I Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia, printer, late Minister
Plenipotentiary from the United States of America to the Court of
France, now President of the State of Pennsylvania, do make and
declare my last will and testament as follows:—
To my Son William Franklin late Governor of the Jerseys, I give
and devise all the lands I hold or have a right to, in the
province of Nova Scotia, to hold to him, his heirs, and assigns
forever. I also give to him all my books and papers, which he has
in his possession, and all debts standing against him on my
account books, willing that no payment for, nor restitution of,
the same be required of him, by my executors. The part he acted
against me in the late war, which is of public notoriety, will
account for my leaving him no more of an estate he endeavoured to
deprive me of.
Having since my return from France demolished the three houses
in Market Street, between Third and Fourth Streets, fronting my
dwelling-house, and erected two new and larger ones on the ground,
and having also erected another house on the lot which formerly
was the passage to my dwelling, and also a printing-office between
my dwelling and the front houses; now I do give and devise my said
dwelling-house, wherein I now live, my said three new houses, my
printing-office and the lots of ground thereto belonging; also my
small lot and house in Sixth Street, which I bought of the widow
Henmarsh; also my pasture-ground which I have in Hickory Lane,
with the buildings thereon; also my house and lot on the north
side of Market Street, now occupied by Mary Jacobs, together with
two houses and lots behind the same, and fronting on
Pewter-Platter Alley; also my lot of ground in Arch Street,
opposite the church burying-ground, with the buildings thereon
erected; also all my silver plate, pictures, and household goods,
of every kind, now in my said dwelling-house, to my daughter Sarah
Bache and to her husband Richard Bache to hold to them for and
during their natural lives, and the life of the longest liver of
them, and from and after the decease of the survivor of them, I do
give, devise, and bequeath to all children already born, or to be
born of my said daughter, and to their heirs and assigns forever,
as tenants in common, and not as joint tenants. And if any or
either of them shall happen to die under age, and without issue,
the part and share of him, her, or them, so dying, shall go to and
be equally divided among the survivors or survivor of them. But my
intention is, that, if any or either of them should happen to die
under age, leaving issue, such issue shall inherit the part and
share that would have passed to his, her, or their parent, had he,
she, or they been living. And as some of my said devisees may, at
the death of the survivor of their father or mother, be of age,
and others of them under age, so as that all of them may not be of
capacity to make division, I in that case request and authorize
the judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Pennsylvania for
the time being, or any three of them, not personally interested,
to appoint by writing, under their hands and seals, three honest,
intelligent, impartial men to make the said division, and to
assign and allot to each of my devisees their respective share,
which division, so made and committed to writing under the hands
and seals of the said three men, or of any two of them, and
confirmed by the said judges, I do hereby declare shall be binding
on, and conclusive between the said devisees.
All the Lands near the Ohio, and the lots near the Centre of
Philadelphia, which I lately purchased of the State, I give to my
son-in-law, Richard Bache, his heirs and assigns forever; I also
give him the bond I have against him, of two thousand and one
hundred and seventy-two pounds, five shillings, together with the
interest that shall or may accrue thereon, and direct the same to
be delivered up to him by my executors, cancelled, requesting
that, in consideration thereof, he would immediately after my
deceasemanumit and set free his negro man Bob. I leave to him,
also, the money due to me from the State of Virginia for types. I
also give to him the bond of Wiliam Goddard and his sister, and
the counter bond of the late Robert Grace, and the bond and
judgement of Francis Childs, if not recovered before my decease,
or any other bonds, except the bnd due from [space] Killan, of
Delaware State, which I give to my grandson, Benjamin Franklin
Bache. I also discharge him, my said son-in-law, from all claim
and rent of moneys due to me, on book account or otherwise. I also
give him all my musical instruments.
The King of France’s Picture set with Four hundred and eight
Diamonds, I give to my daughter Sarah Bache, requesting however
that she would not form any of those diamonds into ornaments
either for herself or daughters, and thereby introduce or
countenance the expensive, vain, and useless fashion of wearing
jewels in this country; and those immediately connected with the
picture may be preserved with the same.
I give and devise to my dear sister Jane Mecom a house and lot I
have in Unity Street, Boston, now or late under the care of Mr.
