the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第2章
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the time when the name of Franklin； that before was the name of an order
of people； was assumed by them as a surname when others took surnames
all over the kingdom）； on a freehold of about thirty acres； aided by the
smith's business； which had continued in the family till his time； the eldest
son being always bred to that business； a custom which he and my father
followed as to their eldest sons。 When I searched the registers at Ecton； I
found an account of their births； marriages and burials from the year 1555
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only； there being no registers kept in that parish at any time preceding。 By
that register I perceived that I was the youngest son of the youngest son
for five generations back。 My grandfather Thomas； who was born in 1598；
lived at Ecton till he grew too old to follow business longer； when he went
to live with his son John； a dyer at Banbury； in Oxfordshire； with whom
my father served an apprenticeship。 There my grandfather died and lies
buried。 We saw his gravestone in 1758。 His eldest son Thomas lived in the
house at Ecton； and left it with the land to his only child； a daughter； who；
with her husband； one Fisher； of Wellingborough； sold it to Mr。 Isted； now
lord of the manor there。 My grandfather had four sons that grew up； viz。：
Thomas； John； Benjamin and Josiah。 I will give you what account I can of
them； at this distance from my papers； and if these are not lost in my
absence； you will among them find many more particulars。
Thomas was bred a smith under his father； but； being ingenious； and
encouraged in learning （as all my brothers were） by an Esquire Palmer；
then the principal gentleman in that parish； he qualified himself for the
business of scrivener； became a considerable man in the county； was a
chief mover of all public…spirited undertakings for the county or town of
Northampton； and his own village； of which many instances were related
of him； and much taken notice of and patronized by the then Lord Halifax。
He died in 17O2； January 6； old style； just four years to a day before I was
born。 The account we received of his life and character from some old
people at Ecton； I remember； struck you as something extraordinary； from
its similarity to what you knew of mine。
〃Had he died on the same day；〃 you said； 〃one might have supposed a
transmigration。〃
John was bred a dyer； I believe of woolens。 Benjamin was bred a silk
dyer； serving an apprenticeship at London。 He was an ingenious man。 I
remember him well； for when I was a boy he came over to my father in
Boston； and lived in the house with us some years。 He lived to a great age。
His grandson； Samuel Franklin； now lives in Boston。 He left behind him
two quarto volumes； MS。； of his own poetry； consisting of little occasional
pieces addressed to his friends and relations； of which the following； sent
to me； is a specimen。 He had formed a short…hand of his own； which
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he taught me； but； never practising it； I have now forgot it。 I was named
after this uncle； there being a particular affection between him and my
father。 He was very pious； a great attender of sermons of the best
preachers； which he took down in his short…hand； and had with him many
volumes of them。 He was also much of a politician； too much； perhaps； for
his station。 There fell lately into my hands； in London； a collection he had
made of all the principal pamphlets； relating to public affairs； from 1641 to
1717； many of the volumes are wanting as appears by the numbering； but
there still remain eight volumes in folio； and twenty…four in quarto and in
octavo。 A dealer in old books met with them； and knowing me by my
sometimes buying of him； he brought them to me。 It seems my uncle must
have left them here； when he went to America； which was about fifty years
since。 There are many of his notes in the margins。
Here follow in the margin the words； in brackets； 〃here insert it；〃
but the poetry is not given。 Mr。 Sparks informs us （Life of Franklin； p。 6）
that these volumes had been preserved； and were in possession of Mrs。
Emmons； of Boston； great…granddaughter of their author。
This obscure family of ours was early in the Reformation； and
continued Protestants through the reign of Queen Mary； when they were
sometimes in danger of trouble on account of their zeal against popery。
They had got an English Bible； and to conceal and secure it； it was
fastened open with tapes under and within the cover of a joint…stool。 When
my great…great…grandfather read it to his family； he turned up the joint…
stool upon his knees； turning over the leaves then under the tapes。 One of
the children stood at the door to give notice if he saw the apparitor coming；
who was an officer of the spiritual court。 In that case the stool was turned
down again upon its feet； when the Bible remained concealed under it as
before。 This anecdote I had from my uncle Benjamin。 The family
continued all of the Church of England till about the end of Charles the
Second's reign； when some of the ministers that had been outed for
nonconformity holding conventicles in Northamptonshire； Benjamin and
Josiah adhered to them； and so continued all their lives： the rest of the
family remained with the Episcopal Church。
Josiah； my father； married young； and carried his wife with three
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children into New England； about 1682。 The conventicles having been
forbidden by law； and frequently disturbed； induced some considerable
men of his acquaintance to remove to that country； and he was prevailed
with to accompany them thither； where they expected to enjoy their mode
of religion with freedom。 By the same wife he had four children more born
there； and by a second wife ten more； in all seventeen； of which I
remember thirteen sitting at one time at his table； who all grew up to be
men and women； and married； I was the youngest son； and the youngest
child but two； and was born in Boston； New England。 My mother； the
second wife； was Abiah Folger； daughter of Peter Folger； one of the first
settlers of New England； of whom honorable mention is made by Cotton
Mather in his church history of that country； entitled Magnalia Christi
Americana； as 'a godly； learned Englishman；〃 if I remember the words
rightly。 I have heard that he wrote sundry small occasional pieces； but only
one of them was printed； which I saw now many years since。 It was
written in 1675； in the home…spun verse of that time and people； and
addressed to those then concerned in the government there。 It was in favor
of liberty of conscience； and in behalf of the Baptists； Quakers； and other
sectaries that had been under persecution； ascribing the Indian wars； and
other distresses that had befallen the country； to that persecution； as so
many judgments of God to punish so heinous an offense； and exhorting a
repeal of those uncharitable laws。 The whole appeared to me as written
with a good deal of decent plainness and manly freedom。 The six
concluding lines I remember； though I have forgotten the two first of the
stanza； but the purport of them was； that his censures proceeded from
good…will； and； therefore； he would be known to be the author。
〃Because to be a libeller （says he） I hate it with my heart； From
Sherburne town； where now I dwell My name I do put here； Without
offense your real friend； It is Peter Folgier。〃
My elder brothers were all put apprentices to different trades。 I was put
to the grammar…school at eight years of age； my father intending to devote
me； as the tithe of his sons； to the service of the Church。 My early
readiness in learning to read （which must have been very early； as I do not
remember when I could not read）； and the opinion of all his friends； that I
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should certainly make a good scholar； encouraged him in this purpose of
his。 My uncle Benjamin； too； approved of it； and proposed to give me all
his short…hand volumes of sermons； I suppose as a stock to set up with； if I
would learn his character。 I continued； however； at the grammar…school not
quite one year； though in that time I had risen gradually from the middle of
the class of that year to be the head of it； and farther was removed into the
next class above it； in order to go with that into the third at the end of the
year。 But my father； in the meantime； from a view of the expense of a
college education； which having so large a family he could not well afford；
and the mean living many so educated were afterwards able to obtain
reasons that be gave to his friends in my hearingaltered his first intention；
took me from the grammar…school； and sent me to a school for writing and
arithmetic； kept by a then famous man； Mr。 George Brownell； very
successful in his profession generally； and that by mild； encouraging
methods。 Under him I acquired fair writing pretty soon； but I failed in the
arithmetic； and made no progress in it。 At ten years old I was taken home
to assist my father in his business； which was that of a tallow…chandler and
sope…boiler； a business he was not bred to； but had assumed on his arrival
in New England； and on finding his dying trade would not maintain his
family； being in little request。 Accordingly； I was employed in cutting wick
for the candles； filling the dipping mold and the molds for cast candles；
attending the shop； going of errands； etc。
I d
