A Tale of Two Jobs: Job Falkner, The Rolling Stone

 

Georgia County Courthouse, historic

In a letter dated April 4, 1837, .Asa William Luther Falkner, Sr., wrote to his Uncle, Job Falkner, of Liberty Hill, Georgia, introducing himself as the son of his brother, Elijah. Elijah had died as a young man and Job had not seen his brothers children since they were very small. Asa had caught news and the address of his Uncle from letters written to Joel and Malachi Gulledge.

The Letter

Asa may or may not have had an inkling that very soon, an illness would come upon him and that his days were numbered. He, himself, would pass away not long after the writing of this letter,   and a second letter would be written by William Webb, the husband of Asa's sister, Susannah.

The letter written by William Webb excited me, because he seemed to be expanding the family tree. He mentioned Joel and Malachi Gulledge as Uncles, and added that "I must inform you that your old grandmother Gulledge is yet living but she is almost helpless."  Another interesting tidbit was,"I am living at the place where your mother was born." But for all those suggestive hints at who the mother of Job Falkner may have been, I finally figured out that William Webb thought he was writing to his wife's brother Job, not her Uncle Job. 

Job Falkner, the elder, had married Mary Frances Gulledge, a sister of Joel and Malachi Gulledge, not a niece. His mother remains unknown, and probably was from Granville or Cumberland County. This Jobs' age also tenders him unlikely to have had a living grandmother. 

He's shown as between 16 and 25 in 1800, between 26 and 44 in 1820, between 50 and 59 in 1830 and between 60 and 69 in 1840, giving his rough birthyear as about 1775, give or take. He would have been 62 or so in 1837 upon recieving this letter, putting any grandmother of his over 100.

My belief is that 'old Grandmother Gulledge' that Billy Webb was referring to was Bathsheba (sometimes seen as Barsheba) Watts Gulledge, widow of William Henry Gulledge and mother of Joel, Malachi and Mary Frances Gulledge Faulkner.

Name:	Joel Gulledge
Home in 1830 (City, County, State):	Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19:	1
Free White Persons - Males - 50 thru 59:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 60 thru 69:	1
Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35:	1
Free White Persons - Under 20:	1
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:	1
Total Free White Persons:	4
Total Slaves:	1
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored):	5

Joel Gulledge had a woman in her 60's in his home in the 1830 census and one in her 70's in the 1840 census. This was probably Bathsheba, and who Billy Webb was referring to. 

Name:	Joel Gullidge[Joel Gulledge]
Home in 1840 (City, County, State):	Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 70 thru 79:	1
Slaves - Males - 36 thru 54:	1
Slaves - Females - 36 thru 54:	1
Persons Employed in Agriculture:	2
No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write:	1
Total Free White Persons:	2
Total Slaves:	2
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves:	4

So Billy didn't help solve the mystery of who Asa Falkner had married, like I thought he would. 

It also did not take a great deal of digging to discover than when he said he was living where "your mother was born", he was referring to Elizabeth Huntley Falkner Webb, his mother-in-law/ stepmother, daughter of Robert Huntley, Sr.

So, this is what we know about Job Falkner Sr. , the Uncle of A. W. L. Faulkner Sr., not the brother. His first appearances were in land records, such as this one, where he and Francis Wisdom are chain carriers for a survey for Elisha Falkner (aka Forkner) of 500 acres. Also mentioned in the deed are John Falkner, Asa Falkner, William Wisdom, father of the aforesaid Francis Wisdom, and Chiles. Also the evil Pleasant Mays, and yes, I've gained that opinion of the man after reading much about him.

March 12, 1802 Surveyed for Elisha Forkner 500 acres in Anson Co. on head drains of Morrises Branch beginning at Pleasant Mays corner adjoining John Forkner, Asa Forkner, Will Wisdom and Chileses. Chain carriers Job Forkner, Francis Wisdom. Signed H. Marshall Sur.

Or this one, where he is a witness and gave oath and witnesses the sale of a property from a David Collins to Elijah Faulkner,  his brother, along with Jonathan Falkner and Merit Meek.

Dec. 15,1798 David Collins of Anson County to Elijah Falkner of the same sold 2 tracts of 200 acres, the border beginning at a hickory on the east side of Lowery's Branch near the mouth of Dry Prong. It crossed the 'dreans' or drains of Lowery's branch, crossed the branch and that was the first tract. The second tract was one of 100 acres that began at a stake on the line of David Collins new survey. It joined Ready Branch, crossed Lowery's branch and the fourth line of Collins new survey. The witnesses were Job Falkner, Merit Meek and Jonathan Falkner. Job Falkner gave oath in Oct, 1805 Book L Page 8.

Or these two, where he again is a witness.

On Dec 15, 1798, David Collins of Anson sold to Elijah 'Falkoner' two tracts. One was on the east side of Lowry's Branch near the mouth of the Dry Prong and the other mentioned Ready Branch, Lowry's and Collins new survey.  Witnesses were Job "Folkour", Merit Meek, and Jonathan Forkner. Book L Page 8.

On Oct 19, 1803 Elisha Falkner sold to Francis Wisdom, 500 acres, that he had been granted, on Morris's Branch. Witnesses were Elisha B. Smith and Job Falkner. Book L P 13.

Job is always seen with several reoccuring names, Asa Falkner, John Falkner, Elijah Faulkner, Elisha Falkner, the Wisdoms, the Chiles, and the Buchanons. On lesser occassions, Nathan or Jonathan Falkner are mentioned. Job's first census is that of 1800, and he isn't listed very far from Nathan and Jonathan Falkner, who are listed very close to each other, one space between. The Wisdoms, Chiles, Buchanons, sometimes Mays, Teals, and John Cason are mentioned as neighbors. 

