Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-05-18
HTSTORTCIL P1PERN
"Men and Women of the Revolution"
A SEHIEs or VALUABLE AND ENTERTAINING
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE PEN or THE
EMINENT HISTORIAN,
BENSON J. LOSING, liz d.
No. TX.
Dr. FrnukIin,s Errnnd-Hoy.

No. TX.
Dr. PrnnkIin's Errnnd-Boy.
] copyrighted lSss, by FUNK & wAGNALia, for
The Vermont PhdniXl
"Would you like to he introduced to Dr.
| Franklin's errand boy :" asked friend
with whom was soiourning a few days in
Philadelphia in the year 1861 "He is a
most remarkable man." said my friend
''and has been prominent citizen here for
fully sixty years.
at would be special privilege, " ! re
piled
We crossed the Schuylkill to West Phila
/ delphia aud made our way 10 the Pennsyl-
vania asylum for the insane. At the en-
trance gate my friend was warmly greeted
by courteous old gentleman, apparently
about 80 years of age, who was introduced
to me as Col Robert Carr, and was intro
duced to him as a citizen Of New York in
quest of "reminiscences Of events Of our
long past history from the lips of survivors
/ Of actor, in them.
"You bear the whole name" | said, "of
the Irish baronet who was one of the com
missoners sent to regulate New England
and to assist in snatching our province
from the Dutch POO years ago"
'Of the same family stock, probably, for
| / was born in ireland, he replied. Come
in. gentleman, and he seated 1t is an
hour, and we shall have few interruptions. 80
He led the way to a small furnished room
and there we spent two hours very profta
| bly, with the venerable gatekeeper Of the
| asylum, and the errand-boy of Dr. Frank
lin, who was then over S3 years of age,
and whose career had been checkered by
many vicisstudes He was stout-buit,
vigorous man, possessed of sound health
and remarkable buoyancy Of spirits. He
assured me that he had not been sick in
over go years
"Nou say you were born in Ireland. My
| friend tells me that your life has been quite
an eventful one" | remarked.
/ Somewhat he said. But it is now
well nigh over" he continued. Il try to
| forget the miseres which are few, and to
remember the mercies which are many
AT my request he gave brief sketch of
his life's history He was brought to Phil
adelphia from Ireland by his parents when
he was six years of age. His father was a
/ school teacher and lived next door to DR..
/ Franklin In due time young Carr learned
the art of printing with Mr.. Bache, Frank
| Inns grandson, and soon rose to the head Of
his profession in Philadelphia In 1904,
when he was only 26 years old, he was
awarded the first prize Of a society for the
best specimens of printing on exhibition.
He was employed TO print Wilson's "Orni-
thology' from the manuscript, also a re
print Of "Rees's Cyclopt dia. As a young
member of the famous Philadelphia militia
ry corps known as the Mcpherson Blues, ~
he was one of the firing squad ON the occa
sion Of the celebration of Washington's 5
funeral 10y Congress, then in session at
Philadelphia Five Of his associates were
living in that city at the time of my visit
namely Samuel Breck aged 30 5. Palm
er, aged 81 5. f. Smith. aged 81 Charles
~ Banker, aged ~ Quinton Campbell
aged -. ! saw three of the five veterans
at that time
In 1872 Mr. Carr was commiss oned ma
ior Of Pennsylvania regiment of infantry,
and rose to lieutenant colonel the following
year. Serving faithfully all through the
war of 1872 -, Col. Carr was honorably
discharged at its close, and for many years
he was the sole survivor of the field officers
of the army of 1912, in Pennsylvania, New
Jersey and Delaware. He married daugh-
ter of William Bartram, the proprietor of
the famous Botanic Garden near Phiadel-
phia, and in right of his wife, after her
fathers death. he carried it ON from 1905
until 1880, IA period of more than 40 years
He served the state as adjutant general IA
few years, and was for long time an al
derman aud Justice of the peace in Phil
adelphia. In his days of prosperity he was
AN active promoter Of public enterprises.
Deprived Of his property 10y the vcssi-
tudes of fortune in his old age he accept
ed the position Of gate keeper at the insti-
tuition where we found him.
Our friend tells me, remarked, that
you were an errandboy for DR.. Franklin
for while.
"Oh yes, he replied 81 served him as
such for the space of nearly two years.
We lived next door to DIR. Franklin in Mar.
ket street, and he seemed to think much of
my father, who was frequently in his house
by invitation. | sometimes went there
with my father and Franklin treated me
very kindly, having always pleasant word
for me. was about ten years old when he
asked my father TO allow me to do errands
for him. Young as | was, he sent me ev-
erywhere, and | was very proud. He sent
me to the butcher, the grocer, the printers,
the bookstores the doctor, and to different
gentlemen in the city. He was sick most
of the time while | was with him, often
suffering great pain from his malady, and
yet he continued to write "a great deal.
think he wrote two or three pamphlets dur
ing the last year of his life. | carried his
manuscripts to the printers, and also the
proof-sheets. His grandson, Benjamin
Franklin Bache, then Just out of college
who was much with his grandfather, assist
ed him in reading the proof sheets, Tn,
young man started newspaper in the fal
after Franklin died, and it was in his es
tablishment that learned the trade of ,
printer
Were you living with Franklin at tn,
time of his death - ! inquired.
5 YES for three months before he die,
| was in his room a great deal, to do errand'
r for the doctor, for his attendant Mrs Hew
som, and for the family For two or thre,
weeks, remember, DR.. Jones came severa
times every day and sometimes brough
DR.. Rush with him
; do you distinctly remember the person
al appearance of Franklin = | inquired
Perfectly" " he answered. ut made
strong impression on my Young mind
When first began to do errands for hin
I he was quite well-went out frequently an,
received much company, He was then
strong built man, over 20 years of age
/ !
/, inclined to corpulency. His complexion
q was fair, though he was an old man hi
eyes were gray and very bri ;ht when h
, was engaged in conversation his hair wa
: thin and long, but not very gray hi
o mouth was not large and had decided
, sweet expression. Franklin was polite an
: kind to everybody, whether he was a sci
want or senator, for he was always a gen
tleman remember when WashingtO
called to see him, while on his way to Ne,
York to be inaugurated President of th
United States They embraced like broth
J. ers. Franklin had been suffering muc
II pain that morning, but was relieved at tn
e. time of the Presidents call, when his man
ner was cheerful almost playful at time,
e for he was reioced to see his friend. The
s. never met again ON earth
% you say you learned the printers trad
II in the establishment of Mr.. Bache, Frank
II Inns grandson" remarked.
"Nes, | was his apprentice from i92 I
li91. After had been with him yeal
4 finding me rather expert in detecting el
=, rors in proof Sheets was frequently en-
y ployed as assistant proof reader and in cal
n rying the corrected sheets to the writer
is for his paper, The Advertiser. When Ill
a. government was removed to PHILADELPHIA
from New York, Washington was yer
q friendly Ia Mr.. Bache because he was
: uear kinsman of Franklin, aud occasiona
d ~ wrote something ON public matters fo
4. The Advertiser. lie also had official p,
q pers printed at our office. | carried co
rected proof-sheets to President Washing
4, ton, and sometimes assisted him in ii
n reading and making proper printers MARI
N for corrections, which he did not al VA,
understand
80 you were once an errand boy {,
D,. ErauL lin nul NNashiut,tnufs ussist a,