Samuel Fraunces

Samuel Fraunces (circa 1722 – October 10, 1795, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an American restaurateur and owner/operator of Fraunces Tavern in New York City. During the Revolutionary War, he provided for prisoners held during the seven-year British occupation of New York City and passes imteeligence to the American side. At the end of the war, it was at Fraunces Tavern that General George Washington said farewell to his officers. Fraunces later served as steward of Washington's presidential household in New York City (1789–1790) and Philadelphia (1791–1794).

The first known image of Fraunces is a sketch published by Alice Morse Earle in her 1900 book, Stagecoach and Tavern Days. Mrs. Arthur Livingston Mason, 1855-1906 (the former Edith B. Hartshorn Mason), was the great great grand daughter of Samuel Fraunces, and this was the image the family presented as Samuel Fraunces. Another painted portrait of Samuel Fraunces by an anonymous artist was exhibited at the Ehrich Galleries in Manhattan in June 1909. A painting was purchased at auction by Henry Russell Drowne, and that is noted in the 1913 minutes for the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York. The second image is an oil-on-canvas portrait exhibited at Fraunces Tavern Museum. The portrait was dated between 1770 and 1785 in a publication by Fraunces Tavern Museum. Authentication and lack of a collar on clothing both indicate that the painting "may be" from earlier than 1770. There, is a description of a Samuel Fraunces portrait found at the Fraunces Tavern Museum in 1936. Gilder's written description is as follows: "with his pleasant dark face and his brown eyes, curls, soft mouth and tapering fingers, and the beginnings of a double chin, looking as if he himself appreciated the good food and drink for which he was famous". The description does not match the portrait identified by Fraunces Tavern Museum as that which was purchased by Henry Russell Drowne, 1913.

The first documentation of his presence in New York City was in February 1755, when he registered as a British subject and "Innholder" and Registered. The following year he was issued a tavern license.

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