Ledger page from Franklin's GPO account book
Collection: National Postal Museum
Object type: Archival Material
Date: April 5, 1770-April 5, 1772
Writer: Benjamin Franklin, American, 1706 - 1790
Associated Person: John Foxcroft
John Parker
Place: United States of America
Medium: paper; ink / handwritten
Dimensions: Height x Width: 8 x 13 in. (20.32 x 33.02 cm)
Topics: Postal Administration
Colonial Era (1607-1776)
Description: The folio shown here is from Benjamin Franklin's General Post Office account book. It is written entirely by his hand, including eight signatures of his name, and it spanned 1770-1772. The ledger records, among other things, the annual salaries of three hundred pounds to Benjamin Franklin (residing in London during this time) and John Foxcroft, joint postmasters general of the colonies. The ledger also documents the successful lobbying of Secretary of Comptroller John Parker for an increase in his annual allowance.
When the methodically-minded Benjamin Franklin became joint deputy postmaster general in North America, he promptly instituted a new system of accounts, including one that enabled the General Post Office to standardize local postmasters' accounting methods. The new manner of bookkeeping did not abolish the opportunity for the dishonest to profit but it did prove beneficial since the comptroller could now check a new postmaster's accounts against the old for losses.
General Post Office
in Account with Franklin & Foxcroft Co
   1770 Apr. 5. To Benj a Franklin for half a Years Salary £ 150. 0. 0   To John Foxcroft for Do 150. „ „   Mar. 29 To Cash paid the Receiver General 1400. 10. 10 1/4   June 19 To Do paid for Horses 1. „ „   July 7. To Findlater's Bill on Longingham returned   to J. Parker Comptroller, with Charges of   Postest viz Bill 20 th Charges 25/8 21. 5. 0   To Hays & Potts's Bill returned to Do with Charges of Postest 52. 5. 9   Salary for the late Secretary & Comptroller   from July 1. to Oct. 5. one Quarter 25. „ „   Oct. 24. To Cash paid the Receiver General 1500. „ „   1771 Apr. 5. To Benj a Franklin for one Year's Salary 300. „ „   To John Foxcroft for Ditto 300. „ „   Sept. 23 To Do Travelling Expenses from June   16. to this Day inclusive, being 100   Days at 21/8 Diem 105. „ „   1772 Feb. 13. To Cash paid the Receiver General 800. „ „   Apr. 5. To Benj a Franklin One Years Salary 300. „ „   To John Foxcroft Do and for Stationary 312. 10. 0   To Balance 450. 8. 6   £ 5868. 0. 9 1/4  
   1770 By Balance of last Account £ 1319. 0. 7 1/4   Oct. 5. By John Foxcroft for sundry Sums received   from J. Parker Comptroller, as off his   Account 215. 18. 1   By Benj a Franklin for sundry Bills from Do 1899. 19. 1   By Do for Do from Do 339. 13. 2   Nov. 27. By John Foxcroft from Alex a Colden 85. 4. 3   1771 Jan. 12. By Do from H. Finlay 50. „ „   26. By Do from J. Stevens 67. 10. „   Feb. 14. By Do from T. Vernon 200. „ „   25. By Do from T. Hubbard 400. „ „   Mar. 28. By Do from H. Finlay 100. „ „   July 3. By Benj a Franklin from J. Foxcroft 400. „ „   Sep. 2. By Do from A. Colden 100. „ „   6. By John Foxcroft from T. Hubbard 510. 15. 7   12. By Do from Do 105. „ „   Oct. 2. By Benj a Franklin from A. Colden 75. „ „  
Errors Excepted B a Franklin
£ 5868. 0. 9 1/4
1776 Ed. Benj. Franklin Signature of Declaration from Penn a from his own papers - No. 3