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Nine levy and franks and land speculation companies For David Franks, the second half of the 1760s began with both land speculation and supplying the troops. The turmoil associated with Indian relations never seemed to abate and was not limited to the western territories. Sir William Johnson made repeated efforts to negotiate treaties that would survive longer than the time it took him to make it home. He engaged Pontiac in serious discussions to establish peaceful relations, only to have the backcountry settlers upset the balance time after time. He called these settlers “Ignorant People, ‘banditti,’ Country People who think they do good Service when they Knock an Indian in the Head.” The Indians who murdered Pontiac did not help either.1 The political struggle between the colonials and the mother country resulted in a steady stream of new regulations that met with vigorous rejection , followed by hardening positions on both sides and episodes bordering on civil uprising. David Franks and many of his friends and colleagues, including Plumsted, Inglis, the Gratz brothers, Thomas Willing, and Robert Morris, along with almost all of the merchants in Philadelphia, signed the nonimportation agreement of 1765 resolving not to import British goods until the stamp tax was lifted.2 Similar declarations were signed throughout America and the British hierarchy. General angst over the arrival of stamped papers went through a number of cycles of exacerbation and relaxation. General Gage alerted troops in the major cities but took no other actions that would aggravate the situation.3 Several colonies advised Gage that they would not provide carriage for military stores so long as the stamp duty was in effect. Gage continued to feel that most of the colonies would comply “without much difficulty . . . and if it is began in some that it will soon spread over the rest.” Just days later, Gage reported to the secretary of state, Levy and Franks 91 Henry Conway, that “the pains which has been taken this long time to spirit up the people to oppose the Execution of the [Stamp] Act has had its effect” and that serious, warlike threats had been directed against the lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, Thomas Hutchinson, who had to flee for his life when a mob destroyed his house. “The General agreement not to take Stamps, has put a Stop to Business,” Gage continued. “The people idle and exasperated, the whole wou’d immediately fly to Arms, and a Rebellion began without any preparations against it, or any means to withstand it.”4 David Franks was well aware of all of these elements of ferment but devoted himself to mercantile activities, except when an issue affected the whole merchant community. Meanwhile, Inglis’s son-in-law, Gilbert Barkly, had relocated to Canada in mid-1765. He had been a supernumerary in the firm, and his presence had kept Inglis happy while Inglis was busy pacifying Gage. Keeping the general happy was essential for the success of the firm in its status as agent. Years later, Barkly returned to Philadelphia and appears to have played some kind of role as a spy for the British.5 Shortly following Barkly’s departure, William Plumsted passed away “after a short Illness of four or five days, His disorder was singular, being at first Attack’d by 2 or 3 Biles on the back of his Neck, which Swelling the Parts stopp’d the Circulation of the Blood to the Brains &c threw Him into a Dilirium, attended with a Fever.” None of his obituaries or any of his later biographical treatments made mention of the partnership with David Franks or his active participation in victualing British troops. It appeared he had pursued this as a hobby after his lengthy tenure as a politician.6 Shortly thereafter, David’s good friend and business associate Colonel Henry Bouquet was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and assigned to the southern department, whereupon he shipped out to Florida. Less than two weeks after his arrival, Bouquet died in a yellow fever epidemic, an ironic end for the man who had approved sending blankets to the Indians infected with a deadly disease.7 But deaths weren’t the only events that captured David’s attention. In July 1765 Moses Franks succumbed to the charms of his first cousin Phila Franks, uncle Aaron’s daughter, and they were married. Watts sent greetings: “God send you all the happiness you wish, but mind, as happiness is a good deal ideal, the way...

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