From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 24 October 1751
To Jane Mecom
MS not found; reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), p. 21.
Philadelphia, October 24, 1751
Dear Sister,
My son waits upon you with this, whom I heartily recommend to your motherly care and advice.2 He is indeed a sober and discreet lad of his years, but he is young and unacquainted with the ways of your place.
My compliments to my new niece, Miss Abiah,3 and pray her to accept the enclosed piece of gold, to cut her teeth; it may afterwards buy nuts for them to crack.
Some time since I sent a letter to your care for our cousin at Casco Bay.4 Have you had an opportunity to forward it?
My love to brother Mecom and your children; and to brother and sister Davenport5 and children; and respects to Mrs. Billings and her daughter,6 and all other friends, from, dear sister, Your affectionate brother,
B. Franklin
2. William Franklin, probably aged 20 or 21 (see above, III, 474 n), made a favorable impression on his visit to Boston this fall. See below, p. 220.
3. Abiah Mecom (C.17.12), Edward and Jane Mecom’s last child, born Aug. 1, 1751; died April 23, 1752.
4. Elizabeth Davenport Ingersoll (C.12.1), BF’s niece, and her husband Joseph lived at Falmouth, Me., on Casco Bay.
5. James Davenport, who had remarried since the death of his second wife Sarah Franklin (C.12).
6. Probably the mother and sister of Sarah Billings (d. April 1, 1751), whom Josiah [Franklin] Davenport (C.12.4) married, 1749.