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Westminster became a town
26 April 1770, after about 10 years as a district known
originally as Naragansett Plantation Number 2.
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Westminster [Transcript
of Births, Marriages, Deaths 1738-1786].
Book I. Transcript of vital records in the
"old" book below, possibly with additions or
omissions.
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Index to Vital Records 1738-1786 B-W
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FICHE 1
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Births by Family
1738-1776, pp 1-45
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FICHE 2
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Deaths 1750-1769, pp
46-48
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FICHE 2
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Marriages 1763-1786, pp
51-57
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FICHE 2
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Westminster Town Records
[1738-1803]. 40 pages.
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For those willing to
struggle with worn pages, old-style handwriting, some
very light ink, and elusive page numbers; the fragile
leaves of this book, preserved with silk, reward with
primary documentation. Look beyond pages with
upside-down writing for their right-side-up filming.
Note that the transcript above appears to include most
of the vital records in this volume.
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Births by Family
1742-1776, pp 2-8
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FICHE 3
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Strays & Appraisals
1759-1803; pp 19-22,26-31,34,39-40
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FICHE 3
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Warnings Out 1760-1767,
1790; pp 20-21, 31-33
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FICHE 3
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Marriages 1774-1790; pp
22-25, 33
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FICHE 3
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Births by Family
1738-1763, pp 36-38
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FICHE 4
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Deaths 1750, 1756-1769;
pp 34-36
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FICHE 4
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Publishments &
Marriages 1759-1778, pp 9-19
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FICHE 4
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Westminster Births,
Deaths, Marriages 1738-1845.
2nd Book. 350 pages. Births of 1738-1852, usually
arranged by family, predominate in this volume, whose
tight-binding sometimes swallows data. Note,
incidentally, that pages 25-26 of the births emerge
between pages 186 and 188. Deaths most often appear with
related family births, one exception being those on page
24 that resemble obituaries. Here an especially poignant
record details the battle with breast cancer that
eventually took the life of Widow Abigail Richardson,
age 54 in 1775. Births and deaths are indexed (a
probable exception is an 1866 birth inserted before page
1). A 30-year record of marriage publishments
(1764-1794) is indexed separately. The few marriage
records appear with or among the birth and deaths (e.g.,
an 1868 marriage on page 17), and may not be indexed. On
page 279, a curious item appears: it documents John and
Ruthama Hadley's gift in 1816 of their youngest son,
William, to Samuel Martin.
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Index to Marriage
Publishments 1764-1794, A-W
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FICHE 5
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Index to Births &
Deaths [1738-1852], A-H
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FICHE 5
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Index to Births &
Deaths [1738-1852], J-W
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FICHE 6
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Births & Deaths
1741-1844, pp 1-27
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FICHE 6
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Births & Deaths
1741-1844, pp 28-87
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FICHE 7
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Births & Deaths
1738-1842, pp 88-146
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FICHE 8
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Births & Deaths
1744-1843, pp 147-202
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FICHE 9
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Births & Deaths
1766-1846, pp 203-258
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FICHE 10
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Births & Deaths
1765-1844, pp 259-306
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FICHE 11
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Births & Deaths
1809-1827, p 307
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FICHE 12
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Marriage Publishments
1764-1794, pp 308-319
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FICHE 12
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Births & Deaths
1789-1852, pp 320-350
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FICHE 12
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Westminster Town Meetings
1759-1783. 452 pages.
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District Meetings
1759-1763, pp 1-43
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FICHE 13
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District Meetings
1763-1766, pp 44-89
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FICHE 14
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District Meetings
1766-1768, pp 90-139
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FICHE 15
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District Meetings
1768-1770, pp 140-171
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FICHE 16
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Town Meetings 1770-1771,
pp 172-189
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FICHE 16
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Town Meetings 1771-1773,
pp 190-237
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FICHE 17
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Town Meetings 1773-1775,
pp 238-283
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FICHE 18
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Town Meetings 1775-1778,
pp 284-333
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FICHE 19
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Town Meetings 1778-1780,
pp 334-383
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FICHE 20
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Town Meetings 1780-1782,
pp 384-433
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FICHE 21
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Town Meetings 1782-1783,
pp 434-452
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FICHE 22
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Town Meetings 1795, pp
536-555 (from below)
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FICHE 22
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Westminster Town Book
1783-1795. 555 pages.
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For the 1786 value of
pews in the meetinghouse and the names of their owners,
see page 554. Light ink makes some reading difficult.
