| The purpose of the Society of the Descendants of Peter Francisco is to compile and maintain the documented records of Peter Francisco and his descendants and to give Peter Francisco his rightful place in history. |
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| The Virginia Gentleman Peter was well-known throughout the state and, since Catherine was from a family of social prominence, she felt it her duty to make their home a gathering place for other prominent families. It was not only Peter's noted friendships, military achievements and feats of strength that attracted people, however; Peter was kind, courteous, considerate and empathetic toward others. Peter had come a long way -- he was a "Virginia gentleman," a landowner, and owner of "7 blacks, 6 horses, and 10 head of cattle" according to the tax records of 1788. In 1803 Peter was granted a license to keep an ordinary in Prince Edward County. He sold his plantation on Dry Creek in Cumberland and, apparantly, moved his family to this ordinary (located just west of the intersection of present-day Routes 460 and 15). They did not live there long, however; but moved to another ordinary at New Store where they resided four years. Several interesting stories have been recorded about Peter while he lived at New Store. Samuel Shephard III wrote that in December 1805 a Veterans Reunion was held at Maysville (Buckingham Court House). "...some two dozen veterans of the war gathered at the courthouse for a reunion...The hero of the occasion was Peter Francisco, who entertained us with exhibitions of his strength...We sang some songs, talked..." Another story took place in 1806 when a man named Pamphlet came from Kentucky to "whip" Peter. "When Francisco learned the object of his visit, he handed him a bunch of willow switches and told him to whip away to his heart's content. The strong man was taken aback...and asked to feel his weight. He lifted Francisco...and remarked that he was quite heavy. 'Now, Mr. Pamphlet,' said Francisco, 'let me feel your weight,' and lifting the sportive visitor twice in the air, the third time threw him over a railing fence four feet high into the public road. Pamphlet was mightily surprised...and called out...that Francisco would do him a favor if he would pitch his horse after him...The story goes that Francisco led the horse to the fence, and with his left arm under the horse's breast and the right one behind him, put him over as requested...Mr. Pamphlet mounted and took his way back to Kentucky." When Henry Clay visited Peter at the old Bell Tavern in Richmond in 1826, Peter related the above story to him. Clay laughed and said, "I am glad to know that one of the mischievous Pamphlet family has been conquered." |