Possible Belden Ancestry in England

Richard Belden and Margaret Ackrenden
                              Thomas Standish
John Belden and Lydia Standish

John Belden and Dorothy Willard

John Belden and Patience Rossiter

John Belden and Sarah Kellogg

Hannah Belden and Nathaniel Merrill

Allen Merrill and Tamma Smith

Elizabeth Merrill and Elijah Mason Morey

William Clemeth Morey and Melvina E. Andrews

Minnie Elsie Morey and Aretus Erastus Freeman

Iva Melvina Freeman and Donald VanHoosier Lawson

Stephen Martin Lawson

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The parentage of Richard BELDEN (d. Aug. 1655, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT) has not been absolutely proved. The most probable BELDEN ancestry is presented here, summarized from a two part article "The English Ancestry of Richard Belden of Wethersfield, Connecticut, With the Probable Ancestry of William Belden of Westherfield," by Paul C. REED in The American Genealogist (76:1-2, Jan and Apr 2001). Refer to the cited article for the text of the 1576/7 will of Richard BAILDON, and many other details. For further discussion from earlier publications, refer to the Appendix on the Belden English Ancestry.

Richard BAILDON - b. about 1532; bur. Jan. 7, 1576/7, Gisburn, Yorkshire. As a resident of Howgill, Rimington, Gisburn, Yorkshire, his will was written Jan. 3, 1576/7 and poroved by the co-executors on Apr. 24, 1577. The will names his wife Margaret, son William, and "thre of my youngest children," with wife and son William named as executors. The name of Richard's first wife (bur. Feb. 11, 1558/9, Gisburn, Yorkshire) is not known. He married second about 1560.

Margaret - bur. May 23, 1604, Gisburn, Yorkshire. Named as principal beneficiary and co-executor of her husband's will.

1. William - b. by 1556; bur. May 4, 1590, Gisburn, Yorkshire. As a resident of Howgill in Rimington, his will was written Mar. 1, 1589/90 and proved Feb. 4, 1590/1. The name of William's first wife is not known. He was married second on Oct. 24, 1581 at Gisburn, Yorkshire to Alice FORTE (bur. Dec. 13, 1607, Gisburn, Yorkshire). Daughter of William BAILDON and his first wife: Alice. Children of William and Alice BAILDON: Ann; Richard; Hugh; and William.
2. Katherine - b. before 1558; bur. Aug. 24, 1582, Gisburn, Yorkshire.

1. Richard - bap. Aug. 29, 1562, Gisburn, Yorkshire. He may have been either the Richard BEALDON of Langfield who was buried My 7, 1619 at Heptonstall, Yorkshire, or Richard BALDON of Parkhouse, Pyanthorne, Gisburn, who was buried May 20, 1633 at Gisburn, Yorkshire.
2. A daughter - bap. Jan. 1564/5, Gisburn, Yorkshire. Probably Alice, daughter of Richard BALDON who was buried Sep. 10, 1567 at Gisburn, Yorkshire.
3. Alice - bap. Sep. 12, 1568. Possibly the Alice BALDON who was married on Feb. 3, 1596/7 at Gisburn, Yorkshire to Henry CRAVEN.
4. Lawrence - bap. May 20, 1571, Gisburn, Yorkshire; d. before 1641.
5. Jenet - bap. Sep. 12, 1573, Gisburn, Yorkshire; bur. Mar. 6, 1576/7, Gisburn, Yorkshire.

Lawrence BELDON - bap. May 20, 1571, Gisburn, Yorkshire; d. before 1641. Probably the son of Richard BAILDON and Margaret. Lawrence resided at Aringden in Heptonstall, Yorkshire, where five of his children were baptized, and later resided at Lanfield in Heptonstall, Yorkshire, where his wife was buried. No record is found of his death, but his name does not appear in the 1641/2 Protestation Returns for Heptonstall.

"Uxor Lawrence Beldon" - bur. Nov. 2, 1622, Langfield, Heptonstall, Yorkshire. Name not located.

