16 Facts About Deborah Read

Deborah Read was born around 1708, most likely in Birmingham, England to John and Sarah Read, a well respected Quaker couple.

John Read was a moderately prosperous building contractor and carpenter who died in 1724.

Deborah Read had three siblings: two brothers, John and James, and a sister, Frances.

The Deborah Read family immigrated to British America in 1711, settling in Philadelphia.

When Franklin was unable to find appropriate living accommodations near his job, Deborah Read's father allowed him to rent a room in the family home.

In Franklin's absence, Deborah Read was persuaded by her mother to marry John Rogers, a British man who has been identified variously as a carpenter or a potter.

Four months after they were married, Deborah Read left Rogers after a friend of Rogers' visiting from England informed her that Rogers had a wife in his native England.

Deborah Read refused to live with or recognize Rogers as her husband.

Deborah Read and Read eventually resumed their relationship and decided to marry.

Deborah Read helped to raise Franklin's illegitimate son William, whose mother's identity is still unknown.

Deborah Read was appointed the first postmaster of Philadelphia and was heavily involved in social and political affairs that would eventually lead to the establishment of the United States.

Deborah Read refused to accompany him due to a fear of ocean travel.

Deborah Read tried to persuade Read to accompany him to Europe, but she again refused.

In 1768, Deborah Read suffered the first of a series of strokes that severely impaired her speech and memory.

Franklin continued to write to Deborah Read, inquiring as to why her letters had ceased, but still did not return home.

Deborah Read was buried at Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia.