Autograph Letter Signed from Barnard Gratz in New York to his brother Michael Gratz, Philadelphia. Makes mention of “Governor Franklin,” son of Benjamin Franklin

(AMERICAN JUDAICA)

April 27th

New York

1774

In English. Several lists on blank portions, including “Goods of H. Levey” and “of Solo. Myers.”

fascinating letter establishingthe relationship between the gratz brothers and benjamin franklin’s son, william franklin “Dear Michael, …I have purchased 25 guns at cost 32/0, 50 guns at cost 42/0 and 10 pcs. blue shrowds with the white stripe… But as yet have got no blankets or matchcoats. Shall try to get some tea of juniper berri[e]s to send you as you write … If you have not seen Governor Franklin and he is in town, you ask him if he has sent me the letter he said he would… In the postscript, “My love to Mariam (i.e. Michael’s wife] & Rachel (i.e. Michael’s daughter) & let her come to town next week & go to school.” The two brothers Barnard and Michael Gratz of Philadelphia were partners. They traded in various commodities, including, and especially, firearms. In this letter, the older brother, Barnard, on a business trip to New York, writes to his younger brother back in Philadelphia of the tentative results. Tea of juniper berries was, and still is, used as a medicine in the treatment of colds, sore throats, tuberculosis and a host of other ailments. The eminent American patriot Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) had an illegitimate son William Franklin (1730-1813). Born in Philadelphia, William was raised by his father - his mother’s identity is unknown. Relations between father and son would seem to have been rather close; William accompanied Benjamin on his diplomatic missions to England. When the two returned from England in 1763, William carried a commission from King George III to be Colonial Governor of New Jersey. It is quite evident that the commission was secured through his father’s not insignificant influence at Court. As happened in more than one family however, the Revolution found father and son on opposite sides of the barricades. Father Benjamin was one of the architects of the new democracy, while his son William remained a staunch loyalist. William remained Royal Governor of New Jersey until arrested by rebels in 1776. He was held as a prisoner of war for two years. Upon release, he fled to New York, still held by the British. With the final defeat of the British forces, William, along with other loyalists, was evacuated to England, where he died several years later in 1813. See S.L. Skemp, William Franklin: Son of a Patriot, Servant of a King (1990); idem, Benjamin and William Franklin: Father and Son, Patriot and Loyalist