Born in Wethersfield, CT. on February 11,1730.
Died March 13,1818 in Pittsfield
Married Phebe Woodhouse October 1,1753
Moved to Pittsfield in 1760
Children: Robert, William, Sarah, Huldah, Phebe, Anna and Betsey.
Was one of the original settlers of Pontoosuc Plantation {Pittsfield,Ma.)
He was one of the first town officers in 1761.
Was a member of the Party of Liberty
Served as a sergeant in a company known as Patriots in the wars against the combined forces of French and Indians.
Was active in the suppression of the Shays Rebellion.
One of the signers of a petition to convene a town meeting in 1774, “to act and do what the town might think proper in regard to the invaded liberties and privileges of the country by Great Britain.”
He was one of a committee of “three most stout-hearted citizens” appointed to protest against the unjust action of the British Parliament.
He was also chosen one of a committee to condemn as enemies of the republic those who were opposed to American Liberty.
Member of a committee instituted in March 1776, to declare their indignation at the acts of King George and to ignore him and his authority. This committee declared that independence was a forgone conclusion.
William Francis was a captain of a company of forty men which marched to Fort Edward to reinforce the army after a disaster at Fort Ticonderoga.
In 1777 he marched with twenty-two men to join General Stark at Bennington Vermont.
On September 30, 1777 marched with a company of thirty men to join General Gates at Stillwater and remained with Gates until after the surrender of Burgoyne.
In January of 1786, Captain Francis was sent by General Patterson of the Berkshire Militia with troops to repel a mob of eight hundred men gathered at Williamstown, Ma. to defy the Government. The mob was defeated and banished. Captain Francis was a very popular citizen of Pittsfield and was held by his townsmen in extraordinary esteem for his discretion and integrity. He held many offices of trust from 1761 through 1818. He was known in later years as “Governor Francis”.