1951Articles of Agreement with Thomas Whitmarsh, 13 September 1731 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Land Office, Department of Internal Affairs, Harrisburg, Pa. Articles of Agreement made and indented the Thirteenth Day of September Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and thirty one Between Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania Printer of the one Part and Thomas Whitemarsh of the same place Printer of the other Part, viz. Whereas the said Benjamin...
1952From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Sr., 6 June 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Favour of Jan. 8 came duly to hand, but I have been so much engag’d during the Sitting of Parliament, that I could not correspond regularly with all my Friends, and have of course trespass’d most with those on whose Good Nature and Indulgence I could most rely. I am however asham’d of being so long silent. It is but the other Day that I enquired after...
1953On Sinecures, 28 September 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , September 28, 1768 To the Printer of the Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser . Great complaints are every day made, that notwithstanding Great Britain has involved herself in a very heavy debt, for the defence of the American colonies in the late war, that now they refuse to pay any part of this debt. On this subject there has been a very...
1954From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 14 July 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society I am very sorry that our unexpected long Stay at Albany prevents my having the Pleasure of seeing you at this time. Mr. Peters, Mr. Norris and my self, with my Son, came ashore here about 3 aClock with Intent to get a Waggon or Horses to carry us to your House, and the Sloop was to wait for us till tomorrow Noon; but after many fruitless Attempts, Night coming...
1955Account of Money Received from David Hall, 1748–1757 (Franklin Papers)
MS Account Book: American Philosophical Society This little book contains in eight pages headed “Acct. of Money receiv’d at different Times from Mr. David Hall” Franklin’s record of his income from the partnership with Hall from Feb. 7, 1748, to March 28, 1757. It shows that Hall paid Franklin £45 a year in semi-annual installments as his share of the £55 rent due from Franklin to Robert Grace...
1956Franklin and Hall to Robert Hunter Morris, 20 March 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; also copy: Public Record Office, London When he had received Governor Morris’ letter of March 19, Franklin begged Secretary Peters to have it withdrawn because, he explained, if he had to show it to the Assembly, they would order him nonetheless to publish the Votes including Sir Thomas Robinson’s letters, “and so the Differences would encrease between...
1957Franklin and Hall: Notice to Debtors, 25 April 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , April 25, 1765. As the Partnership of Franklin and Hall , Printers of this Paper, is now near expired, a Settlement of the Accounts betwixt them is become absolutely necessary; and there being a very considerable Number of Sums, both great and small, due to said Partnership, and many of them of a long Standing, this serves earnestly to request all indebted...
1958To Benjamin Franklin from John Hughes with Franklin’s Receipt, [24 March 1757] (Franklin Papers)
I. MS not found; reprinted from Pennsylvania History , VI (1939), 15; II. ADS : Yale University Library The minutes of the Society of Arts (see above, VI , 186–9 n) for the meeting of Sept. 7, 1757, note that Franklin attended and read the extract of a letter from John Hughes printed as No. I below; that Franklin paid in the donation; and that the Society voted their thanks to Hughes for his...
1959William Hunter’s Stipulations in Regard to William Hewson, 23 August 1771 (Franklin Papers)
AD : extract from Franklin to William Hunter, October 30, 1772 , Royal College of Surgeons Dr. Hunter expects Mr. Hewson should go on with his Business as usual during the Remainder of the Term they are to continue together; and during that time should make Preparations, at Dr. Hunter’s Expence, such as the Dr. should direct to be made, and others, so that those directed are not neglected or...
1960Benjamin Franklin and William Hunter: Commission to Thomas Vernon, 24 December 1754 (Franklin Papers)
Printed form with MS insertions in blanks: New York Public Library Benjamin Franklin , and William Hunter , Esquires, D. Post-Masters-General of all His Majesty’s Provinces and Dominions on the Continent of North-America . To All to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting, Know Ye , That We having received good Testimony of the Fidelity, and Loyalty to His Majesty, of Mr. Thomas Vernon of...
1961Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital: Memorial to the Proprietors, 6 July 1751 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; also draft and copy in Minutes, Pennsylvania Hospital July 6, 1751 This document, drafted by Franklin and Israel Pemberton, is omitted here for the reason stated above, p. 111; but is printed, with editorial annotation, in Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital , May 1754, in the next volume.
