#benjamin vaughan

[my-deer-history]

Martha Manning Laurens and the "Lisle business"

You perhaps have heard that I have made a connection in the family of Mr Manning, a West India merchant; & that Col Laurens also made a like connection, (now ended by the death of Mrs Laurens.) [...] Another opportunity, of a smaller kind offers, for your rendering civilities to the family of Mr Laurens. Mrs Laurens, wife to the Col., lately died at Lisle. The effects she left are few & trifling, but the [magis]trates of the place refuse hitherto to suffer the operation of her will, till the Cols. pleasure is known. Her clothes she bequeathed to her maid, to the amount only of some £20 or £30; & her watch & trinkets to a most lovely child [Frances], now in part an object of my cares. These are not matters worth the procuring a power of attorney or the like, from America, in order to settle, and the maid is now detained in Flanders looking after them. A Mr. Cowly a Superior of a convent there, and a Mr De Ronquet, have been written to; and Mr Laurens & Mr Manning, the father & father in law have but one & the same wish on the subject.

Benjamin Vaughan to Benjamin Franklin, November 1781

I have no Acquaintance at Lisle. If you will point out to me in what manner I can be useful, I will endeavour it: But I suppose the Gentlemen you mention will effectuate that small Affair.

Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, 22 November 1781

As to the Lisle business, you may recollect perhaps that I spoke of interference with the magistracy there. At all events, such a trifle was only meant for you to take part in, if you pleased, to shew the Laurens family attention_ I believe the business was settled by the persons I named; but I fancy the poor servant may have been lost in the pacquet—in which your letter was not included;

Benjamin Vaughan to Benjamin Franklin, 3 January 1782

Vaughan was the brother-in-law to Martha Manning Laurens – the connection he refers to is his marriage to her sister, Sarah – and the uncle of Frances Laurens.

[clear-as-starlight]

Unlike my usual historical shitposting after clambering out of a research rabbit hole, today I present an actual historical post...

Sarah Manning Vaughan

(1754-1834)

Source: American Philosophical Society, courtesy of the Vaughan Homestead. Artist Unknown.

The above is a portrait of Sarah Manning (Sarah Manning Vaughan after marriage). She was an elder sister of Martha Manning Laurens, John Laurens’ wife, making her Laurens’ sister in law.

Though older, Sarah married later than Martha, as she had to wait for her husband to complete a medical degree (a condition of marriage, as her father had very different views to her husband, and stipulated he had to get a medical degree first).

Sarah was married to Benjamin Vaughan, a frequent correspondent of Benjamin Franklin. She and Vaughan did not live in America until 1797, after Vaughan was forced to flee England due to his radical political and religious beliefs. They settled on the Kennebec River with their seven children, in the Vaughan Homestead, which still stands as a house museum today.

Sarah was widely known as being very well educated, and insisting on the importance of children’s education. She and Vaughan owned a library of over 10,000 books, which rivalled Harvard’s at the time.

Though Sarah is apparently around 36 years old in this portrait (older than Martha ever was) it is interesting to wonder how alike they may have looked! As far as I’m aware (& I could be wrong) no portraits of Martha exist.

Source information here

[john-laurens]

When did Martha Laurens Manning die? Google says that she died in 1804 (with no links or sources) but you've said that she died in 1781?

She died in late 1781.  In a letter to Benjamin Franklin sent around mid-November 1781, Benjamin Vaughan wrote, “Another opportunity, of a smaller kind offers, for your rendering civilities to the family of Mr Laurens. Mrs Laurens, wife to the Col., lately died at Lisle.” Vaughan was married to Sarah Manning, Martha’s older sister. (x)

(Also I saw that Google was wrong, and I suggested an edit.  Looks like they’ve since changed it.)

[alyssagl]

I am earnestly desirous then, my dear Sir, that you should let the works into the traits of your genuine character, as civil broils may otherwise tend to disguise or traduce it. Considering your great age, the caution of your character, and your peculiar style of thinking, it is not likely that any one besides yourself can be sufficiently master of the facts of your life, or the intentions of your mind.

A letter from Mr. Benjamin Vaughan, to Benjamin Franklin