Born 17 May 1759 in New York City, New York

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Davidson) Franks — married 9 Jul 1782 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 4 Mar 1822 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

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Col. Isaac Franks served in the New York Militia during the American Revolution
Service started:
Unit(s):
Service ended:

Biography

Issac enlisted in Colonel Lesher's Regiment. He was taken prisoner at the Battle of New York. He escaped after three months.

Although Franks was Jewish, he was a practicing Christian. He joined the Continental army at age 17 and fought the British in the battles on Long Island. He was captured in Manhattan but escaped to New Jersey in a leaky rowboat. There he joined the quartermaster division as an assistant foragemaster for Washington's main army. He was promoted to foragemaster and sent to West Point, where he received a commission as ensign in a Massachusetts regiment in 1781. He resigned the following year, married and moved to Germantown. He worked as a financial broker.

In 1793 he lent his house to George Washington, to live in while the Yellow Fever epidemic ravaged in the capital of Philadelphia. Franks's home became the Germantown Whitehouse and Washington and his cabinet met within. In 1794 he received a commission as lieutenant colonel in the state militia. Franks died in 1822

Marriage

Isaac Franks married Mary Davison on 09 Jul 1782 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania^[1]

Census

1820 Census:^[2]

Death

Issac died on Mar 4, 1822^[3] Philadelphia death certificate

Burial

He was buried in the Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church Cemetery^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ "Pennsylvania, Church Marriages, 1682-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2WF-5M1V : accessed 18 January 2018), Isaac Franks and Mary Davison, 09 Jul 1782; citing Swedes' Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, various churches and archives, Pennsylvania; FHL microfilm 823,996.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLN-69H : accessed 18 January 2018), Isaac Franks, Philadelphia South Mulberry Ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 170, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 108; FHL microfilm 181,413.
3. ↑ "Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J6Z7-CMY : 9 December 2014), Isaac Franks, 04 Mar 1822; citing , Philadelphia City Archives and Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; FHL microfilm 1,903,131.
4. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVPM-VGNG : 13 December 2015), Isaac Franks, 1822; Burial, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church Cemetery; Find A Grave: Memorial #129944294

Purcell, L. Edward. "Franks, Isaac." Who Was Who in the American Revolution. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 1993.

• http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6325-franks

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