I think you may like to know something of his person and character.

He had an excellent constitution of body, was of middle stature, but well set, and very strong; he was ingenious, could draw prettily, was skilled a little in music, and had a clear, pleasing voice, so that when he played psalm tunes on his violin and sung withal, as he sometimes did in an evening after the business of the day was over, it was extremely agreeable to hear.

He had a mechanical genius too, and, on occasion, was very handy in the use of other tradesmen's tools; but his great excellence lay in a sound understanding and solid judgment in prudential matters, both in private and publick affairs.

In the latter, indeed, he was never employed, the numerous family he had to educate and the straitness of his circumstances keeping him close to his trade; but I remember well his being frequently visited by leading people, who consulted him for his opinion in affairs of the town or of the church he belonged to, and showed a good deal of respect for his judgment and advice: At his table he liked to have, as often as he could, some sensible friend or neighbor to converse with, and always took care to start some ingenious or useful topic for discourse.

By this means he turned our attention to what was good, just, and prudent in the conduct of life; and little or no notice was ever taken of what related to the victuals on the table.

My mother had likewise an excellent constitution: she suckled all her ten children.

I never knew either my father or mother to have any sickness but that of which they dy'd, he at 89, and she at 85.

They lie buried together at Boston, where I some years since placed a marble over their grave, with this inscription: Josiah Franklin, and Abiah his wife, lie here interred.

They lived lovingly together in wedlock fifty-five years.

Without an estate, or any gainful employment, with God's blessing, they maintained a large family comfortably, and brought up thirteen children and seven grandchildren reputably.