USA > New York > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and family history of New York, Volume I > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
One of the many public services performed by him was as a representative of the State Regents, to preside at a meet- ing held in East Hampton, Long Island, in 1784. At this meet- ing Clinton Academy was founded, the first academy in Suffolk county. General Floyd is described as a man of middle height. of very deliberate motion, possessing sound judgment, very shrewd and eautions in pecuniary matters, sometimes exhibited by penurionsness. Whatever he undertook he carried out with great energy and determination. He was in no respect what could be called a brillant man, and it was largely owing to his brother-in-law, Ezra L'Hommedien, that he attained his high position.
General Floyd married Hannah, daughter of William Johnes, of Southampton, a descendant of Edward Johnes, one of the earliest settlers. She died at Middletown, Connecticut. After her decease he married Joanna, daughter of Benjamin Strong, of Setanket. She survived her husband, and died No- vember 24, 1826, at the age of eighty. His children were: 1. Nicoll, who lived at Mastie. 2. Mary, married Colonel Benjamin Talmadge, of Revolutionary fame. 3. Catharine, wife of Dr. Samuel Clarkson. 4. Anna, married George Washington Clin-
291
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
ton, and after his death she married Abraham Varick, and had three children, all of whom died unmarried. 5. Eliza, married James Platt. of Utica. George W. Clinton was the only son of Governor George Clinton. As he left no children, the male line of the illustrious governor became extinet.
Nicoll Floyd, the oldest son of General Floyd, lived and died at Mastic. He married Phebe, daughter of David Gelston, Esq. Their children were: 1. William, lived and died in Oneida county. 2. Kitty, who at the age of six years was drowned in the Great South Bay, together with a negro slave child. 3. Augustus, a distinguished lawyer, who died unmarried, 1878. 4. Mary, mar- ried John L. Ireland. 5. David Gelston, born May 1, 1802, died April 9, 1893. 6. Catherine. died unmarried, 1854. 7. John G., born 1804, died 1881. S. Julia, married Dr. Edward Delafield.
Hon. John G. Floyd was a member of Congress, and very prominent as a politician. At a comparatively early age he was stricken by paralysis, from which he never fully recovered. He married Sarah Kirkland, of Utica, and left children : Nicoll, a prominent lawyer on Long Island, married Cornelia Du Bois. He died much lamented, 1902, leaving several children. Cath- arine, married William B. Dana, editor of Hunt's Merchants' Magazine. Sarah K., wife of Herbert B. Turner. John G., married (first) Julia Du Bois; (second) Janey Montgomery. He died in 1893. Augustus, now living at Mastic. Richard. died young.
Hon. David Gelston, one of the most prominent citizens of Long Island, made his home at Greenport, and was a shipping merchant and owner of whale ships. In 1856 he was elected member of the Legislature, and served with great ability. Dur- ing his long life he commanded the respect of the entire com- munity by reason of his benevolence and kindly sympathy, and many young men owed to him their beginnings of future success.
292
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
He possessed a keen intelligence, and was well known as a power for good.
Mr. Floyd married Lydia, daughter of William Smith, of Mastic, a representative of the Tangier, Smith family, so noted in the history of Long Island. They were married July 31. 1845, and their children were: Julia Delafield, married Albert Delafield, June 14, 1882, and has one daughter, Grace Floyd.
"Brecknock Hall," Residence of Hon. David G. Floyd, Greenport, L. I., Now Owned by Mrs. Albert Delafield.
Lydia Smith, wife of Frederick C. Prentiss. Mary Augusta, died unmarried, 1873. Grace, now living at Greenport.
Breeknock Hall, the residence of Hon. David G. Floyd, is situated at Greenport, and is one of the finest country residences on Long Island. It is now owned and occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Albert Delafield.
The residence of General William Floyd is still standing in Westernville, Oneida county. It is owned by his granddaughter, the widow of Admiral Sicard, United States Navy. The line of
293
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
descent of General William Floyd from Richard Smith, the founder of Smithtown, is thus given: 1. Richard Smith, the founder. 2. Jonathan Smith, died about 1718. 3. Jonathan. second, born November 9, 1676, died 1749. He married Eliza- beth, daughter of Epinetus Platt, and had among other children a daughter Tabitha, born February 18, 1704, died January 17, 1755. She married Nicoll Floyd, father of General William Floyd.
A portrait of Anna Floyd, who married Hugh Smith, is now in possession of J. Conkling Havens, of East Moriches.
