• General Notes

  [3104.ftw]
  
  [Brøderbund WFT Vol. 22, Ed. 1, Tree #3104, Date of Import: Dec 9, 1998]
  
  Charles, had an Uncle William Floyd who m. Miss Estha Kendall of Northampton Co. VA
  In 1754, his parents Samuel & Susan (Dixon) Floyd died at the same time, and werre both buried in the same grave.  They left Charles & and Eliza 5, orphans in the cold world from which they received but  little or no sympathy or kindness.  Knowing nothing of the early life of Eliza, I only write of my respected and much loved grandfather, who, from his own account of his boyhood, after thedeath of his parents, was roughly trated, uncared for and deemed a trouble by those who should have been interested in his welfare - his own relatives.  Whether his parents left any property he was ignorant, being only a child of nine when taken by his uncle to Norfolk, and shipped to sea.  Often have I heard him recount the many hardships which he endured during 14 years that he "followed the seas, " during which time he visited many places of note, and witnessed life in every variety and custom in almost all parts of the globe.  He was generally on trading vessels, transferring the products of different countries from one to another.  On one occasion visiting Africa, at one of the stations, the Captain left his ship and part of his crew while he went in quest of gold dust, ivory, monkeys and other things, such as the country offered for trade.  During his absence many of the natives came to the station to see people with white skins and straight hair.  Charles was then quite a lad.  They would approach and merely touch him and then fly off as if frightened.  An old African woman wished much to purchase him from the Captain and offered for him palm oil, and wine, and salt, and because she could not get him, poisoned him in palm wine, which was procured by chopping through the bark of the tree, allowing the sap to escape, and this was what they called palm wine.  From this poisoning he did not recover for some time.  In all his tossing on the great deep he was only shipwrecked once, and then off Plum Island off the coast of Massachusetts, but then suffered greatly from being frost-bitten.  He was cared for and attended by an old woman who still had some warmth in her heart. 
       When his first wanderings on the great deep were over, he came first to Charleston, SC, determined to live on terra firma.  He was engaged to manage the business of a wealthy planter in SC.  All his worldly possessions were embraced in a sailing boat and his clothing, but he had much force of character and determination, an eqipment which he made use of to a full extent; nor was love idle.  Falling in the society of excellent people he made the acquaintance of Miss Mary Fenden, and married her in the year 1768.  In the following year, their only child, a son, was born called John.  At that time indigo was the chief product of Carolina, cotton being then scarcely known.  Small quantities would be grown in gardens, picked from the hulls and sometimes twisted on bobbins into sewing thread, to be used instead of flax, which was the only kind used.  Mr. Floyd was remarkably successful in growing indigo, his commanding the highest market prices, but just as he was beginning to win success he had an unfortunate accident, discharging a whole load from his gun into his right hand.  He was then on one of the islands near Charleston.  Three times a surgeon went from Charleston to amputate the hand, but his determination was to die rather than lose his hand.  By greata care it was preserved, though much shattered and deformed by the accident.
       Fortune was smiling, though faintly, on his worldly prospects when a terrible reverse came which blighted the hopes of our country for a while - "The Revolutionary War".  Among many others, he suffered, but perhaps more severely, because of his unbounded patriotism and his great independence of character, for never was a man more averce to duplicity and hypocrisy than he.  But he did not experience half the unkindness from his avowed enemies as from his neighbors and acquaintances, the Tories.  He, with others, enrolled themselves in a Volunteer Company, wearing in front of their hats a silver Crescent, in which was conspicuously cut their motto: "Liberty or Death."  They were feared and envied, and - betrayed by false friends many times, and finally, into the hands of the British.  Three times was my grandfather's dwelling burnt over the heads of his wife and young son, and once they escaped only with their lives, fleeing to the secure and friendly shelter of the woods.  They took refuge of several days and were ministered to by a faithful servent.  "Old Hazzard."  They feared that even he would be tortured into betraying them.  While Savannah was in the possession of the British he was captured and brought a prisoner to the commodore's ship.  Then was the time that his fearless answers, his appaarent thorough knowledge of the sea-faring life, made him conspicuous.  In appearance, he much resembled and Englishman, and was suspected by the English Commander of being his countryman, but in his frank, undisquised manner his answers to questions were as follows:
  "Mr. Floyd, are you not an Englishman?"    "No, Sir! I am an American, by birth a native of the state of Virginia, and an enemy to King George."   "But", said the Commodore, "I see you are a good seaman; renounce your country, receive the bounty money I offer you, and you shall be put in immediate command of a 16 gun ship of war."   "Sir," said he, fearless of consequences, "were I in command of this vessel, I would instantly pull down the colors now flying at her mast, nail those of the United States flag in there place and turn her guns against you!"  "Well,"  said the Commodore, "I admire your patriotism and respect you for it. Have you had your breakfast to-day, as you came on board at an early hour?"  "No, sir; I have had nothing to eat in 24 hours."  A whistle was blown; his steward appeared, who was ordered to show Mr. Floyd into the cabin and furnish him with refreshments and he was allowed the liberty of the quarter-deck while his betrayers stood hat in hand in the gang-way of the ship waiting the reward of their infamy.  I cannot recount all his trials during the war, but they were numerous. 
