Gen. Francis Wynkoop

Yr Hb Servant
F. M. Wynkoop

    Here you will find original documents, newspaper articles and other material detailing the life and military service of Colonel Francis Murray Wynkoop of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

    Please excuse the poor image of Frank that graces these pages. This is currently the only one I have of him. His niece, Miss Marion Wynkoop, "had handsome portraits, in oil, of her famous father and uncle" which seem to have vanished after her death in the late 1950s. If anyone can put me in touch with the current owner of either of these portraits, (Frank's or John Estill's), or knows of their whereabouts, would you please contact me at [email protected]? Frank deserves to be better remembered than this!

    Richard Wynkoop, in the 1904 edition of the Wynkoop Genealogy in the United States of America, has this to say about him on pages 186-187:

    1218. Francis Murray Wynkoop, Colonel, (John W. 722, Dr. Nicholas 393, Judge Henry 157, Nicholas 46, Gerret 5, Cornelius 1,) born in 1820: died December 13, 1857, at Valencia, Schuylkill County, Penn.: married, in 1850, Anna McKnight Decatur Twiggs, daughter of Major Levi Twiggs, who fell at Chapultepec, Mexico, and niece of Captain Stephen Decatur, Jun., who was commonly known as "Commodore." They had no child.
    Francis commanded a regiment of militia, in Schuylkill County, Penn. One of the companies volunteered for the war against Mexico, under the call of Governor Francis Rawn Shunk, and Wynkoop went with it as a private. At Pittsburg, he was elected colonel. He was at the capture of Vera Cruz, and in the battles of Cerro Gordo and Huamantla, and in numerous skirmishes, and he exhibited bravery and skill, and received honorable mention for gallant service.
    General Scott wrote also of him, as follows: "Some days since, [Jan., 1848], Colonel Wynkoop, of the 1st Pennsylvania Volunteers, tendered his services to go, with a few men, to seize the guerilla priest, Jarauta, at the head of a small band that had long been the terror of all peaceable Mexicans within his reach, and who has frequently had skirmishes with our detachments. The Colonel, having missed that object, heard that General Valencia and staff were at a distant hacienda, and by hard riding in the night, succeeded in capturing that general and a colonel of his staff. I consider this handsome service, worthy of being recorded." (Memoirs of Lieut. Gen. Winfield Scott, 1864, vol. ii, pp. 449, 567, 568.)
    He was editor of the Miner's Journal, at one time; and he established the Anthracite Gazette, at Pottsville, Penn.
    He left the Whigs and joined the Democrats, because the former had opposed the war. Under President Franklin Pierce, he was Marshal of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. On retiring from office, he made his home at Valencia, on the line of the Catawissa Railroad, in the northeasterly corner of Schuylkill County. He bled to death, from a wound in the leg, received accidentally from a gun in the hands of an attendant, while he was hunting birds, to tempt the delicate appetite of his wife. His death called forth concurrent testimony to the manliness of his form, the eloquence of his voice, the warmth of his heart, and his hold on the affections of the public.     The compiler received from him a transcript from the record of Judge Henry Wynkoop [157], which is mentioned elsewhere herein.

    Frank died young. He was only 37. In one of his letters home, from San Angel, Mexico, Frank expressed a simple desire: "The babies must not forget me."

    I'm doing my best, Frank.

    Chris

Abstract of the Will of Gen. Francis Murray.
     His Great-Grandfather.

The Baron's Ride.
     An heroic poem, from Graham's Magazine, February, 1844.

Young Men's Clay Club.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Pottsville, Pa., Saturday Morning, 16 December, 1843.

Democratic Republican Whig County Meeting .
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Pottsville, Pa., Saturday Morning, 16 December, 1843.

Mechanics' Association.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Pottsville, Pa., Saturday Morning, 20 January, 1844.

Mechanics' Lectures.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Pottsville, Pa., Saturday Morning, 24 February, 1844.

Mechanic's Association Lectures.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Pottsville, Pa., Saturday Morning, 2 March, 1844.

Military Election.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Pottsville, Pa., Saturday Morning, 2 March, 1844.

Military Election.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Pottsville, Pa., Saturday Morning, 9 March, 1844.

Young Men's Clay Club.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Pottsville, Pa., Saturday Morning, 9 March, 1844.

A Public Meeting, Held at the Young Men's Clay Club Rooms.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Pottsville, Pa., Saturday Morning, 20 April, 1844.