1. Richard - b. about 1598, Heptonstall, Yorkshire; d. Aug. 1655, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT.
2. Mary - bap. Nov. 22, 1601, (of Aryingden) Heptonstall, Yorkshire.
3. Susan - bap. Jun. 17, 1604, (of Aryingden) Heptonstall, Yorkshire; bur. Jul 16, 1631, Arringden, Heptonstall, Yorkshire. She died of the plague.
4. John - bap. Oct. 25, 1606, (of Aryingden) Heptonstall, Yorkshire. His name is not found in the 1641/2 Protestation Returns for Heptonstall, and he likely had relocated to Sowerby. Daughter Sarah BALDON (of Aryingden) was bap. May 4, 1634 at Heptonstall, Yorkshire.
5. William - bap. Apr. 23, 1609, (of Aryingden) Heptonstall, Yorkshire; d. 1655, Hartford Co., CT. Will dated Mar. 27, 1655, and inventory at £142.06.08 taken Jun. 1, 1655. The name of William BELDON is not found in the 1641/2 Protestation Returns for Heptonstall, and he probably left the are area for America prior to that date. Married Thomasine SHERWOOD, daughter of Thomas and Alice SHERWOOD of Fairfield, CT. Thomasine survived her husband. Their son Daniel's first wife, and several of his children, were killed in the Deerfield massacre of 1696 [photo of memorial at Deerfield]. Children of William and Thomasine BELDEN: Samuel did not marry; Daniel married first Elizabeth FOOTE, second Hepzibah (BUELL) WELLS, and third Sarah (HAWKES) MATTOON; John; Susanna; Mary; and Nathaniel.
6. Luke - bap. Dec. 6, 1611, (of Aryingden) Heptonstall, Yorkshire. His name is not found in the 1641/2 Protestation Returns for Heptonstall.

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The primary source of information on the BELDEN line is The Family History of Judge Ellsworth B. Belden and Collateral Families, by Stanly R. Belden and Elvera K. Belden, 1980. Additional details were obtained from other published sources, including the Paul C. REED article noted in the Belden Ancestry in England introduction.

Richard BELDEN - b. about 1598, Heptonstall, Yorkshire, England; d. Aug. 1655, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT. Probably the son of Lawrence BELDON. Probably arrived in America between 1636 and 1640, he first appears on land records Apr. 7, 1641 with 'one piece whereon a house is builded containing three acres, one rood, more or less, the ends abut against Broad Street N.' in old Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT. This property remained in the family until 1742. Richard was employed to keep 12 score cows and oxen at £24, and 2 s. for each additional animal, and paid in produce on Mar. 16, 1746/7. His estate was inventoried at £111.19.00 on Oct. 2, 1655, and included ten pieces of pewter, one carbine and one rapier among other items. Married on Dec. 9, 1622 at Heptonstall, Yorkshire, England.

Margaret ACKREDEN - b. England. Her parents have not been identified.

1. Susan - bap. Nov. 16, 1623, (of Langfield) Heptonstall, Yorkshire, England.
2. Mary - bap. Jul. 17, 1625, (of Wadsworth) Heptonstall, Yorkshire, England.
3. Grace - bap. Dec. 30, 1627, (of Wadsworth) Heptonstall, Yorkshire, England.
4. Sara - bap. May 2, 1630, (of Wadsworth) Heptonstall, Yorkshire, England.
5. Samuel - bap. Sep. 16, 1632, (of Wadsworth) Heptonstall, Yorkshire, England; d. Jan. 3, 1712/3, Northfield, Franklin Co., MA. Town cow-keeper in 1648, soldier in King Philip's War, juror in 1655, and freeman May 21, 1657. In 1654, Samuel received a gift of land from his father. John WINTHROP, in his Medical Journal, records that Samuel was married and age 26 in 1658. Moved to Hatfield, opposite Hadley, Hampshire Co., MA about 1661. Married first about 1654 Mary (killed by Indians Sep. 19, 1677); second Jun. 25, 1678 Mary BEARDSLEY (b. 1631; d. Sep. 20, 1691, Hadley, Hampshire Co., MS), daughter of William BEARDSLEY and Mary, and widow of Thomas WELLS; third in 1691 at Northfield, Franklin Co., MA Mary MEAKINS (b. about 1645, Braintree, MA; d. Feb. 29, 1704, Deerfield, MA), daughter of Thomas and Sarah MEAKINS, and widow of John ALLIS; and fourth Apr. 10, 1705 in Northfield, Franklin Co., MA Sarah CURTISS, widow of John WELLS. Children of Samuel and Mary BELDEN, his first marriage: Mary married Daniel WELD; Samuel married first Sarah FELLOWES, widow of Samuel BILLINGS, and married second Mary (BURT) HASTINGS, widow of Thomas HASTINGS, Jr.; Stephen married Mary WELLS; Sarah; Ann; Ebenezer married Martha; and John married Sarah (poss. WAIT).
6. John - bap. Feb. 8, 1634, (of Aryingden) Heptonstall, Yorkshire, England; d. Jun. 27, 1677, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT.

