William Floyd


William Floyd was an American politician from New York, and a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence.

Early life

Floyd was born on December 17, 1734 in Brookhaven, Province of New York on Long Island into a family of English and Welsh origins. He was the son of Tabitha Floyd and Nicholl Floyd. Among his siblings was sister Ruth Floyd, who married Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Woodhull; sister Charity Floyd, who married Continental Congressmen Ezra L'Hommedieu; and brother Charles Floyd, who married Margaret Thomas in 1761.
William's great-grandfather was Richard Floyd, who was born in Brecknockshire, Wales in about 1620 and was the last of his brothers to leave England, first visiting Jamestown, Virginia before settling in the Province of New York around 1640 where he practiced law. Around 1688, his grandfather purchased 4,400 acres from Tangier Smith's family in the Mastic Neck of the Town of Brookhaven. William's father Nicoll built a house there in 1723 where William was born.

Career

After his father's death in 1755, William took over the family farm. He became a member of the Suffolk County Militia in the early stages of the American Revolutionary War, becoming Major General. He was a delegate from New York in the First Continental Congress from 1774 to 1776. He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1777 to 1788.
On July 4, 1787, he was elected an Honorary Member of the New York Society of the Cincinnati. In March 1789, he was elected to the 1st United States Congress under the new Constitution as an Anti-Administration candidate and served until March 3, 1791. Floyd was a presidential elector in 1792, voting for George Washington and George Clinton. Floyd, for whom the town of Floyd, New York is named, became a resident of Oneida County in 1794.
In 1795, Floyd ran for Lieutenant Governor of New York with Robert Yates on the Democratic-Republican ticket, but they were defeated by Federalists John Jay and Stephen Van Rensselaer. Floyd was again a presidential elector in 1800, voting for Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr; and in 1804, voting for Thomas Jefferson and George Clinton. Floyd was again a member of the State Senate in 1808.
In 1820, Floyd was again chosen a presidential elector but did not attend the meeting of the electoral college, and Martin Van Buren was appointed to fill the vacancy.
In the 1820 Census, when Floyd was 86, he had 6 slaves and 2 free black residents lived in his household at the General William Floyd House in Westernville, New York.

Personal life

In 1769, Floyd was married to Hannah Jones, who was born in Southampton, New York and was the daughter of William Jones. Together, they were the parents of:
After the death of his first wife in 1781, Floyd remarried to Joanna Strong, who was born in Setauket, New York and was the daughter of Benajah Strong and Martha Strong. Together, they were the parents of:
Floyd died on August 4, 1821 and is buried at the Westernville Cemetery in Oneida County. His widow died in 1826.

Residence and estate

The William Floyd House, the family home, is located in Mastic Beach, is part of Fire Island National Seashore and is open to visitors. It consists of the home, grounds and a cemetery of the Floyd family. Over the course of 200 years, eight generations of Floyds have managed the 25-room mansion and 613-acre property. Prior to the 20th century, the estate was much larger.

Descendants

Through his son Nicoll, he was a grandfather of U.S. Representative John Gelston Floyd, and Mary Floyd, who married John Lawrence Ireland.
Through his daughter Catherine, he was the grandfather of Harriet Ashton Crosby, and great-grandfather of New York State Senator Clarkson Floyd Crosby, who married Angelica Schuyler, daughter of John Schuyler.

Legacy

There are several places and institutions named after William Floyd, including: