Today’s column will feature an additional Floyd family line, which is probably not related to the ones written previously of other Floyd families. It is a lineage and story of this writer’s wife, Marjorie (Jacques) Thomasson, who came to Covington County in 1968. Her parents, also descendants of this family, arrived here in 1983 to make Andalusia their home for their remaining years.

The earliest ancestor found on Ancestry.com for this Floyd lineage is John Floyd Esquire who was born in 1515 in Shropshire, England. He was married to Ann Bonner who was born in 1518 in Shropshire as well. He died in 1608 in Derbyshire, England, and she, in 1614 in St. Andrews, Middlesex, England. They were the parents of a son named Sir Thomas Floyd. The source of these early generations are various family trees posted on Ancestry.com, which means some of the information may not be documented.

Sir Thomas Foid/Floyd was born in 1520 in Canterbury, Kent, England and died in 1607 in Canton, Cardiff, Glamergan, Wales. He was married to Ann Bannet who was born in 1518 and died in Kent. They were the parents of Sir Peter Foid/Floyd who was born in 1550 in Brecknockshire, Wales and died there as well in 1634. He and his wife, Alice Floyd (1552-1593), were the parents of Sir John Floyd who was born in 1575 in Brecknock, Breconshire, Wales, and died there in 1634.

Sir John Floyd was married to Lady Mary (1574-1653) of “Queen Elizabeth’s Court.” They were the parents of Richard Floyd I who was born in 1626 in Brecknock, Breconshire, Wales and died in 1700 in Suffolk, N.Y. That means he was the immigrant ancestor of this family. His wife, Susannah ?, was born in 1836 in England and died in 1706 in Suffolk. They were the parents of Richard Floyd II who was born in 1665 in Suffolk; therefore, his parents would have immigrated before that date. Richard II was married to Mary Ann Parmeter (1700-1887), and he died in 1737 in South Carolina. (Some records show a John Floyd arriving in Virginia in 1799, but this writer has not been able to relate him to the lineage of today’s featured family.)

Richard Floyd II and Mary Ann were the parents of Robert F. Floyd who was born in 1703 in Williamsburg, S.C. He was married second to Sarah Scivil (1681-1737) and died in 1771. They were the parents of Enoch B. Floyd who was reported to have been born in 1734 in Anson County, N.C. (Other sources cite Sumpter, S.C.) He was married in 1764 in Spartanburg, S.C., to Margaret Jane Milton (1737-1774), daughter of Richard Milton Jr. and Elizabeth Hutchinson, natives of Spartanburg. (Some genealogists have suggested Margaret Jane’s maiden name might have been White, but this is uncertain.) Enoch and his wife made their home in Spartanburg where their children were born.

Enoch B. and Margaret Jane Floyd eventually made their home in Cross Keys, Union County, S.C. They were the parents of the following children: David Andrew Sr., b. 1764, d. 1818, m. Margaret Jane Norman (1763-1828); Jonathan, b. 1765, d. 1834, m. Sarah “Sallie” Gentry (1767-1840); Enoch B. Jr., b. 1766, d. 1800, m. 1784 Eliza N. Norman (1767-1840); Nathaniel, b. 1769, d. after 1793; Aaron, b. 1771, d. 1772; Margaret, b. 1774, d. 1795, m. 1789 William Lamb; George, b. 1774, d. 1870, m. Esther Hyndes (b. 1780); and Samuel Enoch, b. 1778, d. 1857, m. 1795 Sarah Wolford (1777-1866).

The oldest son, David Andrew Floyd Sr., was born in 1764 in Cross Keys, Union County, or Spartanburg, S.C. and died in 1838 in Flat Creek, Bedford County, Tenn. David Sr. was first married to Ann Nancy Maynard (1750-1800), and he was married second to Margaret Norman (1764-1828), daughter of George Norman (1729-1796) and Margaret Dodd (1736-1796).

