Peter Francisco

This article is about the American Revolutionary War soldier. For the South African snooker player, see Peter Francisco (snooker player).
Peter Francisco

Miniature portrait, early 19th century
Born Pedro Francisco
July 9, 1760
Porto Judeu, Terceira, Archipelago of the Azores, Portuguese Empire, present-day Porto Judeu, Terceira, Autonomous Region of the Azores, Portugal, Portuguese Republic
Died January 16, 1831 (aged 71)
Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Cause of death appendicitis
Resting place Shockoe Hill Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Other names Virginia Giant, Giant of the Revolution, Virginia Hercules
Occupation blacksmith, soldier, sergeant-at-arms
Spouse(s) Susannah Anderson
Catherine Fauntleroy Brooke
Mary Grymes West
Children James Anderson and Polly Francisco with Susannah Anderson
Susan Brooke Francisco, Benjamin M. Francisco, Peter II, and Catherine Fauntleroy Francisco with Catherine Fauntleroy Brooke

Peter Francisco, born Pedro Francisco (July 9, 1760 – January 16, 1831), was known variously, as the "Virginia Giant", the "Giant of the Revolution" and occasionally, as the "Virginia Hercules", was an American patriot and soldier in the American Revolutionary War.

Early life

Peter (Pedro) Francisco, born July 9, 1760. Birth Certificate from the church at the town of Porto Judeu, Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal

Francisco's origins are shrouded in mystery. It is believed he was born on July 9, 1760 at Porto Judeu, on the island of Terceira, in the Archipelago of the Azores, under the rule of, Portuguese Empire. According to the traditional version of his biography,[1] he was found at about age five on the docks at City Point, Virginia, in 1765, and was taken to the Prince George County Poorhouse. Not speaking English, he repeated the name "Pedro Francisco". The locals called him Peter. They soon discovered the boy spoke Portuguese and noted his clothing was of good quality.

When able to communicate, Pedro said that he had lived in a mansion near the ocean. His mother spoke French and his father spoke another language which he did not know. He and his sister were kidnapped from the grounds, but his sister escaped, while Francisco was bound and taken to a ship. Historians believe it is possible that the kidnappers intended to hold the children for ransom or that they had intended to sell them as indentured servants at their destination port in North America, but changed their minds. The Azorean legend says the Francisco family had many political enemies and set up Peter's abduction to protect him from accident or death by his parents' foes.

Peter was soon taken in by the judge Anthony Winston of Buckingham County, Virginia, an uncle of Patrick Henry. Francisco lived with Winston and his family until the beginning of the American Revolution and was tutored by them. When he was old enough to work, he was apprenticed as a blacksmith, a profession chosen because of his massive size and strength (he grew to be six feet and eight inches in height, or 203 centimeters, and weigh some 260 pounds, or 118 kilograms, especially large at the time). He was well known as the Virginian Hercules or the Virginia Giant.

American Revolutionary War

Peter Francisco [left] fighting Tarleton's British cavalry (1814 engraving)

At the age of 16, Francisco joined the 10th Virginia Regiment in 1776, and soon gained notoriety for his size and strength. He fought with distinction at numerous engagements, including the Battle of Brandywine in September. He fought a few skirmishes under Colonel Morgan, before transferring to the regiment of Colonel Mayo of Powhatan. In October, Francisco rejoined his regiment and fought in the Battle of Germantown, and also appeared with the troops at Fort Mifflin on Port Island in the Delaware River. Francisco was hospitalized at Valley Forge for two weeks following these skirmishes. On June 28, 1778, he fought at Monmouth Court House, New Jersey, where a musket ball tore through his right thigh. He never fully recovered from this wound, but fought at Cowpens and other battles.

He was part of General "Mad" Anthony Wayne's attack on the British fort, Stony Point, on the Hudson River. Upon attacking the fort, Francisco suffered a nine-inch gash in his stomach, but continued to fight; he was second to enter the fort. He killed three British grenadiers and captured the enemy flag. Francisco's entry into the fort is mentioned in Wayne's report on the battle to General Washington, dated July 17, 1779, and in a letter written by Captain William Evans to accompany Francisco's letter to the Virginia General Assembly in November 1820 for pay.

Following the Battle of Camden, South Carolina, Francisco noticed the Americans were leaving behind one of their valuable cannons, mired in mud. Legend says he freed and picked up the approximately 1,100-pound cannon and carried it on his shoulder to keep it from falling into the hands of the enemy. In a petition Francisco wrote 11 November 1820 to the Virginia Legislature in his own words, he said that at Camden, he had shot a grenadier who had tried to shoot his Colonel (Mayo); he escaped by bayoneting one of Banastre Tarleton's cavalrymen and fled on the horse making cries to make the British think he was a Loyalist, and gave the horse to Mayo.

