To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Mumford, 12 March 1781
From Thomas Mumford
ALS and LS: American Philosophical Society
Groton 12 March 1781
Sir
My nephew Mr. Gurdon S. Mumford writes me you have been kind enough (at the Request of my worthy friend Silas Deane Esqr.) to admit him into your office for the present,6 my Brother Mr. David Mumford, (father of my nephew master Gurdon) writes you per this Conveyance to thank you for this particular act of kindness to his son, in which I Joyn him— business in the mercantile branch is so fluctuating in this Country as Renders it difficult to obtain such places for Youth as to give them proper education & insight into business; mr. Deane Can give you my Character & Zeal in Support of American Independance, which I have no doubt will be soon universally acknowledged even by Great Brittain. I have the Honor to be with perfect esteem & Regard your Honors most Obedt. & Very Obliged Huml servt.
Thos. Mumford
Honl. Benjamin Franklin Esqr.
Addressed: The Honorl. Benjamin Franklin Esqr. / at Passa / near Paris
6. Gurdon Saltonstall Mumford (XXXIII, 4n) had sailed to France under the care of Silas Deane, an uncle by marriage: Gurdon’s mother, Rebecca Saltonsall, was the older sister of Deane’s wife. Thomas Mumford (brother of Gurdon’s father David, who wrote BF on March 13, below) had evidently not yet received Deane’s letter of Feb. 23, which told of the young man’s welfare. He was well and living with BF, Deane wrote, where he could certainly learn the French language, but as the object was to educate him in accounting, his father should send further instructions. Placing him in an accounting house would require more money: Deane Papers, IV, 286.