1962Franklin, Thomas Walpole, Samuel Wharton, and John Sargent: Power of Attorney to William Trent, 11 April 1775: résumé (Franklin Papers)
DS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The promoters of the Walpole grant in London were becoming more and more unsure of obtaining it. Franklin’s ostensible withdrawal from their group in January, 1774, had had no perceptible effect in forwarding their cause, and their chance of success diminished as war drew nearer. They waited for over a year. Then in the spring of 1775 they apparently...
1963From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Franklin, 8 June 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from [Jared Sparks, ed.,] A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), pp. 132–3. I received your kind letter of the 23d of March. I was happy to find that neither you, nor any of your family, were in the way of those murderers. I hope that before this time the town is quite freed from such dangerous and mischievous inmates. I...
1964Receipt Book, 1742–64 (Franklin Papers)
MS Record Book: American Philosophical Society As a man of affairs who frequently made large cash payments, Franklin kept a book for receipts, in which he or the creditor would write out a form of acknowledgment which the creditor would sign on receiving payment. He used this book from 1742 until 1757, when he went abroad; his wife kept it until his return in 1762, when he himself resumed it....
1965Shop Book, 1735–39 (Franklin Papers)
MS Account Book: American Philosophical Society The Shop Book is a manuscript volume and business record like the Journal (see above, I , 172). It covers the period from November 14, 1735, to August 3, 1739, with the number of entries falling off sharply after 1736. The cover bears, in addition to doodlings, the words “Shop Book 1738” and the name of Deborah Franklin; Benjamin Franklin’s name...
1966The Printer to the Reader, 11 February 1723 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The New-England Courant , February 11, 1723. Arrest and imprisonment had not intimidated James Franklin. Probably encouraged by the refusal of the House of Representatives to concur in the Council’s proposal to reestablish press censorship, he printed, July 30, Chapter XXIX of Magna Carta, with glosses, on the freeman’s right to trial by jury according to the law. On September 17,...
1967Benjamin Franklin and Robert Grace to Elliott Benger: Bond, 25 April 1744 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Land Office, Department of Internal Affairs, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Know all Men by these Presents, That We Benjamin Franklin Deputy-Postmaster of the City of Philada. in the Province of Pennsilvania, and Robert Grace of the same Place Merchant are Held and firmly Bound unto the Honourable Elliott Benger, Esqr; Sole Deputy-Postmaster General of all his Majesty’s Dominions in...
1968Complaints of William Hunter against William Hewson, [July? 1771] (Franklin Papers)
AD (in Franklin’s hand): American Philosophical Society In the autumn of 1762 William Hewson, Polly Stevenson’s husband-to-be, entered into partnership with Dr. William Hunter, the famous anatomist, to give lectures and demonstrations to medical students. In 1769 Hunter finished building a new house in Great Windmill Street, where Hewson had a small apartment; the two now shared equally in the...
1969Articles of Agreement with James Parker, 20 February 1742 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : American Philosophical Society Articles of Agreement indented made the twentieth Day of February in the year of our Lord, One Thousand seven Hundred and Forty-One, Between Benjamin Franklin, of the City of Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania Printer, of the One Part, and James Parker of the said City, Printer, of the other Part: Whereas the said Benjamin Franklin, and James...
1970Remarks on the Proprietors’ Instructions to Governor Hamilton, 2 July 1752 (Franklin Papers)
MS Minutes: Pennsylvania Hospital July 2, 1752 This document, composed by Franklin and Israel Pemberton, is omitted here for the reason stated above, p. 111; but is printed, with editorial annotation, in Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital , May 1754, in the next volume.
1971Treaty of Carlisle, 1 November 1753 (Franklin Papers)
A Treaty held with the Ohio Indians, at Carlisle, In October, 1753. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, and D. Hall, at the New-Printing-Office, near the Market. MDCCLIII . (Yale University Library) November 1, 1753. A Treaty , &c. To the Honourable James Hamilton , Esq; Lieutenant-Governor, and Commander in Chief, of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of New-Castle, Kent...