAR OF 1812.
J UST what part the lands which now comprise Perry County played in the War of 1812, or more properly, the Second War with Great Britain, is of interest. Not only did it furnish many men, but across it ran the nearest route to Niagara, whence sped United States government couriers from the National Capi- tal to the frontier. Coming from Washington, the route lay through Sterrett's Gap, via the site of New Bloomfield and over Middle Ridge, to Rider's Ferry, thence across the Juniata. There was then no valley road from Bloomfield to Newport as at present, for there was no Bloomfield and no Newport at that time. One of the relay places, where horses were exchanged, was at Sterrett's Gap. Whether there was another before Middle Ridge it is not possible to say. On the top of Middle Ridge (now in Juniata Township), three-fourths of a mile south of Milford, on the Carlisle-Sunbury road, stood the White Ball Tavern, then kept by Philip Clouser. There horses were again exchanged. Just at the foot of Middle Ridge, on the same road, located on the north bank of the Little Buffalo Creek, John Koch (Kough) kept the Blue Ball Tavern, and as the courier would pass his place a horn sig- naled the White Ball Tavern (Clouser's) at the top of the ridge, so that on the arrival of the courier there the steed would be in waiting, and scarcely a minute consumed in resuming the journey. There were no telegraph or telephone lines in those days, and that was the only available method of sending dispatches. It is re- markable how quickly the journey was made by the frequent change of horses and the occasional relief of messengers.
'This war was occasioned largely by the British policy of search- ing American vessels and impressing seamen, on the subterfuge that they were British subjects. Anticipating the war, President Madison had called the American Congress a month earlier, in 18II, and it authorized a call for 100,000 volunteers, the quota of Pennsylvania being 14,000. Governor Simon Snyder issued a call for that number of troops on May 12, 1812. Three times the num- ber responded. The Perry County companies which responded were not assigned until 1814. The United States declared war June 18, 1812. Early that year Governor Simon Snyder called for a force of one thousand militia to help repel the British inva- sion of the northern frontier. Cumberland County (to which Perry then belonged) raised over half that number, a large part of
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HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
whom came from the lands which now constitute Perry, and all of whom were volunteers. The others came from Franklin, York, and Adams, being drafted men, principally. These soldiers con- stituted the Eleventh Regiment, or Division, under the command of General Porter. They were in immediate command of Colonel James Fenton, Lieut. Colonel Robert Bull, and Majors Galloway and Marlin. Lieutenant Colonel Bull was from what is now Tus- carora Township, Perry County, his father having been Henry Bull, who built the first grist mill in Raccoon Valley, now known as the Donnally Mill, being owned by L. E. Donnally, a former member of the General Assembly. They were mustered in at Car- lisle, marched to Pittsburgh, and from there to Black Rock Fort- now the site of the city of Buffalo, New York-which they reached about April I.
