To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 13 October 1772
From Jonathan Williams, Jr.
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Boston October 13. 1772
Dear and honoured sir
I received your favour dated July 22 and am very happy that my Letter gave you satisfaction: I am only concern’d that the length and frequency of them, will be tedious and troublesome to You.2
I am glad to find by your Letter just received for my Father,3 that you are well enough recovered from the Gout to be in the N England Coffee House.
In my last I acquainted you with the Death of my Brother, and in the same Letter gave you an Account of Henry’s unfaithfulness; I have now the pleasure to acquaint You, that he is still content with his Situation, and his Master seems satisfied with him, when I recieve my Indentures and your approbation, I shall take care to fix him with every customary Advantage: as I thought best not to bind him, till I heard from You.4 My Father is Just returned from a Journey in the Country, and if he has time will write by this Oppertunity but as the Ship is just going to sail he may be disappointed. With my most respectfull Compliments to all enquiring Friends I remain Your dutifull and affectionate Kinsman
J Williams Junr
Aunt Mecom and all Friends are well, the Year 73 is now so near at hand without the prospect of seeing You, that we begin to fear you will break through your Intention of visiting every ten Years.5
Addressed: To / Doctr Franklin / London
2. The disappearance of BF’s letter precludes identifying which one of Jonathan’s gave him satisfaction. They were indeed frequent: four, from April through June, are printed above.
3. Above, Aug. 11.
4. For Josiah’s death see his father to BF above, end of August. The letter from Jonathan, Jr., has been lost, and with it the explanation of how Henry Walker (A.5.2.3.3.1.2) had been unfaithful. The young man—he was fifteen at the time—was fond of Josiah and had gone with him to America in the spring, apparently to be a servant of his and his brother’s. After Josiah’s death Henry misbehaved, perhaps because he was not fond of Jonathan. The latter decided against keeping him, and proposed to apprentice him to some one else. BF must have agreed, for the arrangement was made and worked well. See below, Hannah Walker to BF, Dec. 22, 1772, and June 20, 1773; BF to Jonathan, Jr., July 7, 1773.
5. For these decennial visits see above, XVII, 165, and BF to Jane Mecom, April 13, 1772.