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Thomas STANDISH - b. about 1612, England; d. Dec. 5, 1692, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT. Thomas married second about 1660, probably at Wethersfield, CT, Susannah SMITH (b. about 1624, England; d. Nov. 30, 1692, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT), the daughter of Richard SMITH. Gov. Dr. John Winthrop, Jr. records "Patient, Thomas Standish his wife, Sussane Smith, daughter of old Richard Smith." The name of Thomas' first wife, believed to be the mother of Lydia, is not known.

1. Lydia - b. about 1635. Married John BELDEN.

1. Thomas - b. about 1660; d. Sep. 3, 1735. Married first Mar. 20, 1690, Wethersfield, CT Mary CHURCH (b. about 1670; d. Jan. 20, 1705, Wethersfield, CT), and second Rebecca (b. about 1685.
2. Sarah - b. about 1661. Married 7 Apr 1681, Wethersfield, CT John WIARD/WYART (b. about 1646).
3. Eunice - b. 1664; d. 1716. Married Dec. 7, 1693, Wethersfield, CT Nathaniel STODDARD (d. 1714).

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John BELDEN - bap. Feb. 8, 1634, Aryingden, Heptonstall, Yorkshire, England; d. Jun. 27, 1677, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT. Son of Richard BELDEN and Margaret ACKRENDEN. Wethersfield records indicate he died in 1677 at age 46, suggesting that his birth was 4 years earlier, but on Feb. 16, 1661, John of Wethersfield deposed that he was age 27. Freeman May 21, 1657, soldier in colonial wars, constable 1660, juror 1662, and tavern keeper 1673. Inventory of estate at £911.05.07 taken Aug. 30, 1677, and first distribution made Mar. 6, 1678/9. Married Apr. 24, 1656, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT.

Lydia STANDISH - b. about 1635. Said to be the daughter of Thomas STANDISH.

1. John - b. Jun. 12, 1658, Wethersfield, CT; d. Jan. 10, 1713/4, Wethersfield, CT.
2. Jonathan - b. Jan. 21, 1660, Wethersfield, CT; d. Jul. 6, 1734, Wethersfield, CT; bur. Ancient Burying Ground, Wethersfield, CT. Selectman 1695, appointed Ens. 1703, later Lt., and deacon. Owned interest in Lead mines at Middletown. Deeded property to sons Silas and Jonathan Jan. 23, 1724/5 'in consideration that parental love and affection.' Married Dec. 10, 1685, Wethersfield, CT Mary WRIGHT (b. Mar. 4, 1664; d. Sep. 8, 1741; bur. Ancient Burying Ground, Wethersfield, CT), daughter of Thomas WRIGHT and Elizabeth CHITTENDEN. Children of Jonathan and Mary BELDEN: Jonathan died young; Mary married David WRIGHT; Silas married Abigail ROBBINS; Jonathan married Martha JAMES (or possibly Mary FRANCIS); Elizabeth married Ezra BELDEN; and Mabel.
3. Joseph - b. Apr. 23, 1663, Wethersfield, CT; d. Dec. 7, 1724, Wethersfield, CT. Estate inventoried at £1775.12.00 on Feb. 11, 1724/5. Collector 1690, clerk 1705 and appraiser of cattle 1708. Married Oct. 27, 1693 Mary MEAKINS (bap. Feb. 4, 1671/2, Hartford, CT; d. about 1740, Wethersfield, CT), daughter of John MEAKINS and Mary BIDWELL. Children of Joseph and Mary BELDEN: Sarah married Richard BURNHAM; Capt. Joseph married Elizabeth DEMING; Capt. Thomas; Mary married Joseph BOARDMAN; Amos; Esther married Joshua WOLCOTT; and Eunice.
4. Samuel - b. Jan. 3, 1664/5, Wethersfield, CT; d. Dec. 27, 1738, New London, CT. Estate inventoried at £381.16.01 on Jan. 25, 1739. Married possibly on Jan. 14, 1685 Hannah HANDY (d. Jan. 20, 1742), daughter of Richard HANDY. Children of Samuel and Hannah BELDEN: A daughter died in infancy; Samuel married Mary SPENCER; Daniel married Margaret BLINN, the widow CLARK; Gideon married Elizabeth SEYMOUR; Prudence married John CRANE; Eunice died in infancy; Richard; Matthew married Elizabeth STEBBINS; and Hannah.
5. Sarah - b. Mar. 31, 1668, Wethersfield, CT.
6. Daniel - b. Oct. 12, 1670, Wethersfield, CT; d. about 1696, Wethersfield, CT. Estate distributed Apr. 15, 1696.
7. Ebenezer - b. Jan. 8, 1672/3, Wethersfield, CT; d. Nov. 2, 1739, Wethersfield, CT; bur. Ancient Burying Ground, Wethersfield, CT. His grave marker reads: Here lies Interr'd the Body of Sergt Ebenezer Belding who Departed this Life November the 2nd 1739 about 72 Years of Age. A Sgt. and holder of many town offices, including hayward and constable, and selectman. Married about 1696, Wethersfield, CT Abigail GRAVES, daughter of Nathaniel GRAVES and Martha BETTS. Children of Ebenezer and Abigail BELDEN: Lt. Ebenezer married Mary TALCOTT; and Thankful married Ens. Samuel TALCOTT.
8. Lydia - b. Mar. 1675, Wethersfield, CT. Married May 8, 1694 Ens. Stephen KELLOGG (b. Apr. 9, 1668, Hadley, MA; d. Jun. 5, 1722, Westfield, MA), son of Joseph KELLOGG and Abigail TERRY.
9. Margaret - b. Mar. 29, 1677, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT; d. Dec. 13, 1747, Colchester, New Haven Co., CT; bur. therein the Old Burial Ground. Married about 1696 at Hatfield, MA to Nathaniel KELLOGG (b. Jun. 4, 1671, Hadley, Hampshire Co., MA; d., Aug. 22, 1757, Colchester, New Haven Co., CT; bur. there in the Old Burial Ground), son of Samuel KELLOGG and Sarah DAY. Children of Margaret and Nathaniel KELLOGG: Margaret; Editha; Nathaniel married Elizabeth WILLIAMS; Sarah; Lydia married John HOPSON; Abner; John; Ezra married RUTH (who married second Henry STILES); and Anne.

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John BELDEN - b. Jun. 12, 1658, Wethersfield, CT; d. Jan. 10, 1713/4, Wethersfield, CT. Son of John BELDEN and Lydia STANDISH. Generally used the variant spelling BELDING. Estate inventoried at £891.00.03 on Feb. 17, 1713/4 by Jonathan Belding, Jacob Griswold, and David Wright. Married by Capt. Samuel Talcott on Jun. 15, 1682, Wethersfield, CT.

Dorothy WILLARD - b. about 1663, Wethersfield, CT; d. Feb. 28, 1754, Wethersfield, CT; bur. Ancient Burying Ground [photo], Wetherfield, CT. Daughter of Josiah WILLARD and Hannah HOSMER.

1. Josiah - b. Feb. 14, 1682/3, Wethersfield, CT; d. Sep. 5, 1746, Rocky Hill, CT. Married May 1, 1707 Mabel WRIGHT (d. Oct. 11, 1767, Rocky Hill, CT), daughter of Sgt. Samuel WRIGHT. Children of Josiah and Mabel BELDEN: Mabel; Dorothy; Rebecca died in infancy; Rebecca died young; Josiah; Osias died young; Rebecca died at age 20; Abigail; Return; Solomon married Elizabeth ROCKWELL; Lydia married Capt. Charles CHURCHILL; and Hannah.
2. John - b. Dec. 3, 1685, Wethersfield, CT; d. before Jun. 24, 1725, Wethersfield, CT.
3. Benjamin - b. Jan. 13, 1687, Wethersfield, CT; d. May 9, 1741, Greenwich, CT. A felt maker and tavern keeper. Married by Rev. Stephen Mix on Jan. 29, 1713/4, Wethersfield, CT Anne CHURCHILL, daughter of Lt. Benjamin CHURCHILL. Children of Benjamin and Anne BELDEN: Mary (or Martha) married Elijah PORTER; Benjamin married Sarah GREEN; Charles married Mary PECK; Ann; Prudence married David WELD; and John married Rebecca WEBSTER.
4. Lidia - b. Apr. 9, 1690, Wethersfield, CT; d. there Apr. 6, 1693.
5. Hannah - b. Sep. 12, 1692, Wethersfield, CT; d. Nov. 6, 1771, Wethersfield, CT. Married Jan. 19, 1715/6, Wethersfield, CT Lt. Ephraim DEMING, son of Ebenezer.
6. Lydia - b. Nov. 30, 1694, Wethersfield, CT. Married Aug. 29, 1716 John KIRTLAND.
7. Stephen - b. May 21, 1697, Wethersfield, CT.
8. Ezra - b. Nov. 27, 1699, Wethersfield, CT. Married Feb. 15 (or 13), 1722, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT Elizabeth BELDEN (b. Oct. 1, 1698, Wethersfield, CT), daughter of Jonathan BELDEN and Mary WRIGHT. Children of Ezra and Elizabeth BELDEN: Ezra married Rebecca DIX; Aaron died young; Elizabeth; Aaron married Mercy BELDEN; Eunice did not marry; possibly Elizabeth; and Lois married Ebenezer BALCH.
9. Dorothy - b. May 11, 1702, Wethersfield, CT; d. Jul. 2, 1704, Wethersfield, CT.

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John BELDEN - b. Dec. 3, 1685, Wethersfield, CT; d. before Jun. 24, 1725, Wethersfield, CT. Son of John BELDEN and Dorothy WILLARD. Estate inventoried at £851.13.09 on Jun. 24, 1725. Married first by Rev. Stephen Mix on May 1, 1711, Wethersfield, CT Keziah GILBERT (b. 1691; d. Dec. 2, 1712, Wethersfield, CT), daughter of Sgt. Benjamin GILBERT. John married second by Rev. Thomas Ruggles of Guilford on Mar. 22, 1714/5. He married third by Capt. David Goodrich on Dec. 16, 1718, Sarah GRISWOLD, daughter of Jacob GRISWOLD.

Patience ROSSITER - b. Apr. 6, 1692, Guilford, CT; d. Mar. 9, 1715/6, Wethersfield, CT; bur. Village Cemetery [photo], Wetherfield, CT. Daughter of Josiah ROSSITER and Sarah SHERMAN.

1. A daughter - b. Nov. 29, 1712, Wethersfield, CT; died the same day. Her mother died three days after her birth.

1. John - b. Mar. 1, 1715/6, Wethersfield, CT; d. Dec. 20, 1785, West Hartford, CT. His mother died 7 days after the birth.

1. Ebenezer - b. Dec. 6, 1719, Wethersfield, CT.
2. Keziah - b. Aug. 21, 1722, Wethersfield, CT; d. before Jun. 24, 1725.
3. Timothy - b. Dec. 26, 1723, Wethersfield, CT. Married Mar. 4, 1746, CT Abigail HURLBUT (b. Aug. 23, 1722; d. Jan. 1, 1786, Sheffield, MA), daughter of William HURLBUT and Susanna BOWEN. Children of Timothy and Abigail BELDEN: Sarah married Jacob BIDWELL; and Simeon.

