Read, Deborah (1707–1774)

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Read, Deborah (1707–1774)

American colonial. Name variations: Deborah Read Rogers, Deborah Franklin. Born Deborah Read in 1707; died of a stroke, Dec 1774; m. a man named Rogers; common-law wife of Benjamin Franklin from 1730 to 1774; children: Francis Folger (b. 1732, died of smallpox) and Sarah Bache (1743–1808).

Unable to divorce her deserting husband, could not wed Benjamin Franklin legally, but when her daughter Sarah Bache was born 13 years later, the baby was deemed legitimate by Philadelphia society.

See also Women in World History.