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Town Meetings 1783-1784,
pp 1-55
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FICHE 23
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Town Meetings 1784-1786,
pp 56-115
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FICHE 24
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Town Meetings 1786-1787,
pp 116-175
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FICHE 25
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Town Meetings 1787-1788,
pp 176-235
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FICHE 26
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Town Meetings 1788-1790,
pp 236-296
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FICHE 27
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Town Meetings 1790-1791,
pp 297-356
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FICHE 28
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Town Meetings 1791-1792,
pp 357-416
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FICHE 29
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Town Meetings 1792-1794,
pp 417-476
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FICHE 30
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Town Meetings 1794-1795,
pp 477-535
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FICHE 31
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Town Meetings 1795, pp
536-555
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FICHE 22
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Westminster Town Book
1796-1812. Vol 3. 381 pages.
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Look for lists of jurors
among the minutes of town meetings. Miscellaneous
records include pew deeds, fence divisions, and
perambulations.
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Town Meetings 1795-1797,
pp 1-55
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FICHE 32
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Town Meetings 1797-1798,
pp 56-113
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FICHE 33
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Town Meetings 1798-1799,
pp 114-173
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FICHE 34
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Town Meetings 1799-1800,
pp 174-233
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FICHE 35
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Town Meetings 1800-1802,
pp 234-292
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FICHE 36
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Town Meetings 1802-1803,
pp 293-352
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FICHE 37
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Town Meetings 1803, pp
353-372
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FICHE 38
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Miscellaneous Records
1803-1806,1812; pp 373-381
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FICHE 38
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Perambulations 1808-1819,
pp 558-562 (below)
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FICHE 38
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Pew Deed 1826, p 534
(from below)
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FICHE 38
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Church Tax Abatements
1815-1822; pp 535-557 (below)
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FICHE 38
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Westminster Town Book
1804-1826. Vol 4. 562 pages.
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Look for lists of jurors
and town officers among the town meeting minutes. Other
records include pew deeds, perambulations, and church
tax abatements for those making payments to diverse
religious societies. Though the main body of the
abatements appear on pages 535-557, others surface from
time to time among the meeting minutes; e.g., pages 397
and 415. Pew deeds, likewise, appear from time to time
through the meeting minutes; e.g., page 415. Light ink
makes some pages difficult to read.
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Town Meetings 1804-1806,
pp 1-55
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FICHE 39
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Town Meetings 1806-1808,
pp 56-113
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FICHE 40
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Town Meetings 1807-1809,
pp 114-173
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FICHE 41
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Town Meetings 1809-1811,
pp 174-233
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FICHE 42
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Town Meetings 1811-1812,
pp 234-293
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FICHE 43
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Town Meetings 1812-1814,
pp 294-353
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FICHE 44
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Town Meetings 1814-1815,
pp 354-413
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FICHE 45
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Town Meetings 1815-1817,
pp 414-473
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FICHE 46
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Town Meetings 1817, pp
474-487
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FICHE 47
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Pew Deeds 1808-1827; pp
489-533
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FICHE 47
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Pew Deed 1826, p 534
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FICHE 38
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Church Tax Abatements
1815-1822, pp 535-557
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FICHE 38
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Perambulations 1808-1819,
pp 558-562
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FICHE 38
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Westminster Town Records
1818-1834. Vol 5. 463 pages.
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Light ink makes reading
difficult on some pages.
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Town Meetings 1818-1819,
pp 1-56
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FICHE 48
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Town Meetings 1820-1821,
pp 57-116
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FICHE 49
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Town Meetings 1821-1824,
pp 117-176
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FICHE 50
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Town Meetings 1824-1826,
pp 177-236
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FICHE 51
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Town Meetings 1826-1828,
pp 237-296
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FICHE 52
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Town Meetings 1828-1830,
pp 297-356
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FICHE 53
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Town Meetings 1830-1833,
pp 357-415
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FICHE 54
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Town Meetings 1833-1834,
pp 416-463
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FICHE 55
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Westminster Town Records
1835-1851. Vol 8. 440 pages.
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Oaths of office, records
of town officers, and juror lists throughout this book
identify many town residents.
