| Peter Francisco Sr resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776. Join: US Southern Colonies Project Discuss: southern_colonies |
"Virginia Giant" or “Giant of the Revolution” - an American Patriot 6 Foot six inches tall, weight 260 pounds.
In June 1765, Peter (Pedro) Francisco was found abandoned at a wharf in present-day Hopewell, Virginia (then City Point). He was then about five years of age, and was believed to have been Portuguese, possibly from the Azores, and possibly kidnapped from his homeland and taken to America. Raised as an indentured servant by Judge Anthony Winston, Peter was trained as a blacksmith.
In 1775, he heard Judge Winston's nephew, Patrick Henry, give his famous speech, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”, and became a supporter of the colonies breaking away from England. By 1776, Peter had joined the 10th Virginia Militia as a private. A five-foot sword was given him by Gen. George Washington, after Francisco's complaint that ordinary swords were too light.
At the age of 15 he was permitted to enlist, in 1776, as a private in the 10th Virginia Regiment. He re-enlisted two more times and was injured at least four times, once being left for dead. His feats were legendary. He reportedly picked up a one thousand pound cannon and hauled it on his back off the battlefield in New Jersey. Another story tells how he singelhandedly escaped from nine British soldiers that were holding him prisoner and escaped with their horses. His strength, size and bravery led to him being called "Hercules of the Revolution" and "The Giant of Virginia." After the war he became a wealthy store owner and was named the Sergeant-of-Arms for the Virginia House of Delegates. He was a national hero in the 1800s with children's books written about him and several states setting aside March 15th as "Peter Francisco Day." Several monuments and parks are named in his honor and in 1975 the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp to celebrate his service to his country. An original eighteenth century engraving of this soldier is on display at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Peter was wounded at the Battle of Brandywine, and was at Valley Forge with Washington and Lafayette. He was wounded again, in 1778, at the Battle of Monmouth, then in the big Battle of Cowpens, after starting his third enlistment. At Cowpens he was part of Lt. Col. William Washington’s troops.
He was at the Battle of Stony Point, where he was wounded again, with a British bayonet (that soldier he then killed, who had been under Lt. Col Basastre Tarleton). Further wounds were received at the Battle of Camden, and then, with Colonel Watkins, at the Guilford Courthouse Battle, where he was bayoneted again in the leg. In the various battles he killed 11 men.
After the Guilford Courthouse battle, he defeated Tarleton’s Raiders in what was called “Francisco’s Fight” and made off with most of their horses. Peter was at Yorktown to see the British surrender. (Then) Colonel George Washington was so impressed that he offered him a commission, but Francisco declined (due to his lack of education), and stated that, ‘Without him, we would have lost two crucial battles, perhaps the war, and with it our freedom," and "He was truly a one-man army."[1]
At war’s end, in 1783, Peter went home to Buckingham, Virginia. He had inherited a farmhouse and land, named “Locust Grove”, in Richmond, Virginia, from his first wife, Susannah.
He was a legend in his own time.
Peter died of appendicitis Jan. 16, 1831 in Richmond, Virginia.
The American historiography[4][1][5], associates Peter Francisco with a Pedro, that was born on 9 July 1760 in Porto Judeu, Terceira, Açores, Portugal, he was the godson of his uncle Pedro Francisco, and son of Francisco Machado Luís and Maria da Ascenção.
Transcription of the baptism record:[6]
This document suggests that Francisco Machado Luiz and Marianna de St. Joseph were his grandparents.
See also:
He is buried in Shockoe Cemetary in Richmond, VA, which grave site has an impressive monument with freemason symbology (although there is no record that he was a mason - possibly an honorarium).
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1. Where was Peter Francisco in the 1810 Census? I cannot find him. 2. Is there a body of papers attributable to Peter Francisco that might detail his personal and financial dealings? 3. Are there records of who was bound to Peter Francisco while in Cumberland or Buckingham? 4. Does anybody have any leads on these Smiths? Were they possibly related to the James Anderson family?
