History of Brookhaven, (Suffolk County) New York United States of America

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Biographies:

A Biography of William Floyd

William Floyd, signer of the Declaration of Independence, was born in Brookhaven, Suffolk county, N.Y., Dec. 17, 1734; son of Nicoll Floyd; grandson of Richard Floyd; and great-grandson of Richard Floyd, who came from Wales in 1654. He was brought up on his father's farm, received a common school education, and became a farmer. He was a delegate to the Continental congress, 1774-77 and 1778-83; deputy to the New York provincial convention of 1775; first delegate from New York to sign the Declaration of Independence, 1776; state senator. 1777-78, by appointment, and 1784-88 by election; major- general state militia, 1783-1804; a member of the council of appointment, 1787, and again in 1789; representative in the 1st U.S. congress, 1789-91; a presidential elector, 1792, 1800 and 1804, and a member of the state constitutional convention of 1801. He removed in 1804 to the headwaters of the Mohawk river and cleared a farm from the wilderness, the section forming a part of Oneida county, N.Y. He was despoiled of his personal property and his family exiled, during the period of the war of the Revolution, and he did not recover his farm until 1783. His first wife was Hannah Jones of Southampton, who died in 1781, and his second, Joanna Strong of Setauket. He died in Weston, N.Y., Aug. 4, 1821.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor