This post is about the Virginia Giant, American Revolutionary War Hero, and most notable Portuguese person in Richmond’s history; Peter Francisco. His feats of strength and bravery are legend… and may or not have had the legend grow around the initial feats. Either way, this “Hercules of the Revolution,” through his actions, left a big mark on the American historical landscape.

It is believed that when he was 4 years old, Francisco, the son of Portuguese nobility from the Canary Islands, was spirited away to the United States due to his parents being involved in some sort of political intrigue.

He showed up in 1765 at the wharf in what is now Hopewell, VA. He spoke no English. People thought “man, what terrible Spanish”

and then realized that it was Portugese.

Judge Anthony Winston, the uncle of Patrick Henry, raised him on his farm in Buckingham County, Virginia.

Francisco mastered English and accompanied the judge, on his travels around Virginia. Judge Winston was a delegate to the 2nd Virginia Convention and a 15 year old Peter Francisco was standing outside of the Church Window when he heard Patrick Henry’s fiery “Give me liberty or give me death” speech.

Filled with the spirit of Patriotism and the prospect of fighting for the glory of a new country he he enlisted in the 10th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line. Where he would make a name with incredible feats of strength and bravery. He was 15, but stood AT LEAST 6’6” and weighed 260 lbs. The average height of a male at the time was 5’6”.

He first distinguished himself along with who would become a lifelong friend the Marquis de Lafayette in the defense of the then capital of Philadelphia until it was captured by the British. He was with Washington at Valley Forge, and fought at Monmouth Courthouse in New Jersey when Washington attacked the Brits’ rear guard when they were going to defend New York. He was injured twice and when his two years of service were up… he reenlisted!

Summer 1779, the war was pretty much stalemated. Washington ordered General “Mad” Anthony Wayne to capture some fortifications at Stony Point New York, so he put Francisco in charge of 20 men with axes to chop the Abatis from the fort and take it. He was the second man into the fort.

He received a 9 inch stomach wound for his troubles.

But he killed his assailant along with 2 other Grenadiers, and passed out holding onto the fort’s flagstaff. This story spread through the ranks and brought his initial notoriety. As soon as he recovered, he reenlisted with Colonel Mayo’s Virginia Militia Regiment.

In the Battle of Camden, South Carolina, when the Continental General Gates was retreating, Francisco noticed a small field artillery piece that had been abandoned.. Using his Herculean strength, he moved the 1100 pound cannon to a position being held by a group of continentals.

Once he was safe, he went into some trees to rest, but was happened upon by 2 cavalrymen. He stood up and held his musket out as a sign of surrender. When the officer went for the gun, he swung it around, knocked the officer out, bayoneted the other cavalryman, and took their horse and sword and rode off.

As he’s riding off, he happens upon his commander, Colonel John Mayo (whose son built Mayo’s Bridge) being held by 4 Brits. So he charged them, cut all four down, and gave his horse to Colonel Mayo who gave this account.

What a day!

Realizing he was a huge target as an infantryman, but great for cavalry, he joined Colonel William Washington’s Dragoons. At the battle of Guilford’s Courthouse in 1781, he single-handedly took out 11 Grenadiers despite having his leg pinned to his horse with a bayonet, and stabbed through the other leg as well. He recovered and was presented with an engraved razor case which is at Guilford Courthouse.

As soon as he recovered. Peter Francisco volunteered again. This time as a scout.

At Ward’s Tavern in Nottoway County, he was surprised by nine of Tarleton’s dragoons and taken prisoner. After disarming him, Tarleton’s men left one man to guard him while the rest entered the tavern to quench their thirst.

Francisco wrenched the sword from the dragoon and struck him dead. Another dragoon, hearing the commotion came out to see what was going on. He fired his pistol, striking Francisco in his side, his sixth wound. Francisco sprang at him with the captured sabre killing him instantly. Some accounts claim Francisco killed all nine British dragoons. Whether that’s true or not, he did escape. His name appears on the rolls of those who fought at Yorktown where British Commander Cornwallis surrendered to Washington.

After the war, Peter Francisco settled down in Richmond with Susanna Anderson at her estate of Locust Grove.

He was a member of Richmond Masonic Lodge #19, and attended lodge at Historic Masons Hall (a 1785 building undergoing fundraising efforts to restore it) and lived out his life as the Sergeant at Arms for the Virginia Assembly until he died of appendicitis in 1831. He is buried in Shockoe Cemetery.