Description:

Business

Philadelphia Families Archive Illuminating the Invasion of Credit Networks & the Dangers of Diseases

[EARLY REPUBLIC.] Archive of 16 Autograph Letters Signed, 1815-1836, that center on Philadelphia attorney William T. Meredith, and Philadelphia merchant Samuel R. Franklin. 24 pp., most approximately 8" x 10". Documents have expected folds and toning; a few documents have tears on folds or from breaking seals and holes with the loss of small amounts of text.

The Meredith family archive provides a fascinating glimpse into the emerging market economy of early national America through the correspondence of Philadelphia attorney William T. Meredith. After his wife’s brother becomes hopelessly entangled in debt, Meredith receives advice from a number of people about how to redeem him from his creditors, among whom is the widow of Gouverneur Morris.

The intimate Franklin family archive illuminates the lives of three generations of the Franklin family. Samuel Rhoads Franklin had one son who survived to adulthood—Walter Simonds Franklin—and this group includes several letters from the son and his wife to his father and stepmother, with details about their growing family in York and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Walter Franklin’s children included two future army officers and a future naval admiral. Topics include the legislature, politics, the dangers of diseases and epidemics, and the challenges of child-rearing. Walter Franklin moved his family in 1833 to Washington, D.C., where he served as clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives until his untimely death at age 38.

William T. Meredith (1777-1844) was born in Philadelphia, gained admission to the bar in 1795, and became a successful attorney. From 1814, he was president of Schuylkill Bank, and he narrowly lost to Nicholas Biddle for the position of president of the Second Bank of the United States. He married the writer and poet Gertrude Gouverneur Ogden (1777-1828), the niece of Lewis Morris (who signed the Declaration of Independence) and Gouverneur Morris (who signed the U.S. Constitution). One of their eleven children, William M. Meredith (1799-1873), served as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury in 1849 and 1850.

Excerpts

-          Thomas L. Ogden to William Meredith, April 2, 1817, New York New York

“In order to the Extrication of our friend David B. from the unhappy state of Embarrassment in which he is involved it seems essential that some Arrangement should be made with Mrs Morris, for whilst she remains a Creditor she will of course be a hostile one, and the Demands she represents are unfortunately so large as to give her the Controul of every Effort to effect his Liberation. If the Estate of Gouv Morris could be released from the Bond he executed with David to Colo & Mrs Ogden there is reason to believe that Mrs Morris would assume the payment of the other Debts guaranteed by Mr M. amounting to about $50,000 and release David from all future claim. In asking his mother’s co-operation in it, David wishes & expects to furnish her with other security equivalent to that she is called on to relinquish.... With regard to David, in the meridian of Life & of professional Eminence, with a young & helpless family entirely dependent on his Exertions, what Sum can be put in Competition with the Loss of business, standing, & personal Liberty?... The observations I have made are addressed principally to your prudence as the Adviser of the family. I am sure it is unnecessary to address any to your feelings as the old and affectionate friend of David.”

-          David Ford to William Meredith, June 20, 1817, New York, New York

“The accounts between Mrs Morris & Col Ogden were settled, the Hackinjack Tavern conveyed & a Bond given for the Balance dated the 1st Jany 1807 for $15997 & some Cents, which Bond is now in the hands of Mrs Morris and upon which she says Mr D B Ogden has paid $20,000.... I shall be happy to give you every information in my Power respecting the Estate and assure you I am very much distressed to find pecuniary difficulties in the family.”

Samuel Rhoads Franklin (1774-1836) was born in New York as the son of a prosperous Quaker merchant and moved with his family to Philadelphia the next year. During the Revolutionary War, his father Thomas Franklin served as commissary of prisoners. Samuel R. Franklin became a teacher, alderman, constable in Philadelphia. In 1831, the Governor appointed him as the health officer for the city of Philadelphia to combat the spread of infectious diseases in the port city. He held the position until at least 1833. In 1796, he married Sarah Simonds (1774-1802), who was not a Quaker and was removed from membership in the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. They had three sons before her death, but only their youngest son, Walter Simonds Franklin, lived past the age of twenty. After the death of his first wife, he later married Margaret.

Excerpts

-          Samuel R. Franklin to Margaret Franklin, June 27, 1815, New Orleans, Louisiana

“The sailing of a Ship from along side of us gives me an opportunity of writing to inform you we shall sail from here next Thursday, as we have all our Cargo on board & our sails bent. I have been extremely unwell & was doubtful whither I could proceed the Voyage but thank God I am now much better tho’ not yet recovered sufficiently to do Duty.”

-          Walter S. Franklin to Samuel R. Franklin, September 8, 1826, York, Pennsylvania

“There is so great a dearth of news and my life has been so monotonous for the last three months that I really am at a loss to know what to write about.... My family will be with you I think about the 20th of this month, they are all well and from Sarah’s account are improving much. Samuel walks and Sarah says is beginning to talk. I am getting very impatient to see them.”

-          Walter S. Franklin to Samuel R. Franklin, March 4, 1830, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

“I would long ere this have answered your letter but as the session is drawing to a close my time is almost certainly consumed by my official duties so much so that I am able to spend but little of it with my family.”

-          Walter S. Franklin to Samuel R. Franklin, August 26, 1832, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

“Samuel is spending this afternoon at Sunday school. he goes to school regularly and is coming on as well as we have any right to expect. he is quite a good boy and I am in hopes will prove himself worthy of the name he bears. he was 7 years old the day before yesterday.... I am in hopes the cholera will entirely leave you before long. the late reports are very flattering and if it should now leave you it will have done but little harm. We have as yet escaped and feel some hope that we may be entirely exempt from it.”

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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