Charles Floyd, brother of General Floyd, lived and died in Smithtown. He married Abigail, daughter of John Thomas. Their children were: John, born February 2, 1764, died April 17, 1826. Thomas. Abigail, wife of William Post. Gloriana, wife of William Hopson. Of these children JJolm Floyd mar- ried Sarah, daughter of Colonel JJesse Woodhull (brother of General Nathaniel Woodhull), and had among other children a son, Hon. Charles A. Floyd, county judge and member of C'on- gress. For a more complete account of this branch, see Records of Smithtown.
The following notice is from the "New York Gazette and Mercury," May 6, 1774: "On Sunday, April 21st instant, de- parted this life at his house a few miles from the town of Brook- haven, the Hon. Richard Floyd, Esq., in the 68th year of his age
"He arose early in the morning and stepped ont of the door. where he was suddenly taken with a fit and dropped down. This was instantly perceived by his family who got him into his house, where he expired in a very few minutes after. He was an affectionate husband, an indulgent parent. and a kind mas- ter: his disposition was noble and generous, easy of access, his charity was extended to those who stood in need of his aid, and to assist the poor in their distress he made one of the principal
294
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
pleasures of his life. He was a colonel of the Suffolk County militia and the first judge of the Inferior Conrt of Common Pleas, which offices he executed for many years and acquitted himself with honor and much to the satisfaction of the people of his county. His death is universally regretted by his neighbors and others who enjoyed the pleasure of his acquaintance. View him either as an officer or in private life, his character is un- blemished and truly amiable."
FAMILY OF JUDGE WILLIAM SMITH.
The ancestor of this family made illustrions in our Colonial history in the persons of Chief Justice William Smith and his son, William Smith, the historian, was William Smith, who served in the army of the Commonwealth under Cromwell. His birthplace was in the Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, but after the Civil war he settled at Newport Pagnell, Buckingham- shire, where he died about 1682, and was buried in the parish church in that place. His wife, Elizabeth Hartley, whom he married September 4, 1661, lived until 1710. They were the parents of six children : William, James, John, Samuel, Thomas and Christiana.
William Smith, the eldest son, was known as . Port Royal Smith," having resided there for some time. He died in New York, October 15, 1736, at the age of seventy-four. He also had a son William, who married a daughter of William Pear- tree, who was mayor of New York, 1705-07, and left an only son, William Peartree Smith, a prominent citizen, born 1725, died November 20, 1801. His home, the same as that of his father, was the southwest corner of Wall and Pearl streets.
James, the second son, remained in England.
John, the third son, came to New York, where he married and lived many years. In 1714 he returned to England and
295
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
died there. Tle left a family in New York of whom little is known.
Sanmel Smith, the fourth son, lived in Port Royal, Jamaica, and married and died there aged twenty-seven years.
Thomas Smith, the youngest son, was born at Newport Pag- nell, September 18, 1745. Hle survived all of his brothers and sisters, and died in New York, November 14, 1745, and was buried at the plantation of his son, Thomas Smith, in Smith's (love, Orange county, New York. He married, in England, May 13. 1696, Susanna, the second danghter of Thomas and Chris- tiana Odell, of Northfield Meadows, Buckinghamshire. Thomas Smith came to this country at a much more advanced age than his brother. He sailed from London, May 24, 1715, with his wife and three sons, arriving in New York on the 17th of An- gnst. His fortune placed him at once among the substantial citizens of New York. Being a Presbyterian his first effort was to collect the members of that denomination, and he has the honor to be one of the founders of the first Presbyterian church in New York. The first church service and baptism of that denomination was held in the house of William Jackson, on the north side of Pearl street, about half way between Whitehall and State streets, in 1710. As early as 1716 a congregation with a resident minister assembled at the City Hall. On Janu- ary 5, 1717, Dr. John Nicoll, Patrick MeKnight, Gilbert Living- ston and Thomas Smith, purchased from Abraham De Peyster and Samuel Bayard a lot eighty-eight feet wide on the north side of Wall street, between Broadway and Nassan street, and npon it the First Presbyterian Church was erected. In 1722 a part of this congregation, under the leadership of Thomas Smith, withdrew for a short time and called the famons Jona- than Edwards as a pastor, and during the eight months of his ministry his home was at the house of Thomas Smith. probably
296
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
the south corner of Wall street and Broadway. As old age ap- proached Mr. Smith seems to have intended returning to Eng- land. With this intention Mrs. Smith sailed in the ship "Re-
becca," Captain Banks, December 7, 1728, and landed in Eng- land, January 15, 1729. At London she was taken ill and died there March 9, 1729, in the fifty-second year of her age. She was buried in the Church of St. Botolph, Aldergate. The chil- dren of Thomas and Susanna (Odell) Smith were: William
297
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
Smith (the judge), Thomas, John, Odell, who died young. Eliz- abeth and Martha. The two daughters died in England.