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Town Meetings &
Reports 1835-1836, pp 1-54
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FICHE 56
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Town Meetings 1836-1839,
pp 55-114
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FICHE 57
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Town Meetings 1839-1841,
pp 115-172
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FICHE 58
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Town Meetings 1841-1844,
pp 173-232
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FICHE 59
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Town Meetings 1844-1846,
pp 233-281
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FICHE 60
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Town Meetings 1846-1848,
pp 282-341
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FICHE 61
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Town Meetings 1848-1850,
pp 342-401
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FICHE 62
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Town Meetings 1850-1851,
pp 402-440
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FICHE 63
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Westminster Selectmen's
Orders 1790-1821. 363 pages.
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This record, mostly of
selectmen's orders for payments and their appointments
of town officers, shows expenditures for the schools,
the poor, and other town expenses. Note especially, on
page 22, the eloquent plea of James Taylor for town
charity. Missing pages include 63-64.
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Selectmen's Records
1791-1796, pp 1-68
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FICHE 64
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Selectmen's Records
1796-1803, pp 69-148
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FICHE 65
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Selectmen's Records
1803-1811, pp 149-224
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FICHE 66
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Selectmen's Records
1810-1816, pp 225-305
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FICHE 67
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Selectmen's Records
1816-1821, pp 306-363
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FICHE 68
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Westminster Selectmen's
Book 1821-1850. 497 pages.
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This record includes
orders for town payment, appointments of town officials,
school finances, and lists of engine men and highway
surveyors. Missing pages include 20-21, 24-25, 42-43 and
75-78.
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Selectmen's Records
1821-1829, pp 1-81
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FICHE 69
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Selectmen's Records
1828-1834, pp 82-161
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FICHE 70
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Selectmen's Records
1834-1838, pp 162-239
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FICHE 71
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Selectmen's Records
1838-1842, pp 240-319
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FICHE 72
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Selectmen's Records
1842-1846, pp 320-396
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FICHE 73
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Selectmen's Records
1846-1849, pp 397-474
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FICHE 74
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Selectmen's Records
1849-1850, pp 475-496
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FICHE 75
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Perambulations 1842-1850,
p 497
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FICHE 75
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Proprietors' Records
1752-1757, pp 236-281 (below)
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FICHE 75
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Westminster [Proprietors'
Book or Record of the Proprietors of Narraganset No. 2
from the Grant of the Township in 1728 to Sept. 29,
1756]. 329 pages. Transcribed
1836 from the town's first book of Records of the
Narraganset Proprietors. Note that pages 328-329 are
misnumbered as 228-229. For 1733 and 1734 lists of
property owners, see pages 10-13 and 31-35. Note that
all were residents of Cambridge, Charlestown, Watertown,
Weston, Sudbury, Newton, Medford, Malden, or Reading.
Later pages, 123-130, identify 1741 grantees of the
second division. Grantees of the third division may be
listed on other pages. Interestingly, the record
frequently references family relationships; e.g., pages
10-13 and 39. Further, illustrations of virtually every
lot involved in the first three land divisions appear
throughout the book. For their index, see pages 322-329.
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Table of Contents for pp
5-50
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FICHE 76
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Proprietors' Records
1728-1735, pp 5-43
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FICHE 76
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Proprietors' Records
1735-1739, pp 44-93
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FICHE 77
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Proprietors' Records
1734, 1739-1745; pp 94-143
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FICHE 78
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Proprietors' Records
[1746-1748]; pp 144-193
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FICHE 79
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Proprietors' Records
[1748-1751]; pp 194-243
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FICHE 80
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Proprietors' Records
1751-1754, pp 244-287
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FICHE 81
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Proprietors' Records
1755-1757, pp 288-321
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FICHE 82
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Index to Land Lots, pp
322-329
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FICHE 82
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Westminster Proprietor's
Book 1728-1757. 281 pages.
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Includes lot
descriptions. Some faded, blurry ink.
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Proprietors' Records
1728-1738, pp 1-75
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FICHE 83
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Proprietors' Records
1739-1746, pp 76-155
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FICHE 84
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Proprietors' Records
[1746-1752], pp 156-235
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FICHE 85
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Proprietors' Records
1752-1757, pp 236-281
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FICHE 75
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Westminster
[Miscellaneous Town Records 1790-1893].
360+ pages.
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Major record types
include warnings out 1790-1793, fence agreements
1809-1894, stray beasts and other lost goods 1803-1880,
perambulations 1820-1893, and church members claiming
exemption from the town's minister tax 1822-1834. Other
records include the granting of a medical license in
1825 to John White (page 4), a private agreement between
James Puffer and M. F. Ward (pages 148-149), and the
placement and erection of guideposts in 1820 (page 305).