Things in Philadelphia.
     From the New-York Daily Tribune, New-York, Tuesday, 22 December, 1846.

Important Intelligence About Mexico And the War.
     From the Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat, Brooklyn, Wednesday, 10 February, 1847, p. 2.

The Battle of Cerro Gordo, Mexico.
     From George B. McClellan's Mexican War Diary, dated April 16, 1847.

The Battle of Cerro Gordo, Mexico.
     General Gideon J. Pillow's report of April 18, 1847.

Letter From Mexico.
     Dated April 23d, 1847, from The Dollar Newspaper, 26 May, 1847, p. 2.

The Guerilla War.
     From The Dollar Newspaper, 26 May, 1847, p. 2.

Later From the City of Mexico.
     From The Dollar Newspaper, 26 May, 1847, p. 2.

Letter From Washington.
     From The Dollar Newspaper, 26 May, 1847, p. 3.

The Battle of Cerro Gordo, Mexico.
     Col. F. M. Wynkoop's account from the Bedford Gazette, dated 4 June, 1847.

The Planned Ambush of General Cadwalader Thwarted.
     Col. Wynkoop's report on the skirmish at La Hoya, dated July 12th, 1847.

The March from Jalapa to Perote.
     Col. Thomas Child's report on the skirmish at La Hoya, dated July 12th, 1847.

Letter From Mexico.
     From the journal, Living Age, 17 July, 1847.

The Mexican War--His Journal of the March From Vera Cruz.
     Excerpts from Gen. Franklin Pierce's journal.

Guerilla War in Mexico.
     From the journal, Living Age, 28 August, 1847.

Letter From Col., F. M. Wynkoop, dated September 9, 1847.
     From the New Hamsphire Patriot & State Gazette, Thursday, 16 December, 1847.

Later from Mexico--Scott's Two Days' Battle.
     From the Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat, Brooklyn, Monday, 13 September, 1847, p. 2.

Letter From Major Lally to Col. Wilson.
     From the Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat, Monday, 11 October, 1847.

News From Mexico.
     From the Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat, Brooklyn, Monday, 4 October, 1847, p. 2.

Outrages in Mexico.
     From the National Era, Thursday, 21 October, 1847.

Captain Samuel Hamilton Walker.
     A biography of the National hero who served under Col. Wynkoop till his death on October 9th, 1847 at Huamantla, Mexico.

Letter From Jalapa.
     Dated November 7th, 1847, from The Dollar Newspaper, 15 December, 1847.

Mr. Clay's Speech at Lexington, Ky.
     From the Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat, Brooklyn, Monday, 15 November, 1847, p. 2.

Interesting Intelligence From the Seat of War.
     From the Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat, Brooklyn, Friday, 12 November, 1847, p. 2.

Death of Capt. Walker!
     From the Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat, Brooklyn, Friday, 12 November, 1847, p. 2.

Latest Intelligence From the Seat of War.
     From the Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat, Brooklyn, Friday, 19 November, 1847, p. 2.

An Official Account.
     From the Erie Observer, Erie, Pa., Saturday, 27 November, 1847.

Col. Wynkoop and the Mexican Authorities.
     November 16, 19 and 24th, 1847, from The Dollar Newspaper, 5 January, 1848.

From Mexico.
     From the Weekly Tribune, Liberty, Clay County, Missouri, Friday, 14 January, 1848.

The Surprise and Capture of General Valencia.
     January 1st and 2nd, 1848, from the journal, Living Age, 3 May, 1851.

By Telegraph.
     From the Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat, Brooklyn, Tuesday, 15 February, 1848, p. 2.

A Letter to an Uncle, Refuting Newspaper Reports.
     Sent from San Angel, Mexico, dated January 17, 1848.

Telegraphic.
     From the Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat, Saturday, 5 February, 1848, p. 2.

A Tribute to Our Adopted Citizens.
     From the Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat, Saturday, 12 February, 1848, p. 2.

Col. F. N. Wynkoop on Nativeism.
     From the Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat, Monday, 6 March, 1848, p. 2.

A Converted 'Native'.
     From the Weekly Tribune, Liberty, Clay County, Missouri, Friday, 21 April, 1848.

Items by Telegraph.
     From the Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat, Brooklyn, Monday, 12 June, 1848, p. 2.

Testimony of a Whig Volunteer.
     From the Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat, Thursday, 10 August, 1848, p. 2.