This expedition consisted of two brigades. They embarked July 2. The first landed about a mile below Fort Erie and the sec- ond about a mile above. A battery of "long sixteens" was soon placed in position and under a flag of truce the fort was given two hours to capitulate. When the time expired 137 men, including the officers, marched out and surrendered. At three o'clock, on the 5th, delay having been occasioned by getting supplies of food, the army of 3,500 men marched against the enemy's army. Indians had annoyed the pickets by firing upon them from concealed points. Volunteers were called for and three hundred from the Eleventh Regiment responded, among them officers who exchanged their swords for guns. This was the beginning of the Battle of Chippewa, in which Colonel Bull, the brave Perry Countian, fig- ured. Every man who went with General Porter was ordered to leave his hat behind and go with head uncovered. The Indians tied up their heads in muslin and blackened their faces with burned wood. In less than an hour General Bull, Major Galloway and Captain White, with a number of private soldiers, were sur- rounded by the redskins, who had concealed themselves in high grass and permitted the main body to pass, so that they might secure the officers. They were made to disrobe and their clothing divided. Major Galloway and Private Wendt were stripped of their boots and compelled to march through thorn and stubble "until their feet were pierced through and through," as Wendt afterwards said. Silas Wright, in his History of Perry County (1873). further describes the event :
"The party had advanced their prisoners but a short distance until they were halted, and there was evidently an Indian dissat- isfied about something. They started again and had scarcely gone more than half a mile when the dissatisfied Indian, then in the rear, whooped loudly, raised his rifle and shot Colonel Bull through the body. The ball entered the left shoulder and come out through
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PERRY COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1812
the right breast. After he was pierced by the bullet, Colonel Bull raised himself on his elbow, reached out his hand to Major Gallo- way, and said, "Help me, Wendt, I am shot." The help implored by the dying man was prevented by the Indian who had shot him, coming up, sinking his tomahawk into his head and scalping him. This act, so contrary to all laws of human warfare, was no doubt in compliance with the order of General Riall, which was in sub- stance, not to spare any who wore the uniform of militia officers, while those who wore the regular officers' uniform were to be brought into camp in safety. To this fact we ascribe the fate of a brave soldier and a good officer." Colonel Bull was a religious man and during his service was often among the sick, encouraging and helping them. His age at the time was thirty-five years.
Those from within the confines of what is now Perry County who served there, are as follows :
CAPTAIN JAMES PIPER'S COMPANY.
Privates :
Michael Donally, Tuscarora.
Frederick Burd, Greenwood.
Jacob Hammaker, Watts.
John Staily, Liverpool.
Daniel Fry, Greenwood.
Jacob Potter, Buffalo. -
Abraham Fry, Greenwood.
Jacob Liddick, Buffalo.
Joseph Fry, Greenwood.
Peter Werner, Buffalo.
George Wendt, Liverpool T. Andrew Hench, Buffalo.
Joseph Fry was killed by the Indians at Chippewa, July 5th.
CAPTAIN DAVID MORELAND'S COMPANY.
David Moreland, Capt., Jackson.
Kiner, Jacob, Tyrone.
Robert Thompson.
Kessler, Peter, Toboyne.
John Neiper.
Kessler, David, Toboyne.
Amos Cadwallader.
Kessler, Adam, Toboyne.
John Kibler, Landisburg.
Mealy, Dr. Samuel, Millerstown1.
John Steigleman.
Otto, Peter, Toboyne.
Richard Rodger.
Ruggles, Moses, Madison.
Robinson, George, Saville.
James Adams.
Ross, Samuel, Tyrone.
John Abercrombie.
Strock, George, Saville.
Sebastian Waggoner.
James Rodgers.
David Beems.
John Myers.
Schreffler, George, Toboyne.
Stambaugh, Philip, Tyrone.
Sheafer, Jacob, Tyrone.
Sheafer, Wm., Tyrone.
Bower, Jacob, Saville.
Comp, - , Centre.
Dissinger, George, Tyrone.
Dissinger, - -- , Tyrone.
Sponenberger, -, Liverpool.
Stewart, Richard, Tyrone.
Topley, John, Landisburg.
Gutshall, Jacob, Toboyne.
Weaver, Michael, Toboyne.
Wolfe, Adam, Tyrone.
Wolfe, George, Tyrone.
Wilson, Joseph, Tyrone.
Welch, Robert, Tyrone.
Johnston, William, Toboyne.
Strock, Joseph, Saville.
Stump, William, Toboyne.
Schreffler, John, Toboyne.
Privates:
Barkley, William, Saville.
Swanger, Peter, Tyrone.
Stroup, , Madison. Scott, Liverpool.
Evinger, Peter, Jackson. Gutshall, George, Jackson.
. Garland, John, Madison.
Goodlander, John, Madison.
Hockenberry, Jos., Toboyne. Jacobs, John, Saville.
George Strock.
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HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The following additional names are found on a muster roll, made out September 22, 1814:
Askins, William.
Buck, Robert.
Bergstresser, George.
Burd, Frederick.
Bower, Jacob.
Byers, Joshua.
Bergstresser, Solomon.
Baughman, John.
Bice, Samttel.
Comp, Daniel.
Bower, Peter.
Kiner, Jacob.
Buck, George.
Clark, Thomas.
Dougherty, Robert.
McMurray, Ezekiel.
Deckard, Philip.
McCoy, Thomas.
Dunbar, Robert.
Morton, James.
Dansville, Thomas.
Miller, William.
Ewens, Moses.
Neeper, James.
Fry, Daniel.
Potter, Jacob.
Fry, Joseph (killed July 5th).
Presser, Henry.
Fry, Abraham.
Gray, George.
Gillam, Jacob.
Rogers, Robert.
Gurhard, Isaac.
Ross, Henry.
Gallagher, John.
Shaw, George.
Hollenbaugh, Henry.
Sleighter, John.
Hoobler, John.
Shumbaugh, George.
Hollenbaugh, Mathias.
Sheets, Samuel.
Hays, Robert.
Stambaugh, Jacob.
Hammaker, Joseph.
Tate, William.
Hamilton, John.
Taylor, Joseph.
Hockenberry, Joseph.
Wilson, Joseph.
Irwin, George.
WVendt, George (taken prisoner July 5th ).
Kennedy, Archibald.
Wilson, Samuel.
Kelsey, George.
Wallace, William.
Kenny, Jacob.
Young, Abraham.
I,edech, Jacob (Liddick).
Rouse, Godfrey.
Mores, John.
Shreffler, John.
That these men were in action and at the front is proven by the notations as to Joseph Fry being killed and George Wendt cap- tured. The company was also in the field at the date of the roster.
When Washington had been burned by the British and the news reached Landisburg, Dr. John D. Creigh enrolled an entire con- pany in the short space of two days. It was known as the Landis- burg Infantry and completed its organization on September 6, 1814. It was at once accepted by Governor Snyder and assigned to the second post of honor in the Pennsylvania line. Upon Octo- ber 2 it was encamped on Bush Hill, near Washington. The roster :
CAPTAIN JOHN CREIGH'S COMPANY.
John Creigh, Capt., Tyrone.
Henry Lightner, Landisburg.
Dunbar, George.
Dunbar, John.
Dunkelberger, Benj., Tyrone.
Ernest, Jacob, Landisburg.
Foose, Michael,
Frederick, Jacob.
Fullerton, Joseph.
Gibson, Francis, Landisburg.
Henderson, Wm., Tyrone. Hipple, John.
Thompson, , Jackson. Carl, Isaiah, Tyrone. Neeper, Tyrone. Lackey, Henry. Cadwallader, Amos, Tyrone. Privates:
Bollinger, Daniel, Millerstown. Curry, John.
Carl, David, Tyrone.
Jordan, David.
18I
PERRY COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1812
Holman, Conrad.
Ickes, Samuel.
Power, John, Tyrone. Roddy, Alex., Tyrone. Stambaugh, Daniel, Tyrone.
Jones, Nathan, Landisburg.
Jones, Samuel, Landisburg.
Smith, Philip, Tyrone.
Johnson, John, Saville.
Sheibley, Barnett, Tyrone.
Jennings, Israel, Millerstown.
Sheibley, Solomon.
Keck, Stephen.
Sheer, - Swarner, George.
Lightner, Jacob, Landisburg.
Landis, John, Landisburg.
Simons, George, S., Tyrone.
Landis, Samuel, Landisburg.
West, George, Tyrone.
Lynch,
Mahoney, John, Landisburg.
M'Cracken, Benj., Tyrone.
Zeigler,
Marsh, Joseph, Tyrone.
John Gabel, of Howe Township, also served in this war, but with what unit is unknown.
Michael Donnally, of what is now Tuscarora Township, was one of the men who volunteered to go aboard Commodore Perry's fleet, then operating on Lake Erie, expecting to stay a few days at the utmost, but just four weeks elapsed before he got back to his company.
