Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/72

68 The family tomb in Christ Church Burying Ground was erected by his son Tench and bears this inscription in part: "The Vault over which this Monument is erected was built by the late Tench Francis, for the purpose of depositing the remains of Tench and Elizabeth Francis his Parents, and a Sepulchre for himself and his descendants." The vacancy in the Trustees made by his death was filled at the meeting of 12 September by the election of Edward Shippen, jr.

Of Mr. Francis' children, Anne married in 1743 James Tilghman the Councillor; Mary married William Coxe of New Jersey, and her daughter married Andrew Allen the Councillor; Tench married Anne daughter of Charles Willing, a Trustee of the Academy; and Elizabeth married John the son of Thomas Lawrence also a Trustee.

The Pennsylvania Gazette of 24 August, 1758, records the following obituary to his memory:

On Wednesday, the 16th Instant, died here, Esq., Attorney at Law. He was no less remarkable for strict Fidelity than for his profound skill in his profession. He filled the Stations of Attorney General of this Province and Recorder of this city, for a Number of years, with the highest Reputation; and when declining Health had called him from the Bar, he continued his Usefulness to his Country, by carrying on a large and honourable Trade. His domestic virtues made him dear to his Family; his Learning and Abilities, valuable to the Community; to both his Death is a real Loss.

was the son of Thomas Masters, who came with his children from Bermuda to Pennsylvania perhaps prior to the year 1700, and who built at Front and Market Streets in 1704 what was said to be the first three-story house in Philadelphia. He was an Alderman of the city in 1702, and Mayor from 1707 to 1709, and died in December, 1723. William inherited from his father and brother Thomas (who died in March 1740–1) a valuable tract of land in the Northern Liberties, running West from the Delaware River to beyond Broad Street and lying between the present Girard and Montgomery Avenues. He was a representative from Philadelphia County in the assembly for many years, and a commissioner to disburse the