Jonathan Williams, to her and to her heirs and assigns for ever. I
also give her the yearly sum of fifty pounds sterling, during
life, to commence at my death, and to be paid to her annually out
of the interests of dividends arising on twelve shares which I
have since my arrival at Philadelphia purchased in the Bank of
North America, and, at her decease, I give the said twelve shares
in the bank to my daughter Sarah Bache and her husband Richard
Bache. But it is my express will and desire that, after Payment of
the above fifty pounds sterling annually to my said sister, my
said daughter be allowed to apply the residue of the interest or
dividends on those shares to her sole and separate use, during the
life of my said sister, and afterwards the whole of the interst or
dividends thereof as her private pocket money.
I give the right I have to take up three thousand acres of land
in the State of Georgia, granted to me by the government of that
State, to my grandson William Temple Franklin his heirs and
assigns for ever. I also give to my grandson William Temple
Franklin the bond and judgement I have against him of four
thousand pounds sterling, my right to the same to cease upon the
day of his marriage; and if he dies unmarried, my will is, that
the same be recovered and divided among my other grandchildren,
the children of my daughter Sarah Bache, in such manner and form
as I have herein before given to them the other parts of my
estate.
The Philosophical Instruments I have in Philadelphia I give to
my ingenious Friend Francis Hopkinson.
To the Children Grand Children and Great Grand Children of my
brother Samuel Franklin that may be living at the time of my
decease, I give fifty pounds sterling, to be equally divided among
them. To the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of
my sister Anne Harris that may be living at the time of my
decease, I give fifty pounds sterling, to be equally divided among
them. To the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of
my brother James Franklin, that may be living at the time of my
decease, I give fifty pounds sterling, to be equally divided among
them. To the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of
my sister Sarah Davenport, that may be living at the time of my
decease, I give fifty pounds sterling to be equally divided among
them. To the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of
my sister Lydia Scott that may be living at the time of my
decease, I give fifty pounds sterling, to be equally divided among
them. To the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of
my sister Jane Mecom that may be living at the time of my decease,
I give fifty pounds sterling, to be equally divided among them.
I give to my grandson Benjamin Franklin Bache all the types and
printing materials, which I now have in Philadelphia, with the
complete letter foundery, which, in the whole, I suppose to be
worth near one thousand pounds; but if he should die under age,
then I do order the same to be sold by my executors, the survivors
or survivor of them, and the moneys thence arising to be equally
divided among all the rest of my said daughter’s children, or
their representatives, each one on coming of age to take his or
her share, and the children of such of them as may die under age
to represent, and to take the share and proportion of, the parent
so dying, each one to receive his or her part of such share as
they come of age.
With regard to my books, those I had in France and those I left
in Philadelphia, being now assembled together here, and a
catalogue made of them, it is my intention to dispose of the same
as follows: My History of the Academy of Sciences in sixty or
seventy volumes quarto, I give to the Philosophical Society of
Philadelphia, of which I have the honour to be President. My
collection in foleo of Les Arts et les Métiers I give to the
American Philosophical Society, established in New England, of
which I am a member. My quarto edition of the same, Arts et
Métiers, I give to the Library Company of Philadelphia. Such and
so many of my books as I shall mark on the said catalogue with the
name of my grandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache, I do hereby give to
him; and such and so many of my books as I shall mark on the said
catalogue with the name of my grandson, William Bache, I do hereby
give to him; and such as shall be marked with the name of Jonathan
Williams, I hereby give to my cousin of that name. The residue and
remainder of all my books, manuscripts, and papers, I do give to
my grandson, William Temple Franklin. My share in the Library
Company of Philadelphia, I give to my grandson, Benjamin Franklin
Bache, confiding that he will permit his brothers and sisters to
share in the use of it.
I was born in Boston, New England, and owe my first instructions
in literature to the free grammar-schools established there. I
therefore give one hundred pounds sterling to my executors, to be
by them, the survivors or survivor of them, paid over to the
managers or directors of the free schools in my native town of
Boston, to be by them, or by those person or persons, who shall
have the superintendence and management of the said schools, put
out to interest, and so continued at interest for ever, which
interest annually shall be laid out in silver medals, and given as
honourary rewards annually by the directors of the said free
schools belonging to the said town, in such manner as to the
discretion of the selectmen of the said town shall seem meet.
Out of the salary that may remain due to me as President of the
State, I do give the sum of two thousand pounds to my executors,
to be by them, the survivors or survivor of them, paid over to
such person or persons as the legislature of this state by an act
of Assembly shall appoint to receive the same in trust, to be
employed for making the river Schuylkill navigable.
And what money of mine shall, at the time of my decease, remain
in the hands of my bankers, Messrs. Ferdinand Grand and Son, at
Paris, or Messrs. Smith, Wright, and Gray, of London, I will that,
after my debts are paid and deducted, with the money legacies of
this my will, the same be divided into four equal parts, two of
which I give to my dear daughter, Sarah Bache, one to her son
Benjamin, and one to my grandson, William Temple Franklin.
