Citizendia
Your Ad Here

Davis Floyd
Davis Floyd

Image needed
Clark County Recorder[1]
In office
1801 – 1802
In office
1803 – 1806
In office
1805 – 1806
Indiana Territorial Auditor[2]
In office
1813 – 1814
Indiana Territorial Treasurer[2]
In office
1814 – 1816
In office
November 4, 1816 – November 3, 1817 [3]
Floyd County Circuit Court Judge[2]
In office
1817 – 1823
Born 1776
Virginia
Died December 13, 1834 (aged 58)
Leon County, Florida
Political party Democratic-Republican Party
Religion Methodist

Davis Floyd (1776 - December 13, 1834) was an Indiana Jeffersonian Republican politician who was convicted of aiding American Vice President Aaron Burr in the Burr conspiracy. Clark County is a County located in the US state of Indiana, located directly across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky Indiana House of Representatives is the Lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U Indiana House of Representatives is the Lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani Year 1816 ( MDCCCXVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 644 - Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Muslim Caliph, is killed by a Persian slave in Medina. Year 1817 ( MDCCCXVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Floyd County is a County located in the US state of Indiana. As of 2000 the population was 70823 The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state Events 1294 - Saint Celestine V abdicates the papacy after only five months Celestine hoped to return to his previous life Year 1834 ( MDCCCXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Leon County is a County located in the state of Florida. In 2000 its population was 239452 Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations Year 1776 ( MDCCLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 1294 - Saint Celestine V abdicates the papacy after only five months Celestine hoped to return to his previous life Year 1834 ( MDCCCXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The State of Indiana ( was the 19th US state admitted into the union The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Vice President of the United States is the first person in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of the United States upon the death This article discusses Aaron Burr (1756-1836 the US politician The Burr conspiracy was a suspected treasonous Cabal of planters, Politicians and army officers led by former U Floyd was not convicted of treason however and returned to public life after several years working to redeem his reputation. He lost his wealth in the Panic of 1819 and died in obscurity in Florida 1834. The Panic of 1819 was the first major financial crisis in the United States, after the depression of the late 1780s (which led directly to the establishment of the Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the

Contents

Biography

Early life

Davis Floyd was born in 1776 to Robert and Lillian Floyd in Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state In 1779, the family moved to Jefferson County, Kentucky. Year 1779 ( MDCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Jefferson County is a County located in the US state of Kentucky. Floyd had three siblings, Elizabeth, Charles, and Mary Lee. Charles Floyd (1782 &ndash August 20, 1804) was a United States Explorer, a non-commissioned officer in the U

As a boy in Kentucky, Floyd came to befriend William Clark, son of George Rogers Clark. The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. George Rogers Clark (November 19 1752 – February 13 1818 was a soldier from Virginia and the highest ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during The Floyd family became political allies of Clark. Floyd would briefly be 2nd Lieutenant of the Jefferson County militia. Floyd married his first wife Susanna Johnston Lewis in Jefferson County in 1794. [4] Floyd had three children by Susannah, Gabriel Jones, Charles, and Elizabeth. Susanna died about 1807.

Political career

In 1801 Floyd moved to Clarksville, Indiana. Year 1801 ( MDCCCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Tuesday Clarksville is a town in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River as apart of the Louisville Metropolitan area. In the same year Floyd became Deputy Sherrif of Clark County and the Clark County Recorder. [4] Floyd, along with his father, was appointed to the Clarksville Board of Trustees. Floyd would ferry boats through the Falls of the Ohio rapids until 1808. The Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area is a national bi-state area on the Ohio River near Louisville Kentucky in the United States, [4] Floyd was elected as a Clark County delegate to the territory's slavery convention in 1802, the convention would set in motion the events that would legalize slavery and indentured servitude in the Indiana Territory. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another An indentured servant is a form of Debt bondage worker The Laborer is under Contract of an Employer for some period of time usually three to Indiana Territory was an Organized territory of the United States from 1800 to 1816 created by Act of Congress and signed into law by President [5] Floyd would become the Sherrif of Clark County in 1803 and served until 1806.

