Deborah Read facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Deborah Read
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A portrait of Deborah Read Franklin by Benjamin Wilson
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| Born | c. 1708 Birmingham, England
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| Died | December 19, 1774 (aged 66) |
| Resting place | Christ Church Burial Ground Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Other names | Deborah Read Rogers Deborah Read Franklin |
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Deborah Read Franklin (born around 1708, died December 19, 1774) was the partner of Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin was a very smart person who was good at many things, like science and writing. He was also one of the important leaders who helped create the United States.
Contents
Deborah Read's Early Life
Not much is known about Deborah Read's early years. She was born around 1708. Most likely, she was born in Birmingham, England. Her parents, John and Sarah Read, were a respected Quaker couple. Quakers are a religious group known for their simple lifestyle and peaceful beliefs.
Deborah's father, John Read, was a successful builder and carpenter. He passed away in 1724. Deborah had three siblings: two brothers named John and James, and a sister named Frances. In 1711, when Deborah was about three years old, her family moved from England to British America. They settled in the city of Philadelphia.
Meeting Benjamin Franklin
In October 1723, Deborah Read met 17-year-old Benjamin Franklin. He had just moved to Philadelphia from Boston. Benjamin was looking for work as a printer.
Benjamin later wrote about their first meeting in his autobiography. He said he was walking past the Read family home on Market Street. He was carrying "three great puffy rolls" because he had no pockets. He carried one roll under each arm and was eating the third. Deborah was standing in her doorway. She found Benjamin's "most awkward ridiculous appearance" quite funny.
Soon after, Deborah and Benjamin started a romance. Benjamin needed a place to live close to his job. Deborah's father allowed him to rent a room in their family home.
A Proposal and a Delay
Their relationship grew, and in 1724, Benjamin Franklin asked Deborah to marry him. However, Deborah's mother, Mary, did not agree to the marriage. She was worried because Benjamin was planning a trip to London. She also thought he wasn't financially stable enough yet.
So, Deborah and Benjamin put their marriage plans on hold. Benjamin traveled to England. Once he arrived in London, Benjamin decided to end their relationship. He sent Deborah a short letter saying he would not return to Philadelphia. Benjamin then faced his own problems in London. A man named Sir William Keith had promised him money but didn't follow through. This left Benjamin stranded.
Deborah's First Marriage
While Benjamin was away, Deborah's mother convinced her to marry another man. His name was John Rogers. He was from Britain and worked as a carpenter or a potter. Deborah agreed and married Rogers on August 5, 1725, at Christ Church, Philadelphia.
A Difficult Marriage
This marriage quickly became difficult. John Rogers was good at talking but couldn't keep a job. He also had many money problems before they even married. Just four months after their wedding, Deborah left Rogers. A friend of Rogers's, visiting from England, told Deborah that Rogers already had a wife back in England. Deborah refused to live with him or see him as her husband.
Even though they were separated, Rogers spent Deborah's dowry (money or property a bride brings to a marriage). He also got into more debt. In December 1727, Rogers disappeared after taking someone's property. Later, there were unconfirmed stories that Rogers had gone to the British West Indies. Some said he was killed in a fight there. Benjamin Franklin also wrote in his autobiography that Rogers died in the British West Indies. However, what truly happened to John Rogers was never proven.
A New Beginning with Benjamin
Despite his earlier plan to stay in London, Benjamin Franklin returned to Philadelphia in October 1727. He and Deborah eventually started their relationship again and decided to marry.
Deborah believed her first marriage was over. However, she could not legally remarry at that time. The law in Pennsylvania did not allow divorce just because a spouse had left. Deborah also couldn't say she was a widow because there was no proof that Rogers was dead. If Rogers returned after she married Benjamin, she could be charged with bigamy. This was a serious crime that could lead to harsh punishment and life in prison.
A Common-Law Marriage
To avoid any legal trouble, Deborah and Benjamin decided to have a common-law marriage. This meant they would live as husband and wife without a formal legal ceremony. On September 1, 1730, they held a small gathering for friends and family. They announced that they would live together as a married couple.
Deborah and Benjamin had two children together. Their son, Francis Folger, was born in 1732. Sadly, he died of smallpox in 1736 when he was only four years old. Their daughter, Sarah, was born in 1743. Deborah also helped raise Benjamin's son, William, whose mother is not known.
Later Years and Death
By the late 1750s, Benjamin Franklin was very successful. He was a well-known printer, publisher, and writer. He became the first postmaster of Philadelphia. He was also deeply involved in social and political matters that would later lead to the creation of the United States.
In 1757, Benjamin began his first of many trips to Europe. Deborah did not go with him because she was afraid of ocean travel. Benjamin stayed overseas for the next five years. During this time, Deborah remained in Philadelphia. Even though she had limited formal education, she successfully managed her husband's businesses. She also took care of their home and children. She regularly attended Quaker Meeting.
Benjamin returned to Philadelphia in November 1762. He tried to convince Deborah to go to Europe with him, but she still refused. Benjamin went back to Europe in November 1764. He stayed there for the next ten years. Deborah never saw Benjamin again.
Deborah's Declining Health
In 1768, Deborah suffered her first stroke. This greatly affected her speech and memory. For the rest of her life, she struggled with poor health and sadness. Even with his wife's condition, Benjamin did not return to Philadelphia, even though his work in Europe was finished.
In November 1769, Deborah wrote to Benjamin. She told him that her stroke, poor health, and sadness were because she was "dissatisfied" and "distressed" by his long absence. Benjamin still did not return, but he continued to write to Deborah. Deborah's last letter to Benjamin that we know of was dated October 29, 1773. After that, she stopped writing to him. Benjamin kept writing to Deborah, asking why her letters had stopped, but he still did not come home.
On December 14, 1774, Deborah had a final stroke. She passed away on December 19. She was buried at Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia. Benjamin Franklin was buried next to her when he died in 1790.
Images for kids
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Francis Folger Franklin
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Sarah [Franklin] Bache
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William Franklin
