Peter Francisco - Hercules of the Revolution

Fall Recap | First Lady of Portugal

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:30:01 PST

A lot has happened over the autumn months as I've continued to tell Peter's story, so I thought I'd catch you all up.

October 25 - I've been traveling so much that I didn't realize that I was in The Stanly News & Press for my last impersonation of Peter Francisco until I went to my PO Box this morning. The hostess of the event cut out the article and mailed it to me. It's one of the better articles I've read and includes a couple of video clips.

November 8 - I received word that WVPT — one of PBS's largest reaching stations with a potential 6.1 million viewers — will be broadcasting my documentary in the near future into VA, WV, MD, and DC. I'll keep you posted on broadcast dates.

November 10 - I received a phone call from the Army Historical Foundation and they have decided to add one of Peter's swords to the $200 million National Museum of the US Army that is scheduled to open in 2015. They anticipate 750,000 annual visitors. What an honor and a great way to preserve Peter Francisco's legacy! There are three dress swords that Peter Francisco owned that are in museums today. Peter saved Colonel Mayo's life (story in my book) down in Camden, South Carolina, and Mayo gave him a sword after the war to thank him. That sword is at a museum in Richmond but it's not on display. So, I called the Army Historical Foundation asking them to put it on display in the "new" army museum. He told me today that they are moving forward with my suggestion. Wahoo! They are going to use a picture of Peter as well in the display. The curator of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Collection Center offered their oil painting on a permanent loan to the Peter Francisco exhibit at the museum.

November 11 - Josh and I hit the road for Richmond & Washington, DC. We attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Peter Francisco's grave in Shockoe Hill Cemetery in honor of Veterans Day which was organized by the VA Sons of the American Revolution & the Society of the Descendants of Peter Francisco. I came dressed as Peter and it seemed people were taking my picture from every direction. One lady said, "It's really strange seeing you here at your grave, Peter."

Check out all the pictures and back story on: Flickr | Facebook

November 12 - After multiple discussions with the Portuguese Embassy, I was honored to bring Peter Francisco to life for a private luncheon with the First Lady of Portugal and other dignitaries at Mount Vernon. I gave Mrs. Cavaco Silva the first revised copy of Hercules of the Revolution, which I've been working on for the past year. The new edition contains an additional 30,000 words (~100 pages)! Hopefully, this will set up the perfect PR opportunity to hand deliver my book to the President of Portugal when it's translated into Portuguese.

Check out all the pictures and back story on: Flickr | Facebook

Daughters of the American Revolution | Charlotte

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:11:03 PST

Just over 100 members of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) turned out yesterday morning to hear Peter's story. Several of them had seen me before, but most had never heard of my great-grandfather. I signed books/DVDs for an hour and a half afterwards and I sold out of my books. One lady wrote her check out to Travis Francisco! Hmmm...

Funny story: After arriving at the venue, I realized that I had all of the parts to my colonial outfit (shoes, hat, wig, sword, etc) except my shirt. Then I realized I didn't have enough time to go home before "the bright lights hit me". So ... I went w/o a shirt! :0) Just kidding. I talked to one of the DAR ladies who had been a curator at the Charlotte Museum of History before and she knew where some clothes were at the museum. Turns out ... they had the exact same shirt and size that I needed hanging in their wardrobe. Go figure! Another way of saying that ... go God!

Hope everyone had a great new year. I'll be posting a recap of happenings this fall along with pictures of my meeting with the First Lady of Portugal, so stay tuned!

Peter Francisco Honors America's Finest

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:25:37 PDT

It's hard to believe 10 years have passed since that tragic events of September 11, 2001. I was at home in Bonney Lake, Washington, at the time, long before my epiphany about my ancestor Peter Francisco. Michelle was home with the boys, Austin then 2 and Josh a newborn. I was about to go meet with a client when I heard about the plane hitting the North Tower at the World Trade Center. Like many, I thought it was an accident at first. But when the second plane hit the South Tower, I realized it was much more than that. I was hit with a wave of emotion. At first I felt numb with disbelief that this was really happening and helpless to do anything. That quickly turned into sadness when the towers fell and the Pentagon was hit, and I came to grips with the harsh reality of life lost. Then I was just angry. Angry that terrorists had found a way to get to us. Angry that anyone could think so little of human life. Angry that the many brave and selfless who had come to aid in the rescue had become unintended casualties. All I could think was: this means war.

Looking back, I wonder now if my sentiments on September 11 mirrored at all those of the people who lived and survived alongside battlefields and skirmishes of those old wars, like the Revolutionary War. Some joined the cause in attempt to keep the fighting from reaching their homeland. Others came to aid the wounded. Some were simply too close to the fighting. Theirs was an innocent sacrifice.

These were the feelings that influenced me when I was invited to speak at Dayton Ave Baptist Church in Xenia, Ohio, on September 11 to a crowd of America's finest police officers and firefighters. Pastor Jon Young honored the officers with a gift from the church.

My sermon was on Honoring Their Sacrifice, and I delivered it as Peter Francisco set in the year 1800. The political climate would have seemed familiar. Candidates for that year's election were campaigning hard for votes. The nation was at war. The government was struggling to pay for out-of-control debt. The Alien & Sedition Acts had been passed in 1798 in part to prevent a violent rebellion similar to the one in France but was viewed by many as the federal government infringing on state's rights. People were rioting in the streets. Revolution was again in the hearts of young America. Had they so quickly forgotten the sacrifice and bloodshed of their fellow countrymen a mere 20 years before or was the fiery passion for freedom still ablaze?

And what about us? Are we still able to recall the feelings of anger, helplessness and loss as we did that September day just 10 years ago? Regardless of the political storm, we should never forget those that sacrificed their lives for our freedom. We should honor their sacrifice! During my sermon, I outlined three practical ways we as citizens can do just that: stay involved in our culture, preserve the family structure, and teach the next generation.

There were about 400 in the first service and 300 in the second service. I wasn't wearing the 6' broadsword during the sermon, but I brought it out towards the end. You should have heard the gasps in the crowd. I love that response!

My youngest son Josh traveled with me to Ohio. Afterward, we had lunch with Pastor Jon Young and his family, then Josh and I visited the National Museum of the US Air Force. We only had an hour and a half to visit the museum, but we could have been there for several days. It was truly a fitting way to cap a day honoring America's heroes.