Name:	Job Folkner[]
Home in 1800 (City, County, State):	Fayetteville, Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10:	1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25:	1
Number of Slaves:	1
Number of Household Members Under 16:	1
Number of Household Members:	4

In 1800, Job is a very young man, between 16 and 25, as well as his brige, Mary Frances Gulledge. They had one little boy so far. Job was still in Anson County around 1805 and 1808, but I believe he was on the move before 1810, as he is not found anywhere in the census records. From records of his children, however, he must have lingered in Edgefield District, South Carolina, however, as several of them were born there. 

Edgefield was where several of the Falkner/Fortner family had already settled, cousins, possibly even brothers, of his. I know some of Nathan's children migrated there, and I believe at this juncture Nathan was his Uncle. Further research into the Edgefield District families is required before any declarations. Suffice to say that Archibald settled there and Jonathan too, on his way to Tennesee, and we know they were in Anson County prior. 

In 1818, Job appears in a tax list for Twiggs County, Georgia, in the geographical center of Georgia.

His next appearance is in Walton County, Georgia. While in the past, I've found that most of the immigrations were done in groups; family groups, neighbors, etc., I have not found that in Job's case. He wasn't in the War of 1812, that I can find, so it doesn't appear to be a land lottery for service move, and he had no familiar names around him or near him. After Edgefield, it appears he struck out on his own with his wife and children. 

Walton County is in the North Central part of Georgia, and while Georgia brings to mind the historical cities of , Atlanta and Savannah, we tend to forget a large part of it belonged to the Creek far after the Revolution. Walton was incorporated in 1818 and Job shows up just a few years later in the census. Twiggs was incorporated in 1809, so as lands are opening up, Job is moving into them. Between 1818 and 1820, he was moving north.

In 1820, his household had increased to 9 people, two adults and 7 under 16. Imagine traveling under those conditions in the early 1800's, on those scant roads, in territory still occupied by roaming bands of Creek and other tribes, with 7 children under 16? At least three of his sons were between 10 and 15. 

 In 1827, Job applied for the Land Lottery in Troup County, Georgia.

I found this information on the lottery. It was 202 1/2 acres and the Grant fee was $18 per land lot.

There was a long list of people who were eligible for the drawing. Widows whose husbands died in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, or the Indian Wars. Various categories of orphans, families of illegitimate children, children of convicts, mentally challenged individuals and other categories of people, especially women and children, who might not ever otherwise have had the means or opportunity to own land, but it also included vets and bachelors over 18 who had lived in Georgia at least 3 years. The category I feel Job Faulkner fell in would have been that of a married man with a wife or son under 18, or with an unmarried daughter, who had lived in Georgia for at least 3 years. He had all of those.

Troup is all the way over on the border of Georgia and Alabama, and that is not where he ended up. He may not have gotten the land he wanted in Troup, because in 1826, we find Job in a tax list for Fayette County, Georgia and that's where he is in the 1830 census.

1826 Tax Listing of Fayette County, Georgia

In 1830, Job is in his 50's and has 6 children still at home. 

He's no longer the only Faulkner in the county. His oldest living son, William Gulledge Faulkner was about 25 and head of his own household. Job had a son over 20 now, and another in the latter part of his teens still at home. Those would have been Asa Elijah and Thomas Jefferson Faulkner. So there was an Asa Elijah, son of Job, though, and named, I believe, for his grandfather and great grandfather.

Fayette County was a little east of Troup, but still part of the Creek ceded lands. But ever the rolling stone, Job still wasn't settled.

Name:	Job Falkner
Land Office:	Mardisville
Document Number:	3322
Total Acres:	159.56
Signature:	Yes
Canceled Document:	No
Issue Date:	5 Aug 1837
Mineral Rights Reserved:	No
Metes and Bounds:	No
Statutory Reference:	3 Stat. 566
Multiple Warantee Names:	No
Act or Treaty:	April 24, 1820
Multiple Patentee Names:	Yes
Entry Classification:	Sale-Cash Entries
Remarks:	Joel Falkner
Land Description:	1 NE HUNTSVILLE Yes 22S 13E 12

In 1837, Job had applied for a Land Grant in Alabama, in conjunction with his son, Joel, who would have been about 22. This one was for nearly 160 acres.

Name:	Job Falkner
Land Office:	Mardisville
Document Number:	3323
Total Acres:	80.04
Signature:	Yes
Canceled Document:	No
Issue Date:	5 Aug 1837
Mineral Rights Reserved:	No
Metes and Bounds:	No
Statutory Reference:	3 Stat. 566
Multiple Warantee Names:	No
Act or Treaty:	April 24, 1820
Multiple Patentee Names:	No
Entry Classification:	Sale-Cash Entries
Land Description:	1 W½SW HUNTSVILLE Yes 22S 13E 2

And a second one for over 80 acres. What drove him to keep moving? Was he just a worm in hot ashes? Was it the drive for good bottom land? Was he determined to have something to leave to his children, to keep them well-situated?

By The President: Martin Van BurenEntry:  U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907

Name  Job Falkner
Issue Date  5 Aug 1837
Place  Randolph, Alabama, USA
Land Office  Mardisville
Meridian  Huntsville
Township  22-S
Range  13-E
Section  12
Accession Number  AL3030__.071
Document Number  3322

Transcribed Record of: U.S. General Land Office Records, 1776-2015  Randolph, Alabama
Preemption Certificate No. 3322

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:

WHEREAS Job Falkner and Joel Falkner of Randolph of County Alabama, have deposited in the General Land Office of the United States, a Certiicate of the Register of the Land Office at Mardisville whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Job Falkner and Joel Falkner, according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled " An Act making further provision for the sale of the Public Lands," for the North East quarter of Section twelve in fractional Township twenty-two, of Range thirteen, in the District of lands subject to sale at Mardisville Alabama, containing one hundred and fifty-nine acres and fifty-six hundredth of an acre, according to the official plat of the survey of the said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, which said tract has been purchased by the said Job Falkner and Joel Falkner.

