Benjamin Franklin: Pilgrim's Progress 1706-1723

"This obscure family of ours was early in the Reformation," Franklin wrote...and "were sometimes in danger of trouble on account of their zeal against popery." When the Queen Mary I was engaged in her bloody crusade to reestablish the Roman Catholic Church, (Grandfather) Thomas Franklin kept the banned English Bible tied to the underside of a stool.....the Puritan migration established the foundation for some characteristics of Benjamin Franklin, and of America itself.

Follow up:

He was born January 17, 1706. (Side note; my mother in law and my nephew were both born on 1.17 funny how dates connect us....) as a young boy he read books about swimming and practiced until he repeated the pictures in the book.... and until he was actually swimming... not many people of that time were swimmer.. Benjamin was active, interested and exploring his world. He became a good swimmer and also devised flippers to help him become faster in the water.... then he used his kite to help him glide across the pond effortless....

We know that Benjamin Franklin was enrolled in school to become a minister...but once Thomas Franklin recognized that Benjamin was not going to ever earn much money he no longer saw why he should continue with his education and determined it was time for him to work.... he was the youngest of the children and was to become a candle maker with his father. Benjamin had not interest in becoming a candle maker and thus his father determined he would apprentice Benjamin to his oldest brother for ten years as a printer apprentice. Legally requiring Benjamin to work for his brother.

This was an opportunity for Benjamin and allowed him access to a new world, new books, new people. Benjamin began to thrive during this time of his life....

In the print shop he overheard people talking and debating about issues of the day..."Industry and Frugality" were his pleasures and he began writing Poor Richards Almanacs and the Dogood Letters....more on these later.....

Another resource: Portable Professor Series; Benjamin Franklin The Original American, A University Level Course Taught by H.W. Brands Author of the bestselling book The First American The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin. LOVED IT! I hope you will too