Check out all the pictures on: Facebook | Flickr

What are some ways you have honored the sacrifice of America's heroes?

Summer Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 12:13:01 PDT

Man, this has been one crazy summer! Between speaking engagement and family trips, I haven’t had much down time. Sorry for the delay between posts! Somewhere in there, with help, I was able achieve a few important milestones:

The manuscript revision for book one is being finalized and reviewed as I type this. We’ve added over 100 pages! Signing with a publisher is within sight!
I signed a deal with a film company out in L.A. to produce a feature film based on my book. We will be starting on the screenplay within the next few months! Good news for all of you who’ve been asking about a Hercules movie!
I delivered my first sermon on sacrifice at Forest Lake Baptist Church using Peter’s story as an illustration. (I’ll be doing the same thing on Sept. 11 for a group of firefighters and police officers in Ohio! What an honor!)
My paperwork tracing my lineage back to Peter Francisco was approved. I am now a proud member of the Sons of the American Revolution, joining men like Dwight D. Eisenhower, General McArthur, General Patton, George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, Theodore Roosevelt, and many others. The actual ceremony will be in November.

Thanks to everyone who’s been following along! Here are some highlights from the summer.

After a Father's Day weekend camping trip with my dad, brothers, and nephews, I took Austin and Josh to an important historical site - Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. One of my future books about Peter Francisco will likely include a description of this property.

It’s always fun being a tourist in my home state: Maryland. Some of my family still lives there. We ate crabs, went to an O’s game, and even visited Ft. McHenry — birthplace of the national anthem — where I got some good ideas for book three in the Hercules series! There is a great story of Peter Francisco hoisting a cannon, which the post office put on a 1976 stamp. So, of course, I had to give this a shot myself.

While in Baltimore, I had the opportunity to speak at St. Elizabeth School, where my sister teaches, and again in Elkridge, Maryland. Not very large crowds, but now a few more people know about Peter Francisco!

Check out all the pics from St. Elizabeth’s School and Elkridge: Facebook | Flickr

We also visited friends and family in PA, NY and Virginia all in one week! Among the highlights was a trip to Niagara Falls.

I also had the opportunity to speak about sacrifice at the county fair in Montrose, PA and Forest Lake Church, where my ninth grade basketball coach is now pastor.

Check out all the pictures from Forest Lake Church: Facebook | Flickr

I also had a business trip out west to Colorado and Wyoming and was able to knock two historic landmarks off my bucket list: Pike’s Peak and Old Faithful!

I took the cog rail up to Pike's Peak - a whopping 14,110' in the sky! At the top, I was short on breath, and it made me wonder if this what a panic attack feels like! I never knew it, but "America the Beautiful" was written from Pike's Peak. Makes sense, though, doesn't it?

Fast forward to Wyoming. I drove five hours North to Yellowstone National Park. Below is a close shot of Old Faithful. There were probably 300 or 400 people waiting to see it go when I was there. Definitely worth waiting for. Amazing they know exactly when that is going to go off! The precision of that geyser, not to mention its name, really made me stop and think about God's faithfulness.

Although it sounds a lot like the question a teacher would ask on the first day of school, I'm still interested: How did you spend your summer? And, more importantly, what did you learn?

Military News: Peter Francisco - Hercules of the Revolutionary War

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:59:49 PDT

Military News: Peter Francisco - Hercules of the Revolutionary War

On June 9 at 6 pm EDT, I'll be the featured guest on American Heroes Radio, hosted by Lt. Raymond E. Foster (retired, Los Angeles Police Department). American Heroes Radio typically interviews guests who have actually served in the military or other special service. Since my ancestor Peter Francisco served in the US Army and was a hero of the American Revolution, I will be joining the show in character as Peter.

Link to listen live

Archive in case you miss live broadcast

Buckingham Day Parade | Grand Marshal

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Fri, 20 May 2011 06:26:00 PDT

I was invited to be the grand marshal in the Buckingham Day Parade on May 14. Peter Francisco resided in Buckingham County most of his life. It was a lot of fun, but unfortunately I only took pictures before and after the parade. This was my first time riding a horse with the 6' broadsword strapped to my back. Good times!

This was Friday evening before the parade when Trampas and I first met. What a great horse! We had to figure out how the 6' broadsword would do with the horse.

On Friday night before the parade I went to Mitch's horse ranch to check out the horses. He had this cool stage coach which he built from scratch for some movies that his horses have been a part of. Hmmmm...

Trampas was the largest horse that Mitch owned and he did just great for me. He and I were like peas and carrots. :0)

This was the first time riding a horse as Peter Francisco so this was a LOT of fun for me!

I don't know if that is a little rain on the camera but I love this close up of Trampas and I.

This older gentleman was in the parade and he really wanted me to get on his horse so that he could have a picture. I thought that was funny but I complied. Uh ... little small.

Mitch and his dad were the father/son team who own the horses. Mitch is dressed as a Virginia Mountain Man (like John Allen in my book) and he rode along side of me so that nothing crazy happened. Of course, I'm not the most experienced horse rider in the world.

Here is a Confederate gray horse that my cousin had suggested I ride. I had originally wanted white because that is the color of the horse depicted in the 1814 engraving by D. Edwin of Francisco's Fight. But, the brown horse was the largest horse they had. A horse is a horse, of course!

This gal Paige is from an Indian tribe in North Carolina. I loved her outfit!

Bob has been in some western films. I love this shot of him looking like the Sundance Kid.

And ... we're off!

The book signing afterwards was a lot of fun too. I had a family of about six children ask me to tell them the story of Peter Francisco because they live on Francisco Road in Buckingham. I was amazed that they didn't know any of Peter's story.

What color horses do you think Peter had?

Buckingham County | 250th Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 09:08:49 PDT

Recently, I was invited to speak during the Buckingham County’s 250th birthday bash at Buckingham Courthouse Square on April 2. I took my family along for the event. Thanks to the GPS losing its signal, we almost didn’t make it on time. But, if you know me, you know that fast and furious is the way I roll!

Despite the fierce wind and sometimes-looming rain clouds, nearly 250 residents and friends of Buckingham County turned out for the milestone celebration, one for each year since the county was established. This shot is only about half the crowd.