Decide Pennsylvanians on the 7th of November.
     A speech Frank gave in Bucks County, Pa., August 5th, 1848.

Col. Wyncoop at Easton.
     From the Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat, Monday, 2 October, 1848, p. 1.

Mexican Whigs.
     From the Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat, Monday, 2 October, 1848, p. 2.

Where are the Heroes of the War?
     From the Brooklyn Eagle and Kings County Democrat, Saturday, 4 November, 1848, p. 1.

A Letter to Secretary of State James Buchanan.
     Regarding the post of Naval Agent at San Francisco, dated December 12, 1848.

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
     From Statutes at Large and Treaties of the United States of America, Approved, September 18, 1850.

Sketches of Lally's Campaign in Mexico: (Part I).
     From the United States Magazine and Democratic Review, New York, September, 1850.

Sketches of Lally's Campaign in Mexico: (Part II).
     From the United States Magazine and Democratic Review, New York, October, 1850.

Sketches of Lally's Campaign in Mexico: (Concluded).
     From the United States Magazine and Democratic Review, New York, November, 1850.

Marriage Notice - Col. F. M. Wynkoop
     From the Philadelphia Public Ledger, Philadelphia, Tuesday, 17 September, 1850, p. 2.

Marriage Notice - Col. Francis. M. Wyncoop
     From Die Stimme des Volks, Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania.

Battle of Huamantla.
     From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Tuesday, 3 December, 1850, p. 4.

Vindication of the Military Character and Services of General Franklin Pierce, By His Companions in Arms in Mexico.
     A pamphlet from 1852, containing, among others, a letter from Col. Wynkoop supporting General Franklin Pierce's conduct during the War with Mexico.

Officers Who Support Gen. Pierce.
     From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Saturday, 4 September, 1852, p. 2.

Democratic Meeting at Honesdale.
     From the New York Daily Times, Thursday, 28 October, 1852, p. 8.

Francis M. Wynkoop, United States Marshal.
     From Congressional and court records.

United States Attornies and Marshals.
     From the New York Daily Times, Monday, 25 July, 1853, p. 3.

The Niagara Spoken--Marshal Wyncoop still in Custody.
     From the New York Daily Times, Monday, 25 July, 1853, p. 1.

The Philadelphia Fugitive Slave Case.
     From the New York Daily Times, Tuesday, 26 July, 1853, p. 1.

The Fugitive Slave Case--The Health of the City, &c.
     From the New York Daily Times, Wednesday, 27 July, 1853, p. 1.

An Attempt to Capture a Fugitive Slave.
     From the Luzerne Union, Wednesday, 7 September, 1853, page 2.

Attempted Capture of a Fugitive Slave.
     From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Friday, 9 September, 1853, p. 2.

Fugitive Slave Law in Wilkes Barre.
     From the Luzerne Union, Wednesday, 14 September, 1853, page 2.

Marshal Wynkoop's Three Deputies have been Arrested by the State of Pennsylvania.
     From the New York Daily Times, Wednesday, 5 October, 1853, p. 1.

The Fugitive Slave Law.
     From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Thursday, 6 October, 1853, p. 2.

The Late Fugitive Slave Case.
     From the Luzerne Union, Wednesday, 12 October, 1853, page 2.

Wilkes-Barre Slave Case.
     From the Luzerne Union, Wednesday, 12 October, 1853, page 2.

The Wilkesbarre Fugitive Slave Case.
     From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Thursday, 13 October, 1853, p. 2.

The Wilkes-Barre Slave Case Again.
     From the Luzerne Union, Wednesday, 19 October, 1853, page 2.

The Wilkesbarre Slave Case--Opinion of Judge Grier.
     From the Luzerne Union, Wednesday, 19 October, 1853, page 2.

The Wilkes-Barre Slave Case, Judge Grier's Opinion.
     From the Luzerne Union, Wednesday, 26 October, 1853, pages 1-2.

The Slave Case Still Alive.
     From the Luzerne Union, Wednesday, 26 October, 1853, page 2.

Abolition Attempts to Nullify the Fugitive Slave Law.
     From the Luzerne Union, Wednesday, 9 November, 1853, page 2.

The Pennsylvania Fugitive Slave Case.
     From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Friday, 11 November, 1853, p. 2.

The Dying Soliloquy of the Victim of the Wilksbarre Tragedy.
     The Abolitionist version of the events. In reality the man didn't die at all.

