THE FLOYDS

of

CAMDEN COUNTY, GEORGIA

Marguerite Marreé Evans Mathews: Owner/Copyright 1999

e-mail: mmevans@worldnet.att.net

FLOYD HISTORY

FLOYD FAMILY CEMETERY

BELLEVUE PLANTATION

FLOYD LINEAGE

FLOYD HISTORY

*Capt. Charles Floyd*

*Brig-Gen. John Floyd*

Virginia's Eastern Shore, South Carolina and Camden County, Georgia

Charles Floyd was born in 1747 in Northampton Co. on the Eastern Shore of VA, the son of Samuel Floyd & Susan Dixon (Virginia's Eastern Shore, by Ralph T. Whitelaw, Richmond: VA Hist. Soc. 1951). His parents died when he was seven, after which he was sent to sea as a cabin boy for a number of years. He then settled in South Carolina. During the Revolutionary War in South Carolina, he was a member of the First Council of Safety. They raised a volunteer militia, the St. Helena Guards, whose motto was "Liberty or Death" (Historical Collections of Georgia, by Rev. George White, NY: Pudney & Russell 1854). Captain Floyd distinguished himself in forays against the British and their colonial policies. In reprisal, his home was plundered and burned by the Tories. He was captured by the British in Savannah and held prisoner aboard a gun ship. The English Commodore was so impressed by Capt. Floyd's expression of deeply held principles and his staunch patriotism that he allowed him to walk the quarterdeck of the ship. In 1768 in Charleston, SC, he married Mary Fendin. She was born in 1746 in St. Helena Parish, SC, the daughter of John Fendin, Jr. & Elizabeth Thomas (Georgia Genealogical Magazine, article by Alice Collar Tonge). Charles & Mary Floyd had one child, a son named John.


John Floyd was born in 1769 at Hilton Head, SC (Biographical Directory of the American Congress 1774-1961, US Govt. Printing Office 1961). At age sixteen, he was apprenticed to a house carpenter for five years. He became so proficient at his work, he was offered early release from the contract, but declined. In 1793 in Beaufort District, SC, he married Isabella Maria Hazzard. She was born in 1773 in St. Marys, GA, the daughter of Richard Hazzard & Phoebe Loftin (Floyd History & Lineage, by Marguerite Marreé Mathews 1998). After her mother died, she was raised by her father's cousin, Sarah Hazzard Waight of Beaufort, SC.


All four Floyds moved: In 1795 to McIntosh Co., GA; in 1800 to Camden Co., GA {CCG}. They purchased large tracts of land on the south side of the Satilla River, north of the Crooked River and west of the marshes and the Cumberland River in Camden County in an area now known as Floyd's Neck (Camden's Challenge, comp. by Marguerite Godley Reddick, Camden Co. Hist. Commission 1976, revised 1994). They became successful planters cultivating indigo, rice, cotton. They engaged in boat building - John Floyd was a master builder, used his workers and his expertise to construct schooners and merchant vessels for shipping and trade; he and his sons built sleek racing boats (Men of Mark In Georgia, ed. by William J. Northen, Spartanburg: Reprint Co. 1974). He was commissioned a Brigadier-General and at the beginning of the War of 1812, commanded a force at Point Peter near St. Marys. General Floyd and his men waged overwhelming battles against hostile Indians along the western frontier of Georgia: Autossee and Chalibee the most famous campaigns (Georgians In Profile, Historical Essays in Honor of Ellis Merton Coulter, ed. by Horace Montgomery, Athens: U of GA Press 1958). He was one of the three men appointed to survey the GA-FL line; became a leader of the States Rights Party in GA; served as Justice of Peace of Camden County; was a Representative and a Senator from Camden County; served in the US Congress; was honored when Floyd County in Georgia was given his name.

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FLOYD FAMILY CEMETERY

The Floyd Family Cemetery is located near the former Fairfield Plantation site and Floyd's Creek in Camden County, GA. Enclosed by a low rectangular brick wall, secured by a small wrought iron entry gate, seven intact graves (fifteen people are buried here) lie in seclusion under a canopy of moss-draped trees. Charles Floyd died 09 September 1820 at Bellevue Plantation; his wife, Mary Fendin Floyd predeceased him on 18 September 1804 at Bellevue. Their son, John Floyd, died 24 June 1839 at Bellevue; his wife, Isabella Maria Hazzard Floyd died 18 August 1859 at Bellevue - her grave is unmarked.

