Ben Franklin sees Stonehenge
Ben Franklin visits Stonehenge, July 1757. Imagine that?
According to Founders Online, Ben Franklin does not write of Stonehenge in his letters around that date. Years later he does write of his visit to Stonehenge in his autobiography.
Founders Online footnote 8:
"BF remembered in the autobiography that on their 300-mile trip from Falmouth he and WF [his son William Franklin] “only stopt a little by the Way to view Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, and Lord Pembroke’s House and Gardens, with his very curious Antiquities at Wilton.” He added that they “arriv’d in London the 27th of July 1757,” but this letter makes clear that they actually reached the city on the evening of the 26th. "
Old London Bridge
Ben Franklin stayed at a tavern near the end of the famous old London Bridge. Ben Franklin stays in London until 1762 after that famous bridge was torn down.
Founders Online footnote 9 adds:
There is an entry, July 27 [1757] in his account book of £22 13s. 6d. “for expences at the Bear Inn till provided with lodgings.”
This was a famous tavern at the Southwark end of old London Bridge (torn down in 1761).
Why is Ben Franklin in England?
". . .the [Pennsylvania] Assembly decided to send one of their own as an agent to England. The person they selected was Benjamin Franklin. His purpose was meet with Thomas Penn and “solicit the Removal of our Grievances occasioned by Proprietary Instructions.” [8] On March 31, the Assembly gave Franklin a list of five grievances and they instructed him to seek their redress.[9] On June 6, the day Franklin set sail for England . . ."
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That's the lead story.
The following are dates and times and related matters.
Read bits and pieces.
Skip around.
At your leisure.
Compiled and authored by Jim Moyer 8/07/2021, updated 8/14/21, 12/21/2021, update 9/4/2023, 10/12/23
We will flesh out the connections to Col George Washington and Fort Loudoun and the reasons for Ben Franklin going to England.
Ben Franklin had to stop "franking" post office deliveries from Carlisle PA to Fort Loudoun Winchester VA in 1756 for lack of funds.
Both Ben Franklin and George Washington are in Philadelphia to see Lord Loudoun. . Ben Franklin had to delay this trip to England for Lord Loudoun who wanted to meet Ben in Philly in March 1757.
Colonel George Washington had left Fort Loudoun Winchester to go to Philly in March 1757 to see Lord Loudoun also.
Pictures, links, sources to come later.
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See Dates and Sources below:
From Benjamin Franklin to Ezra Stiles, 2 June 1757
This letter is datelined New York.
Having waited here near Eight Weeks for a Passage to England, we are at length told we shall certainly sail tomorrow.
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This letter is datelined New York: [New York, Saturday, June 4, 1757]
On June 6, [1757] the day Franklin set sail for England,
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"On July 17, [1757] Franklin arrived at Falmouth, England.
His arrival did not surprise Penn. He had been informed of the probability seven months earlier . . . "
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"Benjamin Franklin’s Mission to London, 1757-1762 - Journal of the American Revolution":
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How long was Ben Franklin in England ?
Ben Franklin leaves for England 6 June 1757 and arrives In Falmouth, England 17 July 1757 and on the way, one of his stops includes seeing the Stonehenge and then finally reaches London 26 July 1757. He stays there until 1762. We do not yet have exact dates of his leaving. Ben Franklin goes back to England again in 1764 to pursue getting rid of the Penn proprietorship charter in favor of a Royal Crown charter to govern Pennsylvania.
" .. . between 1757 and 1785 he [Ben Franklin] lived a total of only three years on American soil."
--- Joan Paterson Kerr in the December 1976 Volume 28 Issue 1 of American Heritage states. Source is: https://www.americanheritage.com/benjamin-franklins-years-london
It is only 4 weeks heading across the Atlantic but 10 weeks coming back
6 Jun 1757 leaving NYC and 17 July 1757 arriving in Falmouth England
23 Aug 1762 leaving Portsmouth England and 1 Nov 1762 arriving in Philadelphia.
Suggested dates of Aug 1762 of Ben Franklin's leaving England and arrive 1 Nov 1762.in Philly
1. The Carolina, Capt. James Friend, was reported at Portsmouth on August 12, awaiting a convoy. Pa. Gaz., Oct. 21, 1762. Although London Chron., Aug. 24–26, 1762, reported that H.M.S. Scarborough had sailed from Portsmouth convoying the North American trade “last Friday,” that is, August 20, this report seems to be in error; at least, the Carolina, with bf aboard, did not sail until the 23d at the earliest, as shown by his letter of that date to Strahan (below, p. 149). The convoy stopped for three days at Madeira and the Carolina reached Philadelphia only on November 1, after a voyage of ten weeks from Portsmouth. Pa. Gaz., Nov. 4, 1762. bf wrote Strahan, December 7, in praise of the care Captain Stott of the Scarborough had given the convoy; see below, pp. 166–7.
see footnote 6
But here BF is still writing from Cravenstreet London 21 Jun 1762
Ben Franklin leaves for England 6 June 1757 and arrives In Falmouth, England 17 July 1757 and on the way, one of his stops includes seeing the Stonehenge and then finally reaches London 26 July 1757. He stays there until 1762. We do not yet have exact dates of his leaving. Ben Franklin goes back to England again in 1764 to pursue getting rid of the Penn proprietorship charter in favor of a Royal Crown charter to govern Pennsylvania.
" .. . between 1757 and 1785 he [Ben Franklin] lived a total of only three years on American soil."
--- Joan Paterson Kerr in the December 1976 Volume 28 Issue 1 of American Heritage states. Source is: https://www.americanheritage.com/benjamin-franklins-years-london
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From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 27 July 1757
To Deborah Franklin als: American Philosophical Society London, July 27. 1757
My dear Child We arrived here well last Night, only a little fatigued with the last Day’s Journey, being 70 Miles.8 I write only this Line, not knowing of any Opportunity to send it; but Mr. Collinson will enquire for one, as he is going out.9 If he finds one, I shall write more largely. I have just seen Mr. Strahan, who is well with his Family. Billy is with me here at Mr. Collinson’s, and presents his Duty to you, and Love to his Sister. My Love to all. I am, my dear Child, Your loving Husband B Franklin
Mr. Collinson says there was a Vessel going to New York, if not gone this Line will go by her.1 Addressed: To / Mrs Franklin / in / Philadelphia [Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]
8. bf remembered in the autobiography that on their 300-mile trip from Falmouth he and wf “only stopt a little by the Way to view Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, and Lord Pembroke’s House and Gardens, with his very curious Antiquities at Wilton.” He added that they “arriv’d in London the 27th of July 1757,” but this letter makes clear that they actually reached the city on the evening of the 26th. Par. Text edit., p. 410. He spent £32 13s. on the journey and for “some expences” in London. “Account of Expences,” p. 2; PMHB, lv (1931), 102.
9. As early as June 5, 1757, bf had been “dayly” expected by Collinson, either at his place of business “in Grace Church Street at the Red Lyon” (near London Bridge), or at Ridgeway House at Mill Hill near Hendon, eight miles northwest of London, where Collinson lived and maintained his superb garden of botanical curiosities. This letter suggests that bf and wf were Collinson’s guests their first night in London or that they called upon him the morning after arrival. There is an entry, July 27, in his account book of £22 13s. 6d. “for expences at the Bear Inn till provided with lodgings.” This was a famous tavern at the Southwark end of old London Bridge (torn down in 1761). The lodgings, arranged for by the Pennsylvania agent Robert Charles, were at the home of Mrs. Margaret Stevenson, No. 7 Craven Street, where bf paid 11s. 5d. for dinner on July 30, when presumably he moved in. Mrs. Stevenson’s house was on the right side of Craven Street as one walked from the Strand towards the Thames; it was near Charing Cross, the government buildings in Whitehall, and the Houses of Parliament. “Account of Expences,” p. 3; PMHB, lv (1931), 102; Colden Paps., v, 150, 154; Henry B. Wheatley, London Past and Present (London, 1891), i, 135–6, 472–3.
1. The ship was probably the St. George, Capt. James Johnston, which had arrived at Deal by August 1, sailed under convoy to Portsmouth on the 7th, and waited there another month for a westbound convoy. She arrived in New York on December 4, also carrying a letter from Collinson to Cadwallader Colden asking him to inform df of bf’s safe arrival. London Chron., Aug. 2 and 9, and Sept. 8, 1757; Pa. Gaz., Nov. 24 and Dec. 8, 1757; Colden Paps., v, 211–12.
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Is this the oldest family vacation photo of Stonehenge?
Amy Woodyatt, CNN • Published 12th December 2019
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Ben thought he would leave London in 1759
To Benjamin Franklin from Lady Dick, 12 October 1759
From Lady Dick al: American Philosophical Society Prestonfild Octobr 12th [1759] Lady Dicks Compliments to Doctor Franklen a good Journy to father and son, a happy meeting with Mrs. Franklin and Miss at Philadelphia,1 I send this Empty purse to you. and wish it May be always fou,2 My Pythagorean Honest John3 with us regrits you when your gone. Addressed: To / Doctor Franklen Endorsed: Lady Dick with a Purse
1. bf had probably told the Dicks of his hope to return to Philadelphia in a few months, as soon as his business pending before the Privy Council should be finished. 2. Scots for “full.” In his letter of Jan. 3, 1760, to Sir Alexander Dick bf sent his respectful compliments to Lady Dick and asked him to “assure her I have great faith in her parting-Prayers, that the Purse she honour’d me with will never be quite empty.” N.Y. Pub. Lib. 3. John Williamson of Moffat; see below, p. 445 n.
