When Firestorm is no longer enough ... Shellshock comes to the rescue! ~Ad Blurb
Hmmm. So it turns out that this tank sim actually had a hip-hop influence in its design and soundtrack: probably a decision to help it stand out in the saturated 90s “military vehicle sim” market. But I think the most fascinating aspect of this is the rapper they got to perform for the game: Bar None, who is better known as former San Francisco 49s fullback William Floyd! This was a feature they advertised on the box!
Source: CD Consoles, March 1996 (#15) || Abandonware Magazines
I've kept y'all waiting long enough for this post, happy Valentine's Day
Born March 6, 1764 in Mastic, Suffolk, New York
Mary with Henry and Maria circa 1790. Note the little toy carriage on the ground. That's a whole ‘nother discussion on changes on views of children and their development, but I wanted to point out how adorable it is.
Here, you can see Setauket and the dropped pin is the Floyd estate.
Looking at one of the very few (if not only) identified letters written by Mary, she signed them Maria, and had the nickname Polly as well. (As noted in Jefferson’s letters to his daughter and to Madison where he says Polly Floyd.) For the purposes of this post, I will refer to her as Mary, to distinguish from Maria Hallett and Maria Tallmadge Cushman.
Mary was born to Hannah Jones Floyd (1740-1781) and to Major General William Floyd (1734-1821) who were married in 1760. She grew up with her older brother Nicoll (1762-1852) and her younger sister Catherine ‘Kitty’ (1767 - 1832).
After Hannah died, William remarried Joanna Strong (1742-1826) of Setauket in 1784. Yes, those Strongs. William and Joanna had two children Ann (1785-1809) and Elizabeth (1789-1820). Mary had already married to Ben and was living Connecticut when Ann was born, so she likely did not have much interaction with her two younger half sisters.
Not much is known about Mary's early life. Her mother and father were prominent patriots. William was elected to the provincial assembly in 1769 and was selected as a delegate for the first Continental Congress. He became a colonel (through nomination) of the Western Regiment of Suffolk County and eventually rose to the rank of Major General. He split his duties between the military and Congress while also trying to find time to be with his family.
While he was away, Hannah took over running of the estate. It should be said that there were enslaved people at the Mastic estate. In a 1790 census there were 14 enslaved people and 5 free people of color working at the mastic estate. Before the war, sources are not clear, but it is likely that any enslaved persons at the estate either came to Connecticut with the refugees or joined the British with the promise of freedom.
When Mary was 12, the Floyd family fled with other refugees to Connecticut after the British took Long Island. Family history says that Hannah buried the family silver before fleeing with her children and neighbors across the sound. For the next seven years the family lived in Middleton, Connecticut while the British used the Mastic house for their cavalry units for the rest of the war.
This may have been one of the pieces of family silver buried. It belonged to Mary’s paternal grandparents
Hannah enrolled all three children in school while in Middleton, and William would visit his family often when he could be excused from his duties in Congress. However, the family were refugees, and only very little pay was provided by Congress for William’s duties. I could not find much more information about this, but it wouldn't be far fetched to infer that there was financial insecurity.
Tragedy struck the Floyd family again. Hannah, unfortunately would never see their home again. Her health had declined and she died May 16, 1781 at the age of 41. She was buried in Connecticut. Mary was 17.
It is not known who took care of the Floyd children while their father served in congress, but by the winter of ‘82-83 they were living at Mary House’s boarding house with their father in Philadelphia.
Benjamin Tallmadge, being of the second continental dragoons, had visited Middleton several times during the war. He set up winter quarters in Wethersfield, Connecticut, just by Middleton in the Winter of 76-77, he also tells of visiting Wethersfield in the winter of 79-80. Additionally there was a winter camp in Durham and he passed through Middleton several times while serving in the dragoons. It is extremely likely if not certain that he met Mary and the rest of the Floyd family during this time.
As soon as word of peace came, William returned to his home in Mastic to find the estate completely ransacked. He rebuilt the house and on April 29, 1783, he and his children left Philadelphia for Long Island.
It was during the winter and spring of 1783 that James Madison fell in love with Catherine while in Philadelphia. You can read the letters between Thomas Jefferson and Madison where they mention Kitty. Portrait miniatures were shared, very common among engagements. Sadly for Madison, by late July, Kitty had fallen in love with William Clarkson (later on Dr. Clarkson) and broke off the engagement, leaving Madison heartbroken. According to one source, he never got over Kitty. He found old letters that he had written to Jefferson about her and was so upset he inked out the references to his love for her.
Speaking of Thomas Jefferson. Mary and Martha ‘Patsy’ Jefferson (daughter of Jefferson, not wife) were penpals. Only one letter can be found in the Library of Congress but based on the letters Jefferson and Madison sent each other, and the letters between Jefferson and his daughter, there were far more between the girls.
Image 1 of Maria Floyd to Martha Jefferson, January 11, 1784
But Jefferson’s letter to Madison mentions a bundle of enclosed letters from Patsy to Mary.
From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1 June 1783
The letter Mary wrote that was mentioned above was dated January 11, 1784. It includes references to Patsy enjoying the song she sent and her desire to see Patsy again… but not in Virginia. It’s likely these two met in Philadelphia
It’s strange that she never mentioned a certain Colonel Tallmadge. Maybe he hadn’t gotten to Mastic yet or the courtship was not yet as serious to lead to an engagement. Or perhaps she mentioned it in a previous letter. We may never know.
It was over autumn and winter of 1783-84, according to Ben’s memoirs, that he visited areas of Long Island, including Mastic. Not much about their courtship, but it is clear that they absolutely loved each other.
I will cover the rest of her life in the next part.
So fucking bittersweet. It's like a sad ache that hurts but you know it's for the better. I'm not even sad because it's the last day of school. There's just so many things to remember and I'm a little afraid of change. It feels like I'm being forced into a new chapter and it's gonna be rough in the beginning, this I already know. I really wish everyone the best in their lives and I hope they make good choices and follow their hearts to where ever it leads them. See you all at graduation and hopefully at our reunions.
Presentation/ceremonial sword belonging to William Floyd. Floyd was a delegate to the Continental Congress from New York and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
I can't believe Kwasi is tumblr and world wide famous! I went to high school with him he was a freshman when I was a senior and everyday he would come hang out at my locker, cause I was just so amazing back then! (What happened) I knew back then that he would be destined for great things! He always new more then I did and would actually help me study and do homework in the mornings by my locker and know he's getting shout outs from Beyoncé! Who would have thought that the boy who was dating my "little sister" would be this insanely famous for being a smart kid! So proud of you Kwasi! You showed that William Floyd is a great school! Keeping us alumni proud and those who are still in Floyd proud #floydstrong
