Sarah Franklin Bache facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sarah Franklin
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Sarah Franklin Bache
by John Hoppner, 1793 |
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| Born |
Sarah Franklin
September 11, 1743 |
| Died | October 5, 1808 (aged 65) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
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| Parent(s) | Benjamin Franklin Deborah Read |
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Sarah "Sally" Franklin Bache (born September 11, 1743 – died October 5, 1808) was a very important woman in early American history. She was the daughter of famous inventor and statesman Benjamin Franklin and his wife, Deborah Read. Sarah was a leader in helping people during the American Revolutionary War. She also often hosted important political events for her father, just like her mother did before she passed away. Sarah was a key figure for women who supported independence in Philadelphia. She remained an active member of her community until her death in 1808.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sarah Franklin was born in 1743. Everyone called her "Sally." She was the only one of her parents' children who lived to be an adult. Her older brother, Francis Franklin, sadly died from smallpox when he was only four years old. Also living in their home was her older half-brother, William Franklin. He was her father's son from another relationship, but her parents raised him from when he was a baby.
When Sarah was born, her father, Benjamin Franklin, was 37 years old. He was very busy building his career and wealth. Because of this, Sarah and her father did not have a very close relationship when she was growing up. Her father was quite private, and this might have been partly because he was sad about losing Francis. Also, Benjamin Franklin was deeply involved in his experiments with electricity when Sarah was young. By the time she was a teenager, he had even moved to Europe.
Later in his life, Benjamin Franklin started to believe that men and women were equally smart. However, he did not always apply this idea to his own children's education. It was common for fathers at that time to be less involved in their daughters' schooling than their sons'. Girls were usually taught what they needed to know to be good housewives, as that was seen as their main role.
So, Sarah's education was typical for girls of her social standing in the 1700s. She learned to read, write, and do basic math. She also learned important household skills like spinning, knitting, and embroidery. Her father also made sure she went to dance school. When Benjamin Franklin went to Europe, he left her mother, Deborah Read, in charge of "the Education of my dear child." Sarah might have also learned French. Benjamin Franklin once gave her a French version of a book called Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded to help her with her French. He said she must have already read it in English.
Marriage and Family Life
Sarah married Richard Bache on October 29, 1767. At that time, Richard was a merchant, which means he bought and sold goods, in Philadelphia and New York. Sarah's family was worried about her marrying Richard. Her half-brother William even wrote a letter to their father, saying that if Sarah married Richard, they would always need financial help from Benjamin Franklin. Dr. Franklin replied that he trusted his wife's judgment and told her to be careful with their money.
The marriage happened without Sarah's father knowing about it at first. For a whole year, he pretended he did not have a son-in-law. Even though he was not happy about the marriage at first, Franklin welcomed Richard "with open arms" when they finally met in 1771. After they got married, Sarah and Richard lived in the Franklin family home in Philadelphia with Sarah's mother. They continued to live there after Deborah Read died in 1774. Sarah and Richard had eight children together:
- Benjamin Franklin Bache (1769–1798): He was a publisher. He died during a yellow fever outbreak in Philadelphia. He was married to Margaret Hartman Markoe and they had four children.
- William Franklin Bache (1773–1814): He married Catherine Wistar. Their son later became a surgeon.
- Sarah Franklin Bache (1775–1776): She died when she was very young.
- Eliza Franklin Bache (1777–1820): She married John Harwood. Their son was Andrew A. Harwood.
- Louis Franklin Bache (1779–1818): He married Mary Ann Swift and had three children. He also had one child with his second wife, Esther Egee. He was a military officer during the War of 1812.
- Deborah Franklin Bache (1781–1863): She married William J. Duane, a lawyer who became the 11th United States Secretary of the Treasury.
- Richard Franklin Bache (1784–1848): He married Sophia Durrell Dallas. Richard Jr. became a politician in Texas.
- Sarah Franklin Bache (1788–1863): She married Thomas Sergeant, who later became a judge and postmaster of Philadelphia.
Revolutionary War Efforts
Sarah Bache was a strong supporter of the American cause during the American Revolutionary War. She did a lot of important relief work, which means helping people in need. While Benjamin Franklin was in France, he received a letter from a French official who praised Sarah. He wrote that if anyone in Europe needed an example of someone dedicated to their family and country, Mrs. Bache could be pointed out to them.
Sarah helped raise money for the Continental Army, which was the American army. She is well-known for her work with the Ladies Association of Philadelphia. In 1780, under her leadership, this group of women made 2,200 shirts for the soldiers. They made these shirts for the army's winter camp at Valley Forge. The women often met at a country estate called The Cliffs to work together. This estate was near the Schuylkill River, just north of Philadelphia. After her father returned from France in 1775, Sarah often served as his political hostess, just as her mother had done before her death. This meant she helped him entertain important guests and manage social events related to his political work.
Sarah had to leave Philadelphia twice during the war to escape the fighting. The first time was in late 1776. The British army was getting close, so Sarah, her children, and her aunt, Jane Franklin Mecom, had to leave Philadelphia. They moved to Chester County, Pennsylvania, but returned to Philadelphia after a short time. In September 1777, the family had to leave Philadelphia again. This time, they found safety at a friend's home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and then in Manheim, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Sarah and her family stayed there until the British left Philadelphia the next summer.
Later Life and Family Bonds
Sarah Bache enjoyed music and reading. She was also considered a very skilled player of the harpsichord, a musical instrument similar to a piano.
Sarah Franklin Bache's relationship with her father was often difficult, even when she was an adult. After she married Richard Bache without her father's knowledge, Benjamin Franklin remained somewhat distant from his only daughter. For example, in his famous book, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, he barely mentions his wife, Deborah Read, and does not mention Sarah at all. This shows how he focused on his own story for a male audience. However, when the American Revolutionary War ended, Benjamin Franklin returned to Philadelphia. He lived with Sarah and her family for the rest of his life.
Benjamin Franklin truly loved his grandchildren, especially his grandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache. When Franklin came back from England in 1775, he was very fond of his young grandson. So much so that the next year, Franklin took his young grandson back to Europe with him. Sarah protested this, but she could not stop her father. She had to accept his promise that her son would get the best education possible while with his grandfather.
When Benjamin Franklin died in 1790, he left most of his money and belongings to Sarah and her husband. Among the items she received was a small portrait of King Louis XVI of France, surrounded by diamonds. Sarah sold this portrait to pay for a trip to London. In 1794, she and her family moved to a farm outside Philadelphia, along the Delaware River.
Sarah Franklin Bache died from cancer on October 5, 1808, when she was 65 years old. She is buried in Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia, which is the same place where her parents are buried.
Images for kids
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Sarah Franklin Bache's signature