       Now, when hostilities had ceased, an American Independence secured, Mr. Floyd still pursued planting for a living, superintending for those who had the means, and began to accumulate something for the support of myself and small family.  His only son at the proper age was sent to school and acquired with readiness such plain education as the country afforded, and when old enough, knowing how important it was that a young man should have some certain means of supporting himself, bound him to a carpenter's trade for five years. 
       In 1795 Charles and son John moved to McIntosh Co. GA and settled on adjoining farms called the "Thickets", where was born the humble writer of these lines.(Mrs Mary Floyd Hamilton).  This event took place in my grandfather's house where I still remained after being weaned, and myu parents had moved to their own house.  Need I say that I was loved and petted? - but not spoiled, for my dear grandmother cared too much for my future welfare to indulge me to my own disadvantage, for she never permitted any injustice or rudeness even to a servant.  My home was with dear old people who claimed me as their own, having the exlusive care of me, and assuming all my expenses.  Soon as I was old enough my blessed grandmother taught me to read and spell, and trained me in the religions of the Episcopal Church, teaching me the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, Catechism and Ten Commandments.  T;hey are indelibly improssed upon my memory,and I shall never forget her kind and tender manner towards me.  I can well remember when I was a  little thing, she would take me in her lap at the breakfast table and cover me over with her white muslin apron while she poured out the coffee.  Such little acts of loving care ever remain fresh in the mind, even if rendered to one when a child.  I had nothing unkind to dampen my feelings or make me unhappy, until the death of my grandmother on the 9th of Sep 1804.  This was the saddest day of my young life, for I felt that I had lost my best friend.  (she went to live with her parents and siblings)
       My grandfather commenced cotton planting in GA with much success.  During these manyt years he had not heard anything from his family in VA, from whom he had been separated at so early an age.  When on a visit to Savannah, and looking at the shipping at the wharves, his admiration was attracted to a very handsome schooner, and on inquiry was informed that the owner was Mr. John Kendall Floyd of Norfolk,VA to whom he procured an introduction, feeling interested in meeting one of his own name from the same part of the country as himself.  He learned from Mr. J.K.Floyd that he was an own cousin, that his sister was living and had a large family of children, among them a son called Charles, for her long lost brother.  This information decided the old gentleman to make a visit to his native place, Northampton Co.,VA, where those who had been so long separated and many who had never met before, passed many pleasant days together. His nephew, Charles Fitchett, moved to GA with his family, remained several years and returned again to VA.  Several of his neices also visited him at his own home.  They were Mrs. Betsy Costan, Mrs. Sally Nottingham, and Miss Nancy Fitchett, who resided with her uncle several years, but returned home again,as her parents were both living.  There were other sisters.
       My grandfather made a second visit to relations, and on his return home encountered a severe storm, and the Captain tried to get in at St. Augustine bar, but nothing could save his vessel, and she was completely wrecked.  The Gov. of Florida very kindly furnished a boat for my grandfather and party to return to their homes, which was gratefully remembered by those in distress.
       After my grandmother's death, how lonely and desolate was my grandfather's home!  But he could not be induced to go to live with my father, who was anxious that he should.  My grandmother had several sisters, and one of them was invited by my grandfather to come to make his house her home, as she was a widow and without one.  She had been twice married; first to Mr. Pamenter, and then to Mr. Maxell.  She was Annie Fendin.
       My grandmother's mother, previous to her marriage was Miss Edwards.
       My grandfather assumed all the expenses of my education, clothing, etc., as it seemed a pleasure to him to provide for me.  He was a generous, kind parent to all his grandchildren, and was very fond of my mother.  In his latter years he suffered much from a painful disease, cancer of the face, and died 9 Sep 1820, at his home "Bellevue", Camden Co.,GA.  I was with him in his last moments, and saw him consigned to his last resting place on earth, in the graveyard near Fairfield, by the side of his wife.
       He was about 5'6" or 7", auburn hair, a little inclined to red, a most perfect set of teeth, never used liquor of any kind, nor tobacco, was never sick, took no medicine, never was bled, until 60 years old, when he had a fall from his horse, and broke two of his ribs and his collar bone.  Then he was bled for the only time in his life.  Not using liquor or tobacco was remarkable traits for a seafaring man.
       

Details of Charles' family with Mary Fendin