Tench Francis Sr.
Tench Francis (born probably in Ireland; died 16 August 1758) 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.[1]
Maryland
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. 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.
Pennsylvania
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.
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In 1724 he married Elizabeth Turbutt. His daughter Margaret married Chief Justice Edward Shippen and was mother-in-law of Benedict Arnold. His daughter Ann married James Tilghman 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.
References
- ↑ Oscar Jewell Harvey, 1909, A history of Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania