From Benjamin Franklin to ——— Bertrand, 11 January 1781
To ——— Bertrand
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress
Passy, Jan 11. 1781
Sir,
I received yesterday the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me,3 and in answer acquaint you, That about the Year 1742, there was in Philadelphia a Joseph Redmond, a Native of Ireland, Captain of a good Ship,4 which sail’d between that Port & some Part of Europe; but he did not use that Trade many Years, and as it is long since I heard any thing of him I know not whether he is or is not still living, but am persuaded he is not in that Country. The Person you mention who was Sheriff about 8 Years since, was of a Name similar, but not the same, being Joseph Redman, & not Redmond. He was a Native of the City of Philadelphia. I knew well his Mother & all the Family. He is dead not long since.5 I have the honour to be Sir
M. Bertrand ancien Commissaire des Guerres à l’hotel de Toscane Rue de Chantre.
3. The previous day. BF had not answered Bertrand’s first letter, of Sept. 29, 1780, but was undoubtedly moved to answer the second as it was written at the suggestion of Rayneval. The letters are summarized in XXXIII, 36.
4. A Joseph Redmond was listed on the Philadelphia ship register as captain of the Burford in July, 1742, and as captain of the Surprize in November of the same year: PMHB, XXIV (1900), 115, 213.
5. Redman (b. c. 1721) died in September, 1779: PMHB, XVI (1892), 100, and LVIII (1934), 186–7.