Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-31-02-0311

To Benjamin Franklin from John Taylor, 2 February 1780

From John Taylor9

ALS: American Philosophical Society

Circus Bath 2nd. Febry. 1780

Dear Sir

I find myself under very great difficulty how to address you on a matter of private concern, when your time is so much taken up with public business but presuming on the many former instances of kindness you have shewn me, I hope to meet your forgiveness, if I act improperly by requesting your opinion on an affair of great moment to myself & large family.

You may possibly recollect the Warrant I have for a very considerable tract of Land in Pensilvania in Right of Ralph Fretwell, which my Father declin’d prosecuting least the proprietary influence shoud have forced him to an imprudent expence.1 The Opinions however of the American Lawyers on the matter were clear that no length of time cou’d invalidate an equitable claim— Of this you are a more competent Judge—

The original Warrant from Wm. Penn to Fretwell is for a specific tract in Chester County,2 which Thomas Holmes3 neglected to survey, and during the disputes necessarily arising from his neglect Fretwell died, and the land was afterwards parcell’d out by the Proprietors to other Purchasers. The Lawyers think it might possibly have prov’d difficult to recover the precise Land mention’d in the Warrant but were clear that the Proprietaries might have been compel’d to confirm the like quantity whereever it cou’d be found unlocated in the Province— The original Warrant now in Chas. Brockdens office4 (under the Province Seal & hand of Wm. Penn), is for twelve miles square.

The late law passed in Pensilvania for vesting the Proprietaries Estates in that Commonwealth5 has a clause that appears favorable to my claim, but how I shou’d proceed in the matter I shall be totally at a loss unless You will be so obliging to consider the case, and favor me with some advice on the subject— Some of my friends seem to think I shou’d prosecute my Claim at Law, others that I shou’d endeavor to obtain a review & confirmation of it by Petition to Congress, & among all I am totally at a loss what step to take— Whether the interesting any Gentleman or Company on America in the Property who wou’d attend to the business on the Spot, or what other method wou’d be best to pursue I know not; it is a matter of importance & deserves no doubt a speedy prosecution— But I will take up no more of your time, except to assure you Sir, how much I rejoice at your health & happiness (which a friend lately return’d from France (Mr. D——s)6 gave me an account of )— I pray God for a long continuance of it for your own sake, and for the satisfaction of all who are so peculiarly happy to know you, & the advantage & improvement of mankind in general.

My wife & mother desire their most respectfull Compliments to You & I am Dear Sir with great Respect Your much obliged & Obedient humble Servant

John Taylor

Addressed: Monsieur Monsieur / Benj: Franklin. / Passy

Notation: Tailor Mr. John, Bath 2. Fevr. 1780.

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

9A friend of Francis Hopkinson: XIV, 172. He and his father had removed to England in 1762: Taylor to BF, Dec. 1, 1782 (APS).

1His father Abraham Taylor (III, 428n) had been involved in the Fretwell case almost forty years earlier: PMHB, XXVII (1903), 254–5.

2Ralph Fretwell (1631–86), a Quaker from Barbados, had negotiated in 1684–85 for a large tract of land in Chester County: Mary Maples Dunn, Richard S. Dunn, et al., eds., The Papers of William Penn (5 vols., Philadelphia, 1981–86), II, 601n; III, 36n.

3Thomas Holme (1624–95), was appointed surveyor general of Pennsylvania by William Penn in 1682: DAB.

4Before his death in 1769 Charles Brockden was recorder of deeds: XII, 352n.

5The Divestment Act of 1779 deprived the Penns of approximately 80 percent of the unsold lands originally granted to William Penn: Lorett Treese, The Storm Gathering: the Penn Family and the American Revolution (University Park, Penn., 1992), p. 189; Laws Enacted in the First Sitting of the Fourth General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, 1779), pp. 276–9.

6Possibly Thomas Digges, who forwarded the present letter on March 2 (Hist. Soc. of Pa.). As far as we know he had last been in Paris in May, 1779: XXIX, 434.

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