The Faulkners and Their Neighbors on Featherbed Branch Pt Deaux

 

Featherbed Branch drains from a hill in southern Anson County. It flows paralell, in a manner of speaking as a stream can, to the Chesterfield Road on its west and Jarman Road on its right. It crosses Bethel Road and just before hitting Gulledge, becomes a tribuatary of to the South Fork of Jones Creek. 

To its east, another stream found in these early deeds of the Faulkner and associated families is Mill Creek, that crosses Teal Hall Road before also flowing into the South Fork of Jones Creek. In these lands lived the early Falkners, and others who bear the same surnames as these roads, Gulledges, Teals and Jarmans. 

Nathan Faulkner first shows up as a taxable in Bute County, NC in 1771. Just a few years later, other Faulkners show up, his brothers, his father, his cousins. Asa, Emanuel, Benjamin, mulitiple Francis's, Elijah, and others begin to purchase land near and around Nathan. Why did he come and why did they follow? I don't know, but the answers might be found in the areas they came from, which I will explore at a later date. 

I had noted some pertinent deeds in my previous post, The Faulkners of Featherbed Branch, that you can find at the following link.

The Faulkners of Featherbed Branch

The post was getting unwieldly, so I broke it in two. I had covered the deeds involving Nathan and some of his kin, from 1777 to about 1790, a period of 13 years. 

In the only mention of Emanuel Falkner, in Book C2, Page 124, dated August 10, 1792, Sheriff Thomas Wade executed a sale of property to William May Carpenter (I believe this was a reference to his occupation, and not his name, to differentiate him from another William May, as I have seen it before.), 150 acreson SW side of Pee Dee River, beginning at a second corner stake of a 200 acre grant to William May on the middle prong of Jones Creek, joined Melton (Nathan Melton) and crossed the branch, sold on August 10, 1786 to William May, Jr.  by his friend, William May, Carpenter due to an execution from Anson County Court against Emanuel Falkner for 7.19 l, and cost due to suit by William May carpenter, land sold because no goods or chattels found. Both William Mays were mentioned as grantees of the deed.Thomas Wade, sheriff. 

There was an earlier court record with problems between the Mays and Francis Falkner. This may be a tract inherited by Emanuel after the death of Francis. 

I will pick back up with some deeds involving the Stanfields, sometimes seen as 'Stanfill', a connected family who had migrated with the Falkners from Cumberland County, NC, to Anson, and I believe were intermarried with at some point and manner. 

On March 3, 1789, a Jonathan Jackson of Anson County sold 320 acres on both sides of Thomason Creek, that had been granted to Benjamin Jackson in 1749. This deed was found in Book B2, P 390, and witnessed by Thomas Shaw, John Jackson , & John White.

Book B2 p 387 dated Nov. 16, 1790, Govenor Alexander Martin had granted to John Standfield Grant 4915 of 150 acres that bordered the property of Benjamin Jackson and 'where John "Stanfull" now lives. It bordered a Booth, crossed Meltons Branch (a Nathan Melton keeps coming up) and "Stanfulls" old line. Signed by the Govenor Martin and Secretary J. Glasglow.

Book B2 P 388, the very next deed, dated April 16, 1791, James Falkner shows up, witnessing a deed between John West and Charles West, ancestors of my husband Btw.

 James was a son of Francis Jr, who died about 1794 in Anson County, who ended up migrating with several (most) of his siblings, and a few of the younger Stanfields, to the part of Knox County, Kentucky, that would become Whitley County in 1818.

Book C2, p 350, High Sheriff William May sold to Richard Wallace, two tracts on Mill Creek and Wilkes Mill Creek that bordered John Stanfield property, 'where he lived', meanting John Stanfield was living in the same general area as the Faulkners, although he later bought or inherited through his wife, land on Thompson Creek. This action was due to execution in Anson County court against William May, Sr.  and another from Hillsbourough Superior Court and the Govenor, for taxes that were in arrears. I think many early settlers made the migrations to start anew and avoid debts from other counties. 

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.

In Book C2 p 436 dated April 24, 1795 James and Joseph Falkner sold to William Johnson, 180 acres that began at a hickory on William Fieldings 350 acre survey, crossed Crawley's line, joined Murphy's great branch. Joseph signed with an "O" and James signed with an "X". Witness was William Bennett.

James and Joseph are seen together, and despite being related, are not seen in deeds with the other Falkners. I believe this to be a sale of property after the death of Francis Jr., after which they removed in a group to Blount County, Tennessee and would eventually relocate to Kentucky. The known  children of Francis Jr, brother of Nathan Falkner were: Joseph , Francis III , James, Edith (Price) and Prudence (Fox).

In January of 1795, there's another deed involving the Estate of Colonel John Jackson naming John Stanfield "Yeoman" and Isaac Jackson "Yeoman" as executors. The Will of Col. John Jackson, following, shows that John Stanfield was married to his daughter, Sarah.This Deed is found in Book C2 P 392.

