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conceive themselves obliged to give me a hearing； since this may be read
or not as any one pleases。 And； lastly （I may as well confess it； since my
denial of it will be believed by nobody）； perhaps I shall a good deal gratify
my own vanity。 Indeed； I scarce ever heard or saw the introductory words；
〃Without vanity I may say；〃 &c。； but some vain thing immediately
followed。 Most people dislike vanity in others； whatever share they have
of it themselves； but I give it fair quarter wherever I meet with it； being
persuaded that it is often productive of good to the possessor； and to others
that are within his sphere of action； and therefore； in many cases； it would
not be altogether absurd if a man were to thank God for his vanity among
the other comforts of life。
And now I speak of thanking God； I desire with all humility to
acknowledge that I owe the mentioned happiness of my past life to His
kind providence； which lead me to the means I used and gave them
success。 My belief of this induces me to hope； though I must not presume；
that the same goodness will still be exercised toward me； in continuing
that happiness； or enabling me to bear a fatal reverse； which I may
experience as others have done： the complexion of my future fortune
being known to Him only in whose power it is to bless to us even our
afflictions。
The notes one of my uncles （who had the same kind of curiosity in
collecting family anecdotes） once put into my hands； furnished me with
several particulars relating to our ancestors。 From these notes I learned
that the family had lived in the same village； Ecton； in Northamptonshire；
for three hundred years； and how much longer he knew not （perhaps from
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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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
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 mo