Samuel Fraunces: Black Man or White Man?

Samuel Fraunces[1] (about 1722, West Indies {exact birthplace unknown} — October 11, 1795, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)[2] was the owner/operator of Fraunces Tavern, Vauxhall Gardens and other venues in New York City, and later steward of George Washington's presidential household. Born in the West Indies of French ancestry, his origins are somewhat mysterious. Although the 1790 United States Census for New York lists Samuel Fraunces as a "free white male" and a slave-holder, there remains some confusion about his racial identity.

Revolutionary War

One distinction about Fraunces was his business and personal relationship with one of America's most powerful men, George Washington. During the Revolutionary War, the pair are said to have dined in the comfortable atmosphere of one of America's oldest taverns, The Old 76 House in Tappan, New York. In May 1783, he prepared a meal for Washington at the DeWint House, also in Tappan, New York.

The end of the war was celebrated with a December 4, 1783 victory dinner at Fraunces Tavern, New York City, at which Washington said farewell to his officers.

The legend that Fraunces's daughter Phoebe saved Washington's life during the Revolutionary War is probably untrue. His eldest daughter was named Elizabeth, and was a 10-year-old in June 1776, the time of the supposed poisoning attempt.[3] There is no Phoebe Fraunces listed in church or census records, and the name does not appear in published sources until the early-20th century.[4] If a Phoebe existed she may have been a woman enslaved or employed by Fraunces, rather than his daughter.

Presidential Household

George Washington became the first President of the United States in 1789, and selected Fraunces to be the steward of his executive mansion in New York City. The national capital moved to Philadelphia in 1790, and Fraunces managed the presidential household there from 1791 to 1794. Washington's step-grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, described Fraunces overseeing a State dinner at the Philadelphia President's House: "When the steward in snow-white apron, silk shorts and stockings, and hair in full powder, placed the first dish on the table, the clock being on the stroke of four, 'the labors of Hercules' ceased."[5] This passage is sometimes misunderstood, conflating Fraunces (the steward who served the dinner) with Hercules (the enslaved cook from Mount Vernon who cooked it).

Death

Following his retirement from the presidential household, Fraunces operated a tavern in Philadelphia for about a year until his death. A Pennsylvania state historical marker at 2nd & Dock Streets marks the tavern's location.[6]

Samuel Fraunces is buried in an unmarked grave at St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia.

References

1. ^ Samuel Fraunces portait from Flickr.

2. ^ Obituary: "Died Saturday evening last, Mr. Samuel Fraunces, aged 73. By his death Society has sustained the loss of an honest man and the Poor a valuable friend." — Gazette of the United States, October 13, 1795.

3. ^ Elizabeth Fraunces was born on December 26, 1765, and baptized at Christ Church, Philadelphia, on January 27, 1766.

4. ^ See: Henry Russell Drowne, A Sketch of Fraunces Tavern and Those Connected with Its History (New York: Fraunces Tavern, 1919), p. 8.

5. ^ George Washington Parke Custis, Recollections and Private Memoirs of the Life and Character of Washington (New York, 1860) p. 423.

6. ^ PA Historical Marker from Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.

Samuel Fraunces born in Jamaica, the year of his birth when calculated from baptismal records is placed at 1734 when calculated from obituary it is 1722. The informant for the obituary in the "Gazette of the United States", October 13, 1795 is unknown. The informant for his baptism at age 14 is himself. Samuel Fraunces wrote his will on September 11, 1795 and the will was filed October 22, 1795, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania his son Samuel Fraunces and the attorney Thomas Armstrong were the administrator's and guardians for his daughter Hannah.

There is debate over both the date of birth and date of death for Samuel Fraunces and both items are calculated. The obituary was published on October 13, 1795 and states Saturday last. In the year 1795 the Saturday before October 13th is October 10th. At the time Samuel wrote his will he styled himself Innkeeper. In his obituary it says, . By his death Society has sustained the loss of an honest man and the Poor a valuable friend." There are portraits of Samuel available to look at on line. The portrait which can be authenticated and was owned by the family is found at Click. There is a portrait which cannot be authenticated and is found at Fraunces Tavern which can be viewed on flicker at Click.

