The Land at Mastic

This Floyd family originated in Brecknockshire, Wales. The founder of the family in America, Richard Floyd (ca. 1620-1690), first appeared in American records in the late 1660s as a leading landowner on the North Shore of Long Island, first in Huntington, then in Setauket.

A half-century later, in 1718, his son Richard Floyd II (1665-1738), bought over 4,400 acres of property from William "Tangier" Smith of the Manor of Saint George. The property stretched six miles north from Moriches Bay and approximately one mile west from the Mastic or Forge River. This property was given to Richard II's youngest son Nicoll.

The first Floyd to live on the estate, Richard II's son Nicoll Floyd constructed the first portion of the "Old Mastic House" in 1724. He developed the land into a prosperous plantation, using both slave and free laborers to raise grain, flax, sheep, and cattle.

 

The next three generation of Floyd’s continued to operate the plantation and kept the land intact until the 1870s.

The family’s business interests shifted from agriculture and other activities centered in the New York City area.

During this time approximately 2,200 acres of the property had been sold. In 1881, the remaining 2,200 acres was divided among five brothers and sisters, four of whom used their property for summer homes and winter hunting trips.

Today, the "Home Neck" portion of the Estate, approximately 613 acres, is called the William Floyd Estate and the property is managed by the National Park Service.