1To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 4 March 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [March 4, 1769. Repeats the substance of his letters of February 17 and March 1, printed above. Adds that he has received another bill of exchange from Postmaster Hubbart for £100, drawn by Nathaniel Rogers on a London merchant. The worst of the winter was in February, which is unusual. He hopes his gout will not lose him his place.] For Rogers see BF to...
2To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 25 April 1768: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, April 25, 1768. Franklin will probably have left before this reaches London. Wrote him a week ago, enclosing some papers (for which see his letter above, April 18); has heard nothing from him since December, but the February packet has not yet arrived. Wishes him a safe and speedy return home.]
3To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 14 April 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [Philadelphia, April 14, 1769. John Foxcroft has summoned him there. Encloses a second bill for £60 13 s. 9 d. , the first of which he had sent from New York on February 13. This Foxcroft had returned to him to send to Franklin. Is in poor health but hopes to recover.]
4To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 14 August 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, August 14, 1769. Repeats the substance of his letter of August 12, and encloses the second of Hubbart’s £200 bill.]
5To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 29 June 1768: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [Dated June 29, 1768, this is virtually a duplicate of Parker’s letter of May 14.]
6To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 30 October 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York October 30, 1769. Is recovering after six weeks from the worst fit of gout he has ever had. Pain is gone, but he is so weak he can scarcely stand; “so have only Patience and Flannel.” Has heard nothing from Franklin, and nothing has happened in the Post Office since he last wrote.]
7To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 24 October 1768: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, October 24. Repeats the information in his letter of October 17, adding only that his son had tried to swindle Franklin as well as Thomas Cumming, that William Franklin has arrived at Sir William Johnson’s, and that Parker’s lawsuit with Holt drags on.]
8To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 6–7 October 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, October 6–7, 1769. Sent the Post Office account book with his letter of October 5. Confined to his room and can barely sit up. Has not touched Benjamin Mecom’s books, but will as soon as he is able to stir——if he ever is. Postscript of Sept. ( i.e. , Oct.) 7: encloses originals of Hubbart’s two bills, of which seconds went by his letter of...
9To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 15 May 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This comes with my unhappy Son. How far he may be an Object of your Regard, is left entirely to your own Discretion. I have Nothing else to say in his Favour, but wish he may Merit some of your Good Will, which is all with our best Regards, from Your most obliged Servant Addressed: For / Benjamin Franklin, Esqr. / Craven-Street / London / per S.F: Parker
10To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 1 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By Mrs. Franklin’s Desire, I now send by this Opportunity, two small Kegs of Keskatomas Nuts, one is a Firkin the other a small Quarter Cask: They contain very near a Bushel and a half. I hope they may come safe and sound to your Hands: As I have been now a great while confined by the Gout, I could not go out about them; but as the Second Mate, is a near...
11To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 12 July 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I still continue to send you a Line or two on the Presumption you may possibly not have left England before this reaches you, and if you should be set out the Loss of this is not much: As I have little more to say than I have wrote, only that we continue still in the Old Way, rubbing through a World, in which some slide easier then others, but in which none...
12To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 28 June 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, June 28, 1769. Encloses two bills of exchange, which he is sending by way of Bristol: one from Tuthill Hubbart of Boston for £122, drawn by Timothy Folger on Moses Allnutt of London, dated June 19; the other from Thomas Vernon, the Newport postmaster, for £15, drawn by John Mawdsley on Messrs. Lane Son & Fraser of London, dated June 16. Also...
13To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 12–13 September 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Packet being detain’d two or three Days on the following Occasion, tho’ I had wrote four Days ago, all that was then necessary, I could not dispence with writing again; And notwithstanding you will doubtless hear it, if I had not wrote: It pleased God to take our Governor Sir Henry Moore, Bart. out of this World, Yesterday half after 3 o’Clock in the...
14To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 16 January 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By this Packet I had not the Pleasure of one Line from you: I am sorry I am so displeasing to you: As I never knew the Gentleman’s Name before, to whom I owe the Place in the Custom House, I could not return him Thanks by Name: therefore only did it to you. Will you be pleased to make my Humble Complements to him, and sincere Thanks for the Favour, which is...
15To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 25 April 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Some Hours after I had sent my Letter to the Office to go with this Packet, Mr. Colden’s young Man brought me the inclosed Bill of Exchange for £50 Sterling which he offered me as he had just bought it @ 62½——and it being 2½ per Cent. cheaper than any to be got, I took it drawn this Day, Henry Thompson on Messrs. Pearson & Baillie of Liverpool——on which I...
16To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 1 October 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society No doubt you will wonder I have not sent you a Power according to my Promise: The Reason is this: Mr. Colden tells me he has a Copy of the Power he sent, Which he would lend me to form one by: and he says he cannot at present recollect where it is, but will search for it, and I being desirous to have it unexceptionable, have waited in hopes he will find it:...
