1From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 10 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is now nine long Months since I received a Line from my dear Debby. I have supposed it owing to your continual Expectation of my Return; I have feared that some Indisposition had rendered you unable to write; I have imagined any thing rather than admit a Supposition that your kind Attention towards me was abated. And yet when so many other old Friends...
2From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 22 July 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I have had no Line from you by several late Opportunities: I flatter myself it is owing not to Indisposition, but to the Opinion of my having left England, which indeed I hope soon to do. Mr. Dillwyn tells me he never saw so fine a Child as your youngest Grandson: Has he eclips’d poor Benjamin of whose pretty History I us’d to receive so...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 7 May 1774 (Franklin Papers)
AL (fragment): American Philosophical Society It is now a very long time indeed since I have had the Pleasure of a Line from you. I hope however that you are well as I am, Thanks to God. [ Remainder missing. ] Her last extant letter was the previous October: XX , 449–50.
4From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 5 May 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Our Family here is in great Distress. Poor Mrs. Hewson has lost her Husband, and Mrs. Stevenson her Son-in-law. He died last Sunday Morning of a Fever which baffled the Skill of our best Physicians. He was an excellent young Man, ingenious, industrious, useful, and belov’d by all that knew him. She is left with two young Children, and a third soon expected....
5From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 28 April 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I hoped to have been on the Sea in my Return by this time, but find I must stay a few Weeks longer, perhaps for the Summer Ships. Thanks to God I continue well and hearty, and hope to find you so when I have the Happiness once more of seeing you. Your God Daughter Amelia Evans, that was, (now Barry,) is gone again with her Husband and Children to Tunis, where she...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 20 February 1774: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Text reprinted and paraphrase based on Mme. Henri Saffroy sales catalogue no. 19, February, 1959. I have written fully to you and several friends by Capt. All; but as I know you like to have a letter by every ship, I add this line by Capt. Falconer. … <Continues in good health and spirits, God be praised, and hopes to arrive at home next May. Sends affectionate regards and love to the children.>
7From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 October 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I must, I find, stay another Winter here absent from you and my Family, but positively nothing shall prevent, God willing, my Returning in the Spring. I had no Line from you by the last Packet, but had the Satisfaction of hearing you were well. I thank God, my Health continues; but I cannot in the course of things expect it much longer, which makes me the...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 1 September 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I received yours of July 5. and rejoice with you on the safe Delivery of our dear Daughter, and on our having another Grandson. I like Ben’s Kindness and Generosity to his Brother, with his Silver Spoon; and am glad he has got so well over the Measles. ’Tis a precious little Fellow! How much I long to see him! I am...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 15 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I sent you per Capt. All the last Voyage some Netting Lace of our poor Cousin’s Making in Buckinghamshire: You have not mention’d how you liked it; but I now send the Remainder. The Silk Committee were so good as to make me a Present of 4 pound of Raw Silk. I have had it work’d up with some Addition of the same Silk...
10From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; transcript: University of Virginia Library I am here in my Way to Oxford, where I am going to be present at the Installation, and shall stay a few Days among my Friends there. By Capt. All who sails next Week I shall write fully to you, and to Friends in Philadelphia. This is my only Letter per Packet. Love to our Children, and to Benny Boy. I am,...
11From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 2 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received yours per Capt. All. This is just to let you know I am well, as all our other Friends here are: I have been so hindred to day, that I can only add my Love to our Children, and that I am ever, Dear Debby, Your affectionate Husband The letter was DF ’s of April 28, now lost, which BF mentioned in writing her on July 15. Capt. All in the Richard Penn...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I received yours of Dec. 28 and Jan. 6. and am glad to find you were so well. I do not recollect the Miss Moore’s you mention, whom Ben visited before they went away. As to Mrs. Wright, I have done all I could to serve her here; but I have somehow or other, I know not which way, displeas’d her of late, so that she does...
13From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 15 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I wrote to you by Capt. All, and by the last Packet. By Capt. All I sent a Box containing sundry Parcels for my Friends. Among the rest were your Neighbour Miss Haddocks Silk, and Gowns for you and Sally. I hope they will get safe to hand. I continue well, and hope now soon to have the Pleasure of seeing you and Home....
14From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 3 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I had no Line from you per last Packet. But I had the Satisfaction of hearing you were well by Mr. Beache’s Letter. I wrote to you per Capt. All, and sent you some little Things. I continue well, and am ever, Your affectionate Husband Bache’s letter was that of Jan. 4 above, and BF ’s by Capt. All was, we assume, that of Feb. 14.
15From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congres s I wrote to you a few Days since by the Packet. In a Box directed to Mr. Bache I send a striped Cotton and Silk Gown for you, of a Manufacture now much the Mode here. There is another for Sally. People line them with some old Silk Gown, and they look very handsome. There goes also a Bedstead for Sally, sent on Capt. All’s telling Mrs. Stevenson that...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 2 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress Since my last I have got the Apples on shore, and they come out very good. Accept my best Thanks. Mr. Bache of NYork has also kindly sent me two Barrels, Capt. Winn one, and Capt. Falconer One. I told you before that Capt. All gave me one, so that I am now plentifully supply’d. I know you love to have a Line from me by every Packet; so I write tho’ I...
