To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Sr., 24 December 1778
From Jonathan Williams, Sr.
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Boston Decr. 24. 1778
Hond Sr
This will be handed to you by Mr Saml Bradford a Werthy young Gentleman5 (Son of my Friend John Bradford Esqr our Continental Agent) one of his Vews in going to France is to Perfect himSelf in the Language—Your Civilities to him as a Stranger will much Oblige Your Dutyfull Nephew & Hble Servt
Jona Williams
To Doctr. Franklin
Addressed: His Excellency / Benjamin Franklin Esqr / at Passy / France
Notation: Jonh Williams Boston 24 Xbre. 1778.
5. Samuel Bradford (1759?–1818) was the future son-in-law of Jonathan Williams, Sr., since in 1783 he married Ann (Nancy) Williams (1759–1824): XIV, 289n; Van Doren, Franklin-Mecom, p. 219. Bradford, who will appear throughout our volumes, was active in the First Church of Boston and became U.S. marshal for the Massachusetts district and sheriff of Suffolk county: Records of the First Church in Boston, Publications of the Colonial Soc. of Mass. XXXIX–XLI (Boston, 1961); Mass. Hist. Soc. Proc. LV (1921–22), I; Harold C. Syrett, ed., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 vols., New York and London, 1961–87), XXII, 333n. For his father, John Bradford, continental agent for prizes at Boston, see XXII, 533n.