Samuel Fraunces

Samuel Fraunces (1734 – October 11, 1795 Philadelphia Pennsylvania) owner/operator of Fraunces Tavern, New York Vauxhall Gardens and other venues in New York City. Fraunces was born in Jamaica West Indies of African, French and English ancestry. Some would say his origins are somewhat mysterious. Although the U.S. Census1790 Dock Street New York, New York Census lists Fraunces under the White male column and lists one enslaved individual under the slave column Samuel Fraunces is most often remembered as the Jamacian born mulatto steward of George Washington's household.

The slave listed in Fraunces' household in 1790 was most likely his son Samuel Fraunces Jr. His son Samuel was always described as Negro in U.S. Census and Trinity Church, New York records, his daughter Sophia Fraunces Gomez was enumerated as a free black in 1840 and his son Andrew G. Fraunces was enumerated as mulatto in 1800. Samuel's other four children are Elizabeth, Sara, Catherine and Hannah Louisa.

One of the most memorable distinctions earned by Fraunces was his business and personal relationship with one of America's most powerful men, George Washington. In May of 1783 Samuel Fraunces prepared a meal at DeWint House New York for Washington. Later when Washington became the first President of the United States in 1789, he selected Fraunces to be the steward of his executive mansion in New York City.

Sometime prior to these two events Samuel Fraunces and George Washinigton are said to have dined in the comfortable atmosphere of one of America's oldest taverns The Old 76 House in Tappan, New York during the American Revolutionary War. It is during this earlier time when Fraunces' daughter Elizabeth "Phoebe" Fraunces is creditied with exposing an atempt on Washington's life.

The national capital moved to Philadelphia in 1790, and Washington had a hard time finding a steward. Fraunces did eventually follow Washington to Philadelphia. Washington's step-grandson, George Washington Parke Custis described Fraunces overseeing a State dinner: "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 ..." [Recollections and Private Memoirs of the Life and Character of Washington (New York, 1860) p.423]

The building that the Washington's lived in in Philadelphia was owned by Robert Morris (financier). That building was demolished but the ground is part of Independence National Historical Park where Independence Hall (United States) is currently located. In the summer of 1793 Washington did not return to the Morris Home because of the Yellow Fever outbreak he returned to a home in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When the summer was over in 1793 Fraunces operated a tavern in Philadelphia until his death. A Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission marker at 2nd & Dock Streets marks the tavern's location.

A Biography: Samuel Fraunces "Black Sam" ISBN 978-1-4363-9104-7 http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=48978