1To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 22 July 1784[–6 August 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Ever since the Termination of the unhappy Contest between Great Britain and America, I have been anxious to write to you, and to endeavour to revive that affectionate Intercourse and Connexion which till the Commencement of the late Troubles had been the Pride and Happiness of my Life. Uncertain, however, whether the decided and active Part I took in...
2To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 6 September 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hope this will find you safe at Home, and that you met with no Accident on your Journey. Yesterday Evening Thomas found the Enclosed Letter for you in the Bar of one of the Taverns in this Town. Enclosed is a Copy of the Exposition of the Resolution of the House of Commons which you requested. I also send you the Minutes of the two last Sessions of the...
3To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 14 August 1775 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you by the Stage on Thursday last since which I have not heard from you. As you were so kind as to say that you had no objection to doing any thing for me that might be in your Power respecting the Lands in the Traders Grant from the Indians, I send you enclosed a Copy of a Letter on that Subject from Mr. George Morgan, together with my Answer...
4To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 24 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I came here on Thursday last to attend the Funeral of my poor old Mother who died the Monday Noon preceeding. Mr. Bache sent his Clerk Express to me on the Occasion, who reached Amboy on Tuesday Evening, and I set out early the next Morning, but the Weather being very severe, and snowing hard, I was not able to reach here till about 4 o’Clock on Thursday...
5To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, [3 July 1774] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (incomplete): American Philosophical Society [ First part missing ] there is no foreseeing the Consequences which may result from such a Congress as is now intended in America, chosen by the Assemblies, or by Committees from all the several Counties in each of the Provinces.” I cannot but think it very extraordinary that neither the Assembly of Massachusetts Bay nor the Town of Boston have...
6To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 3 May 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This is to let you know that Betsy and I are here on a Visit to my Mother, who, with all the Family are in good Health. I have recd. your letter of the 18th. of Febry. by Capt. All, and a Packet containing Mauduit’s Pamphlet, and some Letters to you, by Capt. Faulkner. But none of us had a Line from you by the March Packet, which is just arrived. I have it...
7To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 5 January 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Yesterday sent down to Philadelphia two Half Barrels of choice Pork, and a Keg of dryed Apples, to be sent to you in a Vessel which I see has just entered out for London, vizt. the Brig John, J. Ashmead Master. One of the Barrels I should be glad you would order to be sent to Mr. Sargent with my Compliments, and Thanks for his Present of Wine, which came...
8To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 29 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I arrived here on Monday Evening last when I had the Pleasure of receiving yours of June 2. by the Packet. I am on my Way to Albany with Mrs. Franklin, who wanted a Jaunt this Summer on Account of her Health; and I have some Business to transact there likewise. I am surprized the Grant was not made out when you wrote. By the May Packet Wharton wrote that...
9To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, [4] May 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Enclosed is a Letter I wrote last Week at Phi[ladelphia] in order to go by Mesnard, but it happened to be too [late for] that Opportunity. Coz. Davenport is greatly obliged to you for [ torn ] you sent him. As he could not make out to get a comfortable Living at Philadelphia, not having a sufficient Capital to carry on his Trade, nor able to procure any...
10To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 30 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you by Capt. All who left Town the day before Yesterday, and this morning I received a few Lines from you dated Mar. 15. by a Passenger in Sutton. I was surprized to find that it contained nothing about the Ohio Grant, as the Whartons are quite elated with the glad Tidings they have received by that Opportunity from Mr. S. Wharton. The Old Man...
11To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 5 January 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am favoured with your Letters by the October and November Packets, and want much for an Opportunity of writing to you safely on several Subjects, but I cannot venture to do it by the Packet, as your Letter by the October Packet came opened to me exactly in the same Manner that mine did to you. And Mr. Todd I hear has wrote to Mr. Foxcroft that his Letters...
12To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 29 October 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I writ to you on the 13th. Inst. by Capt. All, and informed you that yours of the 3d. of Augst. was not come to hand; since which I have received it by the Septr. Packet. What prevented it from coming by the Augst. Packet, as my Mother’s of the same Date did, I know not. I have likewise received yours of the 17th. of Augst. by Sutton (I believe,) and your...
13To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 13 October 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I informed you by the Packet which sailed a few Days ago, that I had received yours of the 14th. and 15th. of July, and 8th. of August, but that the one you mention to have wrote to me on the 3d. of Augst. at Mr. Sargent’s was not come to hand. My Mother, however, has I find received one of that Date from you by the Packet, which makes me suspect that mine...
14To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 30 June 1772 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I have recieved your Remarks on our Account on which I have only to observe, That The Ten Guineas must have been paid by you for Nelson’s Passage, and you expressly say you paid it, I find, in your Letter of the 21st: of Septbr: 1765. which probably you kept no Copy of, as you mention the Vessel to be just upon the Point of Sailing. The 8 Guineas being in...
15To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 12 June 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Soon after I received your Letter enclosing a Copy of a Grant of Lands in Pennsylvania to Major Robert Thompson, which you received from Mr. Whately, I happened to meet with our Friend Mr. Galloway, and mentioning the Matter to him, I found he was perfectly acquainted with every Circumstance relative to the Grant, owing to his having been formerly Attorney...
