To Benjamin Franklin from John Holker, 2 October 1779
From John Holker
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Montigny9 2 of Octobr 1779
Dear Sir
Mr. Garvey an Internet friend of mine1 sends me the Inclosed, beging I woud write you and Solesit your Goodness for one Mrs Butler who has been tooke by the Black Prince and lost som Bonds and affects, the Vallou of which she asteems at 50, pounds, and offers that same to have them back.2
Youl oblige me very much my Good friend If youl Intrest your Self in this affeare, as M. Garvey is a perticular friend of mine, and in caise it does not depend upon you, to send me back the leter, and let me know to whom I may apploy. My wife begs I wood Present you her Respects, as I doe, & wishing you every one happeness you can wish or desire being. My Dr. Sir your Most Obed & very humble Sevt
J Holker
P.S. Allthoug I am very angree with your Grand Son, I beg mine to him, and tell him Il pardon him on conditions when he passeis at Reuen he will call upon me
To his Excellency Dr. franklant
Notation: J Holker Oct 2. 79
9. Where Holker, the father of French Consul in America Jean Holker, and his second wife, the widow of a Rouen judge and consul, spent part of each year: André Rémond, John Holker, manufacturier et grand fonctionnaire en France au XVIIIme siècle, 1719–1786 (Paris, 1946), p. 125n.
1. Probably a fellow Rouen businessman. When WTF was arranging his and BF’s return to America in 1785 he corresponded with the Rouen firm of R. & A. Garvey about the transport of 129 unspecified articles. Their representative, a Plowden Garvey, in writing WTF on July 2, 1785 (APS), described Holker as “Our Good Friend.”
2. Mrs. Butler had been bound from Bristol to Dublin along with sixteen other passengers when their ship was captured by Marchant’s privateer: Clark, Ben Franklin’s Privateers, p. 50.