Monument to Francisco, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

Hearing that Colonel Watkins was headed on a march through the Carolinas, Francisco joined him, seeing action at Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina. He allegedly killed eleven men on the field of battle, including one who wounded him severely in the thigh with a bayonet. The feat is commemorated with a monument to Francisco at the National Military Park. Francisco in his own accounts claimed that he killed two men of the enemy—including one who bayoneted him in the leg—and mentions striking "panes" to others.

Francisco was sent home to Buckingham to recuperate. He volunteered to spy on Tarleton and his horsemen, who were operating in the area. On this journey, he performed his best-known action, Francisco's Fight. He claims to have defeated a band of Tarleton's Raiders and escaped with their horses by his own actions. Legend has it that he killed or mortally wounded 3 of 11 raiders. One night, nine of Tarleton's men surrounded Francisco outside of a tavern and ordered him to be arrested. They told him to give over his silver shoe buckles. Francisco told Tarleton's men to take the buckles themselves. When they began to seize his shoe buckles, Francisco took a soldier's saber and struck him on the head. The wounded soldier fired his pistol, grazing Francisco's side; the American nearly cut off the soldier's hand. Another enemy soldier aimed a musket at Francisco, but the musket misfired. Francisco grabbed it from the soldier's hands, knocked him off his mount, and escaped with the horse.[2]

In later accounts, the numbers vary. In Francisco's petition in 1820 to the Virginia Legislature, he reported having killed one and wounded eight of the nine raiders, and captured eight of their nine horses. In his 1829 petition to the United States Congress, he claimed to have dispatched or killed three Tarleton raiders and frightened the other six away.[3] Francisco was ordered by his commanding officer to join the army in 1781 at Yorktown; he did not fight but was witness to the British surrender.

Later years

Following Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown, Francisco pursued his basic education. He went to school with young children, who were fascinated by his stories of the war. Legends of Francisco's strength abounded, during his lifetime.

Marriage and family

In December 1784, Peter married Susannah Anderson of Cumberland County, Virginia. She was the daughter of Captain James Anderson and his wife Elizabeth Tyler Baker Anderson. The Andersons were of social distinction and owned a plantation called "The Mansion." Peter and Susannah had two children: a son, James Anderson, born in the log house in 1786; and a daughter, Polly, born in 1788. Peter sold the 250 acres on Louse Creek in 1788. His wife Susannah died in 1790. In December 1794, Peter married Catherine Fauntleroy Brooke, who was a relative of his first wife's, and they moved to Peter's home in Cumberland. Peter and Catherine had four children: Susan Brooke Francisco (born 1796), Benjamin M. Francisco (born 1803), Peter II, and Catherine Fauntleroy Francisco. After she died in 1821, he married in July 1823 for the third time, to Mary Grymes West.

Death

In his later years Francisco was poor, and petitioned Congress and the Virginia legislature for support. He spent the last three years of his life working as the Sergeant-at-Arms to the Virginia State Senate. He died of appendicitis, January 16, 1831; he was buried with full military honors in Shockoe Hill Cemetery in Richmond. The Virginia state legislature adjourned for the day, and many legislators attended his funeral.

Legacy and honors

Postage stamp depicting Francisco's feat of strength at Camden

The Portuguese Continental Union Peter Francisco Award, was created at the Society’s 1957 Congress of Delegates, to be granted to a person or institution, of Portuguese or any other nationality, that by acts, conduct, or any other form of outstanding value and contribution brings prestige and admiration to all people of Portuguese Heritage in the United States and the name of Portugal and its language and culture. The Award was granted annual until 1967 and every five years after 1975. The Peter Francisco Medal is composed by a cross resembling the Cross of Christ with a five point star and the shield with the arms of Portugal, suspended by a two hands shaking, the symbol of fraternal university, and across a sash with the words “Talent de bien fare” the monogram of Prince Henry The Navigator.

Peter Francisco (1760 - January 16, 1831), known variously as the "Virginian Giant" or the "Giant of the Revolution" was an American patriot and soldier in the American Revolution. Historic investigators have founded that Peter Francisco was born Portuguese in the Azores William Arthur Moon, in “Peter Francisco- The Portuguese Patriot” 1981 and Dr. John E. Manaham in “Peter Francisco, Virginian Giant of the American Revolution”. A report on Peter Francisco in the Azores. It’s written that Peter Francisco would have been abducted in the Azores and brought on a ship to America and abandoned on the port of City Point, Virginia, in 1765. According to history the abandoned child, dressed in soiled rich clothes and shoes with initials P.F. kept repeating the words “Pedro Francisco” in Portuguese. The young lad would have been adopted by a rich family of Judge Anthony Winston of Buckingham County and growing in age over 6ft tall by the age of 17, when he enlisted in the militia in 1777. He soon gained notoriety for his size and strength. He was unable to fight with a regular broadsword; George Washington (at Lafayette's request) soon had a special sword, measuring some five feet long, forged for him. Peter fought with distinction at numerous engagements of the Revolution. He was wounded at Brandywine and recuperated (at Valley Forge) in the same room as Lafayette, with whom he became great friends. He also fought at Monmouth (where he was again wounded), and Stony Point (where legend has it he was bayoneted, and was the second to enter the fort. George Washington would say that Francisco's prowess directly enabled American victories in two battles, and went on to state the war might have even been lost without Francisco's participation. Peter Francisco farmhouse Locust Grove is now a museum, and several monuments in honor of Peter Francisco are in Virginia and others built by the Portuguese-American Communities in States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Jersey. Several States have declared March 15, as Peter Francisco’s Day. An 18cts postage stamp was issued by the US Post Office in the series “Contributors to the Cause”.

