Josiah Franklin

Born in the village of Ecton in Northamptonshire, England, he emigrated to Massachusetts Bay in British America.

In November 1689, Josiah Franklin married his second wife, Abiah Folger (1667–1752), in the Old South Church.

With Josiah, Abiah bore 10 children: John (1690–1756), Peter (1692–1766), Mary (1694–1730), James (1697–1735), Sarah (1699–1731), Ebenezer (1701–1702), Thomas (1703–1706), Benjamin (1706–1790), Lydia (1708–1758), and Jane (1712–1794).

He had great dreams of Benjamin becoming a minister,[2] but Josiah could only afford to send his son to school for two years.

Later, Benjamin Franklin borrowed books from his friends and taught himself arithmetic, grammar, and philosophy.