Samuel Fraunces married Elizabeth Dalley the daughter of Hendrick Dailey and Sarah Gifford on November 30 1757 at Trinity Church, New York. The children that were named in the Will of Samuel are: Samuel, Sophia, Hannah, Andrew G., Elizabeth Thompson, Sarah Campbell and Catherine Smock. The children were all baptized at either Trinity Church in New York City or St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia.

Samuel Fraunces was the owner/operator of Fraunces Tavern, Vauxhall Gardens and other venues in New York Cityand later was steward of George Washington's presidential household. Samuel was born in the West Indies of French ancestry. The French ancestry is the same French ancestry as the Jacquelin family of Jamestown Settlement Virginia.

The 1790 United States Census for New York page 63 of the Dock Ward lists Samuel Fraunces as a free white male with four females and one enslaved individual in the household, there remains some confusion about his racial identity. At the time of his baptism Samuel is listed as a mulatto. Catherine Schuyler Baxter granddaughter of the god daughter of George and Martha Washington recalls Fraunces a mulatto in "A Godchild of Washington a Picture of the Past". His son Samuel Fraunces is always listed, enumerated and recalled as negro. His daughter Sophia married Abraham Gomez and in 1840 as a widow she is enumerated as a free black.

Samuel Fraunces was always remembered as mulatto in racial references until the turn of the 19th century. At that same time the building of Fraunces Tavern was in danger of demolition. The Daughters of the American Revolution went on record with protest to the demolition. The city of New York designated the area as park. The Sons of the Revolution eventually acquired the site and rebuilt the building we see today. At some point in time during this process it appears a campaign to do away with Samuel 's ethnicity occurred. At the same time because of the tradition that Phoebe was of color the traditions linking Phoebe to Samuel begin to be called into question. One of the first arguments against his ethnicity is from Mrs. Melusina Fay Pierce of the Women's auxiliary of preservation of Scenic and Historic places and objects in New York City. Henry Russell Drowne later in A Sketch of Fraunces Tavern and Those Connected with Its History (New York: Fraunces Tavern, 1919), p. 8. States if a Phoebe existed she may have been a woman enslaved or employed by Fraunces, rather than his daughter.

Revolutionary War

Samuel Fraunces is most frequently remembered because of his ownership of the Tavern where Washington gave his farewell to his officers December 4, 1783 Fraunces Tavern, New York City. While the act which forever links him to many a patriot and numerous members of the Daughter of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution is his part in feeding the 13,000 prisoners kept by the British on the ships in New York harbor. One of whom was Captain Philip Freneau who wrote the poem Hugh Gaines Life immortalizing Fraunces as "Black Sam".

The tradition that Fraunces's daughter Elizabeth "Phoebe" saved Washington's life during the Revolutionary War is first reported by Benson John Lossing in 1866. It was reported to him by Peter Embry who was born about 1766 and was a contemporary of Elizabeth Fraunces was a 10-year-old in June 1776, the time of the supposed poisoning attempt. Elizabeth Fraunces was born on December 26, 1765, and baptized at Christ Church, Philadelphia, on January 27, 1766.

Presidential Household

On September 7, 1785 George Washington wrote to Samuel Fraunces to ask him to help him with his search for a housekeeper/household steward. Fraunces is referred to in writings to and from Washington over 20 times. Found in the index at click here. Fraunces himself acted as steward of his executive mansion in New York City. The national capital moved to Philadelphia in 1790, and Fraunces managed the presidential household there from 1791 to 1794. Washington's step-grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, described Fraunces overseeing a State dinner at the Philadelphia President's House: "When the steward in snow-white apron, silk shorts and stockings, and hair in full powder, placed the first dish on the table, the clock being on the stroke of four, 'the labors of Hercules' ceased."[1] This passage is sometimes misunderstood, conflating Fraunces (the steward who served the dinner) with Hercules (the enslaved cook from Mount Vernon who cooked it). George Washington Parke Custis was born in 1781 he would be about 9 years old at the time of the occurrence he recollects

Death

Fraunces operated a tavern in Philadelphia until his death. A Pennsylvania state historical marker at 2nd & Dock Streets marks the tavern's location. [2]

Samuel Fraunces is buried in an unmarked grave at St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia.

1. ^ George Washington Parke Custis, Recollections and Private Memoirs of the Life and Character of Washington (New York, 1860) p. 423.

2. ^ PA Historical Marker from Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.