Floyd was elected to the Indiana Territorial Legislature in an 1805 special election; the legislature had been reduced to five members when the Michigan Territory was detached. Indiana Territory was an Organized territory of the United States from 1800 to 1816 created by Act of Congress and signed into law by President Year 1805 ( MDCCCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or Michigan Territory was an Organized territory of the United States in the early 19th century between June 30, 1805 and January 26 [6]. Floyd was generally at odds with the rest of the legislature, he was the only anti-slavery representative during his term. [7] By the end of his term he had become too involved in the Aaron Burr Conspiracy to run for re-election and was succeeded by James Beggs as Clark County's representative. The Burr conspiracy was a suspected treasonous Cabal of planters, Politicians and army officers led by former U [8]

Involvement with Aaron Burr

In 1805, while a territorial legislator, Floyd became involved in the plot of Aaron Burr. This article discusses Aaron Burr (1756-1836 the US politician Floyd and Burr had both become members of the board of directors of the Indiana Canal Company. [9]. The company, believed to have had something to do with the conspiracy, was to build a canal around the Falls of the Ohio on the Indiana side of the river. The Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area is a national bi-state area on the Ohio River near Louisville Kentucky in the United States, The company failed and the investors lost their money, which was believed to have been used to help finance Burr's plot. It was never proven that the money was stolen. The company had an initial investment of $120,000 and handled over one million dollars during it's duration. [10]

Floyd had also committed to Aaron Burr that he would raise a regiment of soldiers to support his cause of illegally invading Mexico. It is unknown if Floyd was aware of how the regiment was planned to be used. [11][12] The regiment of 30 men and boats assembled on Silver Creek in Clark County and left from the Falls of the Ohio to sail downriver to Natchez, Louisiana. Silver Creek is a Stream in Indiana, USA. It drains a watershed of 97442 acres Clark County is a County located in the US state of Indiana, located directly across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky The Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area is a national bi-state area on the Ohio River near Louisville Kentucky in the United States, Natchez is a village in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. They expected to join army troops there but were betrayed by General James Wilkinson. James Wilkinson ( 24 March, 1757 &ndash December 28, 1825) was a U They were unable to meet up with the rest of assembling regiments because President Thomas Jefferson, already aware of the plot, decided the men were guilty of treason and ordered them all arrested. Thomas Jefferson (April 13 1743 – July 4 1826 was the third President of the United States (1801–1809 the principal author of the Declaration of Independence Floyd fled Louisiana and returned to Indiana were he was captured. [13][14]

In 1807, with Floyd in custody and the plot exposed, Davis along with Burr and his other conspirators, were charged with treason. [15] The treason could not be proved against Burr and the treason charges were dropped against Floyd. He was however charged a $20 fine and imprisoned for 3 hours. [16]

Some believe that Floyd was unaware of of Burr's larger plot but much of the public at the time considered him a "conscientious traitor". [17]

Just days after his sentencing in the conspiracy with Burr, the Indiana Territorial Legislature elected him as Treasurer of the lower house. [4] It was unknown to them at the time that Burr had been acquitted. After learning of those events, and President Jefferson's unhappiness with the outcome, the legislature decided to take action. Thomas Jefferson (April 13 1743 – July 4 1826 was the third President of the United States (1801–1809 the principal author of the Declaration of Independence On July 6th, 1808, legislature passed resolutions condemning Burr's plot and stating that "Indiana had no sympathy for Burr. " Gov. Thomas Posey revoked Floyd's military commission in the militia, probably at the request of President Jefferson. Thomas Posey ( July 9 1750 - March 29 1818) was a officer in the American Revolution, a General during peacetime Lt Thomas Jefferson (April 13 1743 – July 4 1826 was the third President of the United States (1801–1809 the principal author of the Declaration of Independence [18]