Now know Ye, That the United States of America, in consideration of the Premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress, in such case made and provided, Have Given and Granted, and by these presents Do Give and Grant, unto the said Job Falkner and Joel Falkner and unto their heirs, the said tract above described: To Have and To Hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, unto the said Job Falkner and Joel Falkner as tenants in common and not as joint tenants - and to their heirs and assigns forever.

In Testimony Whereof, I, Martin Van Buren, President Of The United States Of America, have caused these Letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.

Given under my hand at the City Of Washington, the fifth day of August in the Year of our Lord one 

by A Van Buren, Sec'y.

Job may have chosen Joel, no doubt named for Mary's brother, Rev. Joel Israel Gulledge, as he was the youngest son, and by this time, his older brothers had gotten 'situated' on their own.

Name:	Job Falknor[Job Falkner][]
Home in 1840 (City, County, State):	Randolph, Alabama
Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 70 thru 79:	1
Persons Employed in Manufacture and Trade:	1
Total Free White Persons:	2
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves:	2

Randolph County, Alabama was Job Falkner's last stop. He was in his later 60's and Mary Frances Gulledge Falkner was already past 70. She must have been a few years older, despite that, she outlived him by several decades. This tumbleweed had managed to take his and Mary Frances's Anson County, NC genes into Alabama. 

Randolph was just across the Alabama/ Georgia state line, so he wasn't making great leaps of distance as he moved, just on a constant move. I don't believe he would have had the opportunity to set up a successful farming operation as much as he moved. Imagine how long it would have taken just to build a house and a barn, and other workable farm buildings. He must have had an occupation that he could have packed up in a stachel or wagon and transported with him. Although no census or tax record places him there, several of Job's children were reported to have been born in Jaspar County, Georgia. 

This county isn't even bordered by Troup, Triggs, Walton, Fayette, or any of the other counties in Georgia he was found in. And he was the only Job Falkner in that area at that time. Actually, the only Falkner, period.

According to Family Records, and they kept good ones, Job Falkner died in Randolph County, Alabama in June 1, 1843. His grave and stone have dissolved into the loins of Mother Nature, but his memory lives on in the hearts of his descendants, and at least three of his children kept family bilbles, passed down to their own descendants, with records of him and Mary Francis written in them. If he were my direct ancestor, which he is not, I would probably be trying to find all the land records he made in his travels, as he obtained grants and sold them like the rolling stone he was. 

ame:	Mary Falkner
Gender:	Female
Race:	White
Age:	75
Birth Year:	abt 1775
Birthplace:	South Carolina
Home in 1850:	Beat 11, Randolph, Alabama, USA
Real Estate:	400
Line Number:	1
Dwelling Number:	1149
Family Number:	1149
Household Members (Name) Age Mary Falkner 75

Mary Frances is shown living alone in 1850, as a 75 year old widow with property valued at $400. This is a little misleading though. She may have still lived in her own home, but listed around her were her daughters and even some granddaughters, with their own families, so they were nearby. There was Joseph and Mary Falkner Breed, Calvin Jones and Nancy Falkner Ussery and William and Harriett Cumbee. Mary gave her birthplace as South Carolina, which could have been true. Anson borders South Carolina, and I haven't dug that deeply into the Gulledges.

Name:	Mary Falletta[][]
Age:	84
Birth Year:	abt 1776
Gender:	Female
Race:	White
Birth Place:	North Carolina
Home in 1860:	Southern Division, Randolph, Alabama
Post Office:	Rock Mills
Dwelling Number:	343
Family Number:	343
Occupation:	Housewife
Household Members (Name) Age Joseph Breed 53 Mary H Breed 48 Mary L Breed 14 Mary F Breed 7 Mary Falletta 84

After Job's passing, Mary Frances Gulledge Falkner lived for a time with the oldest of her three daughters, Mary Hasseltine Falkner Breed, wife of Joseph Harrison Breed. She is shown as 84 in this record, with a year of birth as 1776. The transcription was really bad, Falkner/ Falletta? But that was not the last record we have of her. This was in 1860.

Name:	Mary Falkner
Age in 1870:	94
Birth Date:	abt 1776
Birthplace:	South Carolina
Dwelling Number:	805
Home in 1870:	Bacon Level, Randolph, Alabama
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Post Office:	Rock Mills
Household Members (Name) Age James Hollis 36 Malissa Hollis 24 Charley Hollis 2 Mary Falkner 94

Mary Hasseltine (some also give her a middle name of 'French' as in Mary French Hasseltine Falkner Breed), had a daughter named Melissa. In 1870, Mary Frances is 94 and living in Bacon Level, Randolph County, Alabama with her granddaughter, Melissa (or Malissa) Breed Hollis. She doesn't live long after this.

Find - A - Grave gives Mary Frances Gulledge Falkner a date of birth as June 1, 1787 and a date of death as June 1, 1870.

Name:	Mary Frances Faulkner
Birth Date:	1 Jun 1787
Birth Place:	North Carolina, United States of America
Death Date:	1 Jun 1870
Death Place:	Alabama, United States of America

I believe these to be incorrect, as she was still living in August of 1870, with her granddaughter, Melissa. She also gives her own year of birth as 1775 and 1776 in the three census records she appeared in. I don't doubt she died in Randolph County, Alabama.

The children of Job and Mary were:

1) William Gulledge Falkner born 1805 in Anson County, NC and died 1891 in Shelby County, Alabama. Married Nancy Laura Parker and Margaret Fedora Cloud (the widow McDaniel).

2) Asa Elijah Faulkner born 1808 in Anson County, NC and died in 1883 in Coffee County, Alabama.Married Nancy Falkner, daughter of Willis Falkner, who appears in Edgefield, SC. At this juncture in my research, I believe that Willis was probably one of the son's of Jonathan Falkner, and I believe Job was the son of Asa, making them second cousins. If Willis was a son of Asa ,they would have been first cousins.

3) Thomas Jefferson Falkner born about 1809, places given as both Anson or Jaspar County, GA. Most likely Edgefield, SC. Married Sarah Ann Breed, second, Samantha Breed. Died 1895 in Montgomery, AL

4) Wilson Falkner (named possibly for Falkner ancestress, Betsy Wilson), born June 4, 1810 in Edgefield District, SC and died on Nov. 2, 1872 in Randolph, AL. Married Frances "Franky" Burdette.

5) Mary Hasseline French Falkner b 1812 Jaspar County, GA d 1891 in Van Zandt, TX. Married Joseph Harrison Breed.

6) Alice Ealcey Mary Falkner b Jan 13, 1813 in Edgefield District, SC died Feb 13, 1862 in Randolph Co. AL. Married James William Burdette.

7) Joel Elmer Falkner b July 31, 1815 somewhere in Georgia, d. Dec 20, 1864 in Mobile, Alabama. Married Sarah T. Ussery.

8) Nancy Ann Falkner b Dec. 22, 1817 in Walton County, GA. d Oct 7, 1905 in High Shoals, Randolph, AL. Married Calvin Jones Ussery.

The children of Job and Mary Frances have their own interesting stories to tell. That will be my next chapter.

 

The Wonder Years

Deeds, deeds and more deeds. I call the years between 1810 and 1840 ' The Wonder Years' because they make me wonder. Where was my John Faulkner? Who was he living with before he shows up as head of his own household in 1840 at about 30 years old? And most essentially, how and why did he get left in Anson County when nearly all of the other Faulkners had migrated away? Which leads to the question that is the spur in my saddle, who were his parents?

Nathan Faulkner first appears in Anson County about 1775, as in 1779, he swears before a Judge that it had been about 4 years since he had purchased a 34 acres tract from a Mr. Eddins,  and disappears in the early 1800's. He first shows up in Craven County, and possibly in Cumberland with Francis Faulker, Senior, his father, and Jr., his brother. Then arrives the Francis's, another brother, Asa, there's mention of Emmanuel and then his cousin, Benjamin dies in Anson, leaving a will, but no other record. There's mentions of Elijah, Elisha, Archibald, a younger Francis,  Jonathan, John,  Job, Warren, then  Joseph and James, whom we know were sons of Francis Jr., due to the well-kept records of the Kentucky Faulkners, who descend from them.

Name:	James Falkner
State:	NC
County:	Anson County
Township:	No Township Listed
Year:	1763
Database:	NC Early Census Index

But first there was a James, an older James, who was on the Tax list of Anson County. As there's no indication of what 'creek', or other landmark he lived near, we don't know, at this early stage, if he lived in what is still Anson today, or another county that was part of Anson in the past. 

But after 1805, and especially 1810, there are scant mention of the Faulkners in Anson County, until after 1840, when the two remaining Faulkner men, and their families, come of age.

It was in 1800, his last census, when Nathan Faulkner sold a good deal of livestock, furniture, and personal items to Jonathan and Warren Faulkner. Warren had yet to be mentioned, so I believe he was younger. Jonathan appears in several deeds with Nathan, as a co-signer, and other things. I believe he was the last person to reside on the remaining lands of Nathan Faulkner, seen often as "John", before he finally relocated to Humphrey County, Tennesse and later to Marshall County, Mississippi. Archibald, who moved to Edgefield, South Carolina and later to Tennessee, is noted as a son of Nathan, and appears as a chain carrier in Nathan's earliest surveys, and in the 1790 census, before he moves. I believe Nathan had other sons who moved to Edgefield District, with Archibald, and I believe that is where Nathan spent his last days, passing away before 1810.

Name:	Ora Folkner[]
Home in 1800 (City, County, State):	Fayetteville, Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25:	2
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over:	3
Number of Household Members Over 25:	4
Number of Household Members:	6

Then there is the whole Asa/ Elijah issue. Many family trees have them merged. The deeds clearly show that Asa and Elijah were two different people. In the 1800 census, his second, Asa is shown as being over 45, meaning he was born in 1755, or before, and his wife also, in the same age group, with two young men, aged 16 to 25, in the home. We know Job was a brother of Elijah, and he was head of his own household at that time, in the same 16 to 25 age group, as was his wife. Asa was also living next to John and Isaac Stanfield, who had moved with the family from the Cumberland River to Anson. John would die in Anson County, but some of the Stanfields would follow the children of Francis Jr. to Kentucky via Blount County, Tennessee. 

Name:	Asa Falkner
Home in 1790 (City, County, State):	Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over:	1 Asa
Free White Persons - Males - Under 16:	3 Maybe 3 sons
Free White Persons - Females:	3 Maybe wife and two daughters.
Number of Household Members:	7

In 1790, Asa had 3 sons and 2 daughters, living at home. If Job were his son, then so was Elijah. Job was on his own by 1800, Elijah, not yet. The third, I'm not sure, but perhaps his name was Elisha, who also appears in land records, with property near the others. 

