en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah_Franklin
1 correction found
most of whom died in infancy and childhood
This is incorrect: several of Josiah Franklin’s siblings clearly lived into adulthood, and some had children and grandchildren.
Full reasoning
The statement says most of Josiah Franklin’s eight siblings died in infancy or childhood. That does not match the historical record.
Authoritative editorial notes in the Papers of Benjamin Franklin identify multiple siblings who plainly survived to adulthood:
- Thomas Franklin lived from 1637 to 1702.
- John Franklin lived from 1643 to 1691.
- Hannah Franklin Morris lived from 1654 to 1712.
- Benjamin Franklin the Elder lived from 1650 to 1727.
Josiah Franklin’s own 1739 letter also mentions "the children of brother John and sister Morris," which confirms that John and Hannah not only reached adulthood but had descendants.
In addition, the dates already shown in this article’s own bullet list for Samuel Franklin (1641–1663) and Joseph Franklin (1646–1683) are adult lifespans, not infancy or childhood deaths.
So the problem is not just wording: the claim that most of the siblings died in infancy/childhood is contradicted by the documented lifespans of the family members listed here.
3 sources
- Josiah Franklin to Benjamin Franklin, 26 May 1739 | Founders Online, National Archives
Editorial notes identify 'Thomas Franklin (1637–1702; A.5.2.1)' and 'John Franklin (1643–1691; A.5.2.3) and Hannah Franklin Morris (1654–1712; A.5.2.8).' The note also says Josiah wrote to a relative he believed was his brother John's grandson Thomas, showing John had descendants.
- Verses from Benjamin Franklin (the Elder), 7 July 1710 | Founders Online, National Archives
The Franklin Papers note: 'Benjamin Franklin’s uncle Benjamin Franklin (1650–1727), born at Ecton in Northamptonshire, was for many years a silk-dyer in London.'
- Genealogical Chart of the Franklin Family, [July 1758] | Founders Online, National Archives
The editorial notes supply Hannah Franklin’s death as 1712 and discuss descendants in this branch of the family, reinforcing that these siblings did not die in infancy or childhood.