Volume 13 , Issue 20

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

I was checking out some information over at Ancestry.com and found some interesting facts about the inventor, printer and the man that makes up one of our "Founding Fathers." Benjamin Franklin, while on a visit to England in 1758, commenced to collect materials relating to his FRANKLIN and FOLGER ancestry. His mother was Abiah FOLGER, daughter of Peter and Mary (MORRILL) FOLGER of Nantucket and granddaughter of John and Meribah (GIBBS) FOLGER who came from England in 1635 and settled at Martha's Vineyard. You know who Folger is, don't you!

Benjamin Franklin was born 17 January 1706, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts and died 17 Apr 1790, Philadelphia, Delaware, Pennsylvania. Franklin was born the 15th of his father's 17 children with two wives. His father taught young Benjamin the value of hard work and diligence.

One item of interest concerning Ben Franklin was found in an ebook on Google, Benjamin: His Autobiography, With a Narrative of His Public Life and Services. Ben stated, "I learned from my ancestry research in England that I was the youngest son of the youngest son for five generations back. Ben's grandfather Thomas was born in 1598, lived at Ecton till he was too old to continue his business, when he retired to Banbury, in Oxfordshire, to the house of his son John, with whom my father served an apprenticeship."

Benjamin Franklin, under the pseudonym "Richard Saunders," was the writer of the popular Poor Richard's Almanack, which featured bits of wisdom. Benjamin Franklin was also known to have joined the Freemasons, quickly rising to a position of influence in this secretive society.

Ben Franklin was a man of many talents, who dabbled in science; negotiated for French support during the Revolutionary War; and started one of the nation's first newspapers. His inventions included bifocals, the lightning rod, library chair, swim fins, Franklin Stove, catheter, and Daylight Savings Time.

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