Categories: Unsourced Profiles | Portugal | Richmond, Virginia.
"Virginia Giant" or “Giant of the Revolution” - an American Patriot Foot six inches tall, weight 260 pounds.
Peter (Pedro) Francisco was born about 1760 -- possibly Portuguese from the Azores. Possibly kidnapped from his homeland and taken to America, found in June 1765 and was raised by Judge Anthony Winston (uncle of Patrick Henry). Peter was schooled and trained as a blacksmith.
He heard in 1775 Patrick Henry give the “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech. He became a supporter of the colonies breaking away from England. By 1776, Peter joined the 10th Virginia Militia as a private. A 5-foot sword was given him by Gen. George Washington after Francisco's complaint that ordinary swords were too light. Peter was wounded at the Battle of Brandywine, was at Valley Forge with Washington and Lafayette. 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 Battle of Stony Point, wounded again with a British bayonet (that soldier he then killed), that British soldier was under Lt. Col Basastre Tarleton. Then at Battle of Camden, then with Colonel Watkins at Guilford Courthouse Battle where he was bayoneted again in the leg. In the various battles he killed 11 men.
After 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. As stated by General George Washington: “... that Francisco's prowess directly enabled American victories in two battles." “The war may have even been lost without Francisco's participation.”
At war’s end in 1783, Peter went home to Buckingham, Virginia. Had a farm house and land named “Locust Grove” in Richmond, VA, from his first wife, Susannah. Over his life he married three times (Susannah Anderson, Catherine Fauntleroy Brooke and Mary Beverly Grymes West) - the first two wives died and he had several children. Children: James Anderson Francisco, and Polly Francisco (1st wife) Susan Brooke Francisco, Benjamin M. Francisco, Peter Francisco, II, and Catherine Fauntleroy Francisco (with 2nd wife).
He was a legend in his own time.
Peter died of appendicitis Jan. 16, 1831 in Richmond, VA.
On 5 Jan 2011 Chuck Shorter wrote:
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).
On 5 Jan 2011 Chuck Shorter wrote:
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).
On 5 Jan 2011 Chuck Shorter wrote:
On 5 Jan 2011 Chuck Shorter wrote:
On 18 Nov 2008 Alice Luckhardt wrote:
Have you taken a DNA test for genealogy? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at MyHeritage DNA.
On 1 Sep 2014 at 18:10 GMT Jeanne (Lunn) Aloia wrote:
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/
On 10 May 2014 at 07:32 GMT Ron Woodhouse wrote:
On 10 Apr 2014 at 22:21 GMT Albert Colbert II wrote:
On 5 Jan 2011 at 09:03 GMT Chuck Shorter wrote:
Peter is 17 degrees from Charles Darwin, 18 degrees from Amelia Earhart, 16 degrees from Queen Elizabeth II Windsor and 21 degrees from Gilly Wood on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.