Samuel Fraunces

Although his birth date is unknown, Samuel Fraunces was born in the West Indies and immigrated to New York City by 1755. On November 30, 1787, he married Elizabeth Dalley and they had seven children.¹ Samuel owned and operated a series of taverns in New York City. During the American Revolution, his establishments became important gathering locations with links to the Freemasons and Sons of Liberty. He also provided food, supplies, and intelligence to the Continental Army throughout the war. It was through these taverns that he became acquainted with General George Washington.² 

When Washington became president in 1789, he hired Samuel to be the steward of his first presidential household in New York. George Washington Parke Custis, Martha Washington’s grandson, wrote about Fraunces in his memoir. He recalled that “the steward was a man of talent and considerable taste in the line of his profession, but at the same time ambitious, fond of display, and regardless of expense.”³ Custis then explained that this caused many disagreements between Fraunces and President Washington. Fraunces left the household in February of 1790, around the time the Washingtons moved to the second presidential household in New York. The fact that the Washingtons paid him a bonus on his last month’s wages suggests it was on good terms.⁴ 

By the time the Washingtons moved to the President’s House in Philadelphia in late 1790, they were dissatisfied with Fraunces' replacement John Hyde. In 1791, Washington’s private secretary Tobias Lear worked through Fraunces’ son Andrew to re-hire him.⁵ Eventually, Fraunces agreed to move to Philadelphia and resume his role as steward.⁶ He worked for the Washingtons in Philadelphia from 1791 to 1794, when he retired. 

He died in Philadelphia on October 10, 1795, and was buried at Saint Peter’s Episcopal Churchyard.⁷ After his death, various historical sources claimed that Fraunces was Black or “mixed-race” because of his Caribbean heritage and nickname: “Black Sam.” However, no contemporary sources list him as such. For example, the 1790 Census records him as a White head of household with one enslaved person listed.⁸ He was also a member of the Freemasons and Trinity Church, both of which did not allow Black members.⁹