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Peter Francisco: Remarkable American Revolutionary War SoldierAmerican History | Single Page | 12 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post
With his marriage to Susannah in December 1784, Peter became a member of the landed gentry, a part he played well. He displayed a taste for bright-colored waistcoats, high hats, and silk stockings. He acquired a reputation for his hunting and fishing outings and his house parties, at which he would display his fine voice, described by one visitor as having a power, depth, and sweetness of tone, with wonderful potency. His pathetic earnestness is irresistible. Subscribe Today
Peter and Susannah had a son and a daughter before she died in 1790. Catherine Brooke became Peter's second wife in 1794, and two years after her death in 1821 (they had three sons and one daughter) he married Mary Grymes West, the widow of Major West, a Virginia planter.
Many of the stories told about Peter Francisco in this period of his life are awestruck recountings of his strength. He seems to have acquired a Paul Bunyan-like status, and it is impossible to tell which of the tales about him are true. It may well be that they all are. He may really have amused guests by holding two 160-pound men at arm's length above his head, and actually have rescued a cow and her calf from a bog by picking one up under each arm and simultaneously carrying them out of the mud.
Not surprisingly, Francisco folklore includes stories of arrogant tough guys foolish enough to test his strength. One husky chap reportedly traveled all the way from Kentucky for this purpose. Finally goaded into action, the gentle giant threw the challenger over a four-foot fence onto the public road. The badly shaken visitor said that he would leave satisfied if Peter could dispose of his horse in the same fashion; whereupon Francisco handily lifted the steed over the rails. The embarrassed Kentuckian headed for home, enjoined by his good-natured host to call again when you are passing.
As Francisco grew older and rich in renown, honors and rewards came his way. In 1819, Congress granted him a monthly pension. Five years later, when the Marquis de Lafayette made a triumphal return to the United States, the celebrated visitor made a point of visiting his old hospital mate. And, in 1825 Francisco was named sergeant-at-arms of the Virginia legislature.
Peter Francisco passed away, apparently from appendicitis, on January 16, 1831. The House of Delegates adjourned and paid him the honor of a public funeral at which the Right Reverend R. C. Moore took note of Peter's degree of bodily strength superior to that of any man of modern times . . . exerted in defense of the country which gave him [a home].
The passage of this American Hercules from mysterious waif to war hero to country squire, and from the Azores to the Virginia countryside, is surely one the most intriguing and unusual stories to be found in the early annals of the United States. Hollywood, take note.
This article orginally appeared in the October 1998 issue of American History magazine. For more great articles be sure to pick up your copy of American History.
1The weapon of which Lossing spoke was a specially-made six-foot broadsword with a five-foot blade that had been delivered to Francisco shortly before the battle on order from General Washington. Pages: 1 2 3 4 5Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to
            Tags: 17th - 18th Century, American History, American Revolutionary War, Historical Conflicts, Historical Figures
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12 Comments to “Peter Francisco: Remarkable American Revolutionary War Soldier”
I would like to know the whereabouts of the famous 6 foot broadsword. It was on display but was stolen. What would anyone profit from owning a stolen sword?
By Andrew on Jul 12, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Please e-mail me if you know of any artifacts from the Francisco estate.
By Andrew on Jul 12, 2008 at 5:05 pm
where was the sword stolen from?
By Clay on Jul 23, 2008 at 7:20 pm
THE SIX FOOT BROADSWORD IS LOCATED AT THE VIRGINIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN RICHMOND VA.IT IS NOT ON PUBLIC DISPLAY.
By RAY on Oct 6, 2008 at 7:39 pm
my Aunt was doing some reserch on our family tree and it truns
out that Peter Francico is my 7th great grandfather straight up
my mothers side just something that excited me and I wanted to
share it, and know more about him so please feel free to share
anything you know or sites I can visit. thank you
By Brooklyn on Oct 24, 2008 at 6:13 pm
I am also a 7th generation descendent of Peter Francisco and stand the same height as Peter. I enoy reenacting his life story on March 15th with a 6' replica sword. This year I will be performing somewhere in VA. Go to http://www.travisbowman.com for more details.
By Travis on Nov 25, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Could someone please let me know how I could find the genealogy for Peter Francisco? Thanks.
By Dorothy Morgan on Feb 26, 2009 at 1:46 pm
hey people make love not war.(it ok if ur gay or lesbian just make sum lovvveee.
Oh and please send sum stuff about other rev war soldiers
By elizabeth Jenson on Mar 7, 2009 at 2:16 pm
I'm an 8th generation descendent of Peter Francisco, and I live in Southside Virginia, where many of his famous exploits were documented. He was my 5th great grandfather. My sister once lived in a house about 50 yards up the hill from West Creek and the ford where he "single-handedly subdued nine of Tarleton's feared Dragoons in hand-to-hand combat". By the roadside near her front yard, there was a small stone monument to the event placed by the DAR. March 15 is recognized as Peter Francisco Day in Virginia.
By Charles E. Shorter on Mar 28, 2009 at 7:19 pm
My distant cousin, the former Anne Hawks of Crewe, VA, at one time had possession of an ancient family bible, with records of family marriages, showing the lineage back to Peter Francisco. I'm proud to be a member of the Descendants of Peter Francisco Society. I believe that Peter's former farm and simple home in Buckingham County, VA is under restoration.
By Charles E. Shorter on Mar 28, 2009 at 7:29 pm
The above article omits a few interesting anecdotes — Peter was one of three survivors out of another 25-man advance party storming the "Trenton Redoubt", a British strong point in the Battle of Trenton. But there again, although wounded, he almost single-handedly secured the victory. In his later adventures under generals Gates and Greene in the Carolinas, he is said to have complained of his swords "breaking like toothpicks" when he "cleaved Redcoats". Upon getting wind of this in Pennsylvania, General Washington had a 6-foot broad sword specially forged and sent to Peter, so that he could "cleave Redcoats from brow to breastbone".
For further research, see "Peter Francisco, Portuguese Patriot", by author Moon.
By Charles E. Shorter on Mar 28, 2009 at 8:31 pm
I am a 6th generation descendant of Peter Francisco, and I have spent the last 3 years researching his life and heroic feats on the battlefields. What an amazing story! On July 4th, I released a novel based on Peter's life called Hercules of the Revolution.
Check it out: http://www.HerculesoftheRevolution.com
By Hercules of the Revolution on Jul 14, 2009 at 11:45 pm