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BELLEVUE PLANTATION

THE ANCHOR HOUSE

The tabby ruins of Bellevue Plantation are located in Camden County, GA, in the area of Floyd's Neck that borders the Satilla River. John Floyd built Bellevue Plantation within view of the marshes leading to Todd's Creek for his father, Charles. He built Fairfield Plantation on Floyd's Creek for himself. After his father died, he moved into Bellevue, enlarging it with upper stories made of cypress. Traditionally, it is known that the Floyds built Bellevue in the shape of an anchor to symbolize their fortunes provided by the sea. The curved billiard room at Bellevue overlooked a crescent-shaped rose garden, which extended half an acre. Flowering bulbs and hedge myrtles were dotted beneath a mile-long avenue of live oaks and cedar trees connecting the two plantations. During the Civil War, both plantations were destroyed by raiding parties sent ashore off of a blockading vessel anchored in St. Andrews Sound. Today, not a trace of Fairfield is to be seen; thick tabby walls of Bellevue Plantation are all that remain of this once-notable antebellum structure.

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FLOYD LINEAGE

*CHILDREN OF JOHN FLOYD & ISABELLA MARIA HAZZARD:*

  1. CHARLES FLOYD b. 19 Oct. 1794 Beaufort, SC; d. four days later.
  2. MARY HAZZARD FLOYD b. 01 Oct. 1795 McIntosh Co., GA; m. EVERARD HAMILTON (1791-1847) on 31 Oct. 1816 at Fairfield Plantation Camden Co., GA (A Little Family History, by Mary Floyd Hamilton) - 11 kids. Col. Hamilton served in War of 1812; was an aide-de-camp to Gen. John Floyd; was elec. Sec. of State of GA for ten yrs. She wrote: A Little Family History - copies in several archival libraries including the Georgia Historical Society Library, Savannah; & the Bryan-Lang Historical Library, Woodbine, GA; d. 1888 in Savannah, GA; both bur. Laurel Grove Cem., Sav.
    1. Charles Floyd Hamilton ( 1817-1852); m. Isabella Maria Caroline DeLarocheaulion (dau. of Dr. Aime DeLarocheaulion & Sarah Catherine Wigg Floyd) - 3 kids
    2. John Floyd Caesar Hamilton (1819-1821)
    3. Isabella Maria Caroline Hamilton (1821-1893); m. Everard Hamilton Blackshear (bro. of Elijah Francks Blackshear & James Hamilton Blackshear) - 11 kids
    4. Mary Anne Lafayette Hamilton (1824-1890) m. Elijah Francks Blackshear - 10 kids
    5. John Floyd Hamilton (1826-1872) never m.
    6. Sarah Frances Charlessina Hamilton (1828-1830)
    7. Everard Hamilton (1830-1852) never m.
    8. Marmaduke Hamilton (1830-1896) never m.
    9. Richard William Hamilton (1832-1854) never m.
    10. Zoe Decima Hamilton (1836-1883) never m.
    11. James Thweatt Hamilton (1838-1855) never m.
  3. CHARLES RINALDO FLOYD b. 14 Oct. 1797 McIntosh Co. GA; m. 1st CATHERINE SOPHIA POWELL (1805-1828) on 22 May 1823 in Boston, MA - 2 kids; m. 2nd JULIA ROSS BOOG (1815-1852) on 09 Sep. 1831 at Bellevue Plantation (CCG Marr. Bk. B p. 3) - 7 kids. Gen. Charles R. Floyd commanded troops effecting the removal of Cherokee Indians; commanded troops in pursuit of Indians in Okefenokee Swamp; lived at Fairfield Plantation in CCG; was a duelist, collector of rare weapons, artist, poet; wrote an extensive diary - copy in GA Hist. Soc. Lib., Savannah, GA; d. 1845 at Fairfield Plantation; bur. under a pine tree at site of Fairfield Plantation, CCG; a marble monument was erected by US Govt. in honor of his patriotism.
