Francis Bloodgood

Bloodgood was involved in a street brawl in April 1807 over a political dispute.^[3] After Elisha Jenkins had passed a resolution questioning Solomon Van Rensselaer's honesty, the two men came to blows.^{[citation needed]} Witnesses said that Bloodgood then struck Van Rensselaer on the head with a large cane.^[4] He later paid damages to Solomon Van Rensselaer for injuries received in the brawl.^[3]

Bloodgood's first wife died on November 13, 1818, aged fifty, and was buried in the Presbyterian burial ground.^[2] He may have then married Caroline Whistler. In December 1830 he was elected mayor of Albany.^[3] Francis Bloodgood entered office in 1831 and paid all the debts of those in debtors' prison on the occasion of his swearing in.^[5] A City Hall was erected on Eagle Street, between Maiden Lane and Pine Street, the location of the current City Hall, made of marble and capped by a gilded dome. John Townsend returned as mayor in 1832.^[6] In 1833 Francis Bloodgood became mayor for the second time.^[7]

Francis Bloodgood died on March 5, 1840, aged 71. He was also buried in the Presbyterian burial ground.^[2] At the time of his death he was married to Anna Shoemaker (born March 27, 1777), from a Philadelphia Quaker family, the widow of Robert Morris Jr.^[8] His wife lived on until March 5, 1865, when she died in Philadelphia. His son was Major William Bloodgood [1801-1874], father of Captain Edward Bloodgood (38th US Infantry), who reportedly died at Fort Larned, Kansas on July 31, 1867.^[1][9] In fact this report was in error-Edward Bloodgood was a Brevet Lt Col/Captain 38th US Infantry Regiment In command of Fort Seldon, New Mexico in 1868 ^[10] and died in 1914.

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