Personal: BF and his friends stole some workmen's stones to build a pier (A7-8; he told the anecdote after mentioning age 10). James Madison recorded a Franklin story that does not sound in character: as "a young man he was much subject to fits of indigestion brought on by indulgence at the table. On complaining of it to a friend, he recommended as a remedy a few drops of oil of wormwood, whenever that happened; and that he should carry a little viol of it about him. On trial he said he found the remedy to answer, and then said he, having my absolution in my pocket, I went on sinning more freely than ever." Madison, "Detached Memoranda" 538. It was probably about 1716 when BF's older brother Josiah, the sailor, returned to Boston for a visit, after which he was never heard of again (year-end).

Background: The 1716-1717 General Court of Massachusetts met from 30 May to 27 June; from 1 to 3 August; from 7 November to 4 December, 1716; and from 10 to 12 April, 1717. The Court again passed essentially the same impost and tunnage act of 1715, on 26 June 1716. Samuel Shute was appointed governor on 15 June 1716 and arrived in Boston on 4 October 1716. He approved a new inflationary paper currency bill, 7 Nov. He was paid L800 for his brief time in office in 1716 (4 Dec 1716 and 12 April 1717).

Chronology:

6 Jan, Friday, BF became 10.

29 Feb, Wednesday. Sewall: "Got home so as to go seasonably to our Meeting at Mr. Franklin's; though the way was very bad." Diary 2:813.

3 April, Tuesday, Sister Mary Franklin married Captain Robert Homes (Holmes). P 1:lix.

30 May, Wednesday. John Burrill, of Lynn, was elected Speaker of the House. Oliver Noyes, William Payne, Elisha Cooke, and Anthony Stoddard were the representatives from Boston. John Clarke and Nathaniel Byfield were among the elected Councillors. Journals 1:77-79. Hutchinson, History, 2:155, identified Cooke, Noyes, and Payne as leaders of the paper money party. See 8 Nov.

c. June. After the conclusion of the school year, BF worked with his father making candles and soap, but disliked the trade. He had "a strong Inclination for the Sea" (A7).

5 June, Tuesday. Sewall: "I went to our privat Meeting ... Mr. Franklin was not present, nor Cole." Diary 2:821. This is the only time that Sewall recorded that Josiah Franklin was not present at the private prayer meeting.

26 June. The Massachusetts General Counrt passed essentially the same impost and tunnage act as the previous year. Acts, Ma. 2:48.

14 July, Saturday. The New South Church formed, with the building being finished and dedicated on 8 January 1716/7 (q.v.). Its first minister was Samuel Checkley (Harvard, 1715), who was ordained 15 April 1719. The New South's members, like those of the Brattle Street Church, did not have to give a public testimony of their effectual calling and spiritual condition in order to be accepted.

1 Aug, Wednesday: "On Wednesday the first Currant, The General Assembly of this Province met here; And being His Majesty's King GEORGE's Accession to the Throne of Great Britain, &c. At Noon the Artillery of the Fort at Castle William were Discharged, and at Night the Town House was finely Illuminated, where the Honourable William Tailer Esq; Attended by the Honourable His Majesty's Council, the Representatives of the Lower House: The Gentlemen Officers of His Majesty's Revenue, and Militia, &c. Drank His Majesty's Health, His Royal Highness GEORGE Prince of Wales, all the Royal Family, His Excellency Col. Shute our Governour &c."--BNL 6 Aug 1716.

27 Aug, Monday. BNL: "This is to give Notice, That at the House of Mr. George Brownell, late School Master in Hanover Street Boston, are all sorts of Millinary Works done; making up Dresses, and flowering of Muslin, making of furbelow'd Scarffs, and Quilting, and cutting of Gentlewomens Hair in the newest Fashion, and also young Gentlewomen and Children taught all sorts of fine Works, as Feather-Work, Filegre and Painting on Glass. Embroidering a new way, Turkey-Work for Handkerchiefs new ways, fine new Fashion Purses, flourishing and plain Work, and Dancing cheaper than ever was taught in Boston. Work for Hankerchiefs and short Aprons upon Muslin, artificial Flowers work'd with a Needle." For Brownell, BF's teacher, 1715-1716, see 2 March 1713. Also printed in PCSM 54:958.

4 Oct, Thursday. Gov. Samuel Shute arrived in Boston. Hutchinson, History 2:163. Sewall: "just about Sunset, we hear a Gun which proves a Signal of the Governour's being come." Diary 2:833.

1 Nov, Thursday. Cotton Mather: "I may do the Countrey considerable service by some seasonable Hints unto the Governour. And by preventing what I can, the coutermining Intentions of some Gentlemen among us." Diary 2:381.

7 Nov, Wednesday. Gov. Samuel Shute's first message to the assembly seemed to favor a paper currency: "It's my Lot to enter upon the Government at a Time when your Commerce (a very Important Article of a Peoples Happiness) is under a great Discouragement by a universal want of Money, which is the Medium of Trade." Journals 1:129. The paper currency bill passed on 9 Nov and became law on 1 Dec. Journals 1:132, 162-63.

8 Nov, Thursday. Cotton Mather: "There is hazard of much Disorder and Confusion and Iniquity in our General Assembly; by reason of three unhappy Men, who are the Representatives of this Town. I would procure a considerable Number of the Representatives to visit me at my House; where I would endeavour their Illumination in the Things of our Peace." Diary 2:382-83. Mather had in mind Elisha Cooke, Oliver Noyes (Shipton 4:261), and probably William Payne (see 30 May).

20 Nov, Tuesday. In the house of representatives: "Complaint being made to the House, That Mr. Robert Durfey, Representative of the Town of Freetown, seldom Attends the Publick Worship of GOD, but obstructs the Settlement of an Orthodox Minister in the said Town; And has since the last Sessions of this Court, been Presented, Convicted and Fined, for Profanation of the Lord's Day; and has taken his Name from the last mentioned Petition [for the minister of Freetown], after he had Sign'd it. ... Ordered, That the said Mr. Durfey be expell'd this House." Journals 1:145-46. Cf. 4 Dec 1721.

1 December, Saturday. The upper house agreed to the bill for an additional £100,000 in bills of credit. Journals 1:162-63.

4 December. House voted £500 to Governor Shute. Journals 1:166. Cf. 12 April 1717.

c. 1716: Franklin recalled that on one occasion, thirteen children all gathered at one table when "an Entertainment was made in our House on Occasion of the Return of our Brother Josiah, who had been absent in the East Indies, and unheard of for nine Years" (P 9:18). Since Uncle Benjamin was present on the occasion, it had to be after 10 October 1715. Josiah, the sailor, was, like his younger brothers James and Benjamin, something of an iconoclast in Puritan Boston. Pious Uncle Benjamin had composed an imitation of the "Third part of the 107 psalm" for the reunion and sang it to welcome home his nephew. But the sailor Josiah, "being unaffected with Gods Great Goodness in his many preservations and Deliverances" received the psalm "coldly." Tourtellot 141 thought that Uncle Benjamin presented the psalm at the Old South Church, and Tourtellot lamented Uncle Benjamin's insensitivity to the congregation's conservative devotion to the Book of Psalms. But Parton 1:41 suggested it was sung at the "feast of welcome to the truant sailor." Parton's theory seems more likely. Parton printed the poem, 42-43. Josiah Franklin, Jr., drops from sight after his appearance in Boston about 1716, probably to perish at sea. In a list of his siblings made sometime after 1759, Franklin recorded that Josiah, Jr., "Went to Sea, never heard of" (P 8:454).