During the number of years I was in business as a stationer,
printer, and postmaster, a great many small sums became due for
books, advertisements, postage of letters, and other matters,
which were not collected when, in 1757, I was sent by the Assembly
to England as their agent, and by subsequent appointments
continued there till 1775, when on my return, I was immediately
engaged in the affairs of Congress, and sent to France in 1776,
where I remained nine years, not returning till 1785: and the said
debts, not being demanded in such a length of time, are become in
a manner obsolete, yet are nevertheless justly due. These, as they
are stated in my great folio ledger E, I bequeath to the
contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital, hoping that those
debtors, and the descendants of such as are deceased, who now, as
I find, make some difficulty of satisfying such antiquated demands
as just debts, may, however, be induced to pay or give them as
charity to that excellent institution. I am sensible that much
must inevitably be lost, but I hope something considerable may be
recovered. It is possible, too, that some of the parties charged
may have existing old, unsettled accounts against me; in which
case the managers of the said hospital will allow and deduct the
amount, or pay the balance if they find it against me.
My debts and legacies being all satisfied and paid, the rest and
residue of all my estate, real and personal, not herein expressly
disposed of, I do give and bequeath to my son and daughter,
Richard and Sarah Bache.
I request my friends, Henry Hill, Esquire, John Jay, Esquire,
Frnacis Hopkinson, Esquire, and Mr. Edward Duffield, of Benfield,
in Philadelphia County, to be the executors of this my last will
and testament; and I hereby nominate and appoint them for that
purpose.
I would have my body buried with as little expense or ceremony
as may be. I revoke all former wills by me made, declaring this
only to be my last.
In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and eighty-eight.
[Seal]
I Benjamin Franklin in the foregoing or annexed last will and
testament named, having further considered the same, do think
proper to make and publish the following codicil or addition
thereto.
It having long been a fixed political opinion of mine, that in a
democratical state there ought to be no offices of profit, for
the reasons I had given in an article of my drawing in our
constitution, it was my intention when I accepted the office of
President, to devote the appointed salary to some public uses.
Accordingly, I had already, before I made my will in July last,
given large sums of it to colleges, schools, building of churches,
etc.; and in that will I bequeathed two thousand pounds more to
the State for the purpose of making the Schuylkill navigable. But
understanding since that such a sum will do but little towards
accomplishing such a work, and that the project is not likely to
be undertaken for many years to come, and having entertained
another idea, that I hope may be more extensively useful, I do
hereby revoke and annul that bequest, and direct that the
certificates I have for what remains due to me of that salary be
sold, towards raising the sum of two thousand pounds sterling, to
be disposed of as I am now about to order.
It has been an opinion, that he who receives an estate from his
ancestors is under some kind of obligation to transmit the same to
their posterity. This obligation does not lie on me, who never
inherited a shilling from any ancestor or relation. I shall,
however, if it is not diminished by some accident before my death,
leave a considerable estate among my descendants and relations.
The obove observation is made merely as some apology to my family
for making bequests that do not appear to have any immediate
relation to their advantage.
I was born in Boston, New England, and owe my first instructions
in literature to the free grammar-schools established there. I
have, therefore, already considered these schools in my will. But
I am also under obligations to the State of Massachusetts for
having, unasked, appointed me formerly their agent in England,
with a handsome salary, which continued some years; and although I
accidentally lost in their service, by transmitting Governor
Hutchinson’s letters, much more than the amount of what they gave
me, I do not think that ought in the least to diminish my
gratitude.
I have considered that, among artisans, good apprentices are
most likely to make good citizens, and, having myself been bred to
a manual art, printing, in my native town, and afterwards assisted
to set up my business in Philadelphia by kind loans of money from
two friends there, which was the foundation of my fortune, and of
all the utility in life that may be ascribed to me, I wish to be
useful even after my death, if possible, in forming and advancing
other young men, that may be serviceable to their country in both
these towns. To this end, I devote two thousand pounds sterling,
of which I give one thousand thereof to the inhabitants of the
town of Boston, in Massachusetts, and the other thousand to the
inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia, in trust, to and for the
uses, intents, and purposes hereinafter mentioned and declared.