After the conspiracy

On October 10, 1807, the anti-slavery elements of the territory assembled for a convention in Springville, the same site as the convention that started the territory's anti-slavery movement. Springville was a small town that existed from 1798-1811 in Clark County, Indiana, United States. Floyd served as secretary of the convention which issued a resolution to oppose the new laws passed by the pro-slavery legislature. [19] Floyd left Clark County that year and moved into Harrison County[20]

See also: History of slavery in Indiana

After the death of his first wife, Davis remarried to Elizabeth Robards Davis March 20, 1809. Harrison County is a County located in the south-central part of the U Slavery in Indiana occurred between the time of French rule during late seventeenth century and 1826 with a few traces of slavery afterward She was the widow of Thomas Terry Davis, the judge of Davis's treason trial. Thomas Terry Davis (c1758 - November 15, 1807) was a United States Representative from Kentucky. He would have one son, Robert, and a step daughter, Elizabeth, by his second wife.

When hostilities broke out with the Indians in 1811 Floyd was reinstated in the militia to the rank of lieutenant. After the Treaty of Fort Wayne, Floyd served with William Henry Harrison during Tecumseh's War and was present at the Battle of Tippecanoe. The Treaty of Fort Wayne is an 1809 treaty that obtained 3000000 acres (approximately 12000 km² of American Indian land for the white settlers of Ohio This article is about the general and president For his great-great-grandson see William H Tecumseh's War or Tecumseh's Rebellion are terms sometimes used to describe a conflict in the Old Northwest between the United States and an American The Battle of Tippecanoe was fought in 1811 between United States forces led by Governor William Henry Harrison of the Indiana Territory and forces [21] Floyd was part of a company of dragoons under the command of Major Parkes. [22] Floyd was also instrumental in conducting negotiations to prevent the Delaware Tribe from joining the Shawnee's war. The shannon (later named Delaware Indians by Europeans were in the 17th century organized bands of Native American peoples with shared cultural and linguistic The Shawnee, or Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are a people native to North America. [23][24]

After the war Floyd returned to public service serving as auditor of Indiana Territory in 1813. He was responsible for relocating the capitol to Corydon from Vincennes. Corydon is a town in Harrison Township, Harrison County, Indiana, United States and a former capital of the State of Indiana The city of Vincennes is the County seat of Knox County, Indiana. He sought out contractors to build the new capitol building and finally selected Dennis Pennington, a leading man in the Territorial Legislature. Dennis Pennington ( May 18, 1776 - December 2, 1854) was an early Indiana legislator speaker of the first Indiana In 1814 he would return to the job of Indiana Territorial Treasurer until 1816. In 1815 he moved to Corydon, Indiana, along with the capitol. Corydon is a town in Harrison Township, Harrison County, Indiana, United States and a former capital of the State of Indiana

The state seal of Indiana
The state seal of Indiana

In 1816 Floyd was elected as a delegate to the Indiana Constitution Convention[25][26]The same year he was also elected as Harrison County's representative to the first state legislature. The State of Indiana ( was the 19th US state admitted into the union Harrison County is a County located in the south-central part of the U On Nov. 22, 1816, during his term as a legislator, Floyd proposed the official acceptance of the design the state seal. The seal was approved by the legislature. Floyd described the seal as A forest and a woodman felling a tree, a buffalo leaving the forest and fleeing through the plain to a distant forest, and sun in the west with the word Indiana [27] The seal itself had been in use already and was probably designed by William Henry Harrison. This article is about the general and president For his great-great-grandson see William H

The same year he remarried to Elizabeth Robards after the death of his first wife. That year Floyd's company was awarded contracts to build the state executive buildings in Corydon. The Corydon Historic District of Corydon Indiana, United States, is on the National Register of Historic Places. He built a new home for himself in Corydon in 1817, the home was later occupied by Governor and Vice President William Hendricks[28]. Year 1817 ( MDCCCXVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common William Hendricks (born November 12, 1782; died May 16, 1850) was a Democrat member of the House of Representatives

On October 13, 1817 he was appointed by Jonathan Jennings as the first Judge of Floyd County, Indiana. Events 54 - Nero ascends to the Roman throne 409 - Vandals and Alans crossed the Pyrenees Year 1817 ( MDCCCXVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Jonathan Jennings (1784&ndashJuly 26 1834 was a Democratic-Republican governor and senator from Indiana. Floyd County is a County located in the US state of Indiana. As of 2000 the population was 70823 [29] He served as judge until 1823. It is believed by some that Floyd County was named for him, but omitted from the record because of his involvement with Aaron Burr. [30] According to the Indiana State Library the county was named for John Floyd, an early settler in Floyd County. [31] John Floyd was Davis Floyds' Uncle. [32] However the original statute creating the county does not site a source for the name.

Floyd participated in creating a masonic Grand Lodge in Coryon in 1817. He, along with most every notable man in the state, was a member of Mason. [33]

Home of Davis Floyd built in 1817 and lost in the Panic of 1819
Home of Davis Floyd built in 1817 and lost in the Panic of 1819

Floyd built a home in Corydon, Indiana in 1817 and opened a general store in 1818, but in the Panic of 1819 Floyd lost most of his fortune, his store, and his home. The Panic of 1819 was the first major financial crisis in the United States, after the depression of the late 1780s (which led directly to the establishment of the Corydon is a town in Harrison Township, Harrison County, Indiana, United States and a former capital of the State of Indiana The Panic of 1819 was the first major financial crisis in the United States, after the depression of the late 1780s (which led directly to the establishment of the [4] His home was later bought by Governor William Hendricks and is now apart of the Corydon Capitol State Historic Site. William Hendricks (born November 12, 1782; died May 16, 1850) was a Democrat member of the House of Representatives The Corydon Historic District of Corydon Indiana, United States, is on the National Register of Historic Places. He unsuccessfully tried to re-enter politics in 1822 but was defeated in the congressional election by the popular Jonathan Jennings. Year 1822 (MDCCCXXII was a Common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Sunday of the Jonathan Jennings (1784&ndashJuly 26 1834 was a Democratic-Republican governor and senator from Indiana. Floyd's life in Indiana is described as "shrewd and crafty" by the Indiana Historical Society. [34]

Life in Florida

With his political career seemingly at an end and his fortune gone, Floyd eventually accepted an appointment from Secretary of State John Quincy Adams to be a United States Commissioner and settle land disputes in newly acquired Florida Territory. John Quincy Adams (July 11 1767 &ndash February 23 1848 was an American diplomat and politician who served as the sixth President of the United States The Florida Territory was a historic Organized territory of the United States from 1822 to 1845. [35] He held his first session to settle disputes on August 4, 1823. Events 70 - The Destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. Year 1823 ( MDCCCXXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common [36]

Floyd first settled in Alachua County in 1823 but had moved to Leon County by 1830. Alachua County is a County located in the US state of Florida. Leon County is a County located in the state of Florida. In 2000 its population was 239452 He served as mayor of St. Augustine, Florida in 1826 and as treasurer of the Florida Territorial Council from 1826 to 1828. St Augustine is the County seat of St Johns County, Florida, in the United States. In 1831 Floyd would serve as president of the Education Society which sought to promote public education in Florida. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the [37] The society was instrumental in establishing the Florida public school system.

He died in Florida on December 13, 1834. Events 1294 - Saint Celestine V abdicates the papacy after only five months Celestine hoped to return to his previous life Year 1834 ( MDCCCXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common It was believed that his remains were returned to Corydon for burial although his burial location has never been located.

