There is some confusion on who are the parents of John Franklin. At least one source states the John's parents are John Franklin, b. 7 Dec. 1690 and Mary Elizabeth Gooch, b. 17 March 1697/8. This elder John is the son of Josiah Franklin and Abiah Folger, and the brother of the famous statesman and kite-flyer, Benjamin Franklin. However this elder John Franklin in his will left his estate to nephews,nieces and other relatives but nothing to any children or grandchildren which would seem to indicate he either had children or they had predeceased John who died 20 Jan 1756. The elder John Franklin did have a son named John, who was born 17 June 1716 and lost at sea without heirs.
However another source has that the younger John Franklin is a son of David Franklin, b. 1692 and Elizabeth Ayres, b. 1693.
John Franklin was born in 1729; In 1788 in Burke Co., North Carolina, John filed a "senior citizen" tax-exemption claim deposing that he was "born 2 Jun 1727." In 1754 he had given his age as 25 when he first enlisted in on e of the companies being organized by George Washington at the beginning of the French and Indian Wars. An age of 25 in 1754 would imply he was born in 1729. He was the son of
David Franklin and
Elizabeth Ayers. John Franklin married
Phoebe Parker, daughter of
Nathaniel Parker, circa 1758 at
Washington, Virginia. John Franklin left a will; Will of John Franklin, County Records, Burke Co., N. C., Wills 1793-1825 as published in: The Carolina Genealogists No. 49, Winter 1983-1984.
Pg. 94- Will of John Franklin, Senior. To my well beloved wife Phebe Franklin all my household furniture and livestock. To my son John Franklin 200 acres conveyed to him by deed. To David Franklin 100 acres that I purchased from my son John Franklin. To my son Moses Franklin 100 acres that I purchased from Tindell [sic] Sutherland. To my son Jonathan Franklin 271 acres being part of two grants originally granted me by the State and conveyed by me to the said Jonathan on 6-1-1813, with a life's estate and farming tools to my son Jonathan. To my son Samuel Franklin 100 acres off the west side of the 320 acres tract on which I reside, which was laid off and surveyed 6-1-1813 by William W. Erwin and adjoins the said Erwin and James Kincaid. To my grand-daughter Polly Franklin [daughter of Jonathan Franklin, my son] who now lives with me, furniture. To my daughters Jamima, Phebe, Anna, Lyddia, Mary and Rachel $2.50 each. Son Jonathan named executor. Signed 6-4-1813 John Franckline [Seal]. Witnesses: Jonathan Proved at Jan. term, 1819 by Marcus D.S.F. Erwin.
He died in 1819 at
Connelly Springs, Burke Co., North Carolina.