Anson Co., North Carolina Will Book A, Pg 32, Last Will and Testament of John Jackson 
In the name of God Amen. The twenty eight day of March and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety four I John Jackson of Anson County and in the State of North Carolina, being weak in body tho of a perfect mind and memory, thanks be unto almighty God, therefore call unto mind the mortality of my body knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is princibly and first of all I give my Soul to God that give it and for my body I recommend to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian Manner at the Discretion of my Executors, nothing Doubting but I shall Receive The same again at the general resurrection by the mighty power of God and as Touching Such things as it has pleased God to bless me with in this Life.
I Give Devise and Dispose in the following manner: first for My Lawfull Debts to be paid out of my Estate by my Executors and then I give to my Dearly Beloved Wife a childs part of my Estate, I give to my daughter SARAH Stanfill five pounds and to my son JONATHAN Jackson one hundred and thirty pounds upon ISAAC Jackson account and to my son SAMUEL Jackson five Shillings and to my Daughter HULDA Hill five Shillings and to my Daughter PHEBE Shaw five Shillings and to my Daughter MARY White five Shillings and to my Daughter ELIZABETH White thirty pounds and to my Daughter REBECCA Jackson forty pounds paid by my Executors at the time of her being eighteen years of age and My will and Desire is that all my Estate Should Be sold by my Executors and after the above Legices is paid Remainder to be Devided Equally amongst all my children. Lastly I constitute and make and ordain Isaac Jackson and John Stanfill my sole Executors of this my last will and Testament and Do Disalow and Revoke all other wills and testament, Ratifying and confirming no other but this my last will and testament in witness where of I have hereunto Set my Hand and affixed my Seal the Day and Year first above written. John Jackson (Seal)
Signed in the presence of William Gulledge and Elias Haney, October Court 1794

So John Stanfield married Sarah Jackson and James Stanfield married Mary Cox. I also know that Sampson Stanfield was married first to a lady named Easter, probably Easter Faulkner and second to Nancy Thomas.

The New Era

At the turn of the century, 1700's to 1800's, the Faulkners seemed more rooted, just before they were to pull up roots.

November 21, 1798 John Turner sold to Jeremiah Gaddy 2 tracts of land on the Morris Branch of Jones Creek. The second tract mentioned in this transaction bordered "Fieldings Old Survey", which was mentioned in a prior deed involving Asa Faulkner and having had mentioned a Birmingham Rudd. This deed names instead a George Loundsdell Rudd's line, 'joins mouth of Morris's Branch, Falkner's Mill Seat, a row of trees marked by Asa Falkner & James Farr, Bexley John Lambden & William Fielding". Signed John Turner and witnessed by Ph May & H. Marshall. Book G P. 137

Book G P 134 Dated March 23, 1800 certified that Martha Weaver was 'invested with full power' to sell and recieve pay for a "tract on the main road where John Weaver was killed and all other property." The quotes in this transcation seem to be from the words of Nathan Falkner, as it states that "Martha Weaver, wife of John Weaver, saw cause to sell & John Weaver said he was well satisfied with her trading" Signed Nathan Falkner and witnessed by Noah Rushing. 

I wondered what the relationship was between Martha and John Weaver and Nathan Falkner, as I have yet to find one. 

The mention of Noah Rushing was interesting, however. Noah Rushing was a Colonel in the Revolutionary War. He was born about1758 and was married to Chloe Huntley. Some trees have Nathan's wife, Sarah, as a Rushing. I've not yet found evidence of that.

There's nothing to be found on John and Martha Weaver at that time in Anson County, making me wonder who they were, exactly. There's a John in 1830 and again in 1850, cropper, in Morven. In 1794, in Book C2 P 279 Martha Weaver had sold to James Moultrie on Cedar Creek of Thompsons Creek, 300 acres that met Fords line, Abram Allquise's line, Dills line and John Mitchells line. The tract had been surveyed for John Granade in August of 1772. Testator was Phillip Gathings. 

This leads me to believe that the Weavers were tied to the following individuals in the following 3 transactions in Book C2, pages 78, 80, and 81. Dated 1792, Page 80 was a transfer of property from Elizabeth Forehand to John Weaver of land on Cedar Creek and joined Dill's old line and Nehemiah Forehand sold by Hugh Johnson to James Forehand and was witnessed by Nathan Faulkner and Stephen Jackson.

Page 78 was again involving Elizabeth Forehand and John Weaver, part of  a 450 acre tract that had been granted May 1, 1769 to Phillip Dill, and by 'diverse converyances' had ended up in the hands of Elizabeth Forehand, which she had became vested in a power of attorney to dispose of the land. and was connected to a deed from 1789 between John Johnson and James Forehand. Witnesses were Nathan Falkner and Samuel Jackson.

Page 81 was a transaction between Daniel McRae and John Weaver that originated with John Granade, and bordered the property of Abram Allguire and Ford on ' Thomsons' Creek. Testators were Nathan Falkner and John Brooks. 

Also related was July 1792 deed Book C2 p 85 between James Forehand and Nehemiah Forehand, land on Cedar Creek, Witnessed by William Rushing and James McDuffie.

The Wisdoms were another family that were neighbors and associates of the Faulkners in Anson County. 

There's a 1790 deed in Book B2 Page 194 between Bartholemew Chunning of Anson and George Chunning of Darlington County, South Carolina. It was witnessed by William Wisdom and Thomas Wisdom.

April 1792, Nathan witnessed a transaction between John Lowry, Anson planter of Benjamin Buchanon, Sr. of Chatham, concerning Charles' Booths land

April 16, 1792 A transcation between Thomas Vining and John Cason of Richmond County on the South Fork of Jones Creek. Neighboring properties mentioned were that of Jason Meadors, James Knotts and Lewis Lowery. Witnessed by Nathan Faulkner and James Boggan. Proved by Nathan Faulkner April 1793. Book C2 P 158.