A Host of Celebrities

Among other notables in attendance were Buckingham County Administrator Rebecca Carter, U.S. Congressman Robert Hurt and State Senator Frank Ruff. Congressman Hurt saying a few words below to commemorate the occasion.

Elizabeth McLeod, current President of The Society of the Descendants of Peter Francisco, on behalf of the society, received a Peter Francisco Memorial Life Membership in the Masons Hall Lodge 1785 in Richmond.

Other impersonators included Michael Wells as a convincing Patrick Henry, and Charles White, Jr., as William Smothers, a “free man of color” who lived in Buckingham and also fought in the Revolution. Admittedly, I didn’t know much about William Smothers, but enjoyed learning about his story. Michael has been doing Patrick Henry impersonations for 20+ years, and he was really into his character. Here he is rehearsing some of his lines on the porch of Maysville Manor, the newly-renovated Bed & Breakfast in the Square.

They came just for Peter

As part of the event, I signed copies of my book. Peter is well known in this area, so it was no surprise to see a few uber fans in the crowd. Among them was Randall Turner, who brought with him a 6-foot sword just like my own replica of Peter’s, which, of course, I had to test for authenticity! Shoooooooooot!

Bill Walker, who is the webmaster of Lee Wayside Historic Village and also dressed in period RevWar garb, came over just to see Peter and couldn’t wait to get a picture with me.

Peter Francisco and the History of Buckingham County

Peter is likely the most famous person from Buckingham County. When he was about five years old, he was deposited at the wharf at City Point (now Hopewell). Sent to live in a poor house, he was then adopted by Judge Anthony Winston (Patrick Henry’s uncle) and taken to live on Hunting Tower plantation in Buckingham County, where he grew up as a slave. After the war, he returned to Buckingham County, where he resided until ~1825 when he eventually became sergeant-at-arms in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Below is a map highlighting some of key places of Peter's life in and around Buckingham County. Click on the map to enlarge, then select a pinpoint to learn more about each location.

To see more photos of the event, see my Flickr profile.
Also see the articles in the Farmville Herald or the Daily Progress

History of Peter Francisco Day - March 15

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 05:53:00 PDT

For nearly 60 years, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Virginia have observed March 15 as Peter Francisco Day to honor my ancestor, the Portuguese-born patriot, who was kidnapped and abandoned by pirates, then bought as a slave. He won his personal freedom and, ultimately, that of a nation, by enlisting and serving in the Continental Army. March 15, 1781, was the date of the Battle of Guilford Court House in North Carolina, during which Peter Francisco fought with fury unparalleled in military history. Wielding the incredible six-foot broadsword fashioned for him by George Washington, Peter cut down eleven British Grenadiers.

The First Peter Francisco Day

The Honorable Edmond Dinis of New Bedford, Massachusetts, where Peter Francisco Square stands, was the first to file legislation designating the date in 1953. Dinis realized that despite Peter Francisco’s heroic contributions for American freedom and independence, he was becoming a "forgotten man." He also knew that those in the area, including thousands of Portuguese-Americans, would wish to remember and honor those whose sacrifices established the United States of America.

Then-Governor John A. Volpe signed the proclamation into law, proclaiming the first Peter Francisco Day on March 15, 1962. Rhode Island and Virginia soon followed. As a sixth generation descendant of Peter Francisco and North Carolina resident, I have been lobbying for the same legislation to be passed in that state.

Peter Francisco – Hercules of the Revolution

Peter Francisco was called the "Hercules of the Revolution" because of his enormous size, massive strength, and unbelievable bravery. George Washington had a six-foot broadsword made for him and even made the claim that we would have likely lost the whole Revolutionary War without Peter Francisco. His legacy continues today with five monuments that stand in his honor and a US bicentennial stamp that enshrined him in 1976, in addition to the three states that observe Peter Francisco Day. "Peter Francisco’s story is not just another legend from the battlefields of the Revolution," says bestselling author and film producer Robert Whitlow. "This truly is the American Braveheart story!"

Commemorate Peter Francisco Day by sending a Peter Francisco e-card.

Virtual Tricorn Hat Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:00:41 PDT

The contest is now closed. Congratulations to Hazel West on being the lucky winner! Thanks to all who participated!

Now through March 15, which is Peter Francisco Day, anyone who interacts on my social media profiles will be entered for a chance to win a FREE signed copy of Hercules of the Revolution and my documentary The Peter Francisco Story! The lucky winner will also receive a copy of Hercules of the Revolution ebook formatted for Kindle!

Two Ways to Win

1. Connect with me as a new follower on any of my social media profiles, and I will enter your name into the virtual "tricorn hat" for each profile you follow. In order to be entered, post a comment on this blog entry to let me know you followed.

Twitter – Follow @peterfrancisco on Twitter
Blog – Use your Google or Twitter account to follow the Peter Francisco blog (to the right)
Facebook – Like the Hercules of the Revolution page on Facebook (like box to the right)
Flickr – Add me as a contact on Flickr
Goodreads – Become a fan of my author page on Goodreads

2. Post feedback on any of my profiles, and I will enter your name into the virtual "tricorn hat" for each comment or reply. In order to be entered, post a comment on the blog to let me know you posted something and where.

Blog – Post a comment to any of my blog entries, including this one!
Twitter – Reply to, Retweet or mention the @peterfrancisco Twitter handle in your tweet stream
Facebook – Post a comment on the Hercules of the Revolution wall, photos or video
Flickr – Comment on any photo set or individual photo
Goodreads – Add Hercules of the Revolution to your reading list or join the RevWar Revolutionary War Book Club

Remember, in order to have your name entered into the virtual tricorn hat, you must return to the blog and post a comment about your activity. The more you interact, the more chances you have to win!

If the response volume calls for it, I’ll post a leaderboard on the top right panel of the blog, so you can scope out the odds. Drawing will be held on March 19. Winner will be announced on all profiles and notified the week of March 21.

Good luck and thanks for helping me share Peter’s story!

The #RevWar Revolutionary War Book Club

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 09:38:00 PST

I am now a co-moderator of the Revolutionary War Book Club on Goodreads. Started last week by the Twitter #RevWar community, the group features discussion and review of books about the American Revolutionary War. In addition, we run member polls to choose books as a group and discuss other topics related to the Revolutionary War outside of what we're currently reading.

