Everyone in Franklin (and many beyond) have heard of or perhaps even ‘know by heart’ the story of how the Town of Franklin was named and how its namesake generously sent along books, rather then a meeting house bell, in belated recognition of being so honored. Well, it turns out, the familiar story has been incomplete and, in some ways, perhaps wrong all these years, according to a just-published article in the New England Journal of History, a scholarly publication founded in the 1940s and currently run by a staff centered at Dean College. The author of the article, also familiar to many, is Vicki Buchanio Earls
Vicki has the distinction of being one of the longest serving employees of the town of Franklin, some 39 years spent at the Franklin Public Library, the last 30+ as Reference Librarian – handling questions and the research needs of the public.
But it was never just a job. Growing up in Franklin, the library was always a passion, one that strengthened over the years as she gave tours of the historic Ray Memorial building – and the books provided to the Town by Ben Franklin, in particular. And in addition to answering questions for the public, she wanted to answer questions for herself like, Why was the town’s proposed name, “Exeter” changed suddenly and at the last minute? and How exactly did the citizens later manage to get in touch with Franklin himself, and with such notable success?
For her, the oft-repeated story was just a bit unsatisfying. Why did town officials sent to Boston to seek the ratification of their “new” town charter so uncharacteristically deviate from a planned name – and why did they choose Franklin when the state itself had an abundance of Revolutionary heroes. For instance, Adams, in the Berkshire region of the state, was named after Boston firebrand Samuel Adams, and like Franklin, incorporated in 1778.
The Power of Rumor
What Vicki found, overlooked in the past, was that there was a very particular reason. A story was circulating the length of the Eastern Seaboard, that Ben Franklin, who was serving as American Minister to France, and endeavoring to gain financial and military support for the Revolution, had been assassinated by British agents working for the malevolent Lord Stormont and was in all likelihood dead! The news arrived in Boston at almost exactly the moment the town’s independence (and name) were to be considered by the provisional legislature. No less a person than Abigail Adams took the rumor to be true as did, it would seem, the small band of ‘selectmen’ from the West Precinct of Wrentham, desirous of having their own independent town.
So, it would seem the name was changed and the change was approved by a legislature no doubt also shocked by the demise of a son of the Commonwealth. And later, when Ben Franklin was found to be quite alive (and even more celebrated by his fellow citizens), Franklinites began to think that perhaps Ben would be willing to part with some of his wealth to provide a bell to his namesake town.
Vicki’s research here, also shows that a previously unrecognized connection between townspeople and Franklin’s nephew, Jonathan Williams, a Boston merchant, was crucial. He, in fact, acted as the town’s ambassador, placing the request before his uncle and acknowledging that it was his uncle’s supposed demise that had led the town to so honor him.
The rest, as they say, is history. But here again Vicki provides illumination of the role of Franklin’s sister Jane and properly credits the role of the Welsh intellectual sympathetic to the Revolution, Dr. Richard Price, in actually picking the books that still reside on display at the library -- and getting them delivered across the Atlantic.
"The gift, for me, in this new found history, is discovering that there is real emotion to our story," Vicki said. "Not only from our town founders, shocked and saddened by the loss of a great patriot. Benjamin Franklin himself was genuinely touched by the honor, and more than a dozen letters were written between himself and his friends and family to make absolutely sure that the town received a library," she explained. "That is my kind of origin story!"
Commendations and Commentary
“We have always been proud of being the nation’s first free, public lending library but there was so much we didn’t know and we always suspected there were gaps,” said Library Director Felicia Oti. Over her many years at the Library, Vicki “developed a passion for this story” and kept an eye out for anything that would clarify how our small town ended up receiving the generous gift of books from Ben Franklin that gave us our start, she continued. “Vicki was tireless in her research work and has finally given us the definitive story in rich and convincing detail,” Oti added.
Franklin author and historian James C. Johnston, Jr., who taught Vicki in his history class at Franklin High years ago, said “I am not surprised by the very high degree of Vicki’s scholarship exhibited in this excellent piece of well-done historiography, reflecting real mastery and depth.”
Finally, Dr. R.A. Lawson, Professor of History and Dir. of the Honors Program at Dean College as well as Managing Editor at New England Journal of History , said that Vicki’s- “piece has broad appeal because it highlights the tenuous nature of colonial-era American communications, a subject that still fascinates scholars as well as reminding modern Americans, who are likely reading these words on a wireless digital device, that instantaneous exchange of information is a relatively new phenomenon.
“But for Franklin residents and history-interested locals, this piece clarifies what has been subject of so much speculation since the 19th century. Many of us (myself included) have told and retold versions of the Franklin naming tale, each with their own aspects of veracity, but never with the complete story.
Thanks to Vicki Buchanio Earls, now we really know for sure. And, what’s more, the plausibility of the Franklin assassination rumor reminds us of the nervous times that attended our nation’s founding. For so many reasons, we’re proud to have published this ground-breaking work.”
"Franklin's historical record has many blank spots and this was one of them," said Franklin Historical Commission Chair, Mary Olsson. "We are always happy when we can discover a fuller picture of our shared past and this is one of those occasions," she added.
To access the journal and the article, go to https://www.nejh.org – membership or subscription may be required.
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