University of Virginia Library

G. APPENDIX G.

[Page 112.]

In the Life of Dr. Franklin, written by himself, little attention
seems to have been paid to dates, particularly in narrating events
which took place during his minority. He informs us that he was
born in Boston, but does not mention the month nor the year; he,
however, observes,[1] that his brother returned from England in 1717,
with a press and types; and, that his father determined to make
him a printer, and was anxious that he should be fixed with his
brother. He also observes, that he himself held back for some time,
but suffered himself to be persuaded, and signed his indentures. By
the manner in which he mentions these circumstances, we may suppose
that they took place within a short period, and as soon as his
brother began business, which was within a few weeks after he returned
from London. The doctor mentions that when he signed his
indentures, he was only twelve years of age; this was in 1717. The
New-England Courant was not published till August, 1721; at this
time Benjamin Franklin must have been in his seventeenth year.
The first Courant published by Benjamin Franklin, after his brother
was ordered to print it no longer, is No. 80, dated February 11, 1723;
of course Benjamin must then have been advanced in his eighteenth
year. I have seen a file of the Courant from the time it began to
be published in the name of Benjamin Franklin to the middle of
the year 1726,[2] the whole of which was published in the name of
Benjamin Franklin. The doctor does not mention how long the
paper was published in his name; he only says that it was for "some
months." From the doctor's manner of relating this part of his
history, we may conclude that he did not leave his brother short of
one year after the Courant was printed in his, Benjamin's name;

and, if so, he must have been nearly nineteen years of age; but, if
he remained with his brother till the year 1726, he would then have
been twenty-one years old. Yet he states, page 53; that after
he left his brother, "he found himself at New York, nearly
three hundred miles from his home, at the age only of seventeen
years." It is evident from the doctor's account of himself after he
left his brother, that he did not remain with him so long as the Courant
was published in the name of Benjamin Franklin; for he gives
an account of his return to Boston, remaining there some time, his
going again to Philadelphia, working with Keimer, and afterward
making a voyage to London, where he was near two years a journeyman,
and returning back to America, and again arriving in Philadelphia
in October, 1726. It is difficult to reconcile all these events
with the few dates which the doctor has mentioned. But I leave
them with those who are inclined to make further investigation.