To Benjamin Franklin from William Sturgeon, 1 September 1766
From William Sturgeon1
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Philadelphi Sepbr. 1 1766
Dear Sir
I tacke the Freedom to trouble you with a few Lines hoping you may have Leasure to give them a persual: I would acquaint you that my Health has been So much on the Decline as obliged me to retire into the Country, and as the Mission of Burlington is vacant by the Death of Mr. Campbell,2 I would request the Favour of you to interpose with the Society in my Behalf.3 It would be a great Kindness to my Small Family if they Should grant me the Refusal of it. Form [from] the repeated Acts of FriendShip you have done me makes me thus apply. I long to hear from you and wishing you Success I am dear Sir yours
Wm Sturg[eon]
Addressed: To / Doctor Franklin / Agent from Pennsylva / London
1. For the Rev. William Sturgeon, curate and assistant minister at Christ Church and St. Peter’s, Philadelphia, and catechist of the school for Negro children supported there by the Associates of Dr. Bray, see above, VII, 252 n; X, 298. He had resigned his positions, July 31, because of ill health.
2. The Rev. Colin Campbell, Anglican missionary at St. Mary’s Church, Burlington, N.J., had died on Aug. 9, 1766. See above, pp. 337–8 n.
3. See below, p. 483, for BF’s letter recommending Sturgeon to the secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel for the position at Burlington or one at Trenton.