The said sum of one thousand pounds sterling, if accepted by the
inhabitants of the town of Boston, shall be managed under the
direction of the selectmen, united with the ministers of the
oldest Episcopalian, Congregational, and Presbytarian churches in
that town, who are to let out the sum upon interest, at five per
cent. per annum, to such young married artificers, under the age
of twenty-five years, as have served an apprenticeship in the said
town, and faithfully fulfilled the duties required in their
indentures, so as to obtain a good moral character from at least
two respectable citizens, who are willing to become their
sureties, in a bond with the applicants, for the repayment of the
moneys so lent, with interest, according to the terms hereinafter
prescribed; all which bonds are to be taken for Spanish milled
dollars, or the value thereof in current gold coin; and the
managers shall keep a bound book or books, wherein shall be
entered the names of thse who shall apply for and receive the
benefits of this institution, and of their sureties, together with
the sums lent, the dates, and other necessary and proper records
respecting the business and concerns of this institution. And as
these loans are intended to assist young married artificers in
setting up their business, they are to be proportioned by the
discretion of the managers, so as not to exceed sixty pounds
sterling to one person, nor to be less than fifteen pounds; and if
the number of appliers so entitled should be so large as that the
sum will not suffice to afford to each as much as might otherwise
not be improper, the proportion to each shall be diminished so as
to afford to every one some assistance. These aids may, therefore,
be small at first, but, as the capital increases by the
accumulated interest, they will be more ample. And in order to
serve as many as possible in their turn, as well as to make the
repayment of the principal borrowed more easy, each borrower shall
be obliged to pay, with the yearly interest, one tenth part of the
principal, which sums of principal and interest, so paid in, shall
be again let out to fresh borrowers.
And, as it is presumed that there will always be found in Boston
virtuous and benevolent citizens, willing to bestow a part of
their time in doing good to the rising generation, by
superintending and managing this institution gratis, it is hoped
that no part of the money will at any time be dead, or be diverted
to other purposes, but be continually augmenting by the interest;
in which case there may, in time, be more than the occasions in
Boston shall require, and then some may be spared to the
neighbouring or other towns in the said State of Massachusetts,
who may desire to have it; such towns engaging to pay punctually
the interest and the portions of the principal, annually, to the
inhabitants of the town of Boston.
If this plan is executed, and succeeds as projected without
interruption for one hundred years, the sum will then be one
hundred and thirty-one thousand pounds; of which I would have the
managers of the donation to the town of Boston then lay out, at
their discretion, one hundred thousand pounds in public works,
which may be judged of most general utility to the inhabitants,
such as fortifications, bridges, aqueducts, public buildings,
baths, pavements, or whatever may make living in the town more
convenient to its people, and render it more agreeable to
strangers resorting thither for health or a temporary residence.
The remaining thirty-one thousand pounds I would have continued to
be let out on interest, in the manner above directed, for another
hundred years, as I hope it will have been found that the
institution has had a good effect on the conduct of youth, and
been of service to many worthy characters and useful citizens. At
the end of this second term, if no unfortunate accident has
prevented the operation, the sum will be four millionns and sixty
one thousand pounds sterling, of which I leave one million sixty
one thousand pounds to the disposition of the inhabitants of the
town of Boston, and three millions to the disposition of the
government of the state, not presuming to carry my views farther.
All the directions herein given, respecting the disposition and
management of the donation to the inhabitants of Philadelphia,
only, as Philadelphia is incorporated, I request the corporation
of that city to undertake the management agreeably to the said
directions; and I do hereby vest them with full and ample powers
for that purpose. And, having considered that the covering a
ground plot with buildings and pavements, which carry off most of
the rain and prevent its soaking into the Earth and renewing and
purifying the Springs, whence the water of wells must gradually
grow worse, and in time be unfit for use, as I find has happened
in all old cities, I recommend that at the end of the first
hundred years, if not done before, the corporation of the city
Employ a part of the hundred thousand pounds in bringing, by
pipes, the water of Wissahickon Creek into the town, so as to
supply the inhabitants, which I apprehend may be done without
great difficulty, the level of the creek being much above that of
the city, and may be made higher by a dam. I also recommend making
the Schuylkill completely navigable. At the end of the second
hundred years, I would have the disposition of the four million
and sixty one thousand pounds divided between the inhabitants of
the city of Philadelphia and the government of Pennsylvania, in
the same manner as herein directed with respect to that of the
inhabitants of Boston and the government of Massachusetts.
It is my desire that this institution should take place and
begin to operate within one year after my decease, for which
purpose due notice should be publickly given previous to the
expiration of that year, that those for whose benefit this
establishment is intended may make their respective applications.