Also, Elizabeth Huntley, daughter of Robert Huntley, was not old enough to be the wife of Asa in 1800. I belive she married Elijah, shortly after the 1800 census and her three children, Job (a younger Job), Asa W. L, and Susanna, were born in the next decade. Elijah died before 1810, when she is shown as head of household with her three children, living next to her father. She then marries John Webb, and is young enough to have children with him. Her daughter marries John Webbs son, her stepbrother, William. It was a different era.

How long did Elijah live?

Oct 18, 1805 Book M P 286 James Johnson , Coroner, of Anson County to Robert Huntley of Anson, sold 300 acres in two adjoining tracts, on Lowry's Branch and Dry Prong, sold "due to an execution" from Anson Court against Elijah Faulker, "bail of Thomas Stake" ( I believe the last name for Thomas might be incorrect),  due to suit by Rueben Pickett of Anson and because no goods or chattels found. 

So basically, Rueben Pickett had sued Thomas 'Stake' and Elijah Faulkner had went his bond and Thomas did not show up in court, so the bond was forfeited, but then Elijah didn't have any property so Robert Huntely (His father-in-law?) bought back his property to save the family from being homeless. Makes sense to me.

May 9, 1812, William Vaughan to Duncan McKenzie, both of Anson, sold property on Jones Creek at the mouth of Rocky Branch "joins Faulkner and a rock marked "LLJK", part of a tract sold by James Knotts to Vaughn and part of a tract sold to 'SAS' (Asa) Faulkner to Vaughn.  Book S p 356.

Feb. 27, 1813 William Vaughan to Duncan McKenzie, both of Anson, 100 acres on the south prong of Jones creek, begins at a stake at the end of Elijah Faulkners second line in his 200 acres tract & beginning  of his 100 acres tract, joins his second corner of land he bought of McIntyre and near Privett, granted in 1807 to Vaughn. Book S p356.

My bets are that Elijah was the son of Asa and that Elijah was the one who married Elizabeth Huntley. They've got the correct lineage, they just smashed two generations together. There's still the factor that I share more DNA with the descendants of Elizabeth Huntely Faulkner than I do with the descendants of Jonathan. 

Another deed I harken back to is dated February 24, 1801, but involves the sale of 150 acres on Cedar Branch by John Ford of Anson County to Jacob Mangrum of Chesterfield County, South Carolina. The property bordered the lines of Abraham Jones and Phillip Dill, a single man with lots of land, who's interesting in his own right, and had been Granted to Richard Worthin in 1779 and sold by his heir, William Worthin to John Ford. The Witnesses were Nathan and Jonathan Faulkner and it's found in Book H2 Page 275.

Was this the deed where John Ford lightened his load?

Jonathan Faulkner is whom Thrulines on Ancestry.com had suggested as the father of my John, due to a number of individuals who have this information in their trees. It didn't take a great deal of looking into it to discover that Jonathan was not my direct ancestor, despite the fact that I share DNA with many of his descendants. I don't disregard the fact that Jonathan belongs in my family tree, just not as a direct ancestor.

So, he was worth taking a closer look at, in fact, with a magnifying glass.

Jonathan was pretty worth while looking at, and had been well researched. As he ended up in Mississippi via Tennessee, his descendants knew he had been born in North Carolina and had found him in Anson. His son John, is a grown man, and shows up in records with his Dad and his brother Calvin, while still in Tennessee, as an adult. When Jonathan starts showing up in deeds with Nathan, who I am pretty sure was his father, he was about to be, and then had just shown up as a head of his own household in Anson County. He was, at that time, a young man between 16 and 25, with a wife of the same age. So, it looks like he married in Anson County, although no bond or record has been found. His wife's name was Matilda.

It became quickly evident that Jonathan did not travel to West Tennesee alone, and that when he did, he did so via South Carolina. John Ford is a name who turns up in Tennessee with Jonathan. Jonathan recieved his grant as an assignee of Samuel Jackson, so did three other people. The Jacksons are seen in multiple deed transactions with Nathan Falkner, and Jonathan and a few others. Col. John Jackson was one of them, and his sons, Samuel and Isaac. Col. John Jackson had a daughter named Sarah, who had married John Stanfield, a Faulkner family friend. He had a daughter named Phoebe who married a man named Thomas Shaw. Thomas Shaw was also an assignee of his brother-in-law, Samuel Jackson and had migrated to Humphrey County as well. Samuel's third assignee was a lady named Polly, and at this juncture, I can't explain how she fits in, if she even does. His sister Mary "Polly" Jackson had married a White. Two of the Jackson sisters married Whites. I will look more into Polly in the future. Samuel Jackson himself, also moved to Humphrey County, Tennessee and received at least three grants, that he himself, kept. There were no shortages of Samuel Jacksons at the time, so it's a small bit of a challenge to keep him straight, but the presence of Jonathan and Thomas Shaw help keep him, his name actually, straight.

Another important tell-tale document is the one wherein James Johnson, the Coroner for Anson County in 1805, sold 300 acres on Lowry's Branch and Dry Prong to Robert Huntley.  The property had belonged to Elijah Faulkner, who had signed a bond for the bail of a man named "Thomas Stake", though I am pretty sure the 'Stake' is incorrect. Apparently Thomas owed money from a lawsuit pressed by Reuben Pickett. Pickett was an attorney who would be serving as Sheriff of Anson by 1808. Thomas must have taken off and finding that Elijah had no significant "goods or chattels",  his land was confiscated. Don't go into bonds lightly folks.

Robert Huntley purchased the land, I beleive, for his daugther Elizabeth, who had married the unwise Elijah Faulkner, and by then had had two of her three babies. Elizabeth would be left a young widow with three children, marry John Webb, a much older widower and have five or six more children. Several folks have merged Asa and Elijah into one. Land records prove that Asa and Elijah were not one person. There was an Asa, and there was an Elijah. Asa was an older man, the same age group as his brothers, Nathan and Francis, Jr. Elijah was of the younger group.I have no proof, just lots of arrows pointing to the probability that Asa was the father of Elijah. The above mentioned deed can be found in Book M  Page 286. It's like watching a suspense movie wherein they leave some details for you to figure out logically on your own. My sense of what happened here was that Robert Huntley covered for his son-in-law so his daughter and her young children wouldn't lose the farm and become homeless. 