July 15, 1792 Francis Van Landingham sold to Richard Odom, 100 acres on a Fork Creek and witnessed by Nathan Falkner and Lucy Shumaker.

Sept. 1793, Nathan Faulkner witnessed a transcation between Burilingham Rudd and Robert Wallace, planters of Anson County. Lowry's Branch, Millers and the 'Dry Prong mentioned, along with Thomas Dickson, William Vaughn, Odom and Meadors. Book D P 219.

Oct 3, 1793 Ricard Farr Jr. and wife Lucy of Anson to John Turney, also of Anson, 2 tracts, one on Morris's Branch of Jones Creek, joined William Owens, William Johnson, George Reed, Crawley and included William Fieldings survey, granted by the King to William Fielding on Nov. 22,1771 and sold by him to William Owens who sold it to George Loudsdell Rudd in 1783. Second tract was on Jones Creek, ran along Rudd's line, to the mouth of Morris's Branch where "Acey" Faulkner's mill seat was, met James Farr, Bexly John Lamdan and William Fieldings beginning.  Witnesses were Richard Farr and James Farr. Book C2 P187.

Nov 13, 1794 Isaac Jackson and John 'Stanfill', executors of John Jackson, deceased, estate to Thomas Shaw.  On Thomasons Creek, bordering Benjamin Jackson. Witnessed by Thomas Gulledge and Nathan Falkner.  Book D P 61.

September 16, 1794, William May, high sheriff to Richard Wallace land on the Great Branch of Mill Creek, on the side of a hill, joins Wilkies Mill Creek, John Stanfields home line of land where he lives, William May's home, where he formerly lived, land sold for arrarages in taxes.C2, P 350.

Book E Page 40 concerns a property sold by Stephen Pace, Esquire to Thomas Lewis. William May and Isaac Stanfield mentioned. Oct 22, 1795

Book E Page 450, May 1796 Asa Faulkner of Anson to John Crawford of the same sold 50 acres on Jones Creek, bordering George L. Rudd, Thomas Jones, Bexley Lamden, Asa Faulkner, and John Crawford, including Asa's Mill Seat. Witnessed by Benjamin Duckworth and Richard F. Crawford. 

Sept 3, 1796, Richard Odom sold property to William Rushing on Rushing's Creek, bordering Richard Worthen and 'Blunder' Curtis. Witnessed by Nathan Falkner and Eli Rogers.

This next deed I consider one of the most important, so I will show it word for word. 

Book H2 P 250   Anson County deeds, Dated December 2 1800

"Know All Men by these Presents that I, Nathan Faukner of the State of North Carolina in the County of Anson hath this day sold and made over unto Jonathan and Warren Faulkner of the same place all my stock of cattle and hogs, three feather beds and Furniture and all my other household furniture and my crib of corn for the consideration of one hundred and sixty Spanish milled dollars and that I the said Nathan Falkner doth furthermore and hereby warrant and defend the said premises from any claim right or title by or from any person or persons as witness my hand and seal this second day of December 1800.

Signed Nathan Faulkner (Seal)

Testators : Noah Rushing & Wm Rushing

Anson Court, Jany 1802, ordered to be sealed. 

Nathan is ridding himself of his stock, furniture and produce. This sounds like a man about to be on the move, or either, close to death. Herein is the mention of Johnathan and Warren Faulkner. I believe them to be sons of Nathan. 

1800

The Faulkners that show up in the 1800 census were Nathan, Jonathan, Job, Francis and Asa.

On this page, Jonathan Falkner and Nathan Faulkner are very close, with Betsy Franklin between. Daniel and Stephen Jackson, seen in some Falkner involved deeds, are nearby, as is John Cason. Job Faulkner is just up a few spaces.

Asa is found living near the Rushings and the Stanfields. Thomas Wisdom and James Chiles, mentioned in a number of deeds involving both Nathan and Asa. Asa in sandwiched between Rowlin (or Rowland) and Jason Rushing and near both Isaac and John Stanfield.

And Francis is living next to David and Nancy Hildreth, who I know lived several miles south of Wadesboro.Sampson Stanfiled, who would migrate with this Francis, son of Francis, who died about 1794, to Knox/Whitley County, Kentucky via Blount County, TN, is living nearby. The Mays, who are mentioned in several deeds along with Faulkners, are in a grouping just above. 

The Very next deed after H2 Page 250, wherein Nathan Faulkner sells personal property to Jonathan and Warren Falkner, page 251, involves Francis 'Falkner', and his brother, Joseph Faulkner, although dated January 20, 1795, the year after Francis the elder (Francis Jr, in actuality) supposedly died. 

Jan 20 1795, Joseph Falkner of Anson to John May, 38 acres on Wilkeys Mill Creek, bordering Robert Edwards, John May & Francis Falkner, sold to 'Me" (Joseph) by Robert Hall. signed by Joseph and witnessed by Ezra Bostick.

Featherbed Branch off of Teal Hall Road 

In 1799, Asa Faulkner gave oath on a transaction witnessed by himself, his brother, Nathan Faulkner and William Wisdom, that had beed granted to Robert Jarman and transferred to Marianne Jarman.

In 1796, an interesting deed involving Featherbed Branch of Jones Creek, was when Attorneys Lanier and Johnson , for John and Hugh Waddell transferred to John Cason 185 acres on the branch. Book F, P 163.This may have been the property were the cemetery is located now. 

