The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin About the Author “I was born in Boston, New England and owe my first instructions in literature to the free grammar-schools established there. I therefore give one hundred pounds sterling to my executors, to be by them... paid over to the managers or directors of the free schools in my native town of Boston, to be by them... put out to interest and so continued at interest forever, which interest annually shall be laid out in silver medals and given as honorary rewards annually by the directors of the said free schools belonging to the said town, in such manner as to the discretion of the selectmen of the said town shall seem meet.’’