From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 1 January 1756
To Deborah Franklin
ALS: Yale University Library
Reading, Jan. 1. 1756.
5 in the Evening
My dear Child
A happy New Year to you, and all Friends.
We arrived here, all well, about two Hours ago.8 Capt. Coultas9 tells me he purposes to start early in the Morning, so as to be at Philadelphia to morrow Evening. I have only time to write this Line, just to acknowledge the Receipt of your agreable Letters, Sally’s, Dr. Bond’s, Mr. Hughes’s, &c. and to promise particular Answers per next Opportunity.1 Present my affectionate Regards to those Gentlemen. I am glad you have sent me a Gown to sleep in, having lost my other Convenience.2 My Duty to Mother, who I hope is better; and my Love to the rest of the Family. I am, Your loving Husband
B Franklin
Addressed: To / Mrs Franklin / at / Philadelphia / per favour of / Capt. Coultas.
8. See above, p. 315.
9. James Coultas (see above, IV, 180 n), a captain in the Association Regiment of 1748; sheriff of Philadelphia Co., 1755–58; commissioned lieutenant colonel of the Philadelphia Co. Regiment, April 1756. 2 Pa. Arch., II, 446. He was later a judge of the common pleas and orphan’s courts.
1. The letters of Deborah and Sally Franklin, Dr. Thomas Bond, and John Hughes have not been found.
2. In the winter of 1758, when he had become “much more tender” than he used to be, BF described his sleeping costume as “a short Callico Bedgown with close Sleeves, and Flannel close-footed Trowsers.” BF to Deborah Franklin, Feb. 19, 1758.