Perry Countians and residents of the Juniata Valley have reason to be proud of their record in this war. Although the British never set foot on Pennsylvania soil, the state at one time had more men in the field than any other, as well as having paid a larger share of the expense. On the pretext that they were not obliged to leave their own state, General Van Rensselaer, of New York, refused to cross the line into Canada. General Tannehill, with a brigade of two thousand Pennsylvanians, including local men, welcomed the chance and promptly crossed into the enemy's country.
Wilson, William, Tyrone.
Whitmer, Barney, Tyrone.
CHAPTER XI.
THE PROVINCE AND "MOTHER CUMBERLAND."
A HISTORY of Perry County would be incomplete without reference to the founder of the province, the province itself, and to Cumberland County-Mother Cumberland-during the sixty-six years when Perry County soil was an integral part of its domain, before attaining countyhood in its own right. William Penn, the proprietor, has left his impress upon the land and its people, never to be effaced. He was born in London, England, October 16, 1644, being a son of Sir William Penn, an admiral in the English Navy, and Margaret Jasper Penn, daughter of a Rot- terdam merchant. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, where, on hearing Thomas Loe, an eminent Quaker, he thought well of his principles, and a few years later publicly professed them. In consequence of this action he was twice turned out by his father. In 1668 he began preaching and writing on the prin- ciples of the Quakers. For this he was twice imprisoned and once brought to trial.
In 1680 Penn petitioned Charles II for a grant of land in Amer- ica, the Crown being in the debt of his father to the extent of some sixteen thousand pounds. On March 4, 1681, the great seal was affixed to the document which gave to him a grant in America- practically the Pennsylvania of to-day, which the king named in honor of his father. It gave to Penn almost unlimited powers, the exceptions being the levying of taxes and the vetoing of legis- lation. Here he founded a province where men might worship God according to the dictates of their individual conscience. Until 1776 Penn and his heirs were the feudal lords of the land, with an exception of two years under William III. Penn died in England in 1718. The provincial history is largely that of the pioneers and the Indians, the part of which relates to Perry County territory appearing in the early chapters in this book devoted to the Indians.
Prior to the establishment of the Constitution of 1790 Pennsyl- vania had various methods of government. The Dutch began to rule in 1609 and continued until 1638; the Dutch and Swedish rule covered the period from 1638 10 1655, when the Dutch author- ity again became absolute and lasted until 1664. The chief execu- tive was then known as Vice Director. The conflict between the English and the Dutch led to the establishment of English rule from 1664 to 1673, when the Dutch Deputy Governor reestab- lished the rule of his race. The English, in turn, regained their
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183
THE PROVINCE AND "MOTHER CUMBERLAND"
lost authority in 1674 and continued it until 1681, when the pro- prietary government under Penn was established, with various deputy governors (including members of the Penn family) until 1777, when the Supreme Executive Council was organized.
Execution of the laws then devolved upon the president and the supreme executive council, consisting of twelve persons, one from
WILLIAM PENN, THE FOUNDER OF PENNSYLVANIA.
the city of Philadelphia and one from each of the eleven counties into which the province was then divided. They were, however, chosen by district, the model of our senatorial districts in embryo. Every member of the council was a justice of the peace for the whole state. The president and vice-president of the state were elected in a joint meeting of the Assembly and the Council. The president had the judge appointing power, sat in impeachment cases and could grant pardons. The term of the supreme court judges was made seven years. Two or more persons were elected in each township as justices of the peace and the Council commis-
184
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
sioned one or more of them for seven years. They held the courts. Two persons were to be voted for for sheriff and the Council was to commission one. The county commissioners and assessors of taxes were to be elected by the people, thus embodying in the State Constitution the principles which brought on the revolution, the right of the people to tax themselves.