The previous fourteen Peter Francisco Awards were presented to: I) John F. Kennedy in 1959, at the time a United States Senator from Massachusetts and later (1960) President of the United States. II) Basil Brewer in 1960. Editor and proprietor of the Journal “Standard Times" of New Bedford, MA. III) John dos Passos in 1961. Novelist and Poet, classic American author of Portuguese (Madeira) descent. IV) . Joseph W. Martin, Jr. in 1963. US Congressman by Massachusetts and later Speaker of the US House of Representatives for many years. V) João R. Rocha in 1964. Proprietor and Director of "Diário de Notícias", from New Bedford, Mass., the only daily newspaper of Portuguese Language published outside of Portugal; VI) Joseph E. Fernandes in 1966. Business entrepreneur of Portuguese (Madeira) descent, proprietor of Fernandes Supermarkets Chain in Massachusetts; VII) Anibal S. Branco in 1967. Supreme Sectretary of the Portuguese Continental Union of USA, 1930 to 1968. VIII) Cardinal Humberto de Sousa Medeiros in 1975. Archbishop of Boston. The first Cardinal and Archbishop of Boston, born in Portugal (Azores). IX) Claiborne Pell in 1981. United States Senator for the State of Rhode Island. A good friend of Portugal and the Portuguese in the USA. X) Attorney Edmund Dinis in 1985. Senator e State Representative from Massachusetts; Attorney General introduced the law to make March 15, Massachusetts Peter Francisco Day; XI) Journal "Luso-Americano" from Newark, NJ, on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary of weekly publication in Portuguese Language; XII) Dr. Manuel Luciano da Silva, of Bristol, R.I. in 1995, recognized medical doctor, and historic investigator. XIII) Violinist Elmar de Oliveira of New York in 2000, violinist of world fame. XIV in 2005 to Francisco J. Mendonça, Supreme Secretary Portuguese Continental Union 1968-1986, 1988-2002 and Dr. José M. Figueiredo, PCU Board member since 1978 and Supreme President of the Portuguese Continental Union from 1992 a 2002. XV in 2010 to a descendant of Peter Francisco, EDITH FRANCISCO BUCKLEY and the SOCIETY OF THE DESCENDANTS OF PETER FRANCISCO, from Virginia. The XVI in 2015 to Architect Albert Costa Jr., for outstanding contribution to the Portuguese-American Heritage.

The Portuguese Continental Union of USA was founded a Fraternal Benefit Society on November 1, 1925, in Massachusetts with Headquarters in Boston and near ten thousand members in 71 local Lodges in the East Coast from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania until 2002. In 2002 PCUUSA merged with another Portuguese-American Fraternal Benefit Society, the Luso-American Life Insurance Society (LALIS), with now Headquarters in Dublin, California. Since January 1, 2002, the Portuguese Continental Union operates as a Fraternal Division of the LALIS in the East Coast. The LALIS has now over twenty three thousand members all over the USA, is licensed in six States in the East Coast (MA,RI,CT,NJ,PA) and three in the West Coast (CA, ID,NV). In addition to the Fraternal Division in the East Coast ( PCU) the LALIS has two Fraternal Divisions in the West Coast, the Luso-American Fraternal Federation and Sociedade Portuguesa Rainha Santa Isabel, all with over 230 local Lodges or Councils in Portuguese Communities in the West and East Coast. Also a Cultural and Educational Division, The Luso-American Education Foundation.

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Notes and references

  1. ↑ Other versions hold that Francisco was taken to Ireland; as a youth, he became indentured to a sea captain, and traveled with him to City Point. Found abandoned, he was put in the poorhouse until taken in by Judge Winston. This version does not support the generally accepted dates given for Francisco's birth and transport; it is considered legend.
  2. ↑ "Letter of Peter Francisco to the General Assembly", William And Mary Quarterly historical magazine, Jamestown, VA: William and Mary College, 1905, pp. 217–219
  3. ↑ Niles register
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