17From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 January 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I feel still some Regard for this Sixth of January, as my old nominal Birth-day, tho’ the Change of Stile has carried the real Day forward to the 17th, when I shall be, if I live till then, 67 Years of Age. It seems but t’other Day since you and I were rank’d among the Boys and Girls, so swiftly does Time fly! We have...
18From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 1 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I received yours of Oct. 14. and one without Date, which I suppose to be written since. Capts. All, Osborne, and Sparkes, are arrived; and a Barrel of Apples with another of Cranberries are come, I know not yet by which of them. I am glad to hear you continue so well, and that the Pain in your Side and Head have left you. Eat light Foods,...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 19 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I had no Line from you per last Packet, but hope to receive Letters of yours per Capt. All when he arrives. Thanks to God I am at present in very good Health and Spirits; which however I must not flatter myself will continue much longer, as the Course of Nature usually brings on with Age many Infirmities. As this Ship goes in a hazardous...
20From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 4 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I have been much in the Country this Summer, at the Houses of different Friends, and am now returned in good Health, Thanks to God. We are removed to a more convenient House in the same Street, Mrs. Stevenson having accommodated her Son-in-Law with that we lived in. The Removing has been a troublesome Affair, but is now over. My Love to...
21From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 7 October 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and letterbook draft: American Philosophical Society I receiv’d yours per the August Packet, but had no Line from you by that of September. I was glad however to learn by Mr. Bache’s Letter that you were all well. I have had several Touches of the Gout lately, but am otherwise very well. Mr. and Mrs. West, Mr. and Mrs. Strahan, Mrs. Stevenson, Mrs. Hewson, and Sally Franklin, have at...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 22 August 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I wrote to you by Sutton that I was pretty well recovered of my Gout, but it return’d upon me that Day, and has handled me pretty severely for some Nights past, tho’ now I am something better. Mrs. West has another Son to whom I am Godfather. That Family is well, as is Mr. Strahan’s and Mr. Hewson’s. They always desire...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 14 July 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am just return’d from a Journey of near a Month, which has given a new Spring to my Health and Spirits. I did not get home in time to write by Osborne, but shall fully to my Friends in general by Capt. All, who sails about the End of the Week. I was charg’d with Abundance of Love to you and Sally and Ben from our Sister Bache and her amiable Daughters. I...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 2 June 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This just informs you I am well and received yours by the April Packet. I shall write fully to you and all Friends by Osborn. My Love to Sally, Mr. Bache, the Child, and all that love us. I can now only add, that I am ever Your affectionate Husband
25From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 5 May 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letter of March 2. and am glad to hear that the Ship from Ireland is got safe into Antigua. I hope you will now get the little Token I sent you from thence. I have not receiv’d the Letter you mention to have given the young Scotsman, nor that from Mr. Craige. I am sorry for the Disorder that has fallen on our Friend Kinnersley, but hope...
26From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 19 March 1772 (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letters of Jany 5. and Feby. 3. and am glad to hear your Kingbird has gone thro’ his second Inoculation. Capt. Osborne is not yet arrived here. By this Ship I send the Curtains you write for. Mrs. Stevenson thought it best to have them made here. The enclos’d Letter to Sally will explain all. A new Bedstead is to be made with...
27From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 18 February 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Franklin Library, Franklin, Massachusetts You will receive this Line, I hope soon by our Son Bache. I wish you Joy beforehand of his Return, to live with his Family in Philadelphia. Supposing it would be agreable to you, as well as advantageous to our Interest in the collecting of our Debts, I have joined him in a Power of Attorney with you, for that purpose. Mr. Bache will tell you all...
28Power of Attorney to Deborah Franklin and Richard Bache, 17 February 1772: résumé (Franklin Papers)
DS : American Philosophical Society <February 17, 1772. Franklin empowers Deborah Franklin and Richard Bache to request and receive payment of all debts due him in America, except those owed him by William Franklin, and to take all legal actions and whatever other lawful steps may be necessary for collecting from the debtors or their executors or administrators. Sealed, stamped, and delivered...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 3 February 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have written a long Letter to you, which goes per Capt. Falconer, who Sails in a few Days; but as I know you like to have a Letter by every Ship, I write this Line just to let you know I continue well, Thanks to God, as I hope this will find you and our Children. Mrs. Stevenson sends her Love to you all. Her Grandson grows a very fine Boy indeed. Mr....
30From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 28 January 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I have written several short Letters to you lately just to let you know of my Welfare, and promising to write more fully by Capt. Falconer, which I now sit down to do, with a Number of your Favours before me. I received the Box and Letter from Mr. Peter Miller, but if as you mention, Enoch Davenport brought it, I did not see him. Perhaps...