The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-30
HOME OF THE FRANKLINS
ENGLISH VILLAGE WHENCE EMIL
GRATED BENJAMIN'S FATHER.
Picturesque Spot Where the House
Once Occupied by the Great Ameri-
cans Ancestors still stands.


Occasional Correspondence Of the Journal.
BEDFORD. England. Aug. ia few
miles from Great and Little Bringtons, in
Northamptonshire. England. where dwelt
for generations the forefathers of George
Washington, stands the quaint and pretty
village of Ecton, the birthplace of Josias
Franklin, father of Americas greatest phil
osopher. Benjamin Franklin. As school
boy L was given for prize a book entitled
THE Life of Benjamin Franklin and as
incidents in his career had been lately oc-
cupying my thoughts, 1 decided, last Sun
day evening to make a pilgrimage to Ecton,
In the hope that few notes of my observa-
tions would interest the readers of the In
dianapolis Journal For some miles the road
passes alongside the high wall of Overstone
Park. and is overshadowed by majestic
beeches, whose gnarled and twisted trunks
are famous in this country. The broad and
smooth Kings highway from the county
town to Ecton is sheltered by magnificent
elm avenue. whose branches, curving up
ward and meeting i'm pointed arches, form
natures own grand Gothic arcade open
above to the blue sky and fieecy clouds. As
L paced down the long village street and
saw the evening sun glnting the matched
roof and casting long shadows from rudy
sandstone cottages, / heard the musical
church bells Ginning for evening service
and unused upon the quiet scene in which
the only signs OF life were the village folk
staidly vending their way to the venerable
sanctuary where Franklin's ancestors wor-
SHIPPED for generations and were baptized,
married and buried For three hundred
years the Franklins traded in this village
as blacksmiths and bellfounders and held
an estate. The register still shows the origi-
nal entry of the baptism of Thomas Frank
lin in 1898, and it was Josias, the youngest
son of Thomas. who emigrated with his wife
and three children to New England in 1856.
after learning the business of a dyer at
Banbury, in Oxfordshire. Josias Franklin
married a second time in America, and the
youngest of his ten children was the great
American citizen who invented, among 9TH
er things. the lightning conductors. and
gave to the world that wise business adage,
Never pay too dear for your whistle
A BEAUTIFUL SPOT.
The village of Ecton is beautiful for situa-
ton on the crest of a HILL and it's one long
street runs steeply down into the broad and
smiling valley of the river Men. The old
emigrated stands midway down the street. a
little back from the road. 1t is built of the
prevailing red sandstone and has mullioned
windows. steep roof, quaint gables and a
broad mantle of ivy. Near the rectory the
spot is pointed out where formerly stood the
cottage and workshop of the former village
blacksmiths. Traces of the ruin still remain
and in the garden there is an old we'll which
is known to this day as the Franklin
WELL" The chuchyard contains quantity
lettered gravestones to the memory of
Franklins aunt and uncle, which are we'll
cared for and in a good state of preserva-
ton. The dates are 1902 and I'LL. 1t may be
observed in passing that the Church of st.
Mary Magdalene is in need of restoration
and there can be little doubt that any tam
gible expression of patriotism and gratitude
TO the Giver of all great genius would be
very acceptable to the rector the Rev J. c.
Cox Edwards In the rectory, just over two
centuries ago, took place the sad farewells
of the people who had met to- wish God
speed to the worthy couple who little
thought of the ilustrious son that destiny
had in store for them. To this rectory DR..
Benjamin Franklin himself came in 1726
and was for many weeks the honored guest
of the Rev. Thomas Palmer, the then rec
tor. Here, also. HOgarth, the famous paint
er, was frequent visitor. and here he pro-
duced some of his work and is said to have
begun depicting THE Resurrection at
the End of the World" By the side of the
broad road just outside the village there is
famous inn which. i'm Hogarth's time, was
being built to take the place of one called
THE Globe" 1t would appear that at Ho-
garth's suggestion the sign was changed TO
THE Worlds End by which the inn is
known for miles around. At any rate, Ho-
garth painted the sign for it. but many
years ago, like the famous Gainsborough
picture, it stolen from the post on
which it had swung for many day This
stolen treasure can be of no value to its
present possessor ard if it were returned to
the genial landlord of THE Worlds End"
there would be no questions asked.
JOHN HAMLON.