If Peter Francisco was in Buckingham County in 1783, he was NOT living on land he inherited from Susannah Anderson. Her land was never in Buckingham County. Peter Francisco, still a resident of Cumberland County, on 8 September 1791, sold this 60 acre parcel in Cumberland County to George Walker. Deed confirms that this is "the land that James Anderson deceased devised to his daughter Susannah Anderson who afterwards married Peter Francisco and since died". Prince Edward County Virginia Deed Book 1789-1812, p 26-27, FHL 33221, images are here https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PX-L9XY-3?i=217&cat=378306
Susannah Francisco was not allotted this 60 acre parcel located in Cumberland County until October 1787. Cumberland County Virginia Will Book 2, p. 432-433, FHL 30738, Oct 1787, images are here https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TH-G3VM-W?i=493&cat=367904
Another user identified that the profile for his 3rd wife exists: Mary Beverly (Grymes) West Francisco (abt.1782-abt.1858). She is sourced in the cited article that was added. Can you please add her or let me know when profile protection is lifted long enough to add her as his documented spouse?
Thank you!
Porter
Given the question about whether he is attached to parents vs. grand-parents, a project management that best represents him seems to be needed.
No marriage record has yet been located for Peter Francisco to Susannah Anderson. The marriage took place sometime after the will was written in 1782 but prior to March 1787 when Peter Francisco and wife Susannah, along with two of her siblings, filed a chancery court case for division of James Anderson's estate. James Anderson et al vs executor of James Anderson Sr, Cumberland County Virginia Chancery Court case (1787-001), published by The Library of Virginia images begin here https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=049-1787-001
This will left a 300 acre tract of land in Cumberland County to be divided equally between the five daughters of James Anderson. While it is possible that Peter Francisco and wife Susannah, after their marriage, may have lived somewhere on her father's land, Peter did not legally own any of this land until October 1787 when a 60 acre parcel in Cumberland County was allotted to Susannah Francisco. Cumberland County Virginia Will Book 2, p. 432-433, FHL 30738 Oct 1787, images are here https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TH-G3VM-W?i=493&cat=367904
If Peter Francisco was in Buckingham County in 1783, he was not living on land he inherited from Susannah Anderson. Her land was never in Buckingham County. Peter Francisco, still a resident of Cumberland County, on 8 September 1791, sold this 60 acre parcel in Cumberland County to George Walker. Deed confirms that this is "the land that James Anderson deceased devised to his daughter Susannah Anderson who afterwards married Peter Francisco and since died". Prince Edward County Virginia Deed Book 1789-1812, p 26-27, FHL 33221, images are here https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PX-L9XY-3?i=217&cat=378306
http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/sisco
4. The family of Peter Francisco, the "Virginia Giant", who was a hero in the Revolutionary War. His origins are obscure -- some say he may have been Portuguese. Click on the following link for the Society of his descendants: http://www.peterfrancisco.org/
Peter is 21 degrees from Margaret O'Bryan, 17 degrees from Osla Henniker-Major, 16 degrees from Alice of Greece, 18 degrees from Honoré d'Estienne d'Orves, 19 degrees from Einar Korsvig Rasmussen, 19 degrees from Nancy Forward, 14 degrees from Neile Toffel, 22 degrees from Raoul Wallenberg, 18 degrees from Susan Cuddy, 17 degrees from Hannah Love, 29 degrees from Dorie Miller and 14 degrees from Joseph Rochefort on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
F > Francisco > Pedro Francisco Sr
Categories: Buckingham County, Virginia | Shockoe Hill Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia | Terceira, Açores | Richmond, Virginia | Blacksmiths | Virginia Colonists | 10th Virginia Regiment (1777), Continental Army, American Revolution | Notables | Uncertain Family
In "Francisco's Fight" at West Creek Tavern in Nottoway County, VA, he "... single-handedly subdued nine of Tarleton's feared Dragoons in hand-to-hand combat" (a scouting or "recon" party), while his cohort stole off to warn Gen. Horatio Gates of Tarleton's whereabouts. One of the Dragoons attempted to shoot him, but the pistol mis-fired. Should be Banastre Tarleton (erata in story above).