[Printed first in Duane, Letters to Benjamin Franklin, pp. 9-10; here printed from the manuscript in the American Philosophical Society. The postscript is the earliest surviving written word, so far as is now known, from Jane Mecom to her brother. Though Franklin's mother did not include the year in the date of her letter, it was certainly 1751: her son had been chosen alderman of Philadelphia on October 1 of that year. Abiah Folger Franklin, born in Nantucket, had numerous "cousins" (that is, all sorts of relations) there, including the Coffins here mentioned. The "workes and Letter" about which "Cozen Kesiah" inquired have not been identified.]
Boston Oct 14 [1751]
LOVING SON AN DAUGHTER
I did not rite to you last post but it was becase I was taken with the stomakake so bad all day that I coold not set up to rite on any acount my Cozen Kesiah Coffin was hear last week and she was sorroy that the workes and Letter was not yet printed she bid me tell you that she shoold be glad how soon you Coold do them for she wants to have a few of them very much my Cozen Hiniry Coffin is gon to your place I am afraid he will get the smol pox thare I desire you woold advise him not to goo any whare you know or think it has bin and if you have any bis nes with him send him away as fast as you can I am glad to hear that you are so well respected in your town for them to chuse you alderman altho I dont know what it means nor what the better you will be of it besids the honor of it I hope you will look up to god thank him for all his good providnces toward you he has prosperd you much in that place and I am very thankful for it I hope you will cary well so that you may be liked in all your posts I am very weake and short bretht so that I Cant set to rite much al tho I slepe well anits and my Coff is better and I have a prity good stumak to my vethels pray excuse my bat riting an inditing for all tels me that I am two old to rite letters I can hardly se and am grone
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Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information:
Book title: The Letters of Benjamin Franklin & Jane Mecom.
Contributors: Carl Van Doren - Editor, Benjamin Franklin - Author, Jane Mecom - Author.
Publisher: Princeton University Press.
Place of publication: Princeton, NJ.
Publication year: 1950.
Page number: 45.
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