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John BELDEN - b. Mar. 1, 1715/6, Wethersfield, CT; d. Dec. 20, 1785, West Hartford, CT. Son of John BELDEN and Patience ROSSITER. Gave patriotic service in Revolution. John and his wife were admitted as full communicant members of the West Hartford Church Feb. 25, 1739. Married in 1738.

Sarah KELLOGG - b. Oct. 30, 1719, Hartford, CT; d. Feb. 25, 1792, West Hartford, CT. Daughter of John KELLOGG and Sarah OLMSTEAD.

1. Sarah - b. Apr. 2 and bap. Apr. 8, 1739, West Hartford, CT; d. Aug. 24, 1808, CT. Married first by Rev. Joshua Bels of Wethersfield Mar. 22, 1759, Newington, CT Jonathan BELDEN (b. Nov. 16, 1737, Wethersfield, CT; d. Jan. 9, 1778, Canaan, CT; bur. Grassy Hills Cemetery, Falls Village, CT), son of Silas BELDEN and Abigail ROBBINS. Sarah and Silas were second cousins. Sarah married second Aug. 15, 1782, William TRAFFORD. Children of Sarah and Jonathan BELDEN: Jonathan died young: Sarah died young; Patience married Oliver KELLOGG; Polly 'Mary' married Ashbel HOSMER; Silas married Sarah ANDREWS; Lois married Samuel ROWE; Lydia married Ezra SMITH; Abigail died in infancy; Anna died young; and Jonathan married Love DEAN.
2. John Kellogg - b. May 19, 1740, West Hartford, CT; d. Nov. 22, 1815, West Hartford, CT. Married Sep. 18, 1769, West Hartford, CT Mercy WEBSTER (b. Nov. 8, 1749; d. Aug. 12, 1820), daughter of Noah WEBSTER and Mercy STEELE, and sister of dictionary compiler Noah WEBSTER. Children of John and Mercy BELDEN: Mercy died young; Lucinda married Lory BRACE; John married Asenah DARROW; Rachel died in infancy; Ebenezer married Jane WHITEHALL; Mercy married Mr. DENNISON; and Betsy married Rev. Elihu MASON.
3. Patience - bap. Dec. 27, 1741, West Hartford, CT; d. Jan. 31, 1759 at age 17.
4. Rossiter - bap. Sep. 24, 1743, West Hartford, CT, d. Jan. 13, 1793. Married Mar. 29, 1781 Esther MERRILL.
5. Hannah - b. Apr. 5, 1744, West Hartford, CT; bap. Jun. 30, 1745; d. Mar. 25, 1809, West Hartford, CT. Married Nathaniel MERRILL.
6. Esther - bap. Jun. 14, 1747; d. young.
7. Mary (possibly) - bap. Jun. 14, 1747, Hartford, CT. Possibly married Jun. 5, 1774 Daniel HOSMER. Mentioned in John BELDEN's distribution as Mary HOSMER, and Sarah BELDEN's distribution also mentions Mary HOSMER.
8. Keziah - bap. Sep. 3, 1749, West Hartford, CT. Married Dec. 17, 1778 Enos KELLOGG.
9. Ebenezer - bap. Jul. 8, 1753, West Hartford, CT; d. Sep. 20, 1776 while in the army. Ebenezer and Wealthy were admitted as full communicants in West Hartford Church Nov. 19, 1775. Married Jan. 2, 1774 Wealthy SEDGWICK (bap. Jan. 19, 1754), daughter of Abraham SEDGWICK and Abi BRACE. Wealthy married second Nov. 22, 1779 Enos SEYMOUR. Children of Ebenezer and Wealthy BELDEN: Wealthy and Rachel.
10. Esther - bap. Jun. 8, 1755, West Hartford, CT; d. Aug. 30, 1826, West Hartford, CT. Married Aug. 11, 1776 Joseph COLTON.
11. Dorothy - bap. Jul. 30, 1757, West Hartford, CT. Married Dec. 5, 1786 Moses FITTS.
12. Charles - bap. Jul. 30, 1757, West Hartford, CT; d. Sep. 11, 1759, West Hartford, CT.
13. Charles - bap. Mar. 1, 1761, West Hartford, CT.

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