This is an old timeline I had on my computer.
Point of Divergence 1728: The husband of Deborah Read does not abandon her. Thus Benjamin Franklin is unable to wed her. Franklin is forced to place his illegitimate son in the care of wealthy friends in Philadelphia. He is unable to get a loan to take over control of the publishing business he is a partner in. Disgruntled and depressed, Franklin travels north ward into Delaware Indian country.
1731 – 1737 Franklin Among the Delaware
Little is known about Franklin’s time with the Delaware Indians. He left Philadelphia in the spring of 1731 soon after the birth of his son William. Despite William’s illegitimate status, Franklin could still have made a decent living in Philadelphia within the publishing business. But Franklin was disheartened and as he put it “…well in the need for a Surrounding conducive to Thinking and Self-Reflection.” His sour state had cost him financially the previous year when he was unable to acquire the loan allowing him to buy out his partner in the publishing house that he helped to run. Instead he formed a plan and over the last half of winter in 1731 he traveled throughout Philadelphia raising money for an expedition into the Indian lands. Many wealthy publishers noted that the lands to the west were thoroughly charted and held little chance of profits for those in publishing.
“It was my intent that I would do something completely new in the Field of Publishing.” Franklin wrote in his personal journal. “I intend to travel throughout the western lands writing. A journal would be kept and keen Observation would be the order of the day. The common Englishman knows so little about the land and Indians that lie just west of these Colonies. Is it not time that someone enlighten them on the Wonders they may hold? Modesty prevents me from claiming that I alone can do this Job or even that I am the best choice for the Job, but No one else steps forward to take up this Burden.”
Eventually, Franklin did accumulate enough money to outfit a modest expedition. He hired several Indian guides and was quick to learn their tongue. The twelve man group left Philadelphia on March 15, 1731. They traveled north along the Delaware River as far as Easton. Here they turned west into what was Delaware Indian country. Since five of Franklin’s Indian guides were of the Delaware he encountered no resistance. Franklin decided to live amongst the Delaware for a year. He learned their customs and traditions and soon became a great admirer of them. Franklin even went so far as to take an Indian wife.
“ Franklin was a man possessed of a great appetite. He could scarcely control his urges either back in Philadelphia or here among the savages. It was not long before he was bedding an Indian woman. Daughter to the chief nonetheless. I was not a saint either mind you but I refused to take part in what Franklin would shock us with. He married her! No preacher and no church. Just a savage ritual and that was that… he had a wife. I confronted Franklin but he would hear nothing of it.”
Robert Dowd (wilderness guide)
After a year and a half with the Delaware, Franklin had the guide, Robert Dowd, return to Philadelphia with several volumes of written works concerning the Indians. Dowd had been a persistent critic of Franklin throughout the early travels. Franklin sent two Delaware men along with Dowd to protect the manuscripts. Upon his arrival at Philadelphia Dowd began a campaign to discredit Franklin. Despite this Franklin’s works were published and quickly gained much popularity among the locals. His scientific works were received with much acclaim throughout the small group of professors and philosophers in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. These writings prompted several young university students to accompany the Indian scouts back to Franklin’s camp.
Benjamin
Comments Welcomed
Point of Divergence 1728: The husband of Deborah Read does not abandon her. Thus Benjamin Franklin is unable to wed her. Franklin is forced to place his illegitimate son in the care of wealthy friends in Philadelphia. He is unable to get a loan to take over control of the publishing business he is a partner in. Disgruntled and depressed, Franklin travels north ward into Delaware Indian country.
1731 – 1737 Franklin Among the Delaware
Little is known about Franklin’s time with the Delaware Indians. He left Philadelphia in the spring of 1731 soon after the birth of his son William. Despite William’s illegitimate status, Franklin could still have made a decent living in Philadelphia within the publishing business. But Franklin was disheartened and as he put it “…well in the need for a Surrounding conducive to Thinking and Self-Reflection.” His sour state had cost him financially the previous year when he was unable to acquire the loan allowing him to buy out his partner in the publishing house that he helped to run. Instead he formed a plan and over the last half of winter in 1731 he traveled throughout Philadelphia raising money for an expedition into the Indian lands. Many wealthy publishers noted that the lands to the west were thoroughly charted and held little chance of profits for those in publishing.
“It was my intent that I would do something completely new in the Field of Publishing.” Franklin wrote in his personal journal. “I intend to travel throughout the western lands writing. A journal would be kept and keen Observation would be the order of the day. The common Englishman knows so little about the land and Indians that lie just west of these Colonies. Is it not time that someone enlighten them on the Wonders they may hold? Modesty prevents me from claiming that I alone can do this Job or even that I am the best choice for the Job, but No one else steps forward to take up this Burden.”
Eventually, Franklin did accumulate enough money to outfit a modest expedition. He hired several Indian guides and was quick to learn their tongue. The twelve man group left Philadelphia on March 15, 1731. They traveled north along the Delaware River as far as Easton. Here they turned west into what was Delaware Indian country. Since five of Franklin’s Indian guides were of the Delaware he encountered no resistance. Franklin decided to live amongst the Delaware for a year. He learned their customs and traditions and soon became a great admirer of them. Franklin even went so far as to take an Indian wife.
“ Franklin was a man possessed of a great appetite. He could scarcely control his urges either back in Philadelphia or here among the savages. It was not long before he was bedding an Indian woman. Daughter to the chief nonetheless. I was not a saint either mind you but I refused to take part in what Franklin would shock us with. He married her! No preacher and no church. Just a savage ritual and that was that… he had a wife. I confronted Franklin but he would hear nothing of it.”
Robert Dowd (wilderness guide)
After a year and a half with the Delaware, Franklin had the guide, Robert Dowd, return to Philadelphia with several volumes of written works concerning the Indians. Dowd had been a persistent critic of Franklin throughout the early travels. Franklin sent two Delaware men along with Dowd to protect the manuscripts. Upon his arrival at Philadelphia Dowd began a campaign to discredit Franklin. Despite this Franklin’s works were published and quickly gained much popularity among the locals. His scientific works were received with much acclaim throughout the small group of professors and philosophers in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. These writings prompted several young university students to accompany the Indian scouts back to Franklin’s camp.
Benjamin
Comments Welcomed
