To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Sr., 19 January 1771
From Jonathan Williams, Sr.
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Boston Janry 19th. 1771
Honoured Sir
I received your kind favour of the 7 and 9 Novr by Which We are [torn] happy to find our Sons and Brother Safe arival and of the kind Reception thay have from you and Good Mrs. Stevensons kind offer of Service to Whom our Respects.1
By the next post I Shall Send to Mr. Pease for the Bond you mention and Shall Recover the money as Soon as Possible then Shall Consult in What Way it may be Improv’d per account to advantage. We Shall take pleasure to Incourage your Benevolent Schem2 the Ship Sails this Day have not time to ad; I have answard your Litters in Regard to the Lottery in Which I Concluded to Risque the two Ticketts3 and Gave your Account Current Credit for the Balance you Directd. In hast I am Your Dutifull Nephew and Humble Servant
Jona Williams
PS I have not yet been able to Let your House and Believe Shall not untill Spring.4
Addressed: To / Benjamin Franklin Esqr / at Mrs Stevensons in Craven street / London / per
1. His two sons were Josiah and Jonathan, Jr.; his brother was John Williams the customs inspector. Mrs. Stevenson had taken them in as lodgers. See above, XVII, 212–13, 284–5.
2. The bond was from Samuel Hall, a Salem printer and BF’s nephew by marriage; a year later it was still unpaid. Van Doren, Franklin—Mecom, p. 133; Williams to BF below, Sept. 19, 1771, and BF to Williams, Jan. 13, 1772. The benevolent scheme was to assign the proceeds to Jane Mecom.
3. For the long affair of the lottery tickets see above, XVII, 137, 156.
4. The house in Unity Street which BF had repaired and rented for the support of Jane’s mad son Peter. Whenever there was no tenant, BF paid Jane what she was not receiving in rent. See above, X, 355–7; Van Doren, Franklin—Mecom, pp. 24–5, 78–9; and BF’s reply to this letter below, March 5.