Author: James Edward Mitchell
Samuel was born ca1722 in the French West Indies. He received early culinary training at home prior to sailing abroad. Fraunces, age 33 split his time (1756) between (Manhattan) New York and Philadelphia as a caterer.
The Federalist Papers Project www.thefederalistpapers.org/history/smauel-fraunces..., identified his marriage to Elizabeth Dalley, a dau. of Hendrick Dailey and Sarah Gifford at Trinity Church NY, NY on Nov 30, 1757. Sarah Gifford’s father had been indentured to Lewis Morris (governor). Fraunces re-settled for seven years at Bowling Green near present-day Wall Street and the site of his -Fraunces Tavern. In 1762, he paid 2,000 Pounds for the property tract and forty-four year old pressed yellow (Dutch) brick and red (English) brick structure with robust, oak flooring and hand hewn timber. The imported brick and newly built tavern was completed before Benj. Franklin entered his teens. The 1719 property and building site were given by New York’s 3rd mayor -Col. Stephanus Van Cortlandt to his son-in-law after, marriage to Cortlandt’s dau. Not until 1719, however, did the son-in-law establish the (Stephen) de Lancey mansion at (54) Pearl Street.

In 1965 New York City declared the Fraunces Tavern -Manhattan’s oldest, historic landmark under the city’s Landmarks Preservation Law.

Samuel Fraunces will lists Andrew G. Fraunces, a bro. Samuel, daughters, Hannah L. Fraunces Kelley, Sophia, (Phoebe) Elizabeth Fraunces Thompson, Sarah A. (Campbell) and Catherine Smock. The family children names are recorded baptized and/or married at Trinity Church, Manhattan, NY; and, St. Peter’s Church and Christ Church, Philadelphia. Samuel Fraunces, Jr’s name appears always enumerated as African American within church records and early (1800) census records. His bro., A. (aka Andrew) Francis (aka Fraunces) estranged from Sarah Pye Fraunces is counted as mulatto with 5 slaves believed to be identical with Samuel Jr’s, family. In Philadelphia during 1810 and 1820 censuses, Samuel Francis (Jr.) appears listed in the census as a free black head of household. His sister Sophia married Abraham Gomez and during 1840 as a widow, she is listed as a free black. W.E.B. Du Bois in his research of black entrepreneurs noted that upon landing in New York City as an officer’s cook on an English vessel, Samuel Fraunces settled in the Negro colony of the Wall Street District.

The lease of the Fraunces Tavern in 1770 came to fruition simultaneously with the tipping point of 1st bloodshed on January 18, 1770 at the battle of Golden Hill, now, located at New York City Hall on Chambers Street. During 1770, the site was reserved for violent protests and the planting of a Sons of Liberty -Liberty Pole, opposing the harsh (British) Stamp Act. When Fraunces could not find a buyer for the Pearl Street tavern due to the neighborhood’s uncertain political future, George Washington secretly and confidentially, lent his patronage and friendship to Samuel Fraunces. As it turned out during the British occupation from 1776 until the end of the war, the British General Staff regularly adopted Fraunces and his tavern for his catering service and, amenable food and drink!

Gen. Washington hosted his American officers to a tearful farewell after the war’s end and, British Evacuation. Washington met personally in Dec, 1783, upstairs in the Long Room of Manhattan’s Fraunces Tavern in the presence of Col. Benjamin Tallmadge, spymaster for the American codename: Culper Ring. Standing not far away, as their chef and caterer was -trusted friend, Samuel Fraunces.

Fold3/ The US National Archives, WDC, shows an Abstract designated: Congress, Report of cmte. ref. subject: Samuel Fraunces, 3p. Printed in Journals, 1785, p.207-8; as, Item #: 19, Roll #: 26, Date: 1785-03-28; pg.: 325; Vol Description: D-G; Vol # 2; Publ. #: M247 that attests in writing a request for approval of payment based upon recommendation that (Sam’l) Fraunces frequently communicated “the most important intelligence to the commander-in-chief Gen’l. Washington,” that his (Fraunces) house was instrumental also in helping our countrymen, when prisoners of war….”

In the spring of 1785, Fraunces sold the tavern and retired at Monmouth County, NJ. In three years however, he had returned as a caterer operating a Manhattan tavern business on Nassau Street. By 1789, Pres. Washington returned to New York the nation’s capital, and asked Fraunces then age 67, to be his steward and run his presidential household. When later that year the government was moved to Philadelphia, Fraunces went along. The name, Samuel Fraunces at New York prior to his departure with Pres. Washington appears listed in the 1790 (NY) Census as a free, white male, over age 16 with four white females and one slave in his household. At age 73, Samuel died at home in Philadelphia, PA and his remains were buried in a marked grave at St. Peter’s Episcopal Churchyard at 313 Pine Street, Philadelphia designated (1996) a National Historic Landmark at Latitude: 39.943295 and Long.: -75.147733.

Addendum: Jennifer Patton, Director of Education, Pre-Visit materials 2011, Fraunces Tavern Museum, New York, New York wrote for the Federalist Papers Project –Samuel was born in Jamaica and the issue of his racial identity is still a passionate topic for discussion. There may never be conclusive evidence of truth with certainty. Similar unknowns exist in countless ways for many people, communities and elements in the study of history and the past…. When using teaching materials such as these, available to young audiences, it is important to articulate this point so, students are not quick to accept these aspects at face value. Patton has stated that full knowledge and understanding of facts and historical writings can bring a positive sense of empowerment to students by encouraging them to ponder their own “what if’s” in history and perhaps pursue these questions through creative writing or research in the future. For all of us, this emphasizes the need for never ceasing to wonder and inquire about the historical past.