See also

External link

References

  1. ^ a b Dunn Jr, J. This article discusses Aaron Burr (1756-1836 the US politician The Burr conspiracy was a suspected treasonous Cabal of planters, Politicians and army officers led by former U Charles Floyd (1782 &ndash August 20, 1804) was a United States Explorer, a non-commissioned officer in the U P. Indiana, A Redemption from Slavery (Houghton, Mifflin and company 1888) page 327
  2. ^ a b c Genealogy - Rootsweb - Floyd, Davis
  3. ^ Biographical and Historical Sketches of Early Indiana, By William Wesley Woollen Pg 179
  4. ^ a b c d e Kleber, John E. The Encyclopedia of Louisville (University Press of Kentucky) page 300 ISBN 0813121000
  5. ^ Indiana By Jacob Piatt Dunn, Pg 304
  6. ^ Indiana By Jacob Piatt Dunn, Pg 327
  7. ^ Indiana By Jacob Piatt Dunn, Pg 337
  8. ^ Indiana By Jacob Piatt Dunn, Pg 355
  9. ^ Indiana: A Guide to the Hoosier State, By Federal Writers' Project, Pg 229
  10. ^ Indiana and Indianans: A History of Aboriginal and Territorial Indiana By Jacob Piatt Dunn, General William Harrison Kemper, Pg 382-385
  11. ^ Indiana: A Guide to the Hoosier State, By Federal Writers' Project, Pg 230, Paragraph 4
  12. ^ McCaleb, Walter Flavius. Aaron Burr Conspiracy: A History from Original and Hitherto Unused Sources. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1903. p. 88
  13. ^ Indiana: A Guide to the Hoosier State, By Federal Writers' Project, Pg 230
  14. ^ McCaleb, Walter Flavius. Aaron Burr Conspiracy: A History from Original and Hitherto Unused Sources. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1903. p. 256
  15. ^ McCaleb, Walter Flavius. Aaron Burr Conspiracy: A History from Original and Hitherto Unused Sources. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1903. p. 333
  16. ^ Indiana: A Guide to the Hoosier State, By Federal Writers' Project, Pg 230
  17. ^ Indiana: A Guide to the Hoosier State, By Federal Writers' Project, Pg 230
  18. ^ Indiana By Jacob Piatt Dunn, Pg 364
  19. ^ Indiana By Jacob Piatt Dunn, Pg 358
  20. ^ A History of Indiana, By Logan Esarey, Pg 206
  21. ^ The Battle of Tippecanoe: Read Before the Filson Club, November 1, 1897, P 123 By Alfred Pirtle
  22. ^ The battle of Tippecanoe, By Alfred Pirtle, Reuben Thomas Durrett, Pg 37
  23. ^ Indiana Historical Collections By Charles Kettleborough, Indiana, Pg 39
  24. ^ Indiana By Jacob Piatt Dunn, Pg 363
  25. ^ IN.gov
  26. ^ Indiana: A Guide to the Hoosier State, By Federal Writers' Project, Pg 230
  27. ^ Indiana and Indianians, 1919, Pg 378
  28. ^ Indiana: A Guide to the Hoosier State, By Federal Writers' Project, Pg 183
  29. ^ Historical New Albany - History
  30. ^ New Albany Tourism Site
  31. ^ Indiana State Library
  32. ^ The Encyclopedia of Louisville By John E. Kleber (University Press of Kentucky 2000) pages 300-302 ISBN 0813121000
  33. ^ Biographical and Historical Sketches of Early Indiana, By William Wesley Woollen Pg 490-491
  34. ^ The Indiana Centennial, 1916, By Indiana Historical Commission, Pg 161
  35. ^ Supreme Court of Florida and Its Predecessor Courts, 1821-1917 By Walter W. Manley, E. Canter, Pg 124
  36. ^ Hispanic American Essays, By James Alexander, Pg 179
  37. ^ The American Journal of Education, By Henry Barnard, pg 381
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic