Chapter 50

This chapter consists entirely of footnotes and scholarly references related to Franklin's will, his legacy, and secondary sources on his life and descendants. It provides bibliographic documentation for claims made in the narrative rather than presenting primary narrative content.

Chapter 17 (presented as endnotes) documents the sources and references supporting the preceding narrative. The notes cite Franklin's will and codicil from June 23, 1789, correspondence between William Franklin and Thomas Franklin from July 1789, and references to Franklin's autobiography publication history. They reference major scholarly works on Benjamin Bache and the Aurora newspaper, as well as contemporary newspaper articles and web resources tracking the disposition and legacy of Franklin's bequest to Boston and Philadelphia, including educational institutions and various charitable initiatives that have benefited from his estate over subsequent centuries.