Found this article in Feb 17, 1891 Lebanon Daily News in Pa. about Ben Franklin's watch. Note where the prior owner left it.

Wonder where it is today.

Sounds plausible Tom, but that chain of provenance is pretty shaky.

I'd want an expert opinion on the handwriting.

More than one watch has been reported 'discovered' in the area where an old outhouse once stood. He's lucky it didn't end up where they USUALLY ended up.

I'd also be leery of one so prominently engraved B.Franklin and 1776. Sounds too much like some of the watches we're seeing pop up on eBay these days with famous connections to certain dates of history, doesn't it? If that WERE the case, it appears they've been doing it for centuries!

Regards! Mark

Fascinating Tom!!
Even though it stinks [double pun intended], it would be interesting to know more about this particular watch or any others from our fore-fathers.
I also think you should of been a historian instead of dodging bullets all your life
Thanks again!!
Regards,
bb

To Simplify Timkeeping on Land and Sea Ben Franklin "invented" a single Handed Timepiece that showed each 12 hour cycle as three revolutions of a single watch hand around a dial. The ONLY
Ben Franklin Watch would be (to me at least) that which did that very thing with a single "4 Hour Hand".

Thankfully, due to the enterprising efforts of New Haven Watch Company, a maker of "dollar" watches, such a watch did appear in the early 20th century for which I have this one sample that records its sale as August 21, 1918. (sadly the cardboard dial has seen better days, but it still runs)

I would think if there were an article in the paper of the period advertising it's loss and pleading for it's safe return , the scepticism would soon end ,LOL

Outline of his will.

Name: Richard Bache
Residence: Bucks CO., PA
Description: Decedent
Date: 2 Jan 1810
Prove Date: 2 Aug 1811
Book Page: 3:468
Remarks: Bache, Richard. Settle in Bucks Co., PA. Jan 2, 1810. Aug 2, 1811. 3.468. Mentions his ancestor Dr. Benjamin Franklin. To Major David Lenox, President of Bank of U.S. Son Louis Bache of Bucks Co. and son Richard Bache of Phila. In trust for children of his late son Benjamin Franklin Bache. To said Trustees for son William Bache and Catharine his wife and their children. To said Trustees for daughters. Elizabeth Franklin Harwood and her children. To daughter Deborah Duane. To said Trustees for daughter Sarah Bache. Gives son Louis the privilege of taking the farm at Settle at valuation. Mentions house in Franklin Court. To sisters Martha Bache and Anna Maria Bache -now he hopes living at Preston in Lancashire England. Execs: said David Lenox, Louis Bache and Richard Bache. David Lenox renounced

This is from a paper in 1790 after Franklin died, it states he left most of his estate to his daughter & her husband Richard.

One other thing that surprised me, if you google Ben Franklin's pocket watch, two others that belonged to him were sold at different auctions in the last 6 years.

Tom