In 1795, John Stanfill witnessed a transcation from John White, blacksmith, to Archelus Blake, Planter, that crossed the road to "New Town", being a remnant of 300 acres of property once owned by John Jackson, Esquire, and sold by his executors, of which John Stanfill (Stanfield) was one. Two of John Jackson's daughters had married Whites, per his Will, so John White must have been his son-in-law, as was John Stanfill. Book F. P 164.

December 6, 1799 The Govenor granted to James Chiles, 1555,100 acres  and 200 acres at Richard Wallaces, and Thomas Wisdoms corner, on the East side of Gun Branch, joined Francis Wisdom, crossed Camden Road, joined the heads of Featherbed Branch, witnessed by B. Williams and Will White.Book G p 14.

A few days later, James Chiles recieved another Grant from the Govenor, # 1593, for 200 acres beginning at Benjamin "Duck's" corner Book G P 14, as well. 

In November of 1804 James and Lydia Liles sold to James Miller Tindle, their share of the estate of Elizabeth Chiles at Grassy Islands, 'being land that fell to us from John Chiles estate', found in Book M, p 356, meaning they were heirs of John and Elizabeth, probably Lydia being a daughter and James, her husband.

In December of 1798, James Chiles witnessed a transaction between Elisha Brealer of Winton County, South Carolina and Thomas Jones, of Anson, concerning land on the South Prong of Jones Creek, joining Robert Jarmen, and a grant to Elisha Brealer, and a tract he had bought of Emory Jerman. Book E P 323

Elisha Brealer and Emory Jerman may have further tales to tell. 

Land records weave together to form a story, which in the beginning seems nothing more than a puzzle, but you can see people moving in and around, transferring property before they take off to other lands, or just ridding themselves of inheritances they are not going to use. Some fall ill in their later years and can no longer tend to large properties, and thus transfer it to those they are close to, in exchange for being cared for in their older years. The lands speak, if one will listen. 

Next, what happens when the century turns?

The Falkners and Neighbors of Featherbed Branch: The 1800's

 

For the past several months now, I've been trying to make head and tails of the land records involving the early Falkners who lived along Jones Creek, Featherbed Branch and Wilkey's Mill Creek, in Anson County, NC. I've yet to find mention or a definate connection to my ancestor, John L. Faulkner, who was born between 1807 and 1812. I know from DNA that he was related to them, although I have yet to connect the dots. I've found hide nor hair of him with any mention of a parent, or even a sibling, although I have discoverer his two wives and their parents, and even grandparents. 

In this post, I will continue on with the deeds of the early Faulkners, and some focus on connected families, like the Wisdoms, the Mays, the Buchanons and Chiles, whose property adjoined theres, and the Stanfields, who had migrated from Cumberland County, NC with them.

I begin with one mentioned in the last post dated Dec 2, 1800, Book H2, 250, wherein Nathan Faulkner, who was one of the older Falkners, sold his personal property, includind livestock, furniture and a corn crib, to Jonathan and Warren Falkner. Witnesses were Noah and William Rushing. This is worth noting because some people have Sarah, the wife of Nathan, as being a Rushing. I know her name was Sarah, as she and Nathan witnessed the Will of Benjamin Falkner, said to be his cousin, in 1783. His widow Elizabeth, appears only in the 1790 census, with her two small sons, John and Henry. I have no idea what happened to any of them. 

On Oct.14,1799, Nathan Faulkner, Planter, of Anson, sold to Richard Graves, of Chesterfield Couny, SC, 50 acres on Cedar Branch, which had beed granted to Phillip Dill in 1769 and through various conveyances , had came into the hand so Nathan Faulkner, or in the words of the document, "vested in" Nathan. Witnesses were John Cason, Richard Meeks, and Reddin Meeks. Below is a photo of Featherbed Branch, as it appears off of Teal Hall Road. Just past it is the old Cason Cemetery, where John Cason is buried.

As for Richard and Reddin Meeks, they're not in the 1800 census of Anson, taken just months after this transaction, but there is a Brtton Meeks and Frank Meeks, living side by side, right near Nathan and Jonathan Faulkner and next to John Cason, with Job Faulkner just above. The two were brothers, son of Francis Marion Meeks and wife Deana Darcus. Like John Cason, they were out of Pitt County, NC. Francis "Frank" Jr. would end up in Emmanuel County, Ga and Britton would end up in Baldwin County, Georgia. They had a brother named Reddin (and Britton had a son named Reddin, who wasnt' born yet), who had settled in Bladen County and had ended up in Dale County, Alabama. This could have been him, down for a visit, or traveling through. Richard had to have been related in some manner, but I'm not sure how. He may have been a family member who had slipped through the cracks. This is just one example of the diaspora that was taking place at the time, that makes it so difficult to determine who belongs to whom.

Jonathan Falkner appears in the 1800 census living near Nathan. Warren does not appear in the census. I believe he may have been living with Nathan. 

Name:	Nathan Folkner[]
Home in 1800 (City, County, State):	Fayetteville, Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10:	2
Free White Persons - Males -10 thru 15:	2
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25:	1 Warren
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over:	1 Nathan
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over:	1 Sarah
Number of Household Members Under 16:	5
Number of Household Members Over 25:	3
Number of Household Members:	9

Warren may have been the young man between 16 and 25 living with Nathan. 

