To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Taunton, [1760?–1775]
From Thomas Taunton
ALS: American Philosophical Society
[1760?–1775]
most worthey Sir
I hop you will pardon the fredom I have takeen, I have been to the bishop’s palies at lamboth to see for the old Cook that did Lieve with the late bishop,9 but to my mortifycasion am Desieved she is gon, I went to see If I Could have got my daughter to been under for som tiem to had som Experence in the Chiken bisnes it would have been of great servies to her and that would been of greter help to me for I have knothing but what Coem from her and my frinds and aqaintence tsill [still] bad with the gout, Stoan, and asma, and woer out being upords of 78 years old should be glad if you Could think of any pleas I was abell to doe, I lodg at mr. Slaters neare the hair at hogsdon,1 I beg Leave to Conclud with my best Respects to you from your Dutyfull humbell Seruant
Tho: Taunton
Addressed: For / Mr. Franklen / Thease
9. Lambeth Palace is the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The “late bishop” may have been Thomas Herring (1693–1757), who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1747 but did not live in Lambeth Palace after 1753; or his successor Matthew Hutton (1693–1758), who held the see less than a year and never lived at Lambeth at all. If the editors have badly misdated these Taunton letters, the reference might be to Thomas Secker (1693–1768), who succeeded Archbishop Hutton in 1758.
1. Hoxton, formerly sometimes spelled Hogsdon or Hogsden, is northeast of Clerkenwell and southeast of Islington.