16To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 28 February 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In your Letter of the 20th. of April last you sent me enclosed your London Account against the Estate of Mr. Parker, and requested me to assist in securing the Debt. I gave the Account soon after it came to hand to Miss Parker, who promised to deliver it to her Mother, and to let me have a Copy of her Father’s Account against you as it stood in his Books,...
17To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 6 January 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Session of the Assembly which ended the 21st. Ulto. and the Xmas Holidays since, have so engrossed my Time, that I have not been able to write you fully as I intended. At present I have taken up the Pen principally to acquaint you that I have had a very amicable Session, contrary to the Expectation of every Body, and indeed contrary to the Intention of...
18To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, [3 September? 1771]: incomplete (Franklin Papers)
ALS (incomplete): American Philosophical Society [ Beginning lost: ] Allen and Turner procured any Information to be given me, that the People would rise and destroy all their Iron Works in New-Jersey; that Mr. Turner had mentioned the Matter to him, and that upon his telling Turner that it was a Machine not within the Law, he laugh’d, and said that he knew very well what it was, and that if...
19To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 3 August 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am just return’d from Philadelphia, where I have been for some Days with Betsy, in order to see her Brother Downes and his Wife and Daughter who arrived there last Sunday from Barbados. He is in a very bad State of Health, and we have brought him Home with us that he might be out of the Heat of Philada. On my Return I found your Letter of the 5th. of...
20To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 30 March 1771 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I wrote a few Lines to you by this Packet and enclosed a Letter to L.H. I have several other Letters to write to him by this Opportunity which prevents my writing fully to you. I have just had the Pleasure of hearing from Mr. W. Logan that you were well the first of Janry. his Son having seen you at that Time. Addressed: To / Benjn. Franklin, Esqr / Depy....
21To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 23 September 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Mr. Thos. Hopkinson, Son of your old Friend, calling on me for a Letter of Introduction to you, it is with Pleasure that I comply with his Request as he has the Character of a very sober, ingenious and promising young Gentleman. He intends to take the Gown, tho’ I understand much against the Inclination of many of his Friends who have taken Pains to...
22To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 1 September 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I came to Town with Betsy on Monday last in order to stand for my little Nephew. He is not so fat and lusty as some Children at his Time are, but he is altogether a pretty little Fellow, and improves in his Looks every Day. Mr. Baynton stood as Proxy for you and named him Benjn Franklin, and my Mother and Betsy were the God Mothers. I did not know that...
23To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 11 May 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A few Days ago I was favoured with your Letter of the 20th. of March by Capt. Creighton. The Packet which left England the 7th. of March is since arrived, but I had no Letter by her from any one. I suppose (tho’ you do not mention it) that you have wrote to me before relative to the Letters I sent you by the January Mail; perhaps by Sparks who is not yet...
24To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 2 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Mail which [left?] England in December is arriv’d, but I have not [heard?] from you, nor had I one by the November Mail. I apprehend that it must be owing either to the Letters being detain’d at the Post Office in London, or else to their being intercepted by some impertinently curious Person between New-York and here. At first I was apprehensive that...
25To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, [31 January 1769] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (perhaps incomplete): American Philosophical Society The last Packet, which left England about the Middle of Novr. brought no Letter from you, that I can hear of, except one to the Committee of Correspondence. I imagine your Time must be almost wholly engross’d in attending on the publick Business at this important Crisis, and in writing for the Press. I see a Number of Pieces in the...
26To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, [c. 2 January 1769] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (incomplete): American Philosophical Society Many of your Friends, as well as myself, would be glad to have such a Bust of you. Pray what would be the Expence? That of Lord Halifax, I am told, was not cut in Marble first, but made of Clay, and from that the Casts in Plaister of Paris was made. I am often ask’d for your Prints by your old Friends and Acquaintance, and I have given among...
27To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 10 May 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d your Favors of Jany. 9, 29, Feby. 13, and Mar. 13. I think I before acknowledg’d the Receipt of the Remainder of the Postscript of Decr. 19. It is not in my Power to give such particular Answers to them as I could wish, being now busily engag’d with the Assembly, who are just on the Point of Rising. Besides I am in doubt whether this will find...
28To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 22 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you Yesterday, when I acquainted you that I had not receiv’d any Letters from you by the Pacquet, the Bag being either lost or not forwarded by the last Post, but he has since return’d and I have this Moment the Pleasure of receiving yours of Octr. 9. and Novr. 13; the last enclos’d in a Cover dated Novr. 17. I have but just Time to mention this,...
29To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 3 November 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I must beg Leave to recommend the Bearer, Daniel Coxe, Esqr; of Trenton, to your Civilities and good Offices; and desire you would introduce him to Mr. Jackson, and such other of our Friends as you think may any ways contribute to make his Stay in London either advantageous or agreeable. I am, Honoured Sir, Your ever dutiful Son, Daniel Coxe ( c .1739–1826)...
30To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 23 October 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you Yesterday in a Hurry on hearing that the Packet was to sail from New York Tomorrow but my Letter got over to Bristol too late for the Post, who it seems missed his Tuesday’s Stage and did not get into Philadelphia till Wednesday, and the Postmaster kept him till Thursday Morning and then dispatch’d him early, whereas in common he is not...