131From 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...
132From 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....
133From 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.
134From 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...
135From 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...