741A Dialogue between X, Y, and Z, 18 December 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , December 18, 1755. The scorn heaped on Franklin’s Militia Act by the proprietary interest made necessary a sympathetic explanation of its unique features to help secure the wide popular support required for its implementation. Franklin explained his connection with the dialogue printed below in the autobiography: “To promote the Association necessary to...
742[Benjamin Franklin?] to ——, 25 December 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Extract printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 1, 1756. Governor Morris and the commissioners appointed in the £60,000 money act worked diligently to organize more effective measures against the continuing Indian attacks. By December 4 they had decided to rely chiefly upon a fort to be erected at Shamokin (at the forks of the Susquehanna; now Sunbury) from which ranging parties would be...
743From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 27 December 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d yours of the 24th 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, 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...
744From Benjamin Franklin to Conrad Weiser, Jonas Seely, and James Read, 30 December 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Grand Lodge F. and A.M. of Pennsylvania We are just on the Point of setting out for Bethlehem, in our Way to Reading, where we propose to be (God willing) on Thursday Evening. The Commissioners are all well, and thank you for the Concern you express for their Welfare. We hope to have the Pleasure of finding you well. No News this Way, except that Aaron Depui’s Barn was burnt last Week,...
745Poor Richard Improved, 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard improved: Being an Almanack and Ephemeris … for the Year of our Lord 1756 . … By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin and D. Hall. (Yale University Library) I suppose my Almanack may be worth the Money thou hast paid for it, hadst thou no other Advantage from it, than to find the Day of the Month , the remarkable Days , the Changes of the Moon ,...
746From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 1 January 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library A happy New Year to you, and all Friends. We arrived here, all well, about two Hours ago. Capt. Coultas tells me he purposes to start early in the Morning, so as to be at Philadelphia to morrow Evening. I have only time to write this Line, just to acknowledge the Receipt of your agreable Letters, Sally’s, Dr. Bond’s, Mr. Hughes’s, &c. and to promise particular...
747[Benjamin Franklin?] to ——, 6 January 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Extract printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 8, 1756. Jacob Levan, Esq; was sent by us to hear the Particulars of the Affair at Gnadenhutten, and fearing to go alone, sent Fifty-six Men over the Mountains on Saturday Evening, and on Sunday followed them with seventeen more. As soon as they got to the Top of the Hill, they saw all the white People running up, and the Indians running on...
748[Benjamin Franklin?] to ——, 8 January 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Extract printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 15, 1756. I arrived here last Night. We met a Number of Waggons on the Road, moving off with the Effects of the People of Lehi Township. All the Women and Children are sent off out of that Township; and many of them have taken Refuge here; all in great Confusion. The Substance of the Action at Gnadenhutten, as we have received it from...
749The Organization of John Van Etten’s Company, 12 January 1756 (Franklin Papers)
I. DS : New York Public Library. II. MS , and III. DS : Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission The three documents printed together here illustrate how a company of provincial troops was organized in 1756 and, in general, what was expected of its members. All three are in the hand of William Franklin, who accompanied and assisted his father throughout the period of service on the...
750From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Hunter Morris, 14 January 1756 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania As we drew near this Place, we met a Number of Waggons, and many People moving off with their Effects and Families from the Irish Settlement and Lehi Township, being terrified by the Defeat of Hays’s Company, and the Burnings and Murders committed in the Township on New Year’s Day. We found this Place fill’d with Refugees, the Workmen’s Shops, and even...