We voted on our first read last week, which is The Road to Guilford Courthouse: The American Revolution in the Carolinas by John Buchanan. I'm looking forward to reading more about this battle that Peter Francisco participated in.

It's been great connecting with others who are also interested in the period that defined our great nation. Everyone is encouraged to join. You are not obligated to read the selected books, but do let us know what interests you and what types of RevWar books you like to read or have read. If you have authored any books or articles, be sure to let us know and leave a link!

Extra! Extra! The RevWar Daily

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 08:20:11 PST

The newspaper is not dead. It's L.I.! Paper.li, that is.

Allow me to introduce The RevWar Daily, a compendium of Revolutionary War news, stories, trivia, personas and rich media based on the tweets by the good folks on my RevWar twitter list. The paper culls the various posts of the day and then re-organizes them in newspaper style format, featuring headlines and other sections like Education, Arts & Entertainment, Politics, Living and Media.

If you have a Twitter profile that focuses on the American Revolution, such as events, people, landmarks, etc., leave a comment with your Twitter handle or drop me a tweet @peterfrancisco. We are seeking contributors, including chapters of Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution!

Below are snapshots of a few tweeps whose posts will be featured.

@Boston1775

J.L. Bell is a writer and blogger specializing in the start of the American Revolution in the Boston area. His tweets @Boston1775 include history, analysis & unabashed gossip about the American Revolution in New England.

@RagLinen

Todd Andrlik hosts an online museum of historic newspapers (of all things!), describing them as first drafts of history and primary source material for historians, authors and educators. @RagLinen is a steady stream of media about, well, media!

@illustr8r

The genius behind Ross & Revere Revolutionary Design, @illustr8r often tweets about Revolutionary War news, art, and, well, life! By day, she is an acclaimed children's artist and by night she designs many of the graphics for national and local tea party campaigns.

@TheFreedomTrail

Tweets from The Freedom Trail Foundation, the non-profit organization responsible for promoting Boston's historic path, The Freedom Trail.

@martimongiello

Former chef to the POTUS, Marti Mongiello is now the entrepreneur of a colonial bed & breakfast near Charlotte, North Carolina, called The Inn of the Patriots. In addition to the B&B, @martimongiello is also spearheading the development of a resort dedicated to the living history of the American Revolution.

@56Signers

Joseph D'Agnese & Denise Kiernan are the authors of Signing Their Lives Away: The Fame & Misfortune of the Men Who Signed the Declaration of Independence. Tweets from @56Signers include backstories on America's founding fathers along with windows into their lives and many sacrifices for the cause.

@EarlyAmerica

Don Vitale is the editor of Early America Review an online periodical celebrating its 15th year in publication on Archiving Early America. @EarlyAmerica offers timely and exciting stories of early America's historic past, along with videos, games, music and more from the pages of Archiving Early America.

@PatriotCast

Taking Twitter by storm is Jason Phelan, creator of @PatriotCast, a virtual day-by-day calendar of the American Revolution. Right now, it's the year 1776 on this Revolutionary War rewind, and you won't want to miss it!

@RevolutionaryPA

All things related to the Keystone State's contribution to the American Revolution. Expect @RevolutionaryPA to tweet on milestones, historic dates, genealogy and geocaching/waymarking! (Yes, you read that right!) Look for their website coming soon.

@Smoothe_1
Like me, Steve Boothe is a working husband and father with ancestors who fought in the American Revolution. @Smoothe_1 is fascinated with that period in early American history and Lou Gehrig. Expect to learn things you never knew about both!

Rebekah Harris | Flotsam & Jetsam NY

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:40:40 PST

When I was in Hopewell, Virginia, in November delivering my dramatic impersonation, I met the mother of talented jewelry designer Rebekah Harris, owner of Flotsam & Jetsam NY. After I finished speaking, Rebekah's mom presented me with one of Rebekah's Stormy Sea Cuffs, which, along with the entire Armada Collection, takes its inspiration in part from Peter Francisco mysterious arrival in America at the hands of pirates after being tossed at sea by an angry storm.

Rebekah grew up in the Hopewell area and every day she would walk by a painting of City Point that hung on the wall. City Point is where Peter was abandoned, rowed to shore in a dinghy while the ship with its vast sails remained concealed by fog out on the James River. That ship is the subject of her Spanish Galleon Pendant and Pirate Ship Earrings.

Recently, Rebekah wrote about her inspiration on her blog. Below is her entire entry re-posted here. Isn't this an amazing story? What a talent! Thank you, Rebekah!

________________

Early Inspirations for the Armada Collection and The Rest of the Story ...

As a child my grandmother would tell us the local legend of Peter Francisco. It was a story she unearthed while preparing to teach local history for Hopewell, Virginia. She lit the fires of many children’s imaginations regaling the tale of a little boy put ashore in 1765 on the docks of City Point. The jettisoned child was wearing silver buckles and velvet pants and speaking a language no one understood. Later they discovered it was Portuguese, and he was abducted by pirates from his parent’s home in the Azores They believe while traversing the Atlantic a great storm was endured and like the biblical story of Jonah being offered to the Sea, he was expelled from the ship and the proverbial whale that absorbed him were the colonies of what would become the United States.

A painting of a little boy on the dock watching his captor’s ships sail away hung on our walls and reminded me of the tragic beginnings of this boys life and the adventures that begin at sea. The beautiful crucifix-like masts of the Pirate ships told the story every day of the most interesting occurrence on the banks of the James River since Pocahontas spared the life of Captain John Smith.

Recently I devoured a book entitled, Hercules of the Revolution, a page turning historical fiction by a descendant of the little orphaned boy. It urns out little Peter Francisco led quite the life. Originally he was sold into lavery where he learned the art of blacksmithing. He was greatly appreciated by the plantation owners and fellow slaves as well as a local family for saving their daughter’s life. He grew to be a whopping 6 and half feet of strength and ntegrity, which drew the attention of patriots like Patrick Henry and others as they planned to assert their freedom against the British crown. Francisco went on to fight in the American Revolution with a 5-foot broadsword custom made for him on the orders of General George Washington. In doing this he earned both his own freedom as well as that of the colonies.