Name:	Jonathan Folkner[]
Home in 1800 (City, County, State):	Fayetteville, Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25:	1
Number of Household Members:	2

Jonathan was already married and had a child, and head of his own household, near that of Nathan.

October 16, 1801, Book H2 P 249, a listing just before page 250 William Wisdom of Anson sold to his son, Thomas Wisdom 100 acres on the middle prong of Jones Creek to the mouth of Gum's Branch, first line of William Wisdom's 300 acre survey and was witnessed by neighbor James Childs and other son, Francis Wisdom.

The Wisdoms appear in may Faulkner related deeds. 

November 20, 1801, Nathan Falkner of Anson sold to Malcolm McCusick 74 acres on Cedar Creek for $160. Began at a persimmon tree on Rosses line, joins Cedar Creek and the upper corner of 'said' Falkner's Plantation, sold by Hugh Johnson to James Forehand. It was signed by Nathan Falkner and witnessed by Malcolm Campbell and Jonathan Falkner.  Oath Jan. 1802 by Jonathan Falkner.

In April of 1801,  Elijah Falkner witnesseed a transaction between Clement Lanier and Henry Marshall over the sale of a slave woman named Guander and her two children, in conjunction with Nathaniel Dabbs. So Elijah, who did not appear in any census, was still in Anson in 1801. Also, these were new names, not otherwise seen with the Faulkners.

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.

Featherbed Branch and the trees around it, through a cow pasture 

February 17, 1806, Francis Wisdom to Asa Faulkner, both of Anson, 500 acres, beginning at Pleasant May's corner pine at the head drains of Morris's Branch. It joined the properties of John Falkner, Buchanon, and Asa Falkner. This property had been surveyed in 1802 for Elisha Faulkner, who had sold it to Francis Wisdom. It was signed by Francis Wisdom, witnessed by John Jackson and Elijah Faulkner, and recorded in January of 1809.

The Childs or Chiles family was another neighbor to the Faulkner collective. In Book M, P 356, we find a deed wherein James and Lydia Liles sold all of their share of the estate of Elizabeth Chiles, deceased, to James Miller Tindle, 'being land which fell to us from John Chiles estate".

On December 5, 1800, the Govenor, in Raleigh, granted (#1639) 100 acres to William Wisdom that joined his own line and that of Asa Faulkner. 

The Wisdoms were another family closely tied to Nathan, Asa, and the other associated Faulkners. William Wisdom would die just a few years from this transaction, leaving a will in Anson County, naming several children, including sons Thomas and Francis, who are mentioned in the transactions.

Book H2, p 275, dated June 16, 1801, John Ford, of Anson to Jacob Mangrem of Chesterfield County, SC sold 150 acres on Cedar Creek, bordering Abraham Jones,  Phillip Dill, that had been granted to Richard Worthen in 1779 and sold by William Worthen to John Ford. Witnesses were Nathan and Jonathan Faulkner. 

John Ford may have been a Faulkner relative. There were Ford and Faulkner connections harkening back to Maryland. Nathan's supposed Grandmother, Sarah, had been born a Ford and married a John Faulkner. They were the parents of Francis Faulker, Sr. 

Name:	John Ford
Home in 1800 (City, County, State):	Fayetteville, Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44:	1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25:	1
Number of Slaves:	1
Number of Household Members Over 25:	1
Number of Household Members:	3

In 1800, John Ford was living next to Abraham Rushing and near Robert Huntley, William Wisdom and several of the Gulledge family.

In Book M, Page 286,  We find a transaction between Anson County Coroner, James Johnson, and Robert Huntley. He sold 300 acres of land that was included in two tracts. The two tracts we're located bordering each other and on Lowery's Branch and Dry Prong. The property was sold due to an execution from Anson County court against Elijah Faulkner, for the bail of Thomas Stake $8.19 due to suit by Reuben Pickett of Anson. Land sold because of no goods or chattels found. Witnesses were A.H.S.R. McGregor and Lawrence Moore. 

According to "The Letter" which I posted about previously,  Elijah Faulkner was the son-in-law of Robert Huntley. The question remains, was Elijah and Asa the same person. This was late 1805. 

The Letter

Four months later in February of 1806, Francis Wisdom sold to Asa Faulkner 500 acres at the head drains of Morris's Branch, that he had not long before bought of Elisha Faulkner, with an 'sh', which was Elisha's Grant. It bordered the property of John Faulkner, the Buchanan's, Asa Faulkner and had been surveyed on March 1802 by Elisha Faulkner.  Witnesses were John Jackson and Elijah Faulkner, with a 'j'. 

This was the last deed involving this generation of Faulkners, with the exception of John, and Elijah's widow, Elizabeth Huntley Faulkner. 

John, who is aka Jonathan,  has a lawsuit against him by Pleasant Mays in 1812. He then migrates the same year to Humphrey County, Tennessee. I will post more on Jonathan later.

The next deeds involving Faulkners are a few decades later and involve Asa, which is not the older Asa mentioned in the late 1700's and early 1800's. This is Asa William Luther Faulkner, born about 1802, who married Susan Myers, daughter of Marmaduke Myers. Later deeds involve his heirs and the distribution of his property, including a son named Elijah and another named Asa W. L. Jr.

