Two Wives for Floyd

Hannah Jones, daughter of William Jones of Southampton, Long Island, married William Floyd, one of the future signers of the Declaration of Independence, in 1760 or 1761. Floyd was a wealthy young farmer from Setauket, Long Island. Even though he had received a liberal education, he chose to care for the family estate instead of embarking on a professional or business career.

There is little known about Hannah except that she was a "capable, well-brought-up girl" who managed her husband's affairs while he was absent in his public duties. William was a delegate to the first Continental Congress that met in Philadelphia in 1774. He was also a commander in the Suffolk County militia as well as being active in county and local matters. He was re-elected to the Congress in both 1775 and 1776. He was "one of the first of the signers to suffer personally for the stand which he had taken."

The Floyd estate included a plantation with a beautiful mansion and lots of fruit and ornamental trees and acres of timber and firewood. It was located close to New York and so had a ready market for the fruit, firewood, and timber it produced.

After the American army left Long Island, the British troops took possession of the Floyd farm, and the family fled to Connecticut for safety. They lived in Connecticut for seven years with no income from their property. The British used the animals and crops for food as well as using the barn and the mansion to stable their horses. Their fruit, ornamental trees, and timber were cut down. By the end of the Revolutionary War, there was such destruction on the estate that General Floyd at age 69 retired from public life and moved his family to some previously purchased unbroken land on the Mohawk River.

Hannah did not live to make the move to the new home. She very patriotic and supported her husband completely in his public duties, but her health was destroyed by all the anxiety and hardship. She died at age 40 on May 16, 1781. Hannah and William were parents of three children, one son and two daughters, all of whom grew to adulthood.

William married Joanna Strong of Setauket, Long Island, in 1783, and this couple had two children.

Facts and quotes are from Wives of the Signers: The women behind the Declaration of Independence, pp 112-115.

William Floyd

William Floyd, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, came from a family of early American settlers. His grandfather came from Wales in 1680 and settled in Setauket on Long Island where he gained great wealth and influence.

William was born on December 17, 1734, and was given every opportunity to gain useful knowledge. William was barely finished with his studies when his wealthy father passed away. He assumed the supervision of the family estate and performed his duties with great skill and integrity. He had excellent character traits and a pleasing personality, both of which helped him to be popular with his acquaintances. He was committed to the cause of liberty and was soon active in public life and opposition to the British.

William was elected as a New York delegate to the first Continental Congress in 1774 and took an active role in that body. Previous to his election, he was appointed as a commander of the Suffolk County militia and resumed his command upon his return from Congress in early 1775. When he learned that Long Island was being invaded by a naval force, he marched with his troops to the place where the troops would leave their ships and forced the invaders to go back to their ships. He returned to the General Congress in 1775 and was active on numerous committees there. He voted for and signed the Declaration of Independence.

While William was involved in public duties, his private property was destroyed and his family exiled from their home. After the American army lost the battle of Long Island in August 1776 and retreated across to York Island, the Floyd estate was exposed to the abuses of the British army. The family sought shelter and safety in Connecticut. A party of British cavalry took over the Floyd mansion and used the estate's cattle and sheep to provide for the army.

William went seven years without any income from his property, and yet he never lessened in his zeal for the cause of liberty. He continued to work for independence in both Congress and in the New York legislature. William was part of a small but skillful group who saved the state of New York from bankruptcy in 1779 and put it in a very prosperous financial condition.

William was again elected to Congress in 1780 and remained a delegate until peace was declared in 1783. He and his family returned to their dilapidated home and were happy to be back home after a seven year exile. He declined the opportunity for reelection to Congress but agreed to serve in the State Legislature. When the newly adopted Constitution was ratified in 1778, he was elected as a member of the first Congress held in the city of New York in 1789. He declined reelection and retired from public life.

General Floyd retired to some previously purchased wild land located on the Mohawk and commenced the work of clearing and cultivating those lands. He considered the land to be so beautiful and the soil so productive that he moved there in 1803 at age 69. He concentrated on cultivating his lands and productive farms were on every side in just a few years.
William again entered public life when he was chosen as a Presidential Elector in 1800. The next year he was a delegate in a convention held to revise the New York constitution. He was elected as a state senator and served several times as a Presidential Elector.

William enjoyed robust health, both physically and mentally, and lived a long and active life. He was a successful businessman as well as a great patriot during the storms of the American Revolution and the establishment of our constitutional government. He had the ability to make good decisions and never let unimportant obstacles cloud his opinion and determination. William passed away on August 4, 1821, at 87 years of age.

Facts are from Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, 63-66.