The 6th generation grandson, Travis Bowman, shares his ancestor’s height and charisma. He not only authored the book, he also produced a documentary and travels around the country bringing the story to life for audiences as an actor.

A Living Legacy | Peter Francisco

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 06:58:00 PST

Recently, I had the chance to visit some Peter Francisco landmarks and monuments with some friends and family. One of those landmarks was Locust Grove, Peter Francisco's post-war home in the area near Hopewell once known as Planterstown. It was my first time visiting Locust Grove. After roaming through the rooms and around the property, I thought it would be the perfect place to storyboard the second novel in the series! What do you think?

One of my friends who accompanied me on the trip posted a nice write-up about the trip on her blog. Here is a link to the original post, followed by a few highlights. Check out all the photos on Flickr.

The Scrapbook Stand: A Living Legacy | Peter Francisco

originally posted by Heather Walls

Over Veterans Day, Adam and I had the fortunate opportunity to spend a couple of days with Travis Bowman, good friend and a 6th generation descendant of Revolutionary War hero Peter Francisco.

As someone who is passionate about preserving memories and heritage, Peter’s story is right up my alley.

Thanks to the hospitality of the Women’s Club of Hopewell, Adam and I were able to attend their monthly meeting at the Maude Langhorne Nelson Library, during which Travis -- who stands a looming six feet six inches just like Peter -- delivered his convincing interpretation of Peter’s life.

Upon returning from war, Peter admits, with obvious emotion, “I just wanted to hear my father say, ‘Good job, son. I’m proud of you. Thank you for fighting for our freedom.’ But I didn’t have a father. I went back to the plantation, and, rather than laurels, I was met with Judge Winston telling me, ‘Get back to work.’

That part really hit home.

Peter who?

Prior to reconnecting with Travis, I didn’t know anything about Peter Francisco. Peter was like the Sully Sullenberger of his day! People everywhere knew his name and what he had done for them. He faced adversity and danger with aplomb and little regard for his own life. He protected his fellow soldiers from open fire and allowed them to retreat to safety by carrying and repositioning a fallen tree limb so snipers could get behind it. He was a commando at Stony Point, second over the wall, and first to capture the flag. He rescued a stranded, 1,100-pound cannon from its carriage, hoisting it with his arms onto a wagon. With his quick thinking and deft hand, he saved the same Colonel not once but twice during the same battle! He cut down eleven British in another battle with his formidable five-foot blade. He was instrumental in securing America’s freedom. My freedom.

It’s no wonder this guy is known as Hercules of the Revolution! Anyone remember that scene in Forrest Gump when Forrest carries all the men in his platoon off the front lines to safety, even brawny Bubba? That’s what I’m talking about! Booyah!

A Dutiful Tour

After signing some books and eating lunch with the sweet ladies of Hopewell, Travis took us personally on a tour of landmarks and monuments that now commemorate Peter’s life and legendary prowess. He even let me try on the hat! We stopped at City Point, the dock in Hopewell where Peter was deposited and deserted after spending weeks held captive on a ship by greedy swashbucklers.

We went onto see the monument in Hopewell in front of City Hall – one of five monuments in the nation. Now dusk, we drove into downtown Richmond and visited St. John’s Church, where Peter stood outside listening to Patrick Henry’s inspiring oration. Built in 1741, that church is truly a monument to its own history. Elizabeth Poe (Edgar’s mother) is also buried here.

Peter Francisco is buried in Shockoe Hill Cemetery, among other notables such as US Chief Justice John Marshall and famed Union spy Elizabeth Van Lew. The thing about cemeteries for me – and I’ve said this before – it’s the last place on earth a person was. No speculation. No imagination. Peter was there. His soul had departed, but the vessel – his body – the one he so freely tendered for our freedom touched that cold, winter earth.

Adam and I brought two Betsy Ross flags to place at his grave. Travis and I did the honors.

The piece de resistance was seeing Locust Grove, the post-war home Peter and his family occupied for nearly two decades, which we visited the next day. It’s possible Peter inherited the property, but he did not build the house, as was evident from the standard-sized doorways. The property is privately owned, but the owners, who restored it to its former glory, graciously let us in for a look-see. The fireplaces were probably original, and I could imagine Peter warming himself there, perhaps contemplating the legislative matters of the day. I could have spent hours walking those rooms.

Lastly, we visited the Buckingham County Museum, which is located in the Housewright House on James Anderson Highway. This museum contains the most documents and papers on Peter Francisco. They have a Civil-War-era sword that was recovered from Locust Grove and a tall cabinet that was hand-crafted by Peter Francisco.

What a fantastic way to spend Veterans Day, learning about one of America’s Founding Fathers! Thank you, Peter, for your service and for your willingness to sacrifice yourself. And thank you, Travis, for sharing your ancestor’s legacy with us.

Check out more the photos from the trip.

Learn more about Peter Francisco.

What stories of memory preservation inspire you?

Peter Francisco Goes to School

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 07:30:01 PST

In November, I was invited to speak at Thomasville Middle School not far from one of the five Peter Francisco monuments that stand along the East Coast.

The teacher took some great pictures of the day. This is one of the three classes that I hung out with.

I demonstrated just how tall the 6-foot broadsword is that Peter used in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Of course, I donned my period clothing and showed the kids what it might have been like for Peter to swing the formidable broadsword. They look a little nervous, don't ya think? Brought this shot to mind.

The second class wanted to challenge "Hercules" to an arm wrestling match.

They thought if they could double team that they would beat me. Little did they realize...

Even the girls wanted to arm wrestle me. They had gumption!

The boys especially loved the sword and wanted their picture taken with it.

Some of the girls wanted their photos with me too. A few of the kids said I looked like I was in my twenties. Huh? At my event the week before, an eighty-year-old woman said the same thing! C'mon now, I just don't buy it.

The arm wrestling continued as the kids were looking for the tallest and strongest in the class to try and beat me.

I had changed back to my "street" clothes, and the third class came in. Of course, I couldn't leave before I told them about Peter Francisco, too. They also enjoyed holding the sword.

Visiting this school was a great opportunity for me to share Peter's story with an audience that doesn't often hear it. It reminded me of my son's wax museum project.

Do you think Peter's story is something kids should learn about in school?