My theory is that Elijah Faulkner, who was the same generation as Jonathan, was the father of Asa W. L. Sr, Job II and Susanna Faulkner Webb, not older Asa, son of Francis Sr.  Asa W L Faulkner, Sr., said as much in the letter to his Uncle, Job, who moved to Georgia and then Alabama. Job is a young man under 25 in 1800. Asa was an older man over 45. 

Job and Elijah were brothers. Asa and Nathan were brothers, and brothers of Francis Jr. Job and Elijah may have been sons of either Asa or Nathan. But Asa and Elijah were two different people.

Elizabeth Huntley Faulkner Webb next to her father, Robert Huntley in 1810. 

 

Aunt Ella' s Divorces

 

I recently posted about my Second Great Grandmother's younger sister, Ella Elizabeth Faulkner (1871 - 1935), in a post called "The Black Widow". You can read about it Here:

The Black Widow

Aunt Ella was married five times, but in all fairness, she was only widowed twice. 

She married first on December 23, 1886, to James Stevenson Turner, son of George Washington Turner and Elizabeth Wincy Morton Turner. He was the brother of her sister, my second Great Grandmother, Sarah Frances Faulkner's husband, William Alexander Turner. Two sisters married two brothers. It was not an uncommon occurance in those days.

 Ella was very young at this time, no more than 15 or 16. Her age was very fluid over the years. Her death certificate gives her a year of birth as 1875, but I believe she had whittled away at that over the years and her daughter had no real idea of her actual age. If this was true, she would have been only 11 when she married the first time, which I don't believe was accurate. She and Jim had one son, George Washington Turner III, born in 1894. There were others, but they remain unnamed and didn't survive childhood. 

Jim died of pneumonia, the very next year after his son's birth, in February of 1895.

Ella sent her son to live with his uncle, Robert Turner. She remarried on November 15, 1897, to Charlie May Smith. I must make mention of the fact, that he name "May" in the name of a man in Anson County, NC, had nothing to do with the month of May, as in a woman's name, but rather, referred to the surname May, which was the name of  a prominent Anson County family. May Buchanon was another man in the area who carried the name, son of Benjamin Buchanon and Judith May. 

Photograph by Ruth and Darrell Dunlop

I had came across the May family, as well as the Buchanons, consistently, while researching my Faulkner family roots. 

So, Charlie May Smith was husband number two. This marriage produced a daughter, Virginia May, born in 1899. On January 8, 1900, while in the town of Wadesboro to visit a few of his siblings, Charlie Smith was robbed and murdered while waiting on a train. His daughter was 5 months old. 

So now, Ella had been widowed twice, probably before, or near to, her 20th birthday. She moved from Anson County, to the town of Albemarle, in Stanly County, and moved in with her sister, Fannie and double brother-in-law, Will Turner. She's living there with her baby daughter in the 1900 census. 

On August 5, 1900, nine months after the murder of Charlie, she married a third time to William Thomas Russell. W. T. Russell was from Montgomery County, NC and had moved to Stanly County, where he had married his first wife, Nancy Austin, and had three sons. His first wife had also passed away in 1900.

This marriage dissolved not by death, but by divorce. W. T. divorced Ella on July 2, 1903. It hadn't lasted long.

Not a quitter, Ella tried her hand at marriage a fouth time. This time, she chose a much younger man, instead of an older one. Thomas C. Russell Deas was from York County, South Carolina and was born in 1885, the year before Ella's first marriage. The couple were married on October 8, 1905, in Mecklenburg County, NC. Ella had moved to the big city. 

This marriage lasted about 4 years, and on September 24, 1909, Ella divorce him, instead of the other way around. 

Lastly, Aunt Ella married for a fifth and final time to James Edward Dull, on September 25, 1915. This was about 6 years after her last divorce, and Ella was still in her 30's, somewhere between 35 and 39. She would have no more children, however.

Ella had taken up operating a boarding house in Charlotte, which was one way a woman could create a respectable living. James Dull had been one of her boarders. He was the son of James Bristo and Nannie Hunt Dull.  James was from Staunton Virginia and Ella was his second wife. He was again, a younger man, having been born in 1883. This marriage would last twenty years, until Ella's death in 1935. J. E. Dull would remain in Charlotte and outlive her by 22 years, passing on in 1957.

Although I knew of Ella's divorces, I never knew the details, having to wait on documents from the state archives to arrive. Now they have and this post is to address the interesting details of her two divorces. 

The first was the case of  W. T. Russell vs Ella Russell, held in the Superior Court of Stanly County, North Carolina. 

" I  The plaintiff above named complaint of the defendant and alleges  tha on the5 day of August 1900 in said County and State and in the town of Albemarle, the plaintiff and the defendant intermarried and ever since have been and now are husband and wife.

II That the Plaintiff is and has been a resident of the state of North Carolina for more than 2 years immediately and next of this action.

III That on the 29" day of October, 1901, the defendant willfully and without just cause voluntarily abandoned the plaintiff and has ever since lived separate and apart from him that after the marriage aforesaid while plainfitt and defendant were living together as man and wife. They took to board with them a man by the name of Cliffton James, who was a married man, but his wife was not living with him during  said period, as plaintiff is informed and believes the said James and the plaintiffs wife became too intimate and she was completely alienaated from plaintiff and refused to live with plaintiff as wife, and from their conduct towards each other during plaintiffs absence, as his business frequently called him away from home, the plaintiff has every reason to believe and doe believe that during said period of boarding the defendant committed adultery with the said James that upon plff. best information and belief, the defendant committed adultery with the said James diverse times doing said period. 