Page 2, regretfully, is lost, along with its record of
the town's incorporation. Blank pages include 122-147,
284-295, and 301-304.
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Medical License 1825, p 4
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FICHE 86
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Warnings Out 1790-1793,
pp 5-38
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FICHE 86
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Fence Agreements
1809-1822; pp 40-59
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FICHE 86
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Fence Agreements
1822-1829, pp 60-89
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FICHE 87
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Stray Beasts 1803-1853,
pp 90-117
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FICHE 87
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Stray Beasts 1853-1880;
pp 118-121, 175
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FICHE 88
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Puffer/Ward Agreement
1856, pp 148-149
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FICHE 88
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Fence Agreements
1830-1841, pp 150-199
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FICHE 88
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Fence Agreements
1841-1856, pp 200-245
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FICHE 89
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Fence Agreements
1856-1894, pp 246-282
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FICHE 90
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Perambulations 1876,
1889-1893; pp 296-300
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FICHE 90
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Perambulations 1820-1873,
pp 306-328
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FICHE 91
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Tax-exempt Church Members
1822-1834, pp 329-360
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FICHE 91
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Index of Parties to Fence
Agreements 1809-1894
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FICHE 92
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Westminster Day Book
1827-1857. Vol 7. 422 pages.
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Blank pages 26-89;
missing pages 187-188.
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Pew Sales 1827-1855, pp
1-25
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FICHE 93
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Property Attachments
1839-1853, pp 90-110
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FICHE 93
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Property
Mortgages 1832-1833, pp 111-118
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FICHE 93
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Property
Mortgages 1833-1837, pp 119-178
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FICHE 94
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Property
Mortgages 1838-1842, pp 179-240
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FICHE 95
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Property
Mortgages 1842-1844, pp 241-287
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FICHE 96
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Property
Mortgages 1844-1849, pp 288-344
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FICHE 97
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Property
Mortgages 1848-1852, pp 344-399
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FICHE 98
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Property
Mortgages 1852-1854, pp 400-413
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FICHE 99
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Non-Resident Tax
Assessment 1812-1857, pp 416-422
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FICHE 99
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Court Records 1787, pp
346-347 (from below)
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FICHE 99
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Militia Lists 1867-1874
(from below)
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FICHE 99
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Westminster Book of
Records for Civil & Criminal Matters 1786-1805.
347 pages. Court records range from loan agreements to
charges of non-payment and other criminal complaints;
e.g., fraud, vandalism, assault, and rape. Among the
pages with records of marriages are 54, 282-285, and
327--perhaps others.
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Index to Pages 11-341 in
Court Records 1786-1805, pp 1-7
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FICHE 100
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Court Records 1786-1788,
pp 11-47
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FICHE 100
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Court Records 1788-1790,
pp 48-104
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FICHE 101
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Marriages 1788-1790, p 54
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FICHE 101
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Court Records 1790-1795,
pp 105-157
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FICHE 102
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Court Records 1795-1799,
pp 158-217
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FICHE 103
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Court Records 1798-1802,
pp 218-279
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FICHE 104
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Marriages 1786-1804, pp
282-285
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FICHE 104
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Marriages 1805, p 327
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FICHE 105
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Court Records 1802-1805,
1787; pp 286-344
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FICHE 105
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Court Records 1787, pp
346-347
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FICHE 99
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Westminster Militia Lists
1840-1874. About 120 pages.
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Militia lists identify
male residents aged 18-45; further, records of 1864-1873
include age and occupation of each. Some pages suffer
from blurry ink.
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Militia Lists 1840-1866,
pp 3-18+
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FICHE 106
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Militia Lists 1867-1874
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FICHE 99
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Westminster Rebellion
Record [1861-1865].
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Two separate records
combine to form this book. Be sure to check both as one
may provide statistics not found in the other.
Information may include data pertaining to birth,
parents, regiment, company, length of service, bounty,
and previous occupation.
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Index; Soldiers &
Officers 1861-1865, pp 1-18
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FICHE 107
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|
Index, pp 5-16; Soldiers
& Officers 1861-1865, pp 22-57
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FICHE 108
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Westminster Tax Records
1810-1818. [Vol. 2]. About 360
pages.
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|
Besides the name of each
resident and non-resident subject to taxes imposed by
the state, county, and town, these records show the
specific assessments for polls and for real and personal
property. Expenditures from collected taxes included
payments to the minister and for highways.
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Tax Valuations 1810-1811
|
FICHE 109
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Tax Valuations 1811-1813
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FICHE 110
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