Of this family Thomas Smith, the second son, was the owner of a large tract of land in Orange county, in Smith Clove, which took its name from him. His descendants were living there dur- ing the Revolution. He married Hannah Hooker, who may have been a sister of Mchitabel Hooker, who married his brother. Rev. John Smith.
Rev. John Smith, the third son, was born May 5, 1702, at Newport Pagnell. He was a graduate of Yale, 1727. He studied medicine and received the degree of Doctor of Medicine. HIe entered the ministry and was the first Presbyterian minister at Rye and White Plains. His tombstone in the latter place bears a well merited tribute to his memory. He died February 26, 1771. On May 6, 1724, he married Mehitabel Hooker, dangh- ter of James and Mary Hooker, of Guilford, Connecticut. She died September 5, 1775, aged seventy-one. They had four sons and eight daughters. One of these, Susanna, married Rev. Benjamin Talhnadge, and was the mother of Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge, of Revolutionary fame.
Judge William Smith, the oldest son, was born at Newport Pagnell. October 8. 1697, and died in New York. November 22, 1769. With his father's family he came to New York, August 17, 1715. He entered Yale College, graduated in 1719, and received the degree of Master of Arts in 1722. From 1722 to 1724 he was a tutor in the college, and was afterwards offered the presiden. ey, which was made vacant by the retirement of Rev. Dr. Cutler. This offer was declined and he adopted the legal profession in which he became famous. On May 20, 1724, he was admitted to the bar and began practice in New York. He rose rapidly to em- inence, and few cases of importance came before the courts in which he was not retained as counsel. In 1755 ogenrred the
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
famous trial of John Peter Zenger, the editor of the "New York Weekly Journal." for libel. The famous Gouverneur Morris de- (lared in later years that "the trial of Zenger in 1755 was the germ of American Freedom." Bitter offense taken by the judges, De Lancey and Philipse, caused the names of William Smith and his colleague. James Alexander, to be stricken from the rolls of attorneys. Zenger was most ably defended by Mr. Hamilton, a noted lawyer from Philadelphia, and was acquitted by the jury, a verdict which was hailed with the greatest en- thusiasm by the people. In 1737 the order depriving them of their right to practice was canceled, and their former position was not only restored but with much higher honors and respect.
On September 20, 1739, he was appointed recorder by Rip Van Dam. the acting governor. In 1748 he was one of the incor- porators of the College of New Jersey at Princeton, and to the end of his life he was an earnest friend of the college, and one of the most honored and influential members of the board. In 1732 he with William Alexander and some of the Morris family peti- tioned the assembly to establish a free school for teaching Latin. Greek and mathematics. This was done, and a school was estab- lished the same year under Alexander Malcolm. This in after years developed into Kings College, and William Smith was foremost among its founders. In 1754 William Smith, Philip Livingston, and a few others, met at the house of one of their number and arranged a plan for a public library and collected £600 for that purpose. A charter was obtained and such was the origin of the New York Society Library. In 1751 William Smith was appointed by Governor Clinton attorney-general and advo- cate-general, and in 1752 he was made member of the Council. He remained a member nntil shortly before his death, when he was succeeded by his eldest son. In 1754 he was one of the four rep- resentatives from New York to the general congress to prepare
299
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
plans for the union of the Colonies. In 1760 he was offered the office of chief justice, but declined the position. In 1763 he was made judge of the supreme court, and retained that office until his death. As a lawyer he was one of the most graceful and elo- (nent members of the bar, and his influence was unexcelled. Aft-
Mrs. Mary ( Heti) Smith.
er a most useful life Judge Smith died Wednesday, November 23. 1769, and was buried in the graveyard attached to the Pres- byterian church in Wall street. He left a will which was never probated and seems to have been concealed by one of his family. His residence was the south corner of Exchange place and Broadway, and his son, Thomas Smith, was living there at the
300
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
time of the Revolution. He owned a very large tract of land in what is now Rockland county, of which a notice is hereafter given.
Judge Smith married Mary, daughter of Rene and Blanche (Dn Bois) Het, May 11, 1727. She was born in New York, May 24, 1710, and died August 22, 1754, and was buried in the aisle of the old South Dutch Church. After her death Judge Smith mar- ried Elizabeth. widow of Colonel Elisha Williams, who survived him. There were no children by this marriage. Rene Het lived at No. 216 Pearl street. When his daughter Mary married Will- iam Smith he gave them a house and lot, No. 179 Pearl street. There was another daughter, Blanche Het, who married Cap- tain William Smith, and had a daughter Blanche, who married Jedediah Chapman, of Orangetown, Essex county, New Jersey. The children of Judge William Smith were:
1. William Smith, the historian, born June 18, 1728. 2. Susanna. born December 24, 1729, married Robert James Liv- ingston. 3. Mary, born March 26, 1732, married John Smith. 4. Sarah, born August 3, 1733, married Rev. Abraham Kittle. 5. Thomas, born March 11, 1734. 6. Elizabeth Blanche, born December 13, 1736, married John Torrans, of Charleston, South Carolina. 7. Dr. James, born February 13, 1738, died 1812. 8. Anne, born July 19, 1740, married Bostowick. 9. John, born Angust 20, 1741. 10. Catharine, born April 7, 1743, mar- ried Jolin Gordon. 11. Martha, born June 18, 1744, married, 1763, Colonel Ann Hawkes Hay, of Fishkill. 12. Samuel, born June 24, 1745, died unmarried at Charleston, South Carolina, 1771. 13. Margaret, born September 19, 1747, married Alex- ander Rose. 14. Joshua Hett, born May 27, 1749, died 1818.
William Smith, the historian, and chief justice of New York and Canada, was a graduate of Yale, 1745, entered his father's office and was admitted to the bar in 1750. There is not a chap-
301
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
ter in the local history of his time in which his name does not appear. In 1767 Governor Moore wrote that " William Smith is at the head of his profession," and requests that he be appoint-
ed member of council from which his father, the judge, was about to retire. This was done, and he held that position till the time of the Revolution. His position during the great struggle is dif- fieult to describe. He seems to have denied the right of rebellion
302
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
and questioned the advantage to the Colonists of independence. He took no active part either for or against the new order of things. As a result he was hated by the Tories and distrusted by the friends of liberty. In 1771 he was required to remove to the Manor of Livingston and to give his parole to remain there. This was owing to his answer to questions, "that he does not consider himself discharged from his oaths of fidelity to the Crown of Great Britain." In the summer of 1778 he was re- leased from his parole and directed to remove to New York; he was commissioned as chief justice of the Province, and took the oath of office before Governor Robertson. Before that was done the Colonies had declared their independence, and whatever power attended the office was confined to that portion of the state still under British control. After the war he was included in the list of persons who were banished and whose property was confiscated, and on December 5, 1783, the chief justice sailed for England with his son William. Mrs. Smith with the younger children still remained in New York. On September 1, 1785, he was appointed chief justice of Canada. He arrived in Quebec, October 23, 1786, and was joined there by his wife and children. The act of attainder by which he was banished was cancelled in 1790, and he with some others was free to return to his native land. He died in Quebec, December 4, 1793, and was buried in the Episcopal church.
Chief Justice Smith married Janet Livingston, daughter of James Livingston. Her brother, Robert James Livingston, mar- ried Susanna Smith, sister of the chief justice, so there was a double relationship. Janet Livingston was born November 1, 1730. and died in Quebec, November 1, 1819, at the age of ninety. They had ten children. The only son who survived was William Smith, born 1769, died 1877. He was the author of "Smith's History of the Province of Canada." The oldest daughter,
303
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
Janet, married Lieutenant John Plendleath, October 21, 1771. Another daughter, Henrietta, married Jonathan Sewell, chief justice of Lower Canada, and had sixteen children.
The portrait of Judge William Smith is from a painting by Wollaston. made 1751, and is now owned by Maturin Livingston Delafield, of New York. a descendant of the judge. The portrait of his son, Chief Justice William Smith, the historian, is from a miniature obtained from his descendants by Robert J. Living- ston. A copy of it is in the New York Historical Society. The portrait of Mrs. Mary (Het) Smith is from a painting in posses- sion of the family of Judge Sewell, of Canada.
"Smith's History of the Province of New York," written by Chief Justice William Smith, has given him a lasting fame. The first volume was published in London, 1757. The second volume was published by the New York Historical Society. 1826, and the two volumes in one edition by the same society in 1829. There are also several editions of the first volume.
Thomas Smith. son of Judge William Smith, and brother of the historian, was born March 11, 1734. He was a graduate of Yale, and a prominent lawyer in New York. He was a member of Provincial assembly and of the Provincial congress. He mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of Abraham Lynsen, November 22, 1758. He owned much property in New York and at Haver- straw, and was the owner of the famous "Treason House, " at the latter place, where Arnold and Andre laid their nefarious plans. He died at Haverstraw, November 7, 1795, leaving a large family. One sou, Thomas Smith, Jr., married Mary, dangh- ter of John Taylor, a prominent merchant of New York, Decem- ber 4. 1786. Their children were: John Taylor, Catherine Au- gusta, wife of Budd, Thomas Charles, William Eugene, and Anna Maria.
John Taylor Smith was a graduate of Columbia College
304
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
and editor of the "Rockland Register." the first newspaper in Rockland county. New York. He was born in the old "Treason House" at Haverstraw, and died in 1815, leaving five children : John Taylor, who died in New Jersey, August 31, 1904, aged eighty-pine. Mary, wife of Leroy Little. Thomas Eugene. Anna D. Charles Bainbridge Smith. who was a noted lawyer in New York. He married Malvina, daughter of Henry Kettle- tas. and has one son, Engene Kettletas Smith, now living in Swanton, Vermont. Charles Bainbridge Smith was the last of the race who held a prominent position. His second wife was a widow Youngs of California. Mr. Smith died in Paris, France, October 17, 1905. at the age of eighty-five. the last of his family.
Joshua llett Smith. the youngest son of Judge William Smith, was born May 27, 1749. He married Elizabeth Gordon, of Belvidere, South Carolina, 1770. She died January 1, 1784. They had three children : Joshua G., Sarah, wife of Thomas Hay, and Laura. wife of West. He was living at the family residence at Haverstraw at the time of the Revolution, though the honse was owned by his brother Thomas. His troubles as the unfortunate dupe of Arnold and Andre are too well known to be repented here. Suspected of being the accomplice of Arnold, he was imprisoned, but permitted to escape. He went to England in 1783, and returned to America in 1801, and for a while kept a school in the house at Haverstraw. He again went to England, but returned some time after 1808. He died October 10, 1818. and was buried in a vault in the middle of North Dutch Church. His scrond wife, Anna ( Middleton) Smith, and his two daugh- ters survived him. In 1808 he published his noted book. "An Authentic Narration of the Causes Which Led to the Death of Major Andre." This book has been the subject of much dis- enssion.
The famous house at Haverstraw remained in the hands of
305
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
the family until 1832 and still stands, an interesting relie of the ('olonial times. Judge William Smith was the owner of two shares in the great Patent of Cheesecock, which includes the greater part of the Highland Mountains. The Treason House, built in 1752, stands at the south end of Lot 7. William Smith, the historian, had a house next west, which was burned. The immense tract owned by the family sold for a very small sum. One of the daughters of Thomas Smith, Jr., married William Denning, Jr., whose father was a prominent merchant in New York. His monument is in the northwest corner of St. Paul's churchyard. Another daughter married Hon. John C. Spencer, secretary of navy. 1842
William Engene Smith, son of Thomas Smith. Jr., was the father of Judge William E. Smith, who kept a roadhouse on Jerome avenne, Bronx. for many years.
FAMILY OF ST. JOHN.
This family. which has many branches in various parts of the country, is descended from Matthias St. John, who with a large family settled at Norwalk. Fairfield county, Connecticut, before 1654. The name on the early town and state records is spelled in different ways, as Sention and Saint John, but after 1725 the present form of St. John prevailed. The line of descent of the particular branch now under consideration is as follows: 1. Matthias. 2. Matthias. 3. Matthias. 4. Benjamin. 5. Mat- thias. G. Samnel St. John.
Matthias St. John. father of Benjamin, was one of twenty- five men who purchased land and established the town of Ridge- field, Connecticut. September 30, 1708.
Benjamin St. John was a resident of Norwalk, but removed to New Canaan in 1744 with his family of four sons and four daughters. and died there about the close of the Revolution.
Vol. I -- 20
306
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
His sons were: Benjamin, Caleb, Matthias and Daniel. All of these lived and died in New Canaan, and left a very numerons progeny.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.