    1. Catherine Isabella Floyd (1825-1842)
    2. Autossee Floyd (1827-1828)
    3. Mary Faith Floyd (1832-1913) - in 1853 m. 1st. Randolph Gillis McDonald (1826-1854) - 1 son; in 1857 m. 2nd William Gibbs McAdoo (1820-1894) - 8 kids
    4. Isabel Autossee Floyd (1833-1834)
    5. Rosalie Sarah Floyd (1835-1904); in 1860 m. James White Humes - 5 kids
    6. John Gallie Floyd (1836)
    7. Charles Rinaldo Floyd, Jr. (1837-d. young)
    8. Charles Rinaldo Floyd, Jr. (1839-1870) - never m.
    9. Richard Samuel Floyd (1843-1890); in 1871 m. Cora Augusta Lyons - one dau.
  4. SARAH CATHERINE WIGG FLOYD b. 12 Dec. 1799 McIntosh Co. GA; m. AIME DeLAROCHEAULION (1797-1858) on 28 Feb. 1822 at Fairfield Plantation CCG (double wedding ceremony with her sister, Susan: Diary of Augusta Gallie Floyd) - 3 kids. He was from France; a physician; owned property in Glynn Co., GA & Black Point Plantation in CCG; he is bur. at Floyd Fam. Cem. She was an accomplished pianist; taught music; d. 1876 Savannah, GA; bur. Laurel Grove Cem., Sav.
    1. Mary Ann Sophia DeLarocheaulion (1822-1824)
    2. John Floyd DeLarocheaulion (1825-1827)
    3. Isabella Maria Caroline DeLarocheaulion (1827-1877); m. Charles F. Hamilton (son of Col. Everard Hamilton & Mary Hazzard Floyd) - 3 kids
  5. JOHN FENDIN FLOYD b. 25 Jan. 1802 CCG; m. ANN H. ALSTON on 03 Dec. 1829 in Sparta, GA (A Little Family History, by Mary Floyd Hamilton) - no issue. Less than two months after they were married, he was shot in Darien, GA over a political misunderstanding; d. 1830; bur. Floyd Fam. Cem., CCG.
  6. SUSAN LODVISKI DIXON FLOYD b. 07 Mar. 1804 CCG; m. BENJAMIN HOPKINS (1802-1862) on 28 Feb.1822 at Fairfield Plantation CCG (double wedding ceremony with her sister, Sarah: Diary of Augusta Gallie Floyd) - 10 kids. Col. Hopkins (bro. of Wm. P. Hopkins) served in the FL militia in the Seminole War; was a volunteer during Civil War; a lawyer & planter in FL. She lived in Jacksonville; d. 1873 in Jacksonville, FL; both bur. Old City Cem., Jax.
    1. John Francis Hopkins (1823 - d. infant)
    2. Charles Rinaldo Hopkins (1824-1898); m. Frances Humphries - 4 kids
    3. Cornelia Caroline C. Hopkins (1826-1897) - m. 1st Francis William Sams - 4 kids; m. 2nd Daniel Perkins Smith - 7 kids
    4. Isabella America Rebecca Hopkins (1829 - d. young)
    5. John Floyd Hopkins (1830-1858 - drowned)
    6. Mary Hamilton Hopkins (1835-?) - m. Spencer Brooks - kids (?)
    7. Isabella Maria Hopkins (1838-?) - m. Capt. John Loper/Lopez - 2 kids
    8. Henry Floyd Hopkins (1842-1878) - m. Mary K. Buddington
    9. Joseph Mulvy Hopkins (1845- d. young)
    10. Francis A. Hopkins (1848-?)
  7. CAROLINA ELIZA LOUISA FLOYD b. 07 Jul. 1806 CCG; m. JAMES HAMILTON BLACKSHEAR (1805-1845) on 02 July 1828 at Bellevue Plantation (CCG Marr. Bk. A p. 116) - 4 kids. Major Blackshear (bro. of Elijah Francks Blackshear & Everard Hamilton Blackshear) was a planter. She owned land in Laurens Co., GA; d. 1877 in Macon, GA.
    1. John Floyd Blackshear (d. infant)
    2. Infant boy Blackshear
    3. Isabella Maria Floyd Blackshear (1832-1878) m. James Emmett Blackshear - 5 kids
    4. Isabella Sarah Blackshear (d. age 26) - never m.
  8. WILLIAM HENRY FLOYD b. 02 May 1808 at Fairfield Plantation CCG; d. 1811; bur. Floyd Fam. Cem., CCG.