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Pennsylvania Assembly: Appointment of Franklin as Agent to Go to England, and His acceptance, [28 January 1757–3 February 1757]
Pennsylvania Assembly: Appointment of Franklin as Agent to Go to England, and His Acceptance Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives, 1756–1757 (Philadelphia, 1757), pp. 75, 76, 78. The sequence of events resulting in the appointment of Franklin as agent to represent the Assembly in England in its disputes over the instruction on the taxation of proprietary estates and related grievances is indicated by the following extracts from the Assembly Journals. The Remonstrance of January 26 (see immediately above) was delivered to Governor Denny on the morning of the 28th; the House took his answer into consideration that afternoon and promptly adopted the resolution printed first below. The next morning it chose Speaker Norris and Franklin as its representatives. While they were considering the request, the Assembly, acting “by special Order,” passed a new £100,000 supply bill, exempting proprietary estates from taxation, February 3,7 and then called upon Norris and Franklin for their decisions. Then followed the actions which produced a momentous change in Franklin’s career. [January 28, 1757] Resolved, N.C.D. That a Commissioner, or Commissioners, be appointed to go Home to England, in Behalf of the People of this Province, to solicit a Removal of the Grievances we labour under by Reason of Proprietary Instructions, &c. [January 29, 1757] Resolved, N.C.D. That Mr. Speaker, and Mr. Franklin, be requested to go Home to England, as Commissioners, to solicit the Removal of our Grievances, occasioned by Proprietary Instructions, &c. And being accordingly requested thereto by the House, they desired some Time to consider thereof. [February 3, 1757] Mr. Speaker, and Mr. Franklin, being called upon by the House, to declare whether they would comply with the Request of the House in going Home to England, to solicit a Redress of our Grievances; …8 Mr. Franklin said, “That he esteemed the Nomination by the House to that Service as an high Honour, but that he thought, if the Speaker could be prevailed on to undertake it, his long Experience in our publick Affairs, and great Knowledge and Abilities, would render the Addition of another unnecessary: That he held himself however in the Disposition of the House, and was ready to go whenever they should think fit to require his Service.” Resolved, That the unanimous Thanks of this House to Mr. Speaker, and Mr. Franklin, for their ready Compliance with the Request of the House, be entered on the Minutes.9 Resolved, That this House will make Provision for defraying the Expence that may attend their Voyage, and the Solicitation of the Affairs of the Province in England; and that Mr. Franklin do first go over. Resolved, That Benjamin Franklin, Esq; be, and he is hereby appointed Agent of this Province, to solicit and transact the Affairs thereof in Great-Britain. [Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.] 7. See below, pp. 121, 152–3 n. 8. Norris pleaded ill health and his possible greater usefulness in Pennsylvania, but nevertheless put himself at the disposal of the House. 9. Dr. John Kearsley, Jr. (d. 1777), nephew of Dr. John Kearsley, above, v, 20 n, and later mobbed and imprisoned for his Tory views, did not share the Assembly’s pleasure at bf’s appointment: “They talk of Sending the Electrician home which is a new delay. He Jumps at going. I am told his office [of deputy postmaster general] shakes. However though he would not go but to Support this falling interest of his own, he is artfully Insinuating that he goes on his Countrys Service. Most Certain I am that he will go at his Countrys Expence for he is wicked enough to Blind the people.” als to Robert Hunter Morris, Feb. 8, 1757, Yale Univ. Lib. Capt. Thomas Lloyd also sneered at the proposed mission of Norris and bf: “Two of the venerable sages of Pennsylvania are going home with their fingers in their eyes.” [Thomas Balch], Letters and Papers Relating Chiefly to the Provincial History of Pennsylvania (Phila., 1855), p. 67. An exchange between Richard Peters and Thomas Penn, however, affords the fullest view of bf’s agency as seen by his opponents on both sides of the Atlantic before his departure. “Certain it is,” wrote Peters, “that B.F.’s view is to effect a change of Government, and considering the popularity of his character and the reputation gained by his Electrical Discoveries which will introduce him into all sorts of Company he may prove a Dangerous Enemy. Dr. Fothergill and Mr. Collinson can introduce him to the Men of most influence at Court and he may underhand give impressions to your prejudice. In short Heaven and Earth will be moved against the Proprietors.” In reply, Penn was full of confidence: “I think I wrote you before that Mr. Franklin’s popularity is nothing here, and that he will be looked very coldly upon by great People, there are very few of any consequence that have heard of his Electrical Experiments, those matters being attended to by a particular Sett of People, many of whom of the greatest consequence I know well, but it is quite another sort of People, who are to determine the Dispute between us.” Peters to Penn, Jan. 31, 1757, Peters Letterbook; and Penn to Peters, May 14, 1757, Penn Papers, both Hist. Soc. Pa.
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