From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 27 December 1755
To Deborah Franklin
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Easton, Saturday Night, Dec. 27 [1755]
My dear Child
I receiv'd yours of the 24th3 with Pleasure [since it?] acquainted me of your and the Family's Welfare. [I] am glad to hear that the Companies are forming in Town and chusing their Officers,4 and hope the Example will be followed throughout the Country. We all continue well, but much harrass'd with Business; after many Difficulties and Disappointments we march'd two Companies, yesterday, over the Mountains, viz. Aston's and Trump's.5 We wait here only for Shoes, Arms and Blankets, expected hourly, and then shall move towards Berks County. Our Compliments to Mr. Masters,6 and all enquiring Friends. When you write next to me, direct to Mr. Read's Care at Reading.7 My Duty to Mother, and Love to the Children. I hope to find you all well at my Return. My Love to Mr. Hall; we have no fresh News here of Mischief, to be depended on.8 Send the News papers, and my Letters to Reading: and let me have all the little News about the XYZ Proceedings,9 Officers, &c. I am, with great Affection, Your loving Husband
B Franklin
I am oblig'd to Goody Smith1 for kindly remembring me. My Love to her. Brother John2 sends his Duty to Mother, Love, &c. he has receiv'd the Coat, and we the other Things.
Addressed: To / Mrs. Franklin / Philadelphia / per favr Mr. Yard3
4. The elections were held Dec. 22–24, 1755. See below, pp. 383–9.
5. See below, pp. 343, 346.
6. William Masters (d. 1760), an associate of BF in various civic enterprises and one of the first trustees of the Academy. On Feb. 12, 1756, he was chosen lieutenant colonel of the Philadelphia City Regiment when BF was named colonel, and in June 1756 he took his seat in the Assembly to represent the city with BF after William Callender, one of the strict Quakers, resigned.
7. James Read; see above, III, 39 n, and this volume, p. 234 n. BF and the other commissioners left Easton on December 30 to attend a meeting with Governor Morris in Reading, Jan. 1, 1756.
8. See the preceding document for BF's news reporting for David Hall.
9. See above, pp. 295–306.
1. Apparently a friend or servant who lived with the Franklins; possibly the Mary Smith who witnessed a bond between BF and Benjamin Mecom, Dec. 27, 1756 APS. There are many humorous references to her in BF's letters home during 1756.
2. John Read, Deborah Franklin's brother. He had been a wagonmaster with Braddock's army and may have been with the commissioners' expedition to Northampton Co. in some similar capacity. See above. p. 221.
3. Not identified.
Franklin, Deborah
"From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 27 December 1755," Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-06-02-0133. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 6, April 1, 1755, through September 30, 1756, ed. Leonard W. Labaree. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1963, pp. 312–313.]
From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin [13 April 1755]
From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin [1 January 1756]
All correspondence between Benjamin Franklin and Deborah Franklin