Grandmother Barret | In Memoriam

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:55:26 PST

My sweet grandmother was 92 years young when the Lord took her gently into the good night on October 25, 2010.

A graceful, God-fearing woman, she loved her children and grandchildren unconditionally, overlooking our imperfections and encouraging us with the wisdom of her years. If not for her, I may have never heard the name Peter Francisco, and you likely wouldn’t be reading it now.

Grandfather Barret may have given me Francisco blood, but grandmother gave me roots. Despite my youth and probable indifference to ancestral heritage, she still chose to share Peter’s notoriety with me when she did. Maybe she didn’t know when she’d have another chance. Maybe she just liked telling a good story. Maybe she knew something I didn’t.

I served as pallbearer at her funeral. Her soul already with the Lord, I helped carry the remains of her fragile body to that final place. I imagine years from now, when I revisit the plot – occupied by both Barrets and Franciscos -- the swell of the ground will have settled, the roots beneath my feet taking hold of that fecund earth.

I’ll see you in heaven, Grandmother.

A Peter Francisco Road Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 07:28:00 PDT

I recently had three speaking engagements back-to-back around North Carolina, so Josh and I hit the road for some fun. We kicked it off with me speaking at the Daughters of the American Revolution luncheon in Hendersonville, North Carolina. They put him at the head table with me.

The ladies were asking Josh questions about Peter Francisco, too, and he loved it.

At the end of my 30-minute impersonations, I talk about my book and DVD for those who would like to learn more about Peter Francisco.

This is Kathryn Hermann, Chapter President, who invited me to speak.

After I spoke at the DAR luncheon, Josh and I headed for the mountains on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is the Blue Ridge Folk Art Center.

As we drove up the Blue Ridge we stopped along the way for some snap shots. It was a perfect day! Josh is not a bad photographer!

So we get to Mt. Mitchell (highest peak east of the Mississippi) and Josh wanted to hike through the woods. Unfortunately, I'm getting old and my knee was KILLING me that day. :0(

We made it to the peak albeit somewhat spent (at least I was)!

Every now and then I can get a decent shot by just holding the camera out an arm’s length.

No, Michelle would have never let him do this. One of the privileges of going on a trip WITHOUT Mom!

Saturday morning we went to a Revolutionary War battle reenactment but the city ran out of money and they couldn't pay the re-enactors. So, it was a small turn out. We made a great friend here. The re-enactors didn't care if they got paid or not. They were having a grand time.

Since we were doing a weekend of book stuff and we were in Greensboro, we had to stop at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park to see Peter Francisco's memorabilia. Here is the display case at Guilford Courthouse that talks about Peter's vital role in this battle of the Revolution.

This is the Cavalry monument, one of five Peter Francisco monuments that stand up and down the East Coast. It’s also where I was first inspired to tell Peter’s story.

Saturday night we went to the Wake Forest-Navy game in Winston-Salem. I asked Josh who he wanted to root for. We decided on Navy because grandpa served in the Navy back in the early 70s. It ended up being a 1-point game, perfect first college football game to take Josh to.

I spoke Sunday morning at John Calvin Presbyterian, and afterwards we went to Tiger World. They actually have more than just tigers. I think they need to change their name, but the white tigers are just too cool. This one is about 6 months old named Malia.

Josh and I wrapped up our three-day trip at the Soda Shop in downtown Davidson. Good father-son time. Now that's what I'm talkin bout! Shooooooooooooooooooooooooooot.

Francisco Sea Warrior | DAR Luncheon

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 08:31:29 PDT

In September, I was invited to speak at the Daughters of the American Revolution luncheon in Atlantis, Florida. I took my son Austin along for the trip. On our way there, we stopped in Jacksonville to sail on the Francisco Sea Warrior.

Dale Carter is also a descendant of Peter Francisco. Austin and I met up with him to take a two-hour excursion on the Francisco Sea Warrior.

It's hard taking pics of yourself especially when you forget the camera! All these photos are from my phone. I'm surprised the phone didn't fall in the river.

Here is Dale - captain of the Francisco Sea Warrior. He's invited me down to go racing with him sometime. Hmmm...

Did you have fun, Austin? "I'm HOT!"

The DAR luncheon was in Atlantis, Florida, on September 11. There were around 100 people there. As always, they seated me at the head table. While I was setting up for my book signing, Austin was out chasing lizards. That's my boy! Of course, he wanted to take him home. Uh...yeah...no.

Shari Saylor invited me to be the speaker at the Garcilaso de la vega DAR Chapter.

My impersonation of Peter Francisco is about 30 minutes long and ... no ... I do NOT pull out the 6' broadsword. Someone might get hurt!

Obviously, I put this girl to sleep. :0)

I typically do some Q&A afterwards, but I don't give all the answers because they have to buy my book. Shoooooooooooooooooot!!

After the speaking engagement, Austin and I hit the beach. We brought the boogie board but the waves were dead! Austin didn't care if the waves were non-existent because he went chasing sea creatures! He managed to find a little seahorse or sea dragon. He said it was a sea dragon because of its tiny fins. So, when we got home, I looked both of them up. He was right!

The next day, before we headed for home, we went to Butterfly World, which is also home to a lot of other creatures, a virtual paradise for Austin!

Cool! A slug. Let's put it on your nose. "Why, dad?"

It was great father-son bonding time!

My TODHD Social Television Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 11:08:51 PDT

Recently, I was invited to discuss Peter Francisco’s story and my connection to him on Jay Link’s House of Madness broadcast on TODHD Nostalgia Channel 38. Launched by Kelsey Grammer, TODHD is a new social television network that allows users to produce and broadcast their own shows; interact with hosts, celebrities, guests and each other during broadcasts; and integrate other major social networks to create a one-stop social media experience. It’s like TV meets Facebook meets Twitter!

The experience with Jay (@JayLink_), his producer Harriett Schwartz, and NostalgiaHD manager Gary Arbaugh was great. Being new to TODHD-land, at first, I was somewhat lost. After getting oriented to the site landscape and figuring out how to tune into a broadcast, I set up my profile and started to interact with other members.

