William Forkner, Jr.

William, Jr. he was born ca. 1752 and died 1807. There are records to indicate he lived in various areas including what is now Patrick, Grayson, Montgomery, Albemarle, Cumberland and Amherst counties in VA.

William Joseph Forkner (Faulkner/Fortner) Jr., was born in 1752 in Ft. Lewis, Augusta County, Virginia. His father was Wm. J. Faulkner (Forkner) Sr., and his mother was Priscilla Lewis (likely the daughter or sister of William Terrell Lewis - the Terrell and Lewis families were old Virginia frontier families).

He finally settled on Forkner’s Creek. in Surry County, NC Tradition says that his wife was Susanna Wells. He was a trader like his father. He accumulated a large amount of land. He built his home on a circular hill. The chimney was made from stone with the date 1786-1796 cut into the stone.

He married Susanna Wells she must have been born ca. 1747 since she died in 1847 or 1848 at the age of 101. It is thought she was the daughter of John Wells a land surveyor of Patrick and Henry Counties, VA. They are both buried in the family graveyard. Charles Fortner in 1942 said it was still being carried for by their descendants. There are no markers.

William Fortner entered a claim for 300 acres Nov. 11, 1778 (Entry #248, Book 55, page 22, Land Grant Office, Raleigh, NC) It was surveyed Aug. 21, 1782, and Grant 759 was issued Nov. 3, 1784. It was described as 300 acres on Forkner’s Creek Surry County, North Carolina. James Doak was chain carrier.

He bought 34 acres from James Doak for 20 pounds current money, April 10, 1787. Which is recorded in Vol. D, page 179 Deed of Records Surry County, NC. This was described as “Lying on each side of Forkner’s Creek

Page 347 Deed of records Surry County, NC.: 20 March 1795 George Reed to William Forkner 150 pounds, 200 acres Forkners Creek including Wm. Forkners old improvement where George Reed now lives adjoining William Forkners land. Witnesses: John Hunt, David Chandler and Isaac Forkner. Signed: George Reed

He was issued grant #1771 Dec. 13, 1797, entered in Book 96, page 76, The Land Grant Office, Raleigh, NC. this was for 200 acres on the north side of Forkner’s Creek and adjoining “Forkner’s Old Line”. Pleasant Forkner and Isaac Forkner were the chain carriers. Grant #1770 was also received Dec. 13, 1797 for 166 acres on the south side of Forkner’s Creek, “adjoining his old line”. The chain carriers in this survey were Lewis Forkner and Isaac Forkner. Feb. 9, 1801 he deeded 165 acres on Renfroe’s Creek to his son Pleasant. Recoreded in Vol. K, page 165 Deed of Records Surry County, NC. The conisderatin was “The good will and affection that I have and do bear towards my well beloved son Pleasant Forkner.” Book 2 , page 26 Surry County, NC : Rowling Clark, David Clark and Jonathon Clark to William Forkner a negro woman Mary and boys Ben and Robin for 200 pounds. 24 Feb. 1784, Wit: John Johnson, William Carter, Thomas Boswell. Rec. May Ct. 1784.

The following has no bearing for William Forkner, except to define record of former property and this was apparently property purchased by William on March 20, 1795, page 347 deed book: Surry County, NC Deed Book Page 448: 14 February 1789. Benjamin Humphrey to George Read, 100 pounds, 200 acres Forkneers Creek including William Forkners old improvement whereon Geo read now lives. Witness: David Humphreys and William Hamond. Signed: Benjamin Humphreys.

The 1796 Tax List Surry County, NC – Capt. Humphrey Dist. There is listed: Fortner, Lewis 104 acres Fortner, William 750 acres. The 1800 Tax list Surry County, NC- Capt. Forkner’s Dist. is listed: Fortner, Lewis 100 acres Fortner, Isaac 409 acres Fortner, Pleasant 166 acres Fortner, William 900 acres In the 1800 U. S. Census Records for Surry county, NC we find the following: William Fortner Page 651 1 male under 10 yrs. 3 males 10 to 16 years 1 male 16 to 26 years 1 male over 45 years (This would be William) 1 female under 10 yrs. 1 female 10 to 16 yrs. 1 female over 45 yrs (This would be Sussana) 8 slaves

The census also listed the following: Pleasant Fortner page 651 1 male under 10 yrs. 1 male between 26 & 45 yrs (Pleasant) 1 female between 16 & 26 years 1 slave Lewis Fortner page 651 1 male under 10 yrs. 1 male 10 to 16 yrs. 2 males 16 to 26 yrs 1 male over 45 yrs (Lewis) 2 females under 10 yrs 1 female 10 to 16 yrs 1 female over 45 yrs. 4 slaves

William, Jr. had several children Pleasant, Isaac, Lewis, Martin, James, Micajah, Samuel, William, Kary (Harris),Violet [shown in will as Vilate] (Jackson), and Lucy (Badgett). William died in 1807 leaving his large family.