Frauds on the Pension Bureau.
     From the Village Record, West Chester, Penn., Tuesday, 21 February, 1854.

The Lancaster Forgery Cases.
     From the Luzerne Union, Wednesday, 22 February, 1854, page 2.

Opinion of Judge Kane, In the Wilkes-Barre Fugitive Slave Case.
     From the Luzerne Union, Wednesday, 17 May, 1854, page 2.

A Case of Slave Piracy--Trial of the Alleged Captain of the Grey Eagle.
     From the New York Daily Times, Tuesday, 8 August, 1854, p. 6.

Capture of the British Army in the United States by the U. S. Marshal.
     From the New York Daily Times, Friday, 30 March, 1855, p. 8.

Important Arrest.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Saturday, 31 March, 1855, page 3.

Late News Items.
     From the Luzerne Union, Wednesday, 4 April, 1855, page 2.

The Excitement about Colonel Kinney.
     From the New York Daily Times, Wednesday, 16 May, 1855, p. 4.

Marcoleta's Fillibustering; Col. Kinney In Trouble Again.
     From the New York Daily Times, Wednesday, 16 May, 1855, p. 4.

The Wheeler Slave Case.--Passmore Williamson committed for Contempt.
     From the New York Daily Times, Saturday, 28 July, 1855, p. 8.

Painful Accident.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Saturday, 19 July, 1856, page 2.

Arrival of President Pierce in New York.
     From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Monday, 1 October, 1856.

U. S. Marshal Wynkoop Has Sent in His Resignation.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Saturday, 21 March, 1857, page 2.

Pen, Paste and Scissors.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Saturday, 4 April, 1857, page 2.

Death of Colonel Wynkoop.
     From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Monday, 14 December, 1857, p. 3.

Death Notice--Col. Francis Murray Wynkoop.
     From the Philadelphia Public Ledger, Philadelphia, Pa., Tuesday, 15 December, 1857, Page 2.

Death of Col. Wynkoop.
     From the New York Times, Tuesday, 15 December, 1857, p. 5.

Deaths, Col Francis Murray Wynkoop.
     From the Philadelphia Press, Tuesday, 15 December, 1857.

The Scott Legion.
     From the Philadelphia Press, Wednesday, 16 December, 1857.

The Death of Col. F. M. Wynkoop.
     From the New York Times, Thursday, 17 December, 1857, p. 8.

The Scott Legion.
     From the Philadelphia Press, Thursday, 17 December, 1857.

Funeral of Colonel F. M. Wynkoop.
     From the Philadelphia Press, Friday, 18 December, 1857.

Earth to Earth, Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Saturday, 19 December, 1857, page 2.

Sad Death of Col. Francis Murray Wynkoop--His Funeral.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Saturday, 19 December, 1857, page 2.

Death of Col. F. M. Wynkoop.
     From the The Compiler, Gettysburg, Pa., Monday, 21 December, 1857.

Severe Illness.
     From the The Compiler, Gettysburg, Pa., Monday, 28 December, 1857.

It Is With Regret... A Sort of Postscript.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Pottsville, Pa., Saturday, 2 January, 1858.

Honor to the Late Col. Wynkoop.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Saturday, 9 January, 1858, page 3.

A Devoted Wife.
     From the Democratic Watchman, Bellefonte, Centre County, Pa., Thursday, 4 March, 1858.

Pennsylvania Volunteers in Mexico.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Saturday, 25 August, 1860, page 2.

The Mexican Volunteers.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Saturday, 16 March, 1861, page 2.

The Scott Legion.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Saturday, 30 March, 1861, page 2.

The Scott Legion.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Saturday, 13 April, 1861, page 2.

A Dead Body In the Supreme Court.
     From the Philadelphia Press, Friday, 28 February, 1862.

The Remains of Colonel Francis M. Wynkoop.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Saturday, 1 March, 1862, page 2.

The Right to Bury a Corpse.
     From the Miners' Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, Saturday, 26 April, 1862, page 2.

Mexico War Hero
    From the Pottsville Republican, Pottsville, Pa., Tuesday, 9 October, 1956.

Military Background
    From the Pottsville Republican, Pottsville, Pa., Monday, 15 October, 1956.

Two Great Ladies
    From the Pottsville Republican, Pottsville, Pa., after 7 June, 1957.