As soon as I was in the chat room and on the phone for House of Madness on Sunday, July 25 @ 9:00 EDT/6:00 PDT, I could see why TODHD self-broadcasts are regular crowd-pullers. I mean, who wouldn’t want to type a reply in response to a comment by a celebrity host or guest and instantly be acknowledged on air, right? As a guest on the show, it was challenging to watch the chat room while trying to stay on-point during the interview. This split format makes the program informal and fun albeit frenzied at times, lending credibility to Jay’s aptly-titled broadcast.

Harriett solicited questions from listeners in the chat room and funneled them to Jay, and then I answered them live on air. I’ve posted answers to some of those questions below, since we weren’t able to get to all of them during the show. Other guests on the show that night were Sinbad (comedian; A Different World, Jingle All the Way) and Marsha Warfield (comedienne; Night Court). I guess you could say I was the opening act!

Truly fun times! If you’re on TODHD or join as a result of this post, be sure to send me a friend request because I plan on returning often!

Questions from Jay Link’s House of Madness Chat Room

Q: What does [Peter Francisco’s] sword look like?

A: The original broadsword is lost, but I had a replica made by the late blacksmith Ruffin Hobbs, who used to work at Williamsburg. The replica, which I use during my dramatic impersonations, is 6-feet long with a 5-foot blade.

Q: Any journals written by Peter?

A: No journals that we know of, but he did write a petition letter to the Virginia Assembly in 1820 requesting a pension for his services in the war. Also, his son Dr. Benjamin M. Francisco wrote a short biography of his father in 1879.

Q: Did he ever receive any medals or recognition?

A: Five monuments stand up and down the East Coast in honor of Peter Francisco. The U.S. Post Office issued a bicentennial stamp in his honor in 1975 commemorating his contributions during the Battle of Camden. Three states currently observe March 15 as Peter Francisco Day. A medal bearing his namesake is presented annually by Portuguese Continental Union of the United States. The Society of the Descendants of Peter Francisco was this year’s recipient.

Q: Have you been to the Azores to visit Peter's home village?

A: Not yet, but it’s on my bucket list.

Q: Is your book self published?

A: Yes, and I will personally sign any copies of Hercules of the Revolution purchased through my website.

Q: If you could talk to Peter Francisco today, what would you say to him?

A: Thank you for fighting for freedom and paving the way for this great country to be all that it is today!

Q: Do your children ever help with your reenactments? Do they love it?

A: They accompany me sometimes to my events, but don’t participate in my dramatic impersonation. Though my son recently dressed as Peter Francisco for his school’s wax museum project.

Q: I would like to see a movie about Peter Francisco - what are the chances?

A: Well, I’ve been talking with film director Gary Wheeler – a friend of mine – and we’ve been discussing shooting the film within the next few years.

Comments from the Chat Room

Lori Hillis-Jerome (MigratoryJewel): "lovin' this … I am a history buff."
Cecelia Putnam (Mondayzchild): "Yikes that some long sword!"
Robert Crissman (Robert): "I'm only 15 miles from St. John's Church!"
nana: "Travis' website is so awesome. Wanting to go see Peter's monument with our family."
GODcast: "Great Guest!"

How to Tune into a Live Broadcast on TODHD

Create a profile. Visit www.kelseylive.com or www.todhd.com and join to create a profile. Note: you can still watch broadcasts without creating a profile, but you will not be able to participate in chat rooms. You will be listed as a guest.
Locate a broadcast. Find the profile of the person who hosts the live broadcast you want to watch from your home page or by typing it in directly. The profile URL format is http://38.todhd.com/profile.php?user=handle. Replace the word "handle" with the username of the profile you want and hit enter.
Tune into a broadcast. Once on the host’s profile, choose the TODcaster tab. This is where the show is broadcast, either video or audio depending on the host’s format. You can view a user profile from any channel within TODHD not just the channel where it is broadcast.

Tell me about your TODHD experience!

Peter Francisco Medal & Award Ceremony

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:21:07 PDT

The Society of the Descendants of Peter Francisco and Edith Francisco Buckley were the recipients of this year's Peter Francisco Medal which is presented by the Portuguese Continental Union of the United States "to honor any person or organization that has given prestige to the Portuguese Communities in the United States and has enlarged the knowledge of Portuguese culture and traditions."

The Peter Francisco Award has been given out for 50 years by the Portuguese Continental Union (Life Insurance Co.). The first recipient was Senator John F. Kennedy in 1959.

We traveled to Long Island, New York, for the ceremony on June 26, 2010, where Edith Francisco Buckley, now in her eighties, was honored for founding the Society of the Descendants of Peter Francisco in 1971.

Elizabeth (Libby) McLeod, who is also a descendant of Peter Francisco and featured in my documentary, gave the acceptance speech in front of 250 people. She wasn't nervous at all!

Edite Furtado is the President of the Portuguese Continental Union, and she presented the award to Edith Francisco Buckley.

A plaque was given to the Society of the Descendants of Peter Francisco for preserving his legacy.

Gail Coffman and I with the Peter Francisco Award. Gail has been researching Peter Francisco for ten years and has a book coming out very soon.

Libby McLeod is holding the Peter Francisco Award, and I have my hand on the shoulder of the incredible pianist for the evening.

This photo appeared in the Luso Americano Newspaper which is distributed all over New England, Portugal, and the Azores. The gentleman standing next to Libby is from the Azores, and his two sons stand 6'6" just like Peter Francisco! He kept telling me how proud he was of me for the book and documentary.

And, of course, here's yours truly performing as Peter Francisco for the auspicious occasion.

Peter Francisco Story Documentary | Backstage Pass

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:12:16 PDT

We put the final edits on the half-hour American revolutionary war documentary The Peter Francisco Story: 10 Things You Never Knew About One of Our Nation's Founding Fathers and sent it over to History Channel last month. I'm still waiting to hear from them, but the DVDs are in! Here are a few behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot.

Filming St. John’s Church – where Hercules of the Revolution begins and ends. Don’t worry, I took my sunglasses off on camera!

Inside the church with a somber Kevin Grantz as George Washington and Donna Chavis producer.

"G Dub" presenting me with the extremely long broadsword … serious business.

Me with some of the film crew as we shot at the Peter Francisco monument in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Of course, the monuments all have cameos. They were easy to direct!

Stand back if you’re wearing a red coat!

We spent two days in Richmond and got 10 interviews, 7 locations and 3 stand ups! We shot in front of the Virginia State Capitol. Senator McDougle gets some make-up from producer Donna Chavis.

