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The Home of William Floyd, Signer of the Declaration of independence, Mastic Beach, NY - owned and maintained
by the Federal Government as part of the Fire island National Seashore and a National Historic Site - open to the public.

    WILLIAM FLOYD, who was the first delegate from New York that signed the  Declaration of Independence, was born on Long Island, on the 17th of December, 1734. His father was Nicoll  Floyd, an opulent and respectable landholder, whose ancestors came to America from Wales, about the year  1680, and settled on Long Island. The father of William died while his son was young, and left him heir to a  large estate. The early education of young Floyd, by no means corresponded to the wealth and ability of his father. His studies were limited to a few of the useful branches of knowledge, and these were left  unfinished, in consequence of the death of that gentleman. The native powers of Floyd were, however, respectable, and his house being the resort of an extensive circle of connections and acquaintance, which included many intelligent  and distinguished families, his mind, by the intercourse which he thus enjoyed with those who were enlightened and  improved, became stored with rich and varied knowledge. His wealth enabled him to practice a generous hospitality, and  few enjoyed the society of friends with more pleasure. At an early period in the controversy between Great Britain and the  colonies, the feelings of Mr. Floyd were strongly enlisted in the cause of the latter. He was a friend to the people; and,  with zeal and ardor, entered into every measure which seemed calculated to ensure to them their just rights. These msentiments on his part excited a reciprocal confidence on the part of the people, and led to his appointment as a  delegate from New-York to the first Continental Congress, which met in Philadelphia on the fifth of September, 1774. In  the measures adopted by that body, so justly eulogized by the advocates of freedom, from that day to the present, Mr.  Floyd most heartily concurred. In the following year, he was again elected a delegate to congress, and  continued a member of that body until after the Declaration of American Independence. On that occasion, he assisted in  dissolving the political bonds which had united the colonies to the British government; and in consequence of which, they  had suffered numberless oppressions for years. Into other measures of congress, Mr. Floyd entered with zeal. He served on numerous important committees, and by his fidelity rendered essential service to the patriotic cause. It was the lot of not a few, while thus devoted to the public good, to  experience the destructive effects of the war upon their property, or the serious inconveniences arising from it in relation  to their families. In both these respects Mr. Floyd suffered severely. While at Philadelphia, attending upon congress, the  American troops evacuated Long Island, which was taken possession of by the British army. On this latter event, the  family of Mr. Floyd were obliged to flee for safety to Connecticut. His house was occupied by a company of horsemen, which  made it the place of their rendezvous during the remainder of the war. Thus, for nearly seven years, Mr. Floyd  and his family were refugees from their habitation, nor did he, during this long period, derive any benefit from  his landed estate. In the year 1777, General Floyd (we give him this military appellation, from the circumstance of his having some time before been appointed to the command of the militia on Long Island) was  appointed a senator of the state of New York, under the new constitution. In this body, he assisted to organize  the government, and to accommodate the code of laws to the changes which had recently been effected in the political condition of the state. In October, 1778, he was again elected to represent the state of New York  in the Continental Congress. From this time, until the expiration of the first congress, under the federal constitution, General Floyd was either a member of the national assembly, or a member of the senate of New York. In this latter  body, he maintained a distinguished rank, and was often called to preside over its deliberations, when the lieutenant  governor left the chair. In 1784, he purchased an uninhabited tract of land upon the Mohawk River. To the clearing and subduing of this tract, he devoted the leisure of several successive summers. Under his skilful  management, and persevering labors, a considerable portion of the tract was converted into a well cultivated farm; and hither, in 1803, he removed his residence. Although, at this time, he was advanced in life, his bodily  strength and activity were much greater than often pertain to men of fewer years. He enjoyed unusual health, until a year or  two before his death. The faculties of his mind continued unimpaired to the last. A little previous to his death, he  appeared to be affected with a general debility, which continuing to increase, the lamp of life was at length extinguished. This  event occurred on the 4th of August, 1821, and when he had attained to the extraordinary age of eighty-seven years. In his person, General Floyd was of a middle stature. He possessed a natural dignity, which seldom failed to impress those into whose company he was thrown. He appeared to enjoy the  pleasures of private life, yet in his manners he was less familiar, and in his disposition less affable, than most men.  Few men, however, were more respected. He was eminently a practical man. The projects to which he gave his sanction, or  which he attempted, were those which judgment could approve. When his purposes were once formed, he seldom  found reason to alter them. His firmness and resolution were not often equaled. In his political character, there was much to admire. He was uniform and  independent. He manifested great candor and sincerity towards those from whom he happened to differ; and such was his well known integrity, that his motives were rarely, if ever, impeached. He seldom took part in the public discussion  of a subject, nor was he dependent upon others for the opinions which he adopted. His views were his own, and his  opinions the result of reason and reflection. If the public estimation of a man be a just criterion by which to judge of him, General Floyd was excelled by few of his contemporaries, since, for more than fifty years he was honored with offices of trust and responsibility by his fellow citizens.

William Floyd a Del. and Rep; born in Brookhaven LI, NY. Dec. 17, 1734 ; pursued an academic course; served as major general in the State militia; was prominent in the ante- Revolutionary movements; Member of the Continental Congress 1774-1777; signed the Declaration of Independence; served in the State senate in 1777 and 1778 ; again a Member of the Continental Congress 1778-1783; again served in the State senate 1784-1788; elected to the First Congress (March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791) ; unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1790 to the Second Congress; presidential elector in 1792; moved in 1794 to Westernville Oneida County; again presidential elector in 1800, 1804, and 1820; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1801; again a member of the State senate in 1808 ; died in Westernville, Oneida County,  NY. August 4 , 1821, interment in Presbyterian Church Cemetery.