To Benjamin Franklin from Joshua and Catherine Johnson, and Matthew and Anne Ridley, 13 May 1783
From Joshua and Catherine Johnson, and Matthew and Anne Ridley5
AL:6 American Philosophical Society
Tuesday 13 May 1783.
Mr. & Mrs. Johnson presents their most respectfull compliments to Dr. Franklin & will do themselves the honor to wait on him.
Mr. Johnson did not receive the honor of Dr. Franklin’s Billet7 til late last Evening or he would have returned an immediate answer.
Mr. & Mrs. Ridleys Compliments & will do themselves the honor to attend Dr. Franklin today.
5. Johnson’s wife was Catherine Nuth (c. 1757–1811): Andrew Oliver, Portraits of John Quincy Adams and His Wife (Cambridge, Mass., 1970), p. 23. The Johnsons had recently arrived from Nantes and were on their way to London; see our annotation of Ridley to the Commissioners, [before May 6?]. Anne Richardson Ridley (XXXVI, 302n) had arrived in Paris from London on Dec. 13, 1782, and died there on Jan. 21, 1784: Matthew Ridley’s Journal, entries of Dec. 13, 1782, and Jan. 21, [1784], Matthew Ridley Papers (Mass. Hist. Soc.).
6. Probably in Joshua Johnson’s hand.
7. Not found.