This early province is now the great Commonwealth of Penn- sylvania, with its sixty-seven subdivisions known as counties. It is one hundred and seventy-six miles in width from the New York State line to Maryland, and three hundred and three miles in length from Ohio to New Jersey. It contains 45,215 square miles of territory and is almost as large as England and Wales com- bined; it is one-third larger than Ireland and larger than Holland, Denmark, and Belgium combined. It is the only one of the thir- teen original states having no coast line along the Atlantic Ocean. Of the thirteen it has exerted greater influence upon the nation than any other, and its history has been more interesting. The Maryland and Virginia claims to a part of the Pennsylvania domain in the south and west and the claims of Connecticut in the Wyom- ing Valley, and the various Indian troubles and wars, were some of the early difficulties of the province. The pioneers and later settlers, unlike many of the other colonies and provinces, were not a single people but those of many nationalities. Here were to be found the types and sects of more religious beliefs than anywhere else, and that is largely true to this day. Here were the beginnings of popular government by the people. Here transportation first developed and manufacturing started. On Pennsylvania soil were fought battles which helped in making the Union and the greatest battle in helping preserve the Union. Within its borders liberty was proclaimed and that great compact between the states-the Constitution, was adopted. No other state in the Union has been so typical of world progress. It is second in population, while in land area it stands thirty-second.
Pennsylvania originally had but three counties. When William Penn first visited the province in 1682-his visit covering almost two years-he laid out three counties, Philadelphia, Bucks, and Chester, whose boundaries were not clearly defined, but Chester had charge of the legality of everything as far west as settlements were then made. While there were no settlements at that time in what is now Perry County, had such been the case it would have been necessary to journey to West Chester to have legal action. 'These original counties had seals, adopted by the provincial legis- lature. That of Philadelphia was an anchor, of Bucks a tree, and of Chester a plough.
The settlements of the colonists were pushing farther and far- ther into the wilderness, as immigrants came in from across the
185
THE PROVINCE AND "MOTHER CUMBERLAND"
seas, and the necessity of having official and legal advantages closer at hand in order to avoid far journeys to the courts caused the citizens to petition for the erection of a new county out of the "upper part of Chester." The petition was granted and by an act of the Provincial Assembly, May 10, 1729, Lancaster County be- came the fourth county of the present great commonwealth, then in embryo. It extended westward as far as the province. From that date any legal matters from what is now the territory compris- ing Perry County would necessarily have been adjusted at Lan- caster, the county seat of Lancaster County. But the territory was uninhabited.
'The continual westward trend, which has practically continued to this day, with the attending desire for local courts, caused the residents west of the Susquehanna to petition for the formation of separate counties, and in 1749 York County, including the pres- ent county of Adams-it being the fifth county and formerly a part of Lancaster-was laid out. Cumberland, a year later-1750 -was the sixth county created. Thus the nearest county seat to the territory comprising Perry County, was that of Chester, then that of Lancaster, and later that of Cumberland. It became a part of Cumberland in 1754, where it was destined to remain for sixty- six years, or until 1820, when it "came into its own."
In presenting a petition to the Provincial Assembly representa- tions were made by the inhabitants of the "North Valley," as the territory was then known, who resided west of the Susquehanna River, that "owing to the great hardships they laid under, of being very remote from Lancaster, where the courts were held-some of them one hundred miles distant-and the public offices kept," etc., a new county was to be desired. The act of January 27, 1750, creating Cumberland County, gave the boundaries as follows :
"That, all and singular lands lying within the Province of Pennsylvania, to the westward of Susquehanna, and northward and westward of the county of York, be erected into a county, to be called Cumberland ; bounded northward and westward with the line of the province, eastward partly with the river Susquehanna, and partly with said county of York ; and southward in part by the line dividing said province from that of Maryland."
Literally that would have included all of Perry and of Pennsyl- vania to its northern border, but the lands north of the Kittatinny or Blue Mountain had not then yet been purchased from the In- dians. Consequently no townships were designated in the old rec- ords as lying north of the mountains, until after the Albany pur- chase of 1754. Neither were any justices appointed in or for that territory. Notwithstanding that fact the author of the bill creating Cumberland County used poor judgment, in including within its borders, lands which were not yet purchased from the
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