On a scale of 1-10 the shoot in Richmond was a 9.5. Incredible weather and everything went very smooth. We had some really bad wind at our last shoot, but we managed okay.

In the studio, editing the footage with Donna and Joseph, editor, as we begin piecing together hours of footage. Floor’s empty – it’s all good! That’s a wrap!

The Peter Francisco Story is available on DVD with 30 minutes of extra interviews. It will air on PBS in the fall.

Like Father Like Son | Deputy Peter Francisco

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 15:25:21 PDT

My 11-year-old son Austin, 7th generation descendant of Peter Francisco, chose to do a report on his famous revolutionary war grandfather for school. His teacher's lesson plan asked the class to invite guests in for a wax museum of all of their characters.

Since this was a wax museum, the visitors had to push the green button (sticker) on the kids' hands. The kids would then impersonate their famous figure, and they were supposed to remain still like a wax figure.

He had three lines to memorize to tell Peter's story, but he kept forgetting the details! He was trying to tell them too much and started getting mixed up. It was so cute when he said, "George Washington gave him a 10-inch sword." My wife Michelle is off to the side whispering, "6 foot, 6 foot."

He got so hot and sweaty in the wig and costume that he sat down and looked like he was going to pass out. One of his classmates had already become sick from the heat, so the teacher let Austin take a little break to cool off.

Austin really had one of the best costumes. He really wanted to bring in a Peter Francisco sword, but due to the "no weapons policy" that would have gotten him expelled. The Betsy Ross flag worked out perfectly!

Man, am I proud of my son!

OR Daughters of the American Revolution State Conference | Gleneden Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:48:56 PDT

On May 21, I had the opportunity to tell Peter Francisco's story for the first time on the West coast at the Oregon Daughters of the American Revolution State Conference.

While there, I had the chance to tour the Yaquina Lighthouse in Newport, Oregon both by land and by air.

Pictured below, the light house keeper is in the middle -- he's really just a volunteer since it's an historic site now -- and the Daughters of the American Revolution ladies who were on the tour with me.

When was the last time you were inside the light house and got to take a photo of the lamp? That's what I was thinking. It was 111 steps to the top!

Looking out from the top of the lighthouse.

The Oregon coast in May was cold, rainy and beautiful!

Pictured with me below is Leonora Branca, the 55th State Regent of California Daughters of the American Revolution, 8,500 active members, and she mentioned as we took this picture that I needed to tell my wife not to worry because she is old enough to be my mom! As you can see, we are both laughing.

The Oregon Daughters of the American Revolution State Conference was held at Salishan Spa & Golf Resort, a charming little getaway off the Oregon coast in Gleneden Beach. I was so bummed that I didn't have enough time to play a round of golf at the resort!

I did have enough time to take a walk on a nature trail along the ocean and get some fantastic shots of the ocean.

This is my third State Daughters of the American Revolution Conference this year (North Carolina, Ohio, and Oregon - Kentucky has already booked me for next March), and they always put me at the head table.

There were about 150 ladies in attendance, and my presentation is about 30 minutes long. I always warn them that the 6' broadsword will be used if anyone dozes off while I'm talking!

While signing copies of Hercules of the Revolution, it's always fun to hear the ladies share stories about their ancestors who fought in the Revolution. Some insist that Peter Francisco would have known their ancestors.

Looking forward to returning to the West coast again in June with my family for the Puyallup, Washington, Home School Association Convention.

Waking a Sleeping Giant | My Peter Francisco Passion

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:55:12 PDT

I’m one of the lucky ones. I can say definitively that I’m a descendant of Peter Francisco. My grandmother told me about Peter when I was just a young’n - a mere five years. By then, the USPS had already issued the Peter Francisco Contributors to the Cause stamp and Locust Grove had been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but I knew nothing of that. All I knew was that my grandmother said I was a descendant of a giant from the revolution and he was around 7’ tall. That didn’t mean much to me at the time. I cared more about pretending to be heroes than learning about them!

I tucked the knowledge of this famous ancestor in the back of mind and thought little of it throughout my adolescence into college and eventually work. Even marriage and the birth of my two sons did nothing to arouse my sleeping curiosity. It wasn’t until the four of us moved to North Carolina from the Pacific Northwest that someone in my family urged me to visit the Cavalry Monument in Greensboro. My thought was: yea, one of these days. I finally paid a visit one day after I had a client meeting right next to the park.

Upon seeing the towering obelisk in Guilford Courthouse National Military Park and reading the west face inscription, it sunk in. This man – this unsung hero of the American Revolution – is my great-great-great-great grandfather. He was 6’ 6” tall, a foot taller than average men of his day. Hold on a minute, I thought. I am also 6’ 6” tall! That epiphany lit a fire in me. Telling his story is what I’ve been doing ever since.

Hercules of the Revolution is just the beginning. I’m working on a half-hour documentary for History Channel, which will air around July 4, 2010. I’ve also been making some connections and talking with several people in the film industry about adapting Hercules of the Revolution into a screenplay.

Beyond that, Peter’s story is not yet finished, and the world needs to know. So, keep up with me here and let me know what you think!

Hercules of the Revolution Reader Club Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:52:59 PDT

How many times have you read Hercules of the Revolution? Do you think you know the story of Peter Francisco inside and out? Test your knowledge by answering the Hercules of the Revolution Reader Club Weekly Question.

Q: For what bird does young Pedro mistake the sound of the approaching sailors?
Q: What are the dimensions of the slave quarters on Hunting Tower Plantation?

Do you know the answers to these questions? Then cozy up with your copy of Hercules of the Revolution and play along! Look for the first question on Facebook and Twitter each Monday beginning May 17.

You will have 24 hours to wager a guess. See if you can be the first to respond with the correct answer!

Follow Peter Francisco on Twitter!

noreply@blogger.com (Travis Bowman) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:55:12 PDT

I’m jumping on the social media bandwagon en force. Follow me on Twitter!

Keep up with the latest goings on, Peter Francisco sightings, events, trivia, and book/documentary news. Readers of Hercules of the Revolution will enjoy following and responding to random questions about the book. Connect with other Hercules readers, American Revolution buffs, oh, and Peter, too! The latest tweets will also populate here on my blog over to the right.