17To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 30 November 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [Woodbridge, N.J., November 30, 1769. Has taken the journey from New York in the hope that it would help his recovery from the gout. Just back from a trip by waggon to Burlington, where the Assembly is sitting, and finds on his return Franklin’s letter of September 9 with its remarks about Mr. Robinson and Parker’s office in the customs. Is resigning that...
18To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker: Bond, 15 November 1763 (Franklin Papers)
Printed form with MS insertions in blanks: American Philosophical Society Know all Men, by these Presents, That I, James Parker of Woodbridge in the County of Middlesex and Province of New Jersey Printer, am Held and firmly bound unto Benjamin Franklin, Esqr. of the City of Philadelphia in the Sum of Three Hundred and fifty Seven Pounds, Sixteen Shillings and one penny , Lawful Money of New...
19To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 14 May 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I have little agreeable to say, and your Time must be much better employ’d than in reading any Thing I can say, I shall the less intrude on you. I imagined you would be on the Return before this: but I heard there was not that Expectation, I wrote you a few Days ago per Capt. Miller. My Son is about embarking, and perhaps may sail before this for London:...
20To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 16 December 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, December 16, 1769. Crept back from Woodbridge two days ago, in order to send by packet anything of interest. Mr. Colden has applied for a bill for £200, which was promised him today; but he was disappointed because Mr. Watts, who signs the bills together with Mr. McEvers, was out of town. Will send the bill by Captain Davis, eight or ten days...
21To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 26 December 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [Woodbridge, N.J., December 26, 1769. Had intended this to go by Captain Davis, but he sailed before it reached New York. Has received since then the enclosed bill from Mr. Colden for £200, drawn by Watts and McEvers on Harley & Drummond, “cost 65 per Cent the Exchange at this Time.”] John Drummond (1723–74), of Drummond’s Bank, and the Hon. Thomas Harley...
22To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 8 March 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My last to you was per Packet of the 20th Feb: and Capt. Munds being not yet sail’d, I have now to add. This covers a Bill of £250, Sterling Exchange 67½ so that it rises here, Wats & McEvers on Messrs. Harley & Drummond, dated Feb. 28. 1770. Of this Bill the Sum of £135, this Money, is on Account of B. Mecom’s Books sold at Auction, and £283 15 s. , the...
23To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 22 July 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, July 22, 1769. Repeats the substance of his letter of June 28. Encloses a bill of exchange for £50 from Luke & Prettyjohn, Barbados, drawn on Richard Gosling of London and endorsed by Mrs. Moore of New York; bills are rising and now stand at 72½, and he bought this one for 70. Has received Franklin’s letters by the packet and by Dr. Rush. Captain...
24To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 4 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am yet here about the Jersey Laws: I sent up to New York 8 Days ago, a Letter for you with the first of the inclosed Bill of Exchange for £200, Wats and Mc Evers on Harley and Drummond which I had of Mr. Colden: but the Weather has been so extreme severe, that I have not learnt whether it could be sent by a Merchantship, or by this Packet; but lest that...
25To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 8 August 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Not having the Pleasure of one Line from you for several Vessels; I have the less to write you. I am afraid we shall have bad Work with Mr. Chew, who now says, you promised to allow him for a Rider he hired to Hartford, in 1755 and 1756: but it is Strange when he was with me in Philadelphia in 1764, that he never mentioned it at that Time. Holt’s Account...
26To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 12 June 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer of this Dr. Nicholas Falck, is an Inhabitant of this City, and is a Person of a general fair Character:–It is said, he having made some remarkable Discoveries in the Mathematicks and other Sciences, goes to London in order to communicate them to Advantage, and being some Acquaintance of mine, I have presumed to recommend him thus to your Notice:...
27To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 20 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Inclosed in this comes a Bill of Exchange for Fifty-five pounds Sterl. on Messrs. Sargent, Chambers & Co. which from a presumption of your Goodness, I have troubled you with on the following Occasion: Having collected up all that I could of Mr. Balfour of Edinburg’s Books, I got them sold at Auction, which produced as much Money as purchased £25 Sterl. but...
28To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 17 October 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Tho’ I am hardly able to hold a Pen, from a Fit of the Gout in my Right Hand, yet I will try a few Words, to acknowledge the Receipt of one from you of Aug 9: giving an Account of my Son’s base Behaviour in attempting to get Money of Mr. Cummings &c. It grieves me to find his Vices still predominate; but am pleased at your letting me know it: for I hope he...
29To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 1 September 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having wrote twice since 8 Days ago, I have not any Thing material to write now only that I have not been able yet to execute a proper Power: Indeed, the chief Reason is for some Weeks past, I have had the Gout wandering from Limb to Limb, and tho’ none so very violent as to lay me quite up, yet so much, that I have no sooner Ease in one Part, than I have...
30To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 7 September 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Whiting came and [paid the] whole last Saturday Evening in Jersey Money, except 5 s. in York, of the Pay[ment] for the Postage. I don’t know any Body has any of the Spanish Paper to sell cheap. I believe 5 or 6 s. will be the lowest. I know several ask 8 s. I can yet gladly spare you 4 or 5 Bales of that I have, having got about 10 Bales yet entire. If...