The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-29
BEN FRANKLIN'S ENGLISH HOME
EotOn. Whence the FranklIns Came, Asks
Help TO Repair Its Church.

| To THE EDITOR oP THE SuN-.Sir: II 10 not
generally known In the States that the little
village Of Ecton in Northamptonshre, Ave
! miles east Of the county town, was the home
for all time. as ordinarily calculated, OF the
| Franklin family. till about the period at which
the father of the celebrated Benjamin crossed
| the Atlantic This perhaps puts the matter
| somewhat inadeQuatey, seeing that the
| bones OF generations Of Frankins lie under
the shadow Of the thirteenth century church.
| which is no discredit to the county that,
above all others in England. is conspicuous
| for its ancient churches
A couple OF inscribed COMMISSIONERS Of date
| 1902, commemorate the last of the Franklins
who lived in Ecton. namely. the uncle and
aunt Of Benjamin The names Of the family
from that date back TO the beginning OF the
Registers. l549. are continually on its pages
The family were small freeholders, OF the
yeoman class. owning house in the village
and about thirty acres of land, 70 the cuti-
walton OF which they added various trades.
that OF blacksmith being the one we hear the
most Of
The homestead has gone. but the house
erected on its site In 1887 remains and is now
the village store. Here Benjam min Franklin
father was born. but owing probably to re-
ligious differences with his family. who were
strong church people. he removed to Ban
bury. whence he eventually erngrated to
America. Abrother. Thomas Franklin, whose
tombstone is kept in good order for the bene-
fit of the very few Americans who chance
TO visit Ecton. rose higher in the world than
his forebears and became lawyer. He left
rage to a MIR, Fisher. in another part Of the
county, the little freehold was sold and the
Franklins. vanished from Ecton.
reminded OF the family after a fashion quite
unique in English county villages For
Tom Franklin. the above-named lawyer,
uncle Of BENJAMIN and last of the name, evi;
IDENTIFY stirring and active person, collected
q subscription for new chime Of bell TO be
hung in the old church tower. which in addi-
ton TO the usual function of church bells are
set for Carlton and for the last 200 years
at stated hours night and day. play the time
honored, but now forgotten tune, "Brit0ns.
Strike Home" favorite. no doubt, of the
Ecton Franklins.
And now for the pra ctcal part of this letter
Ecton Church is in danger of collapse. Res
poses merely. but for the saving Of the edifce,
has been pronounced by an experienced
nr ,raI to be neGessary Inc parish is
souls, including the rector, squire, the writer.
seven or eight farmers. and the rest all labor
Fsooo ooc VIE There IS no n fund Hdo'v Worth
mentioning to which such parish can appeal
The people of the parish have to do their own
English public on the strength OF the Frank
lin associations would be waste Of breath
and print,
| venture to think that for obvious reasons
there may he people in America who will help
us to save this fine and stately old thirteenth
century fabric in which Franklins family
were all baptized and buried, from collapse.
The parishioners will be able to find about
half the required sum at the outside; of tho
balance there is no prospect in view. might
also remark that Ecton Church with its sur
roundings. its Queen Anne rectory, its hall
fashioned village. is one of the most pictur-
esQue hooks of its kind in the midland coun-
ties, and Curiously enough ia only twelve
niles from the home of the Washin gtons at
BrinRton.
Letters may he addressed to the Rev. J. c.
Cox-Edwards, rector. Ecton, Northampton.
A. q. BRADLEY.
EcToN, Northampton. En- eland. Aug. IL.