Finding Faulkner: The Progeny | James Faulkner {Gen 4}

It started, as good quests always do, with a family tale.

James Faulkner (Matthew, Wm Bull, James, William) was born in  Orange Co, New York about 1816, to parents Matthew Faulkner and Isabelle "Sibi" Robinson.

James married (1) Margaret Greer (1814-1851) date UNK. He married (2) Rebecca Jane Tucker (1826-1910) date UNK.


James and Margaret had at least two children:

• Almeda Faulkner b. 1848 d. 1898 m. John Bodine
• George Faulkner b. 1850 d. 1937 m. (1) Mary Gordon (2) May LNU

James and Rebecca Jane had at least four children:

• James Harrison Faulkner b. 1855 d. 1940 m. Mary M Grey
• Charles William Faulkner b. 1858 d. 1948 m. Lena R Briggs
• William Henry Faulkner b. 1860 d. 1925 b. Ida C Kniffin
• Franklin H Faulkner b. 1864 d. 1887 never married

James Faulkner was a farmer near Middletown, New York. "According to family tradition, a family feud arose because one of the brothers married a Catholic, so all but James went south." From the Bull/Wells Book.

James Faulkner died November 27th 1886 and is buried in the Scotchtown Cemetery in Orange Co, New York. Margaret Greer Faulkner died May 1st 1851 and is buried in the Old Congregational Cemetery in Orange Co, New York. Rebecca Jane Tucker died July 30th 1910 and is buried with her husband in the Scotchtown Cemetery.


©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Finding Faulkner: The Progeny | James Faulkner {Gen 2}

It started, as good quests always do, with a family tale.

James Faulkner (Samuel, William) was born to Samuel Faulkner and his wife Elinor on July 2nd 1779 in Wallkill, Ulster Co, New York.

James married Martha McBride about 1808, most likely in Wallkill, then Orange Co, New York.

James Faulkner's children include:

• Nelson Faulkner b. 1809 d. UNK
• Caroline Faulkner b. 1812 d. 10/23/1884 - never married
• Mary Jane Faulkner b. 1/11/1814 d. 4/21/1902
• Female 1 Faulkner b. 1816 d. BEF 1830
• Frances Ann Faulkner b. 1818 d. 1845
• Nancy Martha Faulkner b. 6/1820 d. 1902 - no issue
• Anson Faulkner b. 1823 d. 9/21/1899 - never married
• Antoniette Faulkner b. 2/15/1825 d. 4/8/1903 - never married 
• Harrison Faulkner b. 1825 d. 9/3/1905
• Henrietta Faulkner b. 1831 d. 9/19/1900
• Iantha Faulkner b. 1839 d. 10/15/1894 - never married

James Faulkner was a Colonel in the War of 1812. Occupations included farming, land surveying, politics and hospitality. He removed to Grass Lake Michigan in the fall of 1834, being an early pioneer of the territory.

Col. James Faulkner died 19 Apr 1869. He is buried in the Grass Lake East cemetery, Grass Lake MI,  with his brother, wife and daughter.

You can read more about James here and here.

©2016 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

Martha McBride Faulkner: Invisible Wife (52 Ancestors #2)

It irks me so that the women of former generations were, for all intents and purposes invisible. They
might well have been strong, opinionated, highly regarded citizens, but the history books record, for the most part, only the accomplishments of their husbands, fathers and brothers.

Such is the case of Martha McBride. Martha is my 3rd great grandmother on my paternal line. She was born about 1789 probably Ulster Co (now Orange Co), New York.

Martha first materialized to me when I was researching my 3rd great grandfather. Colonel James Faulkner. Originally I did not know her name. She was mentioned as "the wife and mother" in a biographical sketch on James. The obituary of my 2nd great grandfather listed her name as "Jane McBride", which was my first clue as to her surname. Another biographical sketch on James listed his wife as "Caroline".

It wasn't until I began to build James' family and research sideways that I discovered Martha. I was able to obtain death certificates on three of the children. Therein was listed the name of the mother: Martha McBride. Happy dance ensued. I had a name! A real name!

That euphoria was to be short lived.

Even with a name and a host of other information I still could not, can not, discover who Martha McBride really was.

The story of Martha can, sadly, really only be told through her husband.

