William Floyd
Encyclopedia
William Floyd was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence
as a U.S. Representative from New York
.
, Long Island
, into a family of Welsh origin and took over the family farm when his father died. His great-grandfather Richard Floyd was born in Brecknockshire
, Wales
in about 1620 and settled in the Province of New York
. William Floyd was 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
(Southern D.) from 1777 to 1788. 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
.
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 (Western D.) 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.
The William Floyd House
, the family home, is located in Mastic Beach, is part of Fire Island National Seashore
and is open to visitors. The home is located in the middle of extensive woods, grassland and wetlands.
Among his descendants are cinematographer Floyd Crosby
, his son, rock musician David Crosby
and former Massachusetts Governor William Weld. A second cousin twice removed was Abraham Lincoln
.
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
as a U.S. Representative from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Biography
William Floyd was born in BrookhavenBrookhaven, New York
The Town of Brookhaven is one of the ten towns into which Suffolk County, New York, United States, has been divided. Part of the New York metropolitan area, it is located in central Suffolk County and is the only town in the county that stretches from the North Shore to the South Shore of Long...
, Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, into a family of Welsh origin and took over the family farm when his father died. His great-grandfather Richard Floyd was born in Brecknockshire
Brecknockshire
Brecknockshire , also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, and a former administrative county.-Geography:...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in about 1620 and settled in the Province of New York
Province of New York
The Province of New York was an English and later British crown territory that originally included all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, as well as eastern Pennsylvania...
. William Floyd was a member of the Suffolk County
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
Militia in the early stages of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, becoming Major General.
He was a delegate from New York in the First Continental Congress
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from twelve of the thirteen North American colonies that met on September 5, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, early in the American Revolution. It was called in response to the passage of the Coercive Acts by the...
from 1774 to 1776. He was a member of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
(Southern D.) from 1777 to 1788. In March 1789
United States House of Representatives elections in New York, 1789
The 1789 United States House of Representatives elections in New York were held on March 3 and 4, 1789, to elect 6 U.S. Representatives to represent the State of New York in the 1st United States Congress.-Background:...
, he was elected to the 1st United States Congress
1st United States Congress
-House of Representatives:During this congress, five House seats were added for North Carolina and one House seat was added for Rhode Island when they ratified the Constitution.-Senate:* President: John Adams * President pro tempore: John Langdon...
under the new Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
as an Anti-Administration candidate and served until March 3, 1791.
Floyd was a presidential elector in 1792
United States presidential election, 1792
The United States presidential election of 1792 was the second presidential election in the United States, and the first in which each of the original 13 states appointed electors...
, voting for George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and George Clinton
George Clinton (vice president)
George Clinton was an American soldier and politician, considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the first Governor of New York, and then the fourth Vice President of the United States , serving under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He and John C...
.
In 1795
New York gubernatorial election, 1795
The 1795 New York gubernatorial election was held in April 1795 to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New York.-Results:-See also:*New York gubernatorial elections*New York state elections...
, Floyd ran for Lieutenant Governor of New York
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
with Robert Yates
Robert Yates (politician)
Robert Yates was a politician and judge well known for his Anti-Federalist stances. He is also well known as the presumed author of political essays published in 1787 and 1788 under the pseudonyms "Brutus" and "Sydney"...
on the Democratic-Republican ticket, but they were defeated by Federalists John Jay
John Jay
John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States ....
and Stephen Van Rensselaer.
Floyd was again a presidential elector in 1800
United States presidential election, 1800
In the United States Presidential election of 1800, sometimes referred to as the "Revolution of 1800," Vice-President Thomas Jefferson defeated President John Adams. The election was a realigning election that ushered in a generation of Democratic-Republican Party rule and the eventual demise of...
, voting for Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
and Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
; and in 1804
United States presidential election, 1804
The United States presidential election of 1804 pitted incumbent Democratic-Republican President Thomas Jefferson against Federalist Charles Cotesworth Pinckney...
, voting for Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
and George Clinton
George Clinton (vice president)
George Clinton was an American soldier and politician, considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the first Governor of New York, and then the fourth Vice President of the United States , serving under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He and John C...
.
Floyd was again a member of the State Senate (Western D.) in 1808
31st New York State Legislature
The 31st New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 26 to April 11, 1808, during the first year of Daniel D...
.
In 1820
United States presidential election, 1820
The United States presidential election of 1820 was the third and last presidential election in United States history in which a candidate ran effectively unopposed. In 1820, President James Monroe and Vice President Daniel D...
, Floyd was again chosen a presidential elector, but did not attend the meeting of the electoral college, and Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
was appointed to fill the vacancy.
The William Floyd House
William Floyd House
William Floyd House, also known as Nicholl Floyd House and Old Mastic House, was a home of William Floyd, a signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, in Mastic, New York. It was his home from 1734 until 1803. This home is distinct from Gen...
, the family home, is located in Mastic Beach, is part of Fire Island National Seashore
Fire Island National Seashore
Fire Island National Seashore is a United States National Seashore that protects a section of Fire Island, an approximately long barrier island separated from Long Island by the Great South Bay....
and is open to visitors. The home is located in the middle of extensive woods, grassland and wetlands.
Among his descendants are cinematographer Floyd Crosby
Floyd Crosby
Floyd Delafield Crosby, A.S.C. was an American cinematographer.Crosby was born and raised in West Philadelphia, the son of Julia Floyd and Frederick Van Schoonhoven Crosby...
, his son, rock musician David Crosby
David Crosby
David Van Cortlandt Crosby is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash , and CPR...
and former Massachusetts Governor William Weld. A second cousin twice removed was Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
.
Namesakes
There are several places and institutions named after William Floyd, including:- William Floyd School DistrictWilliam Floyd School DistrictThe William Floyd School District, located in southern Brookhaven, New York, serves the nearby communities of Shirley, Mastic, Mastic Beach, as well as Moriches. New York state is located in the U.S.A..Paul Casciano, Ed.D., is the superintendent of schools....
in present-day Brookhaven TownBrookhaven, New YorkThe Town of Brookhaven is one of the ten towns into which Suffolk County, New York, United States, has been divided. Part of the New York metropolitan area, it is located in central Suffolk County and is the only town in the county that stretches from the North Shore to the South Shore of Long...
, which includes William Floyd Elementary, William Floyd Middle School and William Floyd High School. - William Floyd ParkwayCounty Route 46 (Suffolk County, New York)Suffolk County Road 46 is a major county road in eastern Suffolk County, New York. It runs north and south from County Route 75 in Smith Point County Park to New York State Route 25A near the border of Shoreham and Wading River...
in the Town of Brookhaven. - Town of FloydFloyd, New YorkFloyd is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 3,869 at the 2000 census. The town is named after William Floyd, a signer of the Declaration of Independence....
in Oneida CountyOneida County, New YorkOneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
. General Floyd moved into the present day hamlet of Westernville, Oneida County before his death. His final resting place in the Westernville cemetery is marked with a simple stone plaque. - General William Floyd Elementary School in the Holland Patent School DistrictHolland Patent High SchoolHolland Patent High School is a U.S. high school located in Holland Patent, New York, a village in Oneida County, central New York State, about northwest of Utica and east of Rome...
in Oneida County
Sources
- Biography by Rev. Charles A. Goodrich, 1856
- Fire Island National Seashore - William Floyd Estate
- Town of Floyd, NY Official Website
- The New York Civil List compiled by Benjamin Franklin Hough (1863; page 165)