New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-29
ENGLISH HOME OF THE FRANKIINs.
An Appeal for Restoration of the 0ldtime
Parish Church.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: It is not generally known in the States that
the little village Of Ecton. in Northamptonshire,
five 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 some
what tnadequateIy seeing that the bones of genera
tons of Franklins 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.
couple Of inscribed tombstones Of date 1702
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 1919, 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. to the cultivation
of which they added various trades that of black
smith being the one hear most OF.
The homestead has gone. but the house erected
its site in 1851 remains. and is now the village
store Here benjamin Franklin's father was born;
but owing probably to religious differences with
his family who strong Church people he re-
moved to Banbury, whence he eventually emigrated
to America. A brother. Thomas Franklin, whose
tombstone is kept in good order for the benefit Of
the very few Americans who chance to visit Ecton,
rose higher in the world than any o. his forebears.
and became a lawyer. He left only a daughter
behind him, and on her marriage to a Mr.. Fisher
in another part Of the county the little freehold
was sold, and the Franklins vanished from Ecton.
Eight times a day, however. are still
minded Of the family, after a fashion unique in
English country villages. For Tom Franklin, the
above named lawyer. uncle OF Benjamin and last
of the name, evidently stirring and active per-
son, collected a subscription for a new chime OF
bells to be hung in the old church tower which, in
addition to the usual function of church bells are
for a carlton and for the last hundred
years, at stated hours night and day. play the
time honored but now forgotten tune. "Britons.
Strike Home" a favorite, doubt. OF the Ecton
Frankns.
And for the practical part OF this letter.
ECtOn Church is in danger of collapse. ReStOra-
but for the saving of the edidce. has been pro-
nOunced by experienced architect be
sary. The parish IS purely agricultural one, con
sisting Of FIVE hundred souls, including the rector,
squire, the writer seven or eight farmers, and the
rest all labOrlng men or servants. The
qured is 1900 Gl50O0). There is fund worth
people of the parish have 10 do their own church
restoration; while apply to the English public
the strength of the Franklin associations would
be of breath and print.
1 venture to think that, for obvious reasons.
there may be people in America will help US 10
this and stately old thirteenth century
edihce. in which FTanklins family worshipped for
three hundred years at any rate, and were all bap
TIED and buried, from collapse. The partshiOners
will be able find about half the required
q the outside; of the balance there prospect
with its surroundings. its Queen Anne reCtory its
hall and beautifully timbered precincts ard quaint.
old fashioned village is one of the most picturesque
hooks Of its kind II the Midland counties; and,
riousiy enough is only twelve miles from the home
of the WashinEtons. at Brington.
Letters may be addressed 10 the Rev. J. c. Cox
Edwards, rector, Ecton, Northa mptoni England
Ecton. Northampton England. Aug. 90 1913.