1From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Franklin, 6 January 1727 (Franklin Papers)
...a celebrated beauty. I had almost determined on a tea table, but when I considered that the character of a good housewife was far preferable to that of being only a pretty gentlewoman, I concluded to send you a spinning wheel, which I hope you will accept as a small token of my sincere love and affection.
2Anthony Afterwit, 10 July 1732 (Franklin Papers)
...(except my Boy) none but our selves). I have sold the fine Pacing Mare, and bought a good Milch Cow, with £3 of the Money. I have dispos’d of the Tea-Table, and put a Spinning Wheel in its Place, which methinks
3Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital, [28 May 1754] (Franklin Papers)
the Beginning of 1754, Spinning-wheels were provided by the Managers, for the Employment of such of the Women Patients as may be able to use them.
4From Benjamin Franklin to Giambatista Beccaria, 13 July 1762 (Franklin Papers)
...end through the box, on which shank a wheel is fixed by a screw. This wheel serves as a fly to make the motion equable, when the spindle, with the glasses, is turned by the foot like a spinning wheel. My wheel is of mahogany, 18 inches diameter, and pretty thick, so as to conceal near its circumference about 25 lb. of lead. An ivory pin is fixed in the face of this wheel and about 4...
5Franklin’s List of New Year’s Gifts and Gratuities, 29[-31] December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Small spinning WheelSome of these presents seem destined to young girls, perhaps the Brillon daughters, Cunégonde and Aldegonde, and the Le Veillard daughter, Geneviève. The “Small spinning Wheel” is reminiscent of