To Benjamin Franklin from Eyre Whalley, 16 September 1758
From Eyre Whalley
ALS: Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Ecton Sept. 16th. 1758
Sir,
I return you my most Sincere thanks for your very kind Presents to me and my wife, which have done, and will afford very agreeable Entertainment to each of us:2 our acknowlegments for them Shou’d have been much earlier, had I not waited to see, if I cou’d meet with any Letter or other Composition of Mr. Thomas Franklin; in which Inquiry I have hitherto in a great Measure been unsuccessful. The Inclosed is a Lease of his drawing, of which kind I have Several now in my Possession; it is in his own Handwriting, and Signed by him and his wife.3 I am told, by a very good Lawyer, he has Seen Several Conveyances that were made by him, and that they were very well done: and I believe he had a good deal of Business of that Sort in this Neighbourhood. He had a Natural Turn and Genius for Musick, he put up the Chimes in our Church, made a House-organ, and, I am informed by Some now in the Parish that remember him, used frequently to amuse himself with playing upon it. If I can pick up any thing of his worth your Notice, during your Stay in this part of the world, I will certainly transmit it to you. My wife joins in best Compliments to you and your Son with Sir, your most obliged and most humble Servant
E Whalley
2. BF’s presents have not been identified and his letter (if one accompanied them) has not been found. See above, pp. 114–17, for Whalley’s services to BF.
3. The document, remaining with the letter, is an indenture dated May 1, 1682, between Peter Whalley and Francis Smith for the lease of some glebe lands; it is signed by Peter Whalley and witnessed by “Thos Franklin” and “Eleanor Franklin.” BF wrote on it “Old Lease of Uncle Thomas’s Drawing.” See above, pp. 137–8, for Thomas Franklin and his renown in Ecton.