We know Elijah died as a young man, but how long did Asa live?

On August 22, 1808, James Smith and John Smith of Barnwell District, South Carolina sold 100 acres of land bordering Jeremiah Lewis and William Thomas, on Jones Creek. The property also joined the property of "Faulkner", but who Faukner? (Book N Page 162). I'm pretty sure it was Asa.

A few months later, on Halloween, 1808, Asa Faulkner of Anson County, sold to John Buchanon, who was already his neighbor, 500 acres on Featherbed Branch, beginning at a hickory in Malachi Watts line near a drain of Featherbed Branch, joining Wisdom, Chiles, Teal, John Falkner (now take that in...JOHN Faulkner) Buchanan (the previous mentioned John Buchanan) and Robert Jarman, except 0.5 acres where THE MEETING HOUSE STANDS, includes where said Faulkner lives. 

It was signed by Asa Faulkner and witnessed by Richard C. Pattisall and M. Johnson. Witness Oath July, 1814 by Richard Pattisall, Book P page 54.

Everyone has Asa dying about 1802. Nope, he did not, but I believe he had by July of 1814 when Pattisall swore his oath. 

Now, take that in and I  follow with this deed. Book S Page 302. Dated Nov. 14, 1817, Nine years later. John Buchanon to Richard Buchanon, both of Anson, for the same price John paid, $500 for 500 acres on Featherbed Branch, beginning at that self-same hickory tree in Malachi Watts line, near the drain of Featherbed Branch, joining Wisdom, Chiles, Teal, JOHN 'FALCIONER' , Buchanon, Robert Jarman, except for that half an acres where 'the Meeting House stands' , includes the place where said John Buchanon lives. Signed John Buchanon and witnessed by Neil McLaurin and Alexander McRae, a couple of Scots.

In summary, John Buchanon had purchased the land and house from Asa Faulkner, where Asa was living in 1808, and nine years later in 1817, he sold that land, except for the half acre, where they had made themselves a little church, and now John Buchanon was living in that same house on that same land and sold it to Richard Buchanon.

I've got to try to figure out which church that may have been, if possible. But, look who is left. Asa must be dead by then if John is living in his house, the same names of neighbors are bordering, but there is John Faulkner. Elisha is gone, Elijah is gone, Job is gone and Asa is gone. All of the other names of Falkners shown in earlier deeds living on Featherbed Branch. Just John. Was this Jonathan that was connected closely to Nathan? The answer to me is clearly No. Jonathan has already moved to Tennessee. He was taxed there in 1812.

You might be interested in this previous post, which shows why Jonathan couldn't be John.

Adventures In DNA: Chapter 12: Faulkners

Recall from a previous post, these transcations involving Elisha (with an 'S') Faulkner. 

Elisha Faulkner File 5560 Pursuant to entry no. 926,date April 1, 1801. You are to lay off for Elisha Faulkner 500 acres adjoining Pleasant Mays on Morris Branch. July 1, 1801
Signed John Hattaway ET.

March 12, 1802  Surveyed for Elisha Forkner 500 acres in Anson Co. on head drains of Morrises Branch beginning at Pleasant Mays corner adjoing John Forkner, Asa Forkner, Will Wisdom and Chileses. Chain carriers Job Forkner, Francis Wisdom. Signed H. MarshallSur.

November 30, 1802 Elisha Forkner paid purchase money for 500 acres in Anson Co.
Signed J. Craven

Book 110 Page 234 Know ye that we have granted Elisha Forkner 500 acres in Anson Co. on drains of Morris’s Branch adjoining John Forkner, Bohannon, Asa Forkner, Wisdom and Chiles. Entered April 1, 1801 and granted Dec. 11, 1802 Signed Will White
Sec. J. Turner

There's the mention of the Wisdom, Buchanon (Bohannon) and Chiles families. There's ol' Pleasant May mentioned. John, Asa, Job and William Wisdom's son Francis is mentioned. 

Then there is this, which follows a n 1812 suit between Pleasant May and John Falkner. 

