The Half Share Man

Book excerpt: Originally published in 1972, Clarence King's novel, "The Half-Share Man" follows the exploits of Peter Folger, grandfather of Benjamin Franklin, as he follows his life's journey from a teenage boy, just trying to make it in the New World in 1635, to the point of becoming a surveyor asked to take part in the founding of the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard and becoming an integral part of their societies by taking on a number of other professions, including but not limited to, schoolteacher, surveyor, carpenter and farmer. Always driven to do what is right, Folger makes peace with native Indian tribes, as well as showing exactly where his famous grandson would get his sense of humor. Now published online, Clarence King's great-grandson has written the preface and has opened the story up to the world that only a select few on Nantucket Island have known for nearly half a century.