FLOYD, Richard, colonist, born in Brecknockshire, Wales, about 1620; died in Seatolcott (now Setauket), Suffolk County, New York, about 1690. He came to this country in 1654, and with Richard Woodhull and fifty-two others to Setauket, which they founded in 1655. He was the first of the Floyd family on Long Island, and a man of intelligence and vigor. At the beginning of the settlement he was chosen judge of Suffolk County, and colonel of militia, and held the offices during his life.

His eldest son, Richard Floyd, born in Setauket, 12 May 1661; died there, 28 February 1737, was appointed judge of the common pleas in 1723, and was also colonel of the militia of Suffolk County. He married, 12 May 1686, Margaret Nicoll (16621718), oldest daughter of Matthias Nicoll, secretary of the Duke of York's commissioners who captured New York from the Dutch, and the first secretary of the English province of New York.

Their eldest son, Richard Floyd, third of the name, born 29 December 1703; died 21 April 1771, likewise became judge of the common pleas in 1752, and colonel of the militia of Suffolk County, which offices, like his father and grandfather, he held during his life. He was a man of integrity and honor, easy of access, and generous to those who stood in need of aid. He married the daughter of Colonel Samuel Hutchinson, of Southold.

Their eldest son, Richard Floyd, fourth of the name, born about 1736; died in Maugerville, New Brunswick, 30 June 1791, like his ancestors, was judge of the common pleas (appointed in 1764), and colonel of the militia of Suffolk County. He was noted for his affability, politeness, fine manners, and profuse hospitality. The great estate of the family in the manor of St. George had descended to him, and his house was famed for its always-open doors. Here he entertained Governor Tryon and all his chief officers on his march down Long Island. Its position, and the politics of its owner, exposed it to the attacks of the whaleboat expeditions from Connecticut; and three times he was robbed of his cattle, sheep, and slaves. He was included in the act of attainder, and at the peace of 1783, when the act became operative, he removed to New Brunswick and settled on the St. John's river.

His wife, whom he married on 26 September 1758, was Arabella, daughter of Judge David Jones, of Fort Neck, Queens County, and sister of Judge Thomas Jones, of the Supreme Court of New York, author of the "History of New York during the Revolutionary War"; and upon her male issue, her father by will entailed his estate at Fort Neck in default of issue to her brother, Judge Thomas Jones, on condition of adding the name of Jones to their own. The latter had no issue by his wife Anne, daughter of Governor James de Lancey.

Consequently David Richard Floyd, only son of Richard Floyd and Arabella Jones, born 14 November 1764; died in 1826, became David Richard Floyd-Jones, which double patronymic the family has since borne. This change was also confirmed by special act of the legislature of New York in 1788. Hence the junior branches only of this family for the last hundred years, and at present, bear the name of Floyd.

Thomas Floyd-Jones, eldest son of the last, born in 1788; died in 1851, succeeded to the estate of Fort Neck, and at his death the entail by its terms came to an end. His eldest son, David Richard Floyd-Jones, lawyer, born in 1813; died 8 January 1871, was member of assembly for New York in 1841, 1842, 1843, and in 1857, state senator in 1844'7, inclusive, member of the Constitutional convention of 1846, secretary of state in 1860'1, and lieutenant governor of New York in 1863'4.Henry Floyd-Jones, second son of Thomas Floyd-Jones, and uncle of the Lieutenant-Gov. Floyd-Jones, born in 1792: died in 1862, was member of assembly in 1829, state senator and member of the court of errors from the old first district,, consisting of Kings, Queens, New York, and Richmond counties, from 1836 till 1840, and brigadier general of militia.