Floyds Like Us
If you were to name the most famous Floyd on Long Island before the outbreak of the Revolution, chances are it would not have been William Floyd. His cousin, Richard Floyd IV, cut a more striking figure: generous, hospitable, refined – with a thriving Mastic estate and powerful connections. Yet today, William has a parkway named after him and his home is part of the National Park system while Richard is erased from history. Wonder why?
Join local historian Matthew Montelione as he relates the history of American Loyalist Richard IV and how the Revolution drove him apart from his family, his neighbors and his nation.
Richard’s story is part of our special series of episodes looking into Revolutionary War-era Long Island in honor of the final season of AMC’s Turn: Washington’s Spies. It turns out that Richard’s fate is woven into that of the Culper Spy Ring. Richard’s brother Benjamin lived in Seatauket and had some dubious ties to Abraham Woodhull. And not only did Caleb Brewster make it a point to raid Floyd’s estate, Benjamin Tallmadge led a party of dragoons right to his doorstep, besieging the neighboring British Fort St. George on the Mastic peninsula.
Hear all this and more, including our predictions on what the last scene in Turn will be.
Further Research:
- Richard Floyd IV: Long Island Loyalist
- Mastic Peninsula Historical Society
- Benjamin Tallmadge Historic Trail
- Memoir of Benjamin Tallmadge
- Other Turn episodes:
One thought on “Floyds Like Us”
Great interview; I listened to them when you recorded at Dowling too. I’m sure I met Matthew at the MPHS meetings years ago. This will be my 6th year as a docent at the William Floyd Estate, working for MaryLaura. I wanted to list a few items that I thought may have been unclear. Nathaniel Woodhull was William Floyd’s brother-in-law, who married William’s sister, Ruth. Benjamin Tallmadge was William Floyd’s son-in-law, who married William’s daughter, Mary. William was married twice, first to Hannah Jones of Southampton, who died in exile in Connecticut in 1781. William’s 2nd wife was Joanna Strong of Setauket. They removed to Westernville, NY, where they are both buried.
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