  9. RICHARD FERDINAND FLOYD b. 07 July 1810 CCG; m. MARY ANN CHEVALIER (1813-1894) on 05 Sep. 1831 at St. Marys (CCG Marr. Bk. B p. 2) - 3 kids. Col. R. F. Floyd commanded local militia - Camden Chasseurs of Horse; was sheriff; lived at Hermitage Plantation & owned Brookfield Plantation in CCG; aft. 1846 moved to FL; clients commissioned him to paint their horses; a draftsman; was apptd. Brig.-Gen. of State of FL during Civil War; d. 1870; both bur. Hickory Grove Cem. Green Cove Springs, FL.
    1. Melinda Isabella Floyd (1833-1872); m. John Drysdale - 5 kids
    2. Anna Maria Floyd (1835-1887); m. Joseph Alston - no issue
    3. Caroline C. Floyd (1838-1887); m. 1st Wm. Butler; m. 2nd Wm. D. Page - no issue
  10. MELINDA ISABELLA FLOYD b. 20 Mar. 1812 CCG; m. WILLIAM PROCTOR HOPKINS (1805-1832) on 08 Sep. 1831 at Bellevue Plantation (CCG Marr. Bk. B p. 2) - no issue. He was the bro. of Benjamin Hopkins. She was poisoned by her maid at Baisden's Bluff (the Hopkins home-place in McIntosh Co.,GA) six weeks after she was married (Floyd Notes of Alice Collar Tonge); bur. Floyd Fam. Cem. nr. site of Fairfield Plantation, CCG.
  11. SAMUEL AUGUSTUS FLOYD b. 09 Jan. 1814; never married - on CCG 1870 census with live-in mulatto female + 6 mulatto kids with the last name of Floyd. He was an invalid; sold "Bellevue Place" to a former slave, Pompey Floyd, in 1877 for $100.00 - parcel line started at Schooner Landing - it included a spring, one hundred acres of high ground, and marsh land bet. Floyd's Creek & Todd's Creek (CCG Deed Bk. GG p. 161, 589 & 590). He d. 1878; bur. St. Marys, GA.
  12. HENRY HAMILTON FLOYD b. 11 Dec. 1817 CCG; m. 1st. MARGARET ANN BOOG (1822-1840) on 11 Dec. 1839 at St. Marys CCG - 1 kid; m. 2nd MORDINA JANE BOOG (1823-1862) on 07 July 1842 at St. Marys (Marr. Contract - CCG Deed Bk. N p. 417) - 12 kids. Both ladies were daus. of John Boog of Sutherlandshire, Scotland & Isabella King Kelly Turner of Falmouth, Jamaica; and, younger sisters of Julia Ross Boog. He was a surveyor; lived at Bellevue & at Clinton; was a Col. in the Civil War; kept a journal - copy in GA Hist. Soc. Lib., Savannah; d. 1873 at "Clinton" in CCG; bur. Temple Bluff Cem. on St. Marys River, CCG.
    1. Susan Lodviski/Mary Rose Floyd (1840-1901) m. Albert Graves - 1 kid
    2. Margaret Isabella Floyd (1843-1892) m. Lewis David Pacetti - 6 kids
    3. Catherine Sophia Floyd (1845-1908) m. John Swann Russell - 9 kids
    4. Samuel Augustus Floyd (1846-1902) m. Theresa Pohlman - 6 kids
    5. Augusta Gallie Floyd (1848-1926) - never m.; wrote diaries covering yrs. 1872-1913 - copies in Bryan-Lang Historical Library, Woodbine, GA & St. Augustine Historical Society Library, St. Augustine, FL.
    6. Henry Hamilton Floyd Jr. (1849-1916) m. Isadora Jane Rogero - 7 kids
    7. James Boog Floyd (1850-1912) m. Leola Nisbet - no issue
    8. Thomas Bourke Floyd (1852-1930) m. Frances Ann Perkins - 6 kids
    9. Randolph McDonald Floyd (1853-1865)
    10. Jule Elizabeth Ross Floyd (1855-1929) m. Edward Prescott Noyes - 8 kids
    11. Mordina Jane Floyd (1856-1878) m. Benjamin Boykin Dancy - she d. in childbirth
    12. Isabella Maria Hazzard Floyd (1858-1889) m. William John Evans - 2 kids
    13. Georgia Estelle Floyd (1862-1895) m. John Alexander Foster - 8 kids

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