September 01, 1730 - Benjamin Franklin Common-Law Marriage To Deborah Read
Ben and Deborah's 34 Year Long Marriage
September 01, 1730 - Benjamin Franklin Common-Law Marriage To Deborah Read
Unable to marry Benjamin Franklin formally, Deborah Read enters a common law marriage with him. This union lasted thirty-four years, until her death in 1774. The marriage produced two children, Francis Folger Franklin and Sarah Franklin.
Deborah Read (c 1708 – December 19, 1774)
Deborah was born to John Read, a British carpenter, and his wife Sarah White Read. Historians know little about Sarah before her marriage to Franklin. Her parents immigrated to Philadelphia sometime in 1711. She received little formal education. She was standing out on the street in 1723 when Benjamin Franklin walked by as he entered Philadelphia. He carried two large bread rolls in his pocket as he ate another. She thought he looked like a vagabond covered with bread. He soon found a job in Philadelphia as a printer and lodged in the Read home. Deborah's father passed away sometime during this time. Deborah and Ben soon began to talk of marriage. In 1724, Franklin proposed to her. However, her mother objected because Benjamin was not financially secure and Deborah was too young.
Ben Travels to London
Franklin's printing work attracted the attention of deputy governor of Pennsylvania, Sir William Keith. He convinced Franklin to travel to London to obtain financing for his own print shop. In late 1724, Franklin went to London to find that Keith had deceived him. His proposed plan for Franklin to obtain financing was a fraud and Franklin found himself trapped in London. He would not return to Philadelphia until 1725.
Deborah Marries John Rogers
During Franklin's absence, he does not write Deborah. Her mother persuades her to marry a potter named John Rogers. They marry in August 1725. Rogers turns out to be a scoundrel who, it was rumored, had another wife in England. Rogers, after spending Deborah's dowry and running up debts for which she was liable, absconded. He stole a slave and ran off in 1728.
Franklin Returns to Philadelphia
Franklin returned to Philadelphia to find that Deborah had married. Ben began to prosper and bought a newspaper in 1729. He had an affair with a woman around 1728. The affair produced a son, William, who was born in 1730. The identity of William's mother is one of history's many mysteries.
Common Law Marriage
Franklin again proposed marriage to Deborah in 1730, but she refused. The fate of her husband is unknown. Rumors hinted that he had gone to the West Indies and that he was dead. However, if she and Benjamin married and he appeared, Deborah would be guilty of bigamy. So on September 1, 1730 Benjamin and Deborah established a common-law marriage. She accepted Benjamin's illegitimate son, William, and raised the boy as if he was her own. Their first son together, Francis, died at four of smallpox. Their daughter grew up and had children. Ben and Deborah had eight grandchildren. Deborah was afraid of ship travel and would not accompany Benjamin on his many trips abroad. Thus, she was alone when she began suffering the strokes that eventually killed her in 1774 while Benjamin was in France.
This story excerpted from the book:
© 2023 Paul Wonning