American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts: Featuring Property from Prominent New York and Philadelphia Collectors

Provenance:

By descent in the family of the sitter to his daughter, Amelia Franklin Smith (1806-1864), to daughter, Mary Franklin Smith Cox ( born c.1838) to son, Russell Smith Cox (1869-1935) to daughter, Marjorie Cox Hook, thence to nephew and present owner

Note:

Thomas Franklin was born in Manhattan to Quakers John Franklin (1731-1801) of Westchester, New York and Deborah Morris (1736-1787) of Philadelphia.

He married Sarah Polhemus (1764-1791) in 1783. After Sarah's death, Franklin married Mary Haviland (1773-1854) in 1793. From 1800 to 1805 Franklin, by trade a merchant, was in partnership with George Newbold (1780-1858) as "Franklin & Newbold," New York City importers of tools, hardware, iron, cotton and rice. A passionate firefighter, Franklin joined Engine Company 12 in 1783. He was appointed Assistant Engineer of the Volunteer Fire Department of the City of New York in 1799, and eventually appointed Chief Engineer in 1811. He held the post until 1824 and was fondly known as "Uncle Tommy" by his fellow firefighters.