John Faulkner

William Forkner seems to have been quite a traveler, from evidence found he seems to have been a trader as well as an Indian fighter. His name is on Capt. Lockridge's muster roll. His company left Fort Lewis and went through the mountains to Point Pleasance, the great Indian defeat. William is also listed in several county court records of Augusta Co, VA. He lived for some time at Fort Lewis. He also owned land on the Slate River in Virginia. In the late 1760's, William Sr. and William Jr. are listed in Rowan Co, NC. They are both found on the Surry Co Tax Roll of 1771.

The last known information on William Sr. is that he lived in Patrick Co, VA, on Fall Creek near Crater’s Mill. He furnished supplies to the Patriot Army during the Revolutionary War. In 1794 he deeded his land to a son with the notation "due to moving", where he moved to is unknown. He left behind several children that remained in Patrick Co, VA, and Surry Co, NC. The children were, William Jr. Lewis, Joseph, Henry, Jonas, John, Thomas, and Winnie Hawks.

Only a limited amount of information is known on four of his sons. Lewis Forkner was a Baptist minister, he helped establish the First Baptist Church in the "Hollows" before moving to Ky.

Joseph Forkner moved his family to Tennessee. He was the forefather of the writer, William Faulkner.

William Forkner Jr. settled on Forkners Creek, in Surry Co, NC. He married Susannah Wells. He, like his father, was a trader. He built his house on a circular hill, the chimney was made from stone with the date 1786-1796, cut into it. William owned a very large amount of land. He and Susannah were the parents of eleven children: 1. Pleasant Forkner, moved to Alabama. 2. Lewis Forkner, moved to Indiana. He was in the War of 1812. 3. Isaac Forkner, moved to Indiana. He was in the War of 1812. 4. Martin Forkner, fought in the War of 1812. It is believed he may have died during the war. 5. Samuel Forkner, moved to Missouri, and then to California 6. Micajah Forkner, moved to Missouri 7. Mary Forkner, moved to Tennessee 8. Lucy Forkner married Burrell Badget and they moved to Knox Co, TN. 9. William Forkner Jr. died young and was unmarried. 10. James Forkner stayed and cared for his mother who lived until 1848. He married Millie Harris. He died in 1858.11. Violette (Violet) Forkner, married Amer Jackson. They remained in the area.