A Founding Father’s Son Jailed in CT

Amazing Tales from Off and On Connecticut‘s Beaten Path

When Ben Franklin’s son, William Franklin, was born out of wedlock, he had to endure the taunts of his young peers for his illegitimacy. Through his famous father’s connections, though, he rose to become the last Royal Governor of New Jersey before the Revolutionary War ushered in a new government. William helped his father with the famous kite flying experiment to attract lightening, to study electricity. But, when the revolution came, they took opposing sides, and it would end with William in jail in horrendous conditions in CT. We’ll hear the story from Jessica Jenkins, the Executive Director of the Litchfield Historical Society, the town where the prison was located.