Tench Francis (Sr.)
Encyclopedia
Tench Francis was a prominent lawyer and jurist in colonial Maryland
and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
Francis was the son of Rev. John Francis, Dean of Linsmore and Rector of St. Mary's Church in Dublin, Ireland. Sometime before 1720, after studying law in London, he moved to America as an attorney for Lord Baltimore
. In Kent County, Maryland
, he opened a law office, and in 1724 married Elizabeth Turbutt. From 1726 to 1734 he was clerk of Talbot County
Court before being elected for a three-year term as legislative representative for Talbot County.
He later settled in Philadelphia, where he was attorney-general of Pennsylvania, succeeding Andrew Hamilton
, from 1741 till 1755, and recorder of Philadelphia from 1750 till 1755.
He was a founding trustee of the College, Academy, and Charitable Schools of Philadelphia (which became the University of Pennsylvania
), and he sent his sons Philip and Turbutt there to study. His son Tench Francis (Jr.)
became a prominent merchant and financier in Philadelphia.
His daughter Margaret married Chief Justice Edward Shippen and was mother-in-law of Benedict Arnold
. His daughter Ann married James Tilgham and a grandson, Tench Tilghman
, became an aide to George Washington
. His daughter Mary married William Coxe and another grandson, Tench Coxe
, was a delegate from Pennsylvania to the last Continental Congress
. His daughter Elizabeth married John Lawrence. His daughter Rachel married John Retfe. Philip married Henrietta Maria Goldsborough their grandson was Philip Francis Thomas. His son Col. Turbutt Francis married Sarah Mifflin and later their descendants dropped the surname Francis and used the name Mifflin.
Tench Francis died in Philadelphia in 1758. His Philadelphia estate records August 19,1758 book L:141 mention Wife: Elizabeth. Children: Rachel, Turbutt, Philip, Anne, Mary, Elizabeth, Margaret and Tench.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
Francis was the son of Rev. John Francis, Dean of Linsmore and Rector of St. Mary's Church in Dublin, Ireland. Sometime before 1720, after studying law in London, he moved to America as an attorney for Lord Baltimore
Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore
Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore, 3rd Proprietor and 17th Proprietary Governor of Maryland, FRS was a British nobleman and Proprietary Governor of the Province of Maryland...
. In Kent County, Maryland
Kent County, Maryland
Kent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, on its Eastern Shore. It was named for the county of Kent in England. Its county seat is Chestertown. In 2010, the county population was 20,197...
, he opened a law office, and in 1724 married Elizabeth Turbutt. From 1726 to 1734 he was clerk of Talbot County
Talbot County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*81.4% White*12.8% Black*0.2% Native American*1.2% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.6% Two or more races*2.7% Other races*5.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
Court before being elected for a three-year term as legislative representative for Talbot County.
He later settled in Philadelphia, where he was attorney-general of Pennsylvania, succeeding Andrew Hamilton
Andrew Hamilton
Andrew Hamilton may refer to:* Andrew Hamilton , colonial governor of New Jersey* Andrew Hamilton , attorney for John Peter Zenger in libel case, and Pennsylvania Attorney General...
, from 1741 till 1755, and recorder of Philadelphia from 1750 till 1755.
He was a founding trustee of the College, Academy, and Charitable Schools of Philadelphia (which became the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
), and he sent his sons Philip and Turbutt there to study. His son Tench Francis (Jr.)
Tench Francis (Jr.)
Tench Francis was a merchant, lawyer and agent for the family of William Penn and the first cashier of the Bank of North America.He was born the son of Elizabeth Turbitt and Tench Francis , a prominent Philadelphia lawyer and jurist, at Fausley, Talbot County, Maryland, in 1730...
became a prominent merchant and financier in Philadelphia.
His daughter Margaret married Chief Justice Edward Shippen and was mother-in-law of Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
. His daughter Ann married James Tilgham and a grandson, Tench Tilghman
Tench Tilghman
Tench Tilghman was an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary war. He served as an aide de camp to General George Washington, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel....
, became an aide to George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. His daughter Mary married William Coxe and another grandson, Tench Coxe
Tench Coxe
Tench Coxe was an American political economist and a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress in 1788-1789. He wrote under the pseudonym "A Pennsylvanian".-Biography:...
, was a delegate from Pennsylvania to the last Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
. His daughter Elizabeth married John Lawrence. His daughter Rachel married John Retfe. Philip married Henrietta Maria Goldsborough their grandson was Philip Francis Thomas. His son Col. Turbutt Francis married Sarah Mifflin and later their descendants dropped the surname Francis and used the name Mifflin.
Tench Francis died in Philadelphia in 1758. His Philadelphia estate records August 19,1758 book L:141 mention Wife: Elizabeth. Children: Rachel, Turbutt, Philip, Anne, Mary, Elizabeth, Margaret and Tench.
External links
- Biographical sketch and portrait at the University of Pennsylvania
- Portrait at the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Robert FekeRobert FekeRobert Feke was an American portrait painter born on Long Island, New York. Little is known for certain about his life before 1741, which is the year he painted his first portrait, Family of Isaac Royall. Sixteen portraits in total are known to be by Feke, and an additional 50 are disputed to be...