Benjamin Franklin + Deborah Read, ? a Whitmarsh
Does anyone have information about the Franklin and Whitmarsh families that would link Benjamin Franklin's Deborah Read to the George Read + Sarah Whitmarsh line??
Avis Read (b. 1720 in Dighton, MA) married John Palmer (b. 1712 in Little Compton, RI).Avis's parents were supposedly George Read + Sarah Whitmarsh. They would have been born about 1700+/-.........this is my Palmer line.
Deborah Read [Rogers: 1st husband John Rogers, and I am also a Rogers] (b. 1708 in Philadelphia, PA) married Benjamin Franklin, the famous one, (b. 1706 in Boston, MA).Franklin supposedly ran away (Boston, New York, then to Philadelphia) from his apprenticeship to his brother James in 1723 and wound up staying with John Read, whose daughter, Deborah, became Franklin's wife in 1730 after John Rogers abandoned her.
In 1724, under encouragement from PA Governor William Keith, Franklin travels to London in order buy printing equipment.Keith's letters of credit for him never materialized, and Franklin is stranded in London. He remains in London working as a printer working for Samuel Palmer (not sure how the guy might be linked to the MA Palmers.)
In 1731, Franklin sponsored his journeyman Thomas Whitmarsh as his printing partner in South Carolina.Franklin buys the printing press and types in return for 1/3 of the profits over a six-year term -- in effect becoming a printing franchiser with a Whitmarsh as the first relationship.......very interesting because of the following.
I have seen information posted by "Quinton" on the Read site about other Read/Whitmarsh marriages, and my Palmer line also married into the Richmonds who also married into Read and Whitmarshes………..too many commonalities in a tight geographic location for them not to be related somehow.And, "Avis" keeps popping up.Quinton found a book with these records.
William Reed, b. 1605 England, d. @1658, Weymouth, MA. He married Avis Deacon on 26 Oct 1635, in Long Sutton, Somersetshire County, England.Avis was born @ 1616 in England, d. 1670 (probably in Weymouth, MA). William Reed and Avis Deacon's children:
Hannah Reed married Nicholas Whitmarsh.
James Reed, b. @1657, Weymouth, MA, d. 21 Jul 1726 in Middleborough, MA. He married Susanna Richmond.
In another Another generation: John Reed, b. 30 Dec 1679, Weymouth, MA, d. Dec 1757.He married Sarah Whitmarsh in Nov. 1715.
Sarah and Deborah could have been sisters except for the Philadelphia vs. Weymouth, MA birth places so maybe they were cousins.
However, these families moved from the Weymouth/Duxbury area (southeast of Boston proper) to Dighton, MA (western MA) and then on into RI a few miles down the road.
Deborah's father could have actually come from MA, and she could have been born in MA, but living in PA by the time that Franklin ran away from home.
I also suspect that there might have been a relationship from MA or he would not have wound up living with them in PA.
Any ideas/leads will be appreciated.I have not done much research on any of these lines, but all of this just kind of popped up all the sudden……….usually a good reason to investigating further.
Claire