Three of his sons fought in the war of 1812 Lewis,Isaac, and Martin. There were 11 Children: 1. Pleasant Fortner born ca. 1773 and died Blount Cy., AL. ca. 1852. He married Lucretia Harris. They moved to Knox Cy., TN. ca. 1818 ( His daughter Mary married Francis K. Jones Feb. 26, 1822 in Knox Cy. and his son, James Madison was born TN. ca. 1819). He moved to Blount Cy., AL. ca. 1825. 2. Isaac Forkner born ca. 1775. He married Mourning (Morna) Lawrence ca. 1812. She was the daughter of Richard and Isabel Lawrence (When Richard died in 1797 he left his wife and 17 children) Isaac was awarded 160 acres of bounty land in IN. for services in the War of 1812, and moved to Centerville, Wayne Cy., IN ca.1818. 3. Lewis Forkner born Surry Cy., NC. ca. 1777. It is believed he moved to Richmond, Wayne County, IN. and died ca. 1829 His wife’s name was Jane _______. They had at least 4 children James, Elizabeth, Lucy Ann and John. 4. James Forkner he remained in Mt. Airy, Surry Cy., NC. and looked after his mother who lived until 1848.. ( Since James remained at home I felt it advisable to include more information for him) James wife was Milly Harris they were married in VA. Their children were Melinda (Mosely), Susan (Belton), Lucy (Midkiff), Martha (Deatherage), Edward, Dalton, Sarah (Sally), and Samuel. Tradition also says that James carried on the business that his father had begun. There was a sawmill, brickyard, and a freight line that went to the coast. James passed away in ___ and was buried in the family cemetery. James’ sons Edward and Samuel served in the Confederate army. Samuel was taken prisoner and at Point Lookout, MD. After his release he remained in the hospital at Richmond, VA. for sometime. Edward and Sally never married they lived near their mother at the home place. Dalton married Mary Freeman and had three children: James b. 1858, Sally b. 1856, and Edward b. 1860. Melinda married West Mosely and lived in Elkin, NC Their children are: Sarah b. 1834, b. 1834, James Henry b. 1837, Susan b. 1839, Elizabeth b. 1842, Deborah b. 1845, Rebecca b. 1848 and William b. 1852. Susan married James Belton, Lucy married Ephriam Midkiff and Martha married P. Deatherage. Samuel married Anna Wade the eastern part of NC Their children are Mildred b. 1859, Debroah b. 1861, Lucy b. 1866. Robert B. 1869, David b. 1872, Kate b. 1876, Alice born 1878 and Dalton born 1881. Samuel died in 1896. He is buried in the Forkner Family Cemetery. 5. Martin Forkner. It appears he was the Martin who moved to Simpson Cy. KY. Martin is believe to have died during the war of 1812 he joined the 8th NC regiment.. His wife’s name was Sarah and they had at least 4 children. 6. Violet Forkner born Surry Cy., NC. ca. 1785. She married Amer Jackson and remained in Surry CY., NC. She had at least 9 children. (Susan, Ruel, William, Iredell, Armstead, Lockey (Lacky),Louisa, John and Allison Amer was born June 2, 1769 the son of Samuel Jackson and Catherine Plainkenhorn. They were Quakers and members of the Westfield Monthly Meeting.. 7. Karey Forkner married Elijah Harris. 8. Micajah Forkner born ca. 1786 married Nancy Carter Aug. 25, 1813 in Patrick Cy., VA.. Nancy was the daughter of William Carter and her children were named in his will in1841.She died ca. 1833. Micajah married a 2nd time to Ellenor Phipps in Grayson Cy., VA. Sept 2, 1834. He moved to Laclede Cy. MO. after 1840. He had at least 7 children: Susan, Emily, Elizabeth, Matilda, Archilas Carter, Jonathan and Gabriel.. 9. William Forkner did not marry and died young. He was a minor when his father died in 1807. 10. Lucy Forkner born ca. 1794 married Burwell Badgett in Surry Cy., NC. Jan. 19,1814 ( bondsman Ransome Badgett)They moved to Knox Cy., TN. ca. 1815. There are indications from census reports they had 9 children, but only have names of two. 11. Samuel Forkner born ca. 1796 and died ca. 1894. He married Betsy Bryson in Surry Cy., NC. Jan. 11, 1817, she died in Surry Cy., NC He moved to MO. ca. 1839 and then to CA. Some have reported he lived to be 98 years old However there is other speculation that he died before his mother died in 1846 or 1847. This earlier date of death may have been reached by the fact that he was no longer in NC after ca. 1840. It has been reported he was the father of 4 sons and 1 daughter, but only the name of Dr. G. H. Forkner, born Oct. 6, 1818 who married J. E. Lacy is known. The following is the will of William Forkner, JR.: Recorded in Will Book 3, Page 80 of the Will Records of Surry County, NC.

WILL OF WILLIAM FORKNER North Carolina, Surry County, February 7th, 1807

I William Forkner now being weak in body, but sound of mind and memory calling to recollection that it is once appointed, by God, for all men to die; makes and ordains this my last will and testament.

My soul, I will that God doeth his pleasure with and my body, that my family and acquaintances bury it in a Christian like manner, and after that, that what it hath pleased God to bless me with;as worldy estate. I will that it may be divided and distributed amoungst and betwixt my wife and children as follows.

Item: The tract of land that I now live on and all the adjoining to the same which in the whole to the best of my recollection is about nine hundred and sixty acres, I will that my wife Susanna, keep in her possession during her natural life of widowhood, and at the expiration of either, that the court then appoint five discrete men to lot and lay off out of this quantity of land, four hundred acres including the dwelling house, barn and so forth to my son Samuel Forkner and the remainder of the nine hundred and sixty acres be equally divided by said commissioners, betwixt Micajah Forkner and William, my other two youngest sons. The Mont Airy tract of land of two hundred and thirty-seven acres, I will be equally divided between my two sons James and Martin Forkner.

The tracts of land in Stokes County, I will to my son Lewis Forkner. As to my son Pleasant Forkner I think he hath had his proportionale quanity and that he receive no other part of land than what he has received.

As to my son Isaac Forkner I consider that I have given him as much property and cash heretofore as would make him his proportinable part equal with those other boys as has got land given by this will and that it so be considered.

To my daughter Vilate Jackson, I think that I have heretofore given her two hundred and twenty dollars. And I will that Amer Jackson have sole right of Diskin Haney’s bonds which is two hundred and twenty dollars, with a deduction of one hundred dollars that said Jackson has heretofore paid me.

Now I further desire that my Executors at my decease make out of what debts are owing me or such property that my wife may see proper to dispose of, the sum of two hundred and twenty dollars more and give to my daughter Vilate so as to make the sum she has received with Haney’s bonds (with deduction out of said bonds of one hundred dollars) amount in whole to four-hundred and sixty dollars, which is to be considered equal to what I have heretofore given my dauther Karey Harris. The sum of which is to be understood is adjudged to be one Negro girl that Harris has received, one horse, bed and furniture, cow and calf, household furniture, etc. which I will that is all that Karey Harris is to have.

As to my daughter Lucy I will at my decease that she shall have two Negro children (to wit) Anthony and Ncey and a good horse and saddle, a good suit of clothes out of the store as she shall choose and a good bed and furniture, cow and calf.

Now let it be construed that I give and bequeth all the aforesaid to each child as mentioned, that they are to have: and all the remainder of my estate; negros, horses, cattle, hogs, stock of all kinds, household furniture, all kind of plantation utentials, together with wagons, gears, etc.; blacksmith tools, all bonds, notes, books of account and all manner of debts, after paying all lawful debts and demands that I am justly oweing,

I will to my wife Susanna during her natural life of widowhood. Only out of the stock debts of any descriptions, of them my Executors at my decease raise two hundred dollars and give to my son Lewis Forkner to make his allotment equal to the other children, then the remainder that my wife are to have during her life ect. shall be at her decease, allotted in equal lots as I have now children or that may be entitled by law to a part of my estate, and they draw for the same in such a manner as the five commissioners shall direct. Only my Negro boy Edmond be specially allotted to my son Samuel Forkner at his value and should the said Negro Edmond die before the time of dividing, then Samuel is to have equal share with the other children or legatees.

And be it my will further that as I have heretofore given all my children a good horse and saddle, only Micajah, William and Samuel, at their coming of age, a good horse bridle and saddle each, and that not be deducted out of the allotments that are to take place at my wifes decease.

And all my other lands that are not herein before mentioned, at my son Samuel Forkners arriving at full age shall be sold to the highest bidder and the money arising there form to be equally divided betwixt and amongst my children or such as may be entitled to a part of my estate.

And shall it appear at any time before my wife’s decease that it would be an advantage to dispose of by public sale of any part of the stock, tools, wagons, etc.. the same may be done by and with consent of my wife and executor, and the money arising there from to be equally divided betwixt and amongst my wife and children or those that may be entitled to the same, and that the still and still house be at their disposals in the same manner as any other surplus property.

And I now so appoint and ordain Jesse Franklin Elijah Harris, and John Martin, as my executors to this my last will and testament. In witness I have hereto set my hand and seal.

Signed sealed in the presents of: William Forkner (seal) John Spargur Lewis P. Clark his John X Forkner mark State of North-Caroline, Surry County, May session Ad 1807

References

• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Forkner-30