William Hammond, Sheriff, to Pleasant May

This Indenture made this 19th Day of Jany. in the year of out Lord 1825, Between William Hammond, Esqr., Sheriff for the County of Anson on the one part and May Pleasant May of same county on the other part, Whereas by virtue on execution issuing from  the County Court of Anson for the sum of sixteen pounds twelve shillings which said sum was recovered by Pleasant May against John Faulkener as on record of the said Court may appear - whereas the said execution was directed and delivered to John Jennings, Esqr., then sheriff of the County commanding him that of the goods and chattles land and tenmt. of the sd. John Faulkner  he should cause to be made the aforesaid sum of sixteen pounds twelve shillings to satify the said execution with the cost thereo and the sd. John Jennings Esqr. then sheriff as aforesaid in pursuance and by virtue of his office and the aforesaid execution did seize take into his hands and custody (no goods or chattels to be found) a certain piece or parcel of land situate lying and being in the sd county of Anson bounded as follows - Beggining at a Hickory. in Benjamin Buchanons line by two hickories and one white oak pointers runs No. 40 wt. 37 chains and 50 links to a black jack by three black jack pointer then So. 50 wt. 40 chains to  a stake then So. 40 E 37 chains and fifty links to a stake then direct to the beginning. Containing 150 acres land and the said John Jennings late Sheriff as aforesaid after due advertisement as according to law did cause the said piece or parcel of land with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging to be put to publick sale to the highest bidder on the 5th of October in the Year of our Lord 1804, at which time and place the aforesaid Pleasant May became the highest bidder at the sum of 16 pounds and 5 shillings for the said land and apputenances thereunto belonging - This Indenture Witnesseth that the said John Jennings late sheriff of the County aforesaid for and in consideration of the sum sixteen  pounds twelve shillings in hand paid by the said Pleasant May at and before the sealing and the signing of these presents the reciept whereof is hereby acknowledged he the said William Hammond Sheriff doth hereby bargain sell alien 'enfeoff' convey and confirm unto the said Pleasant May his heirs Execs Admins assigns forever all the aforesaid tenements and appurtenances with all rights titles claim or demand of and or unto the aforesaid peice or parcel of land with all the hereditaments and immoluments of the same belonging or anywise appurtaining. To have and to hold to him the said Pleasant May his heirs his Executors admins. and assigns forever, as in full and ample manner as he the said Sheriff is empowered by his office and further the said William Hammond Sheriff do hereby covenant promise and grant to end with the said Pleasant May his heirs execrs admins and assigns who shall and may from time to time and at all times hereafter have hold occupy possess and enjoy the said premises with all the appurtenances free and clear of and from all incumbrances had done made or committed by him the said William Hammond sheriff or by his order means or procurement and that he the said William Hammond sheriff will warrant and defend the same to  Pleasant May his heirs Exects Admins and assigns so far as his office as Sheriff and no further. In Witness whereof the said William Hammond Sheriff of the County aforesaid hereunto set and seal his hand unto the day and year above written. Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of 

Boggan Cash                                                        signed William Hammond Sh (seal)

Martin Pickett

No Carolina Anson County July Session 1815

Duly acknowledged in open Court and ordered to be registered

                                                Tod Robinson (clk)

Flipping Over the Box of Legos

I have the sweetest, most amazing Three -year -old Grandson in the world. Honestly, I do. There are no 'terrible threes' here. I call him my 'Terrific Three'. But when he gets to playing....

Every parent and grandparent cringes at the sound of an overturned box of Legos, or Matchbox cars, either one. Sometimes though, you have to take that step,  to make sense of what you want to build, or find that one missing piece of your trainset,  so the train can go around the tracks. And, y'all, I've flipped over that box of Legos. I mean, I have pieces EVERYWHERE.

Just like my grandson when he's playing.

With my Faulkner research, I haven't found that one missing piece, but with every step, with every attempt to lay things out in a time line,  to see what makes sense, and what doesn't, I feel I'm getting closer to that missing piece, or an "ahah" moment.

A little background, for anyone who doesn't keep up with my blog and might come across, this post. I have a Third Great Grandfather named John Faulkner, who lived in Anson County, North Carolina. I'm 99 percent sure he was born there. He died there around 1877. He was married twice, and had a very large and colorful family. I know who the grandparents of both of his wives were, my direct line and his first wife. Yet, I have no clue who John's parents were.

With the usual resources yeilding no fruit, I have turned to the one place where clues may emerge, DNA.

Two male descendants of two of  my John Faulkner have taken Y-DNA tests, one from his son, Azariah, who was his youngest son by his first wife, Patience, and one from Constantine, who was by his second wife, Susan, a full-sibling to my second Great Grandmother, Sarah Francis. They match each other, of course, and their other close match is to a descendant of Francis Faulkner, Jr. whose family moved to Blount County,  Tennessee,  and then to the part of Knox County, Kentucky that became Whitley County in 1818. 

Basically, I can safely assume from my DNA research that our Faulkner line descends from the group of Faulkners who lived in Queen Anne's County, Maryland in the 1700's, specifically the ones who migrated to North Carolina to Bute and Granville, then to Cumberland and from there to Anson County. The sons of Francis Faulkner Sr. But there's no narrowing it down from there.

So I have been studying each and every Faulkner who graced the Motherland of Anson in her early days and following the trails of those who left, who was almost everybody but my John, and an Asa William Luther Faulkner who married Susannah Myers, daughter of Marmaduke Myers. And yeah, I'm turning over that toy box.

The above document, just the right side, reads:

"To All Ye To Whom These Presents Shall Come, Greeting.

Know Ye, by virtue of part of warrant No. 227 dated the 14th of May, 1813, issued by the Secretary of this State to Samuel Jackson and entered on the 15th day of  September, 1810 by No. 5119. 

There is granted by the State of Tennesee unto: Jonathan Falkner assignee,

a certain tract or parcel of land containing 24 acres by survey bearing date the 3rd of November, 1813 lying in Humphrey County in the first district on Little Richland Creek of Tennessee River and bounded as follows to wit Beginning at a Spanish Oak and ash marked 'J' the beginning corner of said Falkners tract of land he now lives on ,(emphasis mine), runs west sixty-nine poles to a stake in the Creek thence south fifty five poles and a half to a black gum then east sixty-nine poles to a poplar then north fifty-five and a half poles to the beginning.

It was signed by Govenor Willie Blount.

So, Jonathan Faulkner was an assignee of Samuel Jackson. That meant that Samuel Jackson had assigned his rights to or interest in, the property, to Jonathan Faulkner. And who was Samuel Jackson? Where had I heard that name before?

Oh yeah, in several transactions in Anson County involving the early Faulkner family. In my recent post "The Faulkners and Their Neighbors on Featherbed Branch Part Deaux", I had posted the following observances.

In Book D, P 68, dated Jan. 29, 1795, John Stanfield witnessed a deed between Thomas Shaw and Samuel Jackson.

