William Joseph Faulkner, Sr.

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/M5M6-LJP

It appears that William left Maryland when he was about 21 years old or ca. 1741. It 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 rolls for two tours of duty. His company left Fort Lewis and went through the mountains to Point Pleasant, 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 had land on the Slate River in VA. In 1755 he received a land grant for 132 acres on Moore’s Creek in Albemarle County, VA. He sold this land to William Terrell Lewis on April 8, 1760 and moved to North Carolina.

There are indications are he stayed with his brother Emanuel for a short time and them moved west to Rowan County, NC He was there before 1768. Surry was formed from Rowan County in 1770.

We found William back in Virginia in 1785 where he patented another 178 acres about 3 miles north of the North Caroline line near present day Carters Mill. One of William’s sons sold this land to the Carter family.

In the late 1760’s William, Sr. and William, Jr. are listed in Rowan Co. N.C. They both are found on the Surry Co. Tax Roll in 1771-1772.

The last known information on William, Sr. is that he lived in Patrick County on Fall Creek near Carter’s Mill. He furnished supplies to the patriot army during the Revolutionary War. In 1794 he deed his lands to a son with the notation “due to moving” Sure enough he moved again. We have not found in what direction he took off at this time. He left behind several children who remained in Patrick Co. and Surry Co. NC The children were:

1. William Forkner, JR. born ca. 1752 died ca. 1807 William, Jr. settled on Forkner’s Creek. in Surry County. Tradition says that his wife was Susanna Wells.

2. Lewis Forkner born ca. 1754 and died ca. 1818. He first married Violet Porter. She was the mother to all 10 of his children. She died in 1806 and he married Mary Nunns in Stokes County, NC. in 1807. He established at least 6 churches in NC, VA. and KY. He moved to Logan County, KY. in 1809.

3. Jonas Forkner born ca. 1765 and died ca. 1826. He married ca. 1790 and moved to Greene County, KY. , before 1800 and then to Montgomery County, KY. ca. 1803.

4. Joseph Forkner born ca. 1766. He had at least 6 sons and 1 daughter born between 1794 and 1810. (This is the ancestor of the author William Faulkner). He moved to Tennessee.

5. John Forkner born ca. 1767 and died ca. 1845. He was living in Surry Cy., NC in 1840.It is difficult to identify his children. He was the father of at least four sons and five daughters born between 1790 and 1815. He moved to South Carolnia and then Alabama.

6. Henry Forkner born ca. 1769 and died ca. 1842. He married ca. 1792 and had at least 6 sons and 1 daughter. He moved to Montgomery County, KY. ca. 1805. He lived about 10 miles from his brother Jonas. He was living in Estill County, KY. when it was formed in 1808. His wife in 1798 was Catron Allen. They had 5 known children.

7 Jane Forkner born ca. 1771 There is little known of her. She may have had one child.

8. Winford (Whinny) Forkner she married John Hawks.