The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Franklin \Frank"lin\, n. [OE. frankelein; cf. LL. franchilanus.
   See Frank, a.]
   An English freeholder, or substantial householder. [Obs.]
   --Chaucer.
   [1913 Webster]

         The franklin, a small landholder of those days. --Sir
                                                  J. Stephen.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

Franklin
    n 1: United States historian noted for studies of Black American
         history (born in 1915) [syn: Franklin, John Hope
         Franklin]
    2: printer whose success as an author led him to take up
       politics; he helped draw up the Declaration of Independence
       and the Constitution; he played a major role in the American
       Revolution and negotiated French support for the colonists;
       as a scientist he is remembered particularly for his research
       in electricity (1706-1790) [syn: Franklin, Benjamin
       Franklin]
    3: a landowner (14th and 15th centuries) who was free but not of
       noble birth