[Pharmboy]

Peter Francisco is appreciated only--for the most part--in the South and in Portuguese-American communities, e.g. The Ironbound District of Newark, NJ and New Bedford, MA. This is a nice opportunity to let more Americans know about this patriot and incredible warrior.

[Pharmboy]

Special ping to Clemenza for the Portuguese blood he has...

The RevWar/Colonial Histroy/General Washington ping list...

[massgopguy]

My ancestor Timothy Remmick served longer than any other Continental soldier. He was with Phinney’s Maine at Bunker Hill and stayed on until Yorktown.

[wolfman23601]

Should be awesome. I enjoy History Channel programming that actually teach and dramatize history. I wish they would get back to that.

[bvw]

Wow. Looking forwardski!

[skeeter]

I’ve always wondered why no one ever made a movie surrounding April 19, 1775 and the events leading up to it. A fictional script couldn’t be more dramatic.

[Lockbar]

I will look forward to this, but why does they the History Channel have a show about a Rev. War Soldier? I thought they were only doing chainsaws and big foot.

[ßuddaßudd]

bump for Patriots !

[Harold Shea]

He was 16 at this battle.

Picked up a cannon and carried it..amazing

[RegulatorCountry]

For supporters and fans of the Guilford Battleground National Military Park:

http://www.guilfordbattlegroundcompany.org/

The Guilford Battleground Company is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving history and telling the story of the sacrifices made for America’s freedom.

NC residents, please consider purchasing a specialty NC “Revolution” license tag to support the GBC.

[rdl6989]

bttt

[Semper911]

Great thread. I am going to set up an an email reminder for July 1st to remind me to DVR this show.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Oh, Pedro Francisco!

I read a magazine article on him years ago in either American History or American Heritage (we got both).

I always wondered if this would make a good niche movie for the RevWar.

[Constitution Day]

Thanks for posting this. I’ll have to read it later!

You are right, he certainly is still remembered here in the South.
(I am in North Carolina)

[SunkenCiv]

His brother Sam died in obscurity.

[RegulatorCountry]

Here are a few relevant monuments and inscriptions from Guilford Courthouse National Military Park:

Cavalry Monument

Located on the edge of a large cleared field, on what was originally thought to be the third American line, this monument commemorates three men who fought for freedom, and those who served with them.

The inscriptions on the monument read:

1781 1909
TO THE MARQUIS OF BRITIGNY AND COL. WM. WASHINGTON
WHO WITH THEIR NORTH CAROLINA AND VIRGINIA CAVALRY CHARGED
AND RAN THROUGH AND OVER THE 2ND. QUEENS GUARDS IN THE
VALLEY BELOW.
(north face)

TO PETER FRANCISCO
A GIANT IN STATURE MIGHT AND COURAGE WHO SLEW IN THIS ENGAGEMENT ELEVEN OF THE ENEMY WITH HIS OWN BROAD SWORD RENDERING HIMSELF THEREBY PERHAPS THE MOST FAMOUS PRIVATE SOLDIER OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
(west face)

Hooper-Penn Monument

The final resting place for two of the three signers of the Declaration of Independence from North Carolina. Buried beneath the monument are:

William Hooper
Born in Boston on June 17, 1742 he moved to Wilmington, NC in about 1765. He died in Hillsborough, North Carolina, on October 4, 1790.

John Penn
Born in Caroline County, Virginia, May 17, 1741. He died near Stovall, North Carolina in 1788.

Also remembered is North Carolina's third signer of the Declaration of Independence, Joseph Hewes. Hewes was born in Kingston, New Jersey, in 1720 and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 10, 1799. He is buried in an unknown location in Christ Churchyard in Philadelphia.

The inscription on the monument reads:

IN MEMORIAM
WILLIAM HOOPER AND JOHN PENN
DELEGATES FROM
NORTH CAROLINA 1776 TO THE
CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AND SIGNERS
OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
THEIR REMAINS WERE REINTERRED
HERE 1894. HEWES GRAVE IS LOST
HE WAS THE THIRD SIGNER

"LEE, HENRY AND HOOPER WERE THE
ORATORS OF THE CONGRESS"
JOHN ADAMS' DIARY VOL. 2. P. 396, 1774

Kerenhappuch Turner Monument

This monument was erected to the memory of the mother of a soldier who fought in the battle of Guilford Courthouse, Kerenhappuch Norman Turner, by two of her relatives.

The inscription on the monument reads:

1781 1902
A HEROINE OF '76
MRS. KERENHAPPUCH TURNER
MOTHER OF ELIZABETH
THE WIFE OF JOSEPH
MOREHEAD OF N.C. AND
GRANDMOTHER OF CAPTAIN
JAMES AND OF JOHN MOREHEAD
A YOUNG N.C. SOLDIER UNDER
GREENE, RODE HORSE-BACK FROM
HER MARYLAND HOME AND AT
GUILFORD COURTHOUSE NURSED
TO HEALTH A BADLY WOUNDED SON.

ERECTED BY
J. TURNER AND JOS. MOTLEY MOREHEAD

Joseph Winston Monument

This monument was erected to the memory of Joseph Winston and to two of his "Surry County Boys" of the Surry Militia.

The inscription on the monument reads:

IN MEMORY OF THE NORTH CAROLINA TROOPS UNDER MAJOR JOSEPH
WINSTON WHO WERE FIGHTING THE HESSIANS AND TARLETON'S
CAVALRY NEAR THIS SPOT AFTER THE CONTINENTAL LINE HAD
RETREATED FROM THE FIELD OF BATTLE MARCH 15, 1781

ERECTED BY GOVERNOR THOMAS M. HOLT 1893

MAJOR JOSEPH WINSTON
CAPTAIN JESSE FRANKLIN
RICHARD TALIAFERRO
PALAMAN QUI MERUIT FERAT
(Let him who has won the palm bear it)

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Known as the Hercules of the Revolution, Francisco's biography reads like that of an action hero. Born in the Portuguese Azores in 1760, he is believed to have been kidnapped by pirates when he was 5 years old. He was found abandoned on the docks at Hopewell, Va., in 1765 uttering the name "Pedro Francisco." He was taken in as an indentured servant by Judge Anthony Winston, uncle of Patrick Henry.

Amazing story.

[wildbill]

Ya gotta watch those pesky Portugee pirates. They’ll run off with anything left lying around, even cannons.