David Floyd Sr. and his wife, Margaret Norman, were parents of the following children: Jonathan, b. 1784, d. 1855; David Floyd II, b. 1786, d. 1856, m. Mary Magdalene Reagor; Margaret Peggy, b. 1789, d. 1840; Rebecca Caroline, b. 1790, d. 1860; Priscilla Jane, b. 1791, d. 1818, m. John Davis (1780-1849); Hosea Holcum, b. 1793, d. 1864; Enoch, b. 1795, d. 1857; Elijah Thomas, b. 1793, d. 1876; John P., b. 1799, d. 1857, m. Mary Smith; and Mary Jane, b. 1807, d. 1860. Some records list another daughter, Judith Franklin, b. 1805, d. 1850.

David Andrew Floyd II was born in 1786 in Cross Keys, S.C, and died in 1856 in Flat Creek, Bedford County, Tenn., where he was buried in the Shook Cemetery. In 1805, he was married to Mary Magdalene Reagor (1793-1856), daughter of Anthony Reagor (1746-1824) and Margaret Shook (1766-1838). Mary Magdalene was born in Knox, Tenn., and died in Bedford County. David Andrew later enlisted for service in the War of !812 from which he returned home to continue his family.

David Andrew Floyd II and Mary Magdalene were the parents of the following children: Samuel, b. 1812, d. 1834, m. Sarah “Sallie” Price; Anthony, b. 1816, d. 1871, m. Mariah H. Womack (1818-1886); Rebecca, b. 1818, d. 1858, m. James Franklin Farrar (1819-1904); Eliza Catherine, b. 1824, d. 1856, m. Jesse Coleman (1818-1891); Margaret, b. 1825, d. 1863, m. William Wiley Crawford (1827-1895); Jane, b. 1831, d. 1880, m. (1) 1850 Francis Marion Guthrie (b. 1919) (2) 1857 Jesse Coleman (1818-1891) (her brother-in-law who was the widower of her sister, Eliza Catherine); Andrew Jackson, b. 1821, d. 1909, m. Amanda Charity Tigner; David Allen, b. 1822, d. 1862, m. Linda Campbell (1826-1907); Mary Ann, b. 1828, d. 1865, m. Joel Ruskin (1826-1896); James K., b. 1832, d. 1871, m. (1) Tempie Gowen (1844-1862) (2) 1863 Mary Jane Gowen (1840-1875); and John A., b. 1833, d. 1912.

The second oldest son, Anthony Floyd, was born in 1816 in Bradford, Gibson County, Tenn., and died in 1871 in Howard County, Ark. Anthony was married to Mariah H. Womack (1818-1886), daughter of Michael Womack and Sarah Jones. A book entitled Genealogy of Michael Womack (The Pioneer Arkansas who named Nashville, Arkansas was compiled by Miss Virginia Buxton, Howard County, Ark., Historian.

Michael Womack was born in 1794 in Virginia and migrated with his family to Bedford County, Tenn. From there he enlisted in the War of 1812 under Captain Barrett. In January 1815, he was with General Andrew Jackson in The Battle of New Orleans and has been reported to be the marksman who fired the fatal shot that killed British General Packenham. After the war, he returned home to Tennessee and married Sarah Jones, daughter of Charles and Rebecca (Norman) Jones. When Michael arrived with his family in the 40-family caravan from Tennessee in 1849, he settled on the ridge north of Nashville, Ark., a town he named for his hometown of Nashville, Tenn. He purchased land in his new location, built a large log house and worked as a mill right. He died in 1861, and Sarah, in 1865. He and his family left a notable legacy in Southwest, Arkansas; therefore, coverage of this family will be continued in next week’s column.

The sources for this narrative were Ancestry.com, Genealogy of Michael Womack—the Pioneer Arkansan Who Named Nashville, Arkansas by Miss Virginia Buxton, and personal family records. Anyone who may have additional information on this Floyd family or corrections to any of the above is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

HISTORICAL MEETING:

The Covington Historical Society will be meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, in the Dixon Memorial Room of the Andalusia Public Library. Guests and prospective members are encouraged to attend.