{"product_id":"benjamin-franklin-s-union-fire-company-early-philadelphia-manuscript-membership-list-circa-1737","title":"Benjamin Franklin’s Union Fire Company — Early Philadelphia Manuscript Membership List, circa 1737","description":"\u003cp dir=\"auto\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eAn exceptional early manuscript connected with \u003cstrong\u003eBenjamin Franklin and the establishment of organized firefighting in colonial Philadelphia\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eHeaded \u003cem\u003e“A List of the Names of the Union Fire Company, viz.,”\u003c\/em\u003e the document records the 27 men associated with the celebrated Union Fire Company, founded in Philadelphia on December 7, 1736, with the assistance of Benjamin Franklin. Frequently called “Franklin’s Bucket Brigade,” the organization is recognized as Philadelphia’s first volunteer fire company and an important milestone in the development of civic fire protection in America.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe manuscript lists \u003cstrong\u003e“Benj: Franklin”\u003c\/strong\u003e together with many of colonial Philadelphia’s leading merchants, craftsmen, public officials, and civic figures. Among them are silversmith Philip Syng Jr.; future mayor Samuel Powel; merchant and mayor Edward Shippen; Charles Willing; William Plumsted; Joseph Paschall; Samuel Coates; John Dillwyn; and Thomas Lawrence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe names correspond closely and in essentially the same order to the known signers of the Union Fire Company’s articles, completed on May 30, 1737. Small manuscript marks placed beside individual names appear to represent an internal membership or administrative notation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eWritten in a single early hand on laid paper, the document exhibits horizontal folds, light toning, minor edge irregularities and expected age wear. The writing remains dark and readily legible. Benjamin Franklin’s name is recorded within the body of the manuscript; it is \u003cstrong\u003enot represented as Franklin’s autograph\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eA historically significant survival from the formative years of colonial Philadelphia, directly connecting Benjamin Franklin with one of his most enduring civic innovations.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52909885784346,"sku":null,"price":11500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/union_list2.webp?v=1789758588","url":"https:\/\/www.thearchiveauthority.com\/products\/benjamin-franklin-s-union-fire-company-early-philadelphia-manuscript-membership-list-circa-1737","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}