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Phoebe Fraunces is a fictional character in the book: Phoebe the Spy. There is no evidence of her existence in any documentation surrounding the Fraunces family. She was not mentioned in Samuel Fraunces will, was not found to have a baptismal certificate, and is not mentioned in any newspapers. Also, the fact that she is black, and that her father was black, is not necessarily true. Her father was called "Black" Sam, "Black" often used as a term for someone with a swarthy and ugly face.
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Professor"Phoebe Fraunces" seems to be a myth. There is no record of Samuel Fraunces having had a daughter named Phoebe. The name does not appear in birth, baptismal or census records, and she is not mentioned in his will. The 1790 U.S. Census for New York describes Samuel Fraunces as a "free white male" and a slaveholder, so if a Phoebe existed she may have been a woman enslaved or employed by him, rather than his daughter.
There is no record of a Phoebe Fraunces ever existing. The name does not appear with Samuel Fraunces's children in birth or baptismal records, and she is not mentioned in his will. The 1790 U.S. Census for New York lists Sameul Fraunces as a "free white male" and a slaveholder, so if a Phoebe existed she may have been a woman enslaved or employed by him, rather than his daughter.
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Did phoebe fraunces have a husband?
There is no record of a Phoebe Fraunces ever existing. The name does not appear with Samuel Fraunces's children in birth or baptismal records, and she is not mentioned in his will. The 1790 U.S. Cenus for New York lists Samuel Fraunces as a "free white male" and a slaveholder, so if a Phoebe existed she may have been a woman enslaved or employed by him, rather than his daughter.
Where did phoebe fraunces live?
There is no record of a Phoebe Fraunces ever existing. The name does not appear with Samuel Fraunces's children in birth or baptismal records, and she is not mentioned in his will. The 1790 U.S. Census for New York lists Samuel Fraunces as a "free white male" and a slaveholder, so if a Phoebe ever existed she may have been a woman enslaved or employed by him, rather than his daughter.
Was Samuel Fraunces a black man or a white man?
"Fraunces was nicknamed "Black Sam", leading to the assumption by some that he was black. After extensive research by Fraunces Tavern Museum, however, no primary source that substantiates the belief that Samuel Fraunces was of African descent has been uncovered, while there is evidence to believe otherwise. Other than the appearance of the nickname, there are no known references where Fraunces was described as a black man. In the Federal Census for 1790, he was listed as a free, white head-of-household. He was also a member of the elite Trinity Church in New York City and a registered voter." -- Jennifer Patton, Director of Education, Fraunces Tavern Museum, New York City.
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