No, not that Samuel Jackson. This one was related to the afore mentioned Jacksons, and to the other witness, Isaac Jackson, who lived on the North fork of Thompsons Creek.

The next year, on July 19, 1796, Isaac Jackson and John Stanfield, the two witnesses,  are seen as executors to the estate of John Jackson, deceased, and sold that property to Thomas Shaw. It was described as " all but a third of said land Mrs. Jackson is to have her life in and after the death to Thomas Shaw".  It was again, on Thompson's Creek and signed by Isaac Jackson and John Stanfield.

Samuel Jackson and his brother, Isaac Jackson, were sons of Col. John Jackson and John Stanfield had married his daughter, Sarah. John Stanfield was a member to the Stanfield/ Stanfill family who had migrated with the Faulkners from the Cumberland River area. Thomas Shaw was also a son-in-law of Col. John Jackson (Sr.) and had married his daughter, Phoebe. There was a John Jackson Jr., another son, who was known as Captain John Jackson.

Samuel Jackson turns out to be another crucial key to the study.

Another clue arises with the one documented son of Nathan Faulkner the elder and son of Francis Sr., Archibald. Archibald was a chain carrier in several of Nathan's early surveys in Anson County and is head of his own household in 1790. Archibald migrates twice in his life after leaving Anson and his first arrival is to Edgefield County, or District, in South Carolina, an area that was part of Old 96. There were other Faulkners (and various spellings) in Edgefield District. Were any of them related? Especially those who named their sons Asa Elijah, and Jonathan or Nathan? Quite possibly. Nathan showed in 1800 he could have had 6 sons in the home and Archibald was already grown and moved away by then, so there could have been other, older, sons and daughters who were closer in age to Archibald. 

I found a Kizziah (also spelled Keziah, Kesiah, Kessiah or nicknamed "Kizzy") Fortner (also Forkner, Falkner, Faulkner, Forker or Falconer) in 1810, in Edgefield County, living near a Willis and a (what do you know?) Nathan Fortner/Falkner. When a woman shows up as a head of household, it's usually a single woman or a widow. Most often, a widow. Kizziah, aged between 25 and 44, and the only adult in the household, appears to have been a widow.

Name:	Kizziah Fortner
Residence Date:	6 Aug 1810
Residence Place:	Edgefield, South Carolina, USA
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15:	1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25:	2
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44:	1
Number of Household Members Under 16:	3
Number of Household Members Over 25:	1
Number of Household Members:	7

Now, write this down. In 1810, Kesiah (or any variant), is in Edgefield County, SC, with Archibald, known son of Nathan of Anson. Guess where she is in 1820?

Name:	Keziah Fortner
Home in 1820 (City, County, State):	Humphreys, Tennessee
Enumeration Date:	August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25:	2
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over:	1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture:	1
All Other Persons Except Indians not Taxed:	4
Free White Persons - Over 25:	1
Total Free White Persons:	4
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other:	8

Now, over 45, she's in Humphrey's County, Tennessee. Who just moved to Humphrey's County, Tennessee?

Oh yeah, Jonathan, who I believe is another son of Nathan. He was living next to Nathan in 1800, he witnessed several deeds with Nathan and in 1808, Nathan gave a bunch of personal items, like livestock and furniture to Jonathan and Warren. No, none of that says blatantly, 'this is my son', but it might be as close as we can get to the suggestion of it. 

Does this say Kesiah is a member of the same family? No, it doesn't. Does it seem to suggest she might be a member of this family? Certainly a strong possibility. Too much for coincidence? Very probably. Worth looking into further? No doubt about it. 

Land records cleary show the exodus of the family of Francis Jr. after his death. They sold property and show up in Blount County, Tennessee. This included the family of  Sampson Stanfield, (sometimes seen as Stanfill), who was in the beginning a son-in-law. John and Isaac Stanfield were neighbors of  the Faulkners when they lived along the Cumberland River in the eastern part of the State, and had followed them to Anson County, or came with them, more likely. Sampson's first wife was Easter Faulkner, and after her death, he married a Thomas girl. There's no document that states she was the daughter of Francis Jr., but all signs and arrows point towards it.

So like the fact that any evidence that Sampson Stanfield was the son-in-law of  Francis Faulkner Jr., is completely circumstantial, (ie, he moved to Tennesse and then to Kentucky with the known sons of Francis Jr; James, Joseph and Francis Ballenger Faulkner), one must take my findings as the theories that they are, and not fact. It's all based on circumstantial evidence. It's possibilities, based on facts that seem more than coincental.

By following leads on the younger generations to other states, I make discoveries. Look what name is two spaces up, that person who was living next to this other Faulkner from Anson who moved from Anson to South Carolina and then a decade later, the same person is living next to one who moved from Anson to Tennessee. 

Then there are those whose names pop up on with the removed Faulkners, whose names I recall from pouring over these old deeds, who it turns out, have children who listed Mom's maiden name as Faulkner (or any of it's various spellings). The pieces are beginning to fit.

A few things I am now sure of. One, the generations from Francis Sr to the children of A W.L. and Susan Myers Faulkner did NOT go Francis - Asa- A. W. L. Sr - A.W.L. Jr and siblings. It went Francis - Asa- ELIJAH - A. W. L. Sr to A.W.L. Jr. and siblings.

Another question I am looking at was, if Jonathan and John were one and the same, or were they two different men. I will posting on that conundrum later. 

A third project is attempting to assign the younger men to which of the two older men might be their fathers, based on whose land connected whose, who ended up living on land of the same description after the older man shows up no longer, whose name is connected to the other name most often and/or in ways that suggest a close relationship. It's all just coincidental, or maybe not. Maybe by looking closer into the generations down the road, there's an answer somewhere. Until then, I will keep flipping over those leggos.