And I hereby direct my executors, the survivors or survivor of
them, within six months after my decease, to pay over the said sum
of two thousand pounds sterling to such persons as shall be duly
appointed by the Selectmen of Boston and the corporation of
Philadelphia, to receive and take charge of their respective sums,
of one thousand pounds each, for the purposes aforesaid.
Considering the accidents to which all human affairs and
projects are subject in such a length of time, I have, perhaps,
too much flattered myself with a vain fancy that these
dispositions, if carried into execution, will be continued without
interruption and have the effects proposed. I hope, however, that
if the inhabitants of the two cities should not think fit to
undertake the execution, they will, at least, accept the offer of
these donations as a mark of my good will, a token of my
gratitude, and a testimony of my earnest desire to be useful to
them after my departure.
I wish, indeed, that they may both undertake to endeavour the
execution of the project, because I think that, though unforeseen
difficulties may arise, expedients will be found to remove them,
and the scheme be found practicable. If one of them accepts the
money, with the conditions, and the other refuses, my will then
is, that both Sums be given to the inhabitants of the city
accepting the whole, to be applied to the same purposes, and under
the same regulations directed for the separate parts; and if both
refeuse, the money of course remains in the mass of my Estate, and
is to be disposed of therewith according to my will made the
Seventeenth day of July, 1788.
I wish to be buried by the side of my wife, if it may be, and
that a marble stone, to be made by Chambers, six feet long, four
feet wide, plain, with only a small moulding round the upper edge,
and this inscription:
to be placed over us both. My fine crab-tree walking-stick, with a
gold head curiously wrought in the form of the cap of liberty, I
give to my friend, and the friend of mankind, General Washington.
If it were a Sceptre, he has merited it, and would become it. It
was a present to me from that excellent woman, Madame de Forbach,
the dowager Duchess of Deux-Ponts, connected with some verses
which should go with it. I give my gold watch to my son-in-law,
Richard Bache, and also the gold watch chain of the Thirteen
United States, which I have not yet worn. My timepiece, that
stands in my library, I give to my grandson William Temple
Franklin. I give him also my Chinese gong. To my dear old friend,
Mrs. Mary Hewson, I give one of my silver tankards marked for her
use during her life, and after her decease I give it to her
daughter Eliza. I give to her son, William Hewson, who is my
godson, my new quarto Bible, Oxford edition, to be for his family
Bible, and also the botanic description of the plants in the
Emperor’s garden at Vienna, in folio, with coloured cuts.
And to her son, Thomas Hewson, I give a set of Spectators,
Tatlers, and Guardians handsomely bound.
There is an error in my will, where the Bond of William Temple
Franklin is mentioned as being four thousand pounds sterling,
whereas it is but for three thousand five hundred pounds.
I give to my executors, to be divided equally among those that
act, the sum of sixty pounds sterling, as some compensation for
their trouble in th execution of my will; and I request my friend,
Mr. Duffield, to accept moreover my French wayweiser, a piece of
clockwork in Brass, to be fixed to the wheel of any carriage; and
that my friend, Mr. Hill, may also accept my silver cream pot,
formerly given to me by the good Doctor Fothergill, with the
motto, Keep bright the Chain. My reflecting telescope, made by
Short, which was formerly Mr. Canton’s, I give to my friend, Mr.
David Rittenhouse, for the use of his observatory.
My picture, drawn by Martin, in 1767, I give to the Supreme
Executive Council of Pennsylvania, if they shall be pleased to do
me the honour of accepting it and placing it in their chamber.
Since my will was made I have bought some more city lots, near the
centre part of the estate of Joseph Dean. I would have them go
with the other lots, disposed of in my will, and I do give the
same to my Son-in-law, Richard Bache, to his heirs and assigns
forever.
In addition to the annuity left to my sister in my will, of
fifty pounds sterling during her life, I now add thereto ten
pounds sterling more, in order to make the Sum sixty pounds. I
give twenty guineas to my good friend and physician, Dr. John
Jones.
With regard to the separate bequests made to my daughter Sarah
in my will, my intention is, that the same shall be for her sole
and separate use, notwithstanding her coverture, or whether she be
covert or sole; and I do give my executors so much right and power
therein as may be necessary to render my intention effectual in
that respect only. This provision for my daughter is not made out
of any disrespect I have for her husband.
And lastly, it is my desire that this, my present codicil, be
annexed to, and considered as part of, my last will and testament
to all intents and purposes.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this
twenty-third day of June, Anno Domini one thousand Seven hundred
and eighty nine.