IV That as plaintiff is informed and believes the defendant and the said James left his home about the same time and went to the town of Concord and lived in the same house on Factory Hill of the Gibson Mill, the house being kept by Robert Lowder and during said period, between the months of November, 1902 and March of 1903 she committed adultery diverse times with the said James. That each and all  the said acts of adultery without the counsel, connivance or procuement, or privity of the plaintiff and tha plaintiff had not cohabitated  with the defendant since the discovery by him of the commission of the said acts of adultery complained of. 

V That there was no issue of the marriage between the plaintiff and the defendant Wherefore, the defendant. Wherefore, the plaintiff demands judgement tat the bounds of matrimony between himself and the defendant be dissolved and for case of action. 

J W Brown, Atty. for PLFF".

So, basically, the honeymoon was over very quickly on this one. Within the first two years of the marriage, W. T. and Ella took in a boarder named Cliffton James, who was estranged from his own wife. While W. T. was out working, as a Carpenter, according to his professions given in the 1900 census, Ella and this Mr. James began an affair. Ella then left her husband and home in Albemarle and moved with Cliffton James to the Gibson Mill Village in Concord, NC. 

I know nothing about Cliffton James, where he came from, or where he went. Ella ended up moving to Charlotte, NC, at least by 1905, when she remarried to Russell Deas. 

This marriage went sour quickly, as well, but not on the side of Ella, but also, in a very bizarre manner, especially for the time frame in which they lived. 

"North Carolina Mecklenburg County, In Superior Court

Ella Deas, Plff    vs. Thos. R. Deas, Deft

The Plaintiff Complains and alleges

(1). That she was married to the defendant, Thos. R. Deas on the 8th day of Nov. 1906.

(2) That she and defendant lived together as man and wife until about the 10th day of March 1909 when he abandoned plaintiff without cause and has since lived separate and apart from her.

(3) That during the month of February 1909 while she and defendant lived together at 310 South College Street in the City of Charlotte defendant with violence and threats, forced the plaintiff to leave her bedroom, that he then took a heavily veiled negro woman into said bedroom where they both undressed and went to bed together and committed adultery with her.

(4) That in the month of March thereafter the defendant abandoned the plaintiff as aforesaid and as he is informed and believes is now living in fornication and adultery with a woman whose name is not known to plaintiff, in the town of Monroe, NC. 

Wherefore plaintiff prays for a Judgement of absolute divorce from the defendant and for such other and further relief as she may be entitled to and for Costs. 

J D McCall

Atty for Plaintiff.

Russell Deas could not be found and the requested divorce was granted in October of 1909. True, or not, this case was a little wild and 'polyamorous' for 1909, and I am sure was grounds for tremendous gossip. Thomas R. Deas was found living in Marshville, Union County, in 1910.

Name	Thomas R Dees
Age in 1910	25
Birth Date	1885
Birthplace	North Carolina
Home in 1910	Marshville, Union, North Carolina, USA
Street	Marshville Road
Race	White
Gender	Male
Relation to Head of House	Servant
Marital Status	Single
Father's Birthplace	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace	North Carolina
Native Tongue	English
Occupation	Farm Laborer
Industry	Working Out
Employer, Employee or Other	Wage Earner
Able to read	Yes
Able to Write	Yes
Out of Work	N
Number of Weeks Out of Work	0
Neighbors	View others on page

Household members

Name	Age
Julius W Prichard	42
Thomas R Dees	25

Ella ran her boarding house and married J. E. Dull in 1915.

Russell Deas, a worm in  hot ashes, moved to Pickens County, S.C. due to WWI, then on to LaVaca, Texas by 1920, then to West Virginia, where he remarried in 1923, and died in Nicholas, W. V in 1940. Ella had died in 1935. William Thomas Russell passed away in 1907, just a few years after he had filed for divorce from Ella. 

 

Three Two or One?

 

My brain is still not wrapping itself around this whole Elisha, Elijah and Asa Faulkner thing.

Elisha, Elijah and Asa, where there 3 or 2 or 1?

To begin with, ELISHA 'Forkner' was issued a Grant of 500 acres of land on December 11, 1802, in Anson County, North Carolina, located 'on the head drains of Morris's Branch'. The document is recorded in Land Patent Book 100 on page 234 as Anson Grant #1750. The original request for this land was entered on April 1, 1801 and assigned Entry # 926. 

"Beginning at Pleasant May's corner pine by a pine and poplar at the side of a drain and runs south 18 east Forty pole to a stake by three pines South 40 east 160 poles to a red oak by a Post Oak and pine, south 32 west 60 poles to a stake by three blackjacks south 80 two West 58 poles to a stake by a pine and black jack in John 'Forkner's' line with it south 50 West 152 poles to his corner stake by pointers in his other line south forty East forty poles to his corner stake by 3 blackjacks South 56 East 111 poles to a stake by a hickory, Black Jack and pine in Bohannon's line Thence with it south 41 East 81 poles to a Red Oak by a hickory and pine 60 poles to a stake by two pines and red oak south 57 West 150 poles to a pine then North 81 west ten poles to 'Asia Forkners' corner with said line North 32 East 200 poles to his corner stake by two red oaks and pine - North 54 West 83 poles to a stake by a post oak and Blackjack, South 43 west 210 poles, then with Wisdoms line north 33 East 140 poles to his corner pine, North 3 east 150 poles, North 54 East to the Beginning. Entered 11th of April 1801 to hold to the said Elisha Forkner his heirs and assgins forever. Dated the 11th December 1802.

If you are one of those people who get lost with all of the poles and trees and stakes and directions, don't feel alone. What I'm able to take away from this is that Elisha Faulkner, (which is seen in various places referencing the same individuals as Falkner, Falconer, Faulkner, Forkner and even Fortner) recieved a Grant of 500 acres on Morris's Branch that bordered that of his relatives, Asa and John Faulkner and other neighbors whose property met his were the Wisdoms, the Bohannons (also seen as Buchanon), and Pleasant May.

There wasn't a grant issued for an Asa Falkner, (or any other version of the name), in North Carolina, but for John, we find one issued in 1797 on Featherbed Branch. Skipping the measurements, the blackjacks and hickorys and poles, John's 150 acres bordered that of Benjamin Buchanan (no doubt the 'Bohannon' mentioned in Elisha's grant), 

Then we find in the Anson County Deeds, Book LM Page 13, the following transaction:

"This Indenture made this 19 day of October in the year of our Lord 1805 between Elisha'Falconer'  of the County of Anson and State of No. Carolina of the one part and Francis Wisdom of the same place on the other part".

The property was on the drains of Morris's Creek and started with Pleasant May's corner, ran next to John 'Falconer's' line, 'Buckanon's' lines, to Asa Falkners corner,  Wisdom's line, Chiles corner pine, containing 500 acres granted to Elisha "Flakner"....To Francis Wisdom...etc. Witnessed by Job Falkner adn Elisha B. Smith.

So the exact same grant Elisha recieved in 1802, he disposed of in 1805.

Elisha does not appear in any census in Anson County, but Job Falkner, who witnessed his deed does, just one, the 1800. Job appears as a young man, between 16 and 25, who has started his own family, with a young wife in his same age group, and a boy under 10. On the same page with Job is Pleasant May, Robert Jerman and a little further down, Nathan Falkner and Jonathan Falkner, close to each other. The other Falkners in this census were Asa and Francis. Jonathan was in the same age group as Job, 16 to 25, with a wife, but no children. Possibly a newleywed. Francis was also under 25, with a woman of the same age, and two small boys. He was enumerated next to the Hildreths and Sampson Stanfield, a family friend, possibly a brother-in-law and several Mays. The older two members of the family were Asa and Nathan. Asa was over 45, had two males in the home between 16 and 25 and 3 females over 45, perhaps two grown (or nearly) sons, a wife and a mother or mother-in-law, or unmarried sisters. Asa was enumerated near John and Isaac Stanfield, James Chiles and Thomas Wisdom, a brother of the afore mentioned Francis Wisdom, both sons of William Wisdom, per his will.

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

The other Falkner's mentioned as neighbors to this grant, were Asa and John. Nathan Falkner was the other, older member of the family. He was over 45, had a female over 45, another between 26 and 45, and one under 10. He had 5 young males in the home, one between 16 and 25, two between 10 and 15 and two under 10. 

If Elisha was in the county in 1800, he was probably either living with Asa or Nathan. 

The other document that goes hand in hand with the Grant and the sell of that property by Elisha to Francis Wisdom, came the next year in 1806, and is found in Book LM Page 350, of Anson County Deeds. 

"This Indenture made the 17th day of February, 1806"  The transaction was between Francis Wisdom and Asa Falkner, For 100 pounds, 'in hand paid by Asa Falkner', Wisdom had sold 500 acres lying and being in 'County aforesaid surveryed by Elisha Falkner Mrach 18, 1802'.  The property was located on the drains of Morris's Branch and began at Pleasant Mays corner pine and blackjack, ran with John Falkner's line to Asa Falkners corner, then ran with Wisdom's line and met Chiles corner. It was signed in the presence of John Jackson and Elijah Falkner.

So here we have Asa Falkner buying the very Grant that had been issued to Elisha Falkner, who had sold it to Francis Wisdom, who just sold it back to Asa Falkner. It bordered Asa and John Falkner's lands and was witnessed by "ELIJAH" Falkner. 

Modern descendants have crunched Asa and Elijah into one person, but the old deeds say otherwise, but the second question is, was Elijah and Elisha one and the same, or were they also, two different Falkners?

Just a month before Francis Wisdom sold Elisha's Grant to Asa, he sold another tract of land to a James Moore. This sounded like the acts of a young man who intended to raise money and free himself of any incumbrances, so he could take off for parts unknown and creat new roots somewhere else. 

On January 22, 1806, Francis sold to James Moore for $625, 278 acres on Gum's Branch and the middle prong of Jones Creek, that bordered the lands of James Chiles, Meadors, and Chewning. It was witnessed by Robert Rogers, and both Stephen and John Jackson, whose names had appeared in several Falkner related deeds. It was proved by Stephen Jackson and signed by Clerk, Tod Robinson.

Another interesting land record involving the above was the 1796 Grant to William Wisdom, father of Francis Wisdom, of 100 acres that bordered a property William already owned and that of Asa Falkner.

I find no other mention of Elisha (with an 'S'), in Anson County. Neither do we find any trace of Francis Wisdom? Could they have been two young friends who set off together?

We do find other mentions of Elijah, but not in any census. 

The search continues. Were they three men, two men or just one? My vote for the moment is on three.