Martha McBride was born about 1789, probably in Wallkill, then Ulster Co, New York. She met and married James Faulkner, son of an early pioneer family in the area, somewhere between 1811 and 1813. (James' uncle and father were well known military men and a couple of 'larger than life' characters in early Wallkill history.) Martha's family is unknown. Martha's new father-in-law owned 1000 acres of farm land, several hundred having been sold to her husband James just prior to the marriage.

Her early married life may have been busy and perhaps worrisome. Her new husband was the Justice of the Peace in Wallkill at the time of their marriage. When the War of 1812 broke out he was put in command of a regiment stationed on Staten Island. Meanwhile Martha was home caring for one or perhaps two babies, and running a farm. After the War, Martha's husband remained an officer of the State Militia.

The years of 1816 and 1817 found Martha's husband elected to the State Legislature, spending time in Albany NY. Meanwhile Martha was home, pregnant with twins, while caring for her two toddlers; and running a farm. (It is said Martha's husband was not reelected due to his siding with Gov. Clinton on the construction of the Erie Canal.)

The years between 1818 and 1826 found Martha pregnant three more times, the third pregnancy being another set of twins. Martha's husband began work as a county land surveyor and was "enjoying in a marked degree the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens", meanwhile Martha was home caring for 8 children; and running a farm.

By 1826 the Faulkners had begun to sell off their farmland, and by 1832 they began to plan a move to the wilderness of Michigan; and Martha had her ninth child.

bit of 1826 land sale record - note Martha only 'made her mark' - she probably could not read or write

Martha's husband purchased 600 acre of Michigan wilderness in 1833 in the area of Grass Lake, Jackson Co, Michigan. The move was soon to follow. The trip took 4 to 5 weeks, traveling by wagon with all they possessed. The Faulkner's were among the first to settle the area. By the fall of 1834 James had erected the first hotel in the new town, having cut the timber himself from the heavily forested wild land which, "he had improved from wilderness to fruitful fields". Martha had her tenth child.

In 1835 Martha had her eleventh, and final, child.

In April 1845 Martha lost her third daughter to complications of childbirth. Amazingly, all of Martha's children thrived and grew to adulthood. Only four of her children married, three daughters and one son, whom I descend from.

At Christmastime 1845 Martha departed the earth, she was only 56. I can find no obituary or death record. Her final resting place remains a mystery, but it is speculated she is probably buried near her daughter, most likely in the old Maple Grove cemetery.

In 1929 the courthouse containing all the early town records burned to the ground.

Col. James Faulkner: A Well Respected Man About Town (52 Ancestors #25)

To learn about James, I had to start at the end. His birth and early life shrouded in mystery, as if he had sprung, fully grown, from the earth in rural Michigan in 1834. I banged my head against that brick wall for years. Until one day, a chink of mortar fell, and then another ...... Here is the life of James Faulkner, as I have come to know it.

James Faulkner was the third son, and sixth child of a family of eight, born to Samuel Faulkner and Elinor, his wife. Reportedly born July 2nd 1779, early life is hazy. The Faulkner's farmed in Wallkill, Orange County New York. James' father Samuel was a nose to the ground sort. Working hard and keeping to himself.

James grew up in the shadow of his war hero uncle, Captain William Faulkner, and long-time militia-man grandfather, also William Faulkner. They may have been influential in James' decision to join the military.  In 1806 he joined the 5th Regiment, Orange County New York, as an Ensign. He made Captain by 1809, 1st Major by 1815, and finally Colonel in 1816.

James fought in the War of 1812. The details remain sketchy as I write this.

In 1814 he was a Justice of the Peace, in 1815 a land surveyor, and a member of New York state assembly from Orange County, 1816-17.

In 1807 James purchased the farm he resided on from his parents for one hundred dollars.


James married Martha McBride of Wallkill about 1808. 11 children were born to them. Their first born was a son, Nelson, followed shortly by daughter Caroline.  After the war, Mary Jane and Fannie joined the family. Between 1818 and 1831 six more children were born to the couple. Four girls; Nancy Martha, Antoinette, Henretta and one other, and two boys; Anson and Harrison. The young daughter with no name died sometime between 1821 and 1829.

James' father Samuel died in 1811. His mother Elinor in 1826.

At this point I need to address the slaves in the household. I was saddened and disappointed to discover my family had a part in it. Even as common as it was for the times. James' father never had slaves. I do not believe his grandfather did either. It wasn't until 1820 do 4 slaves show up in the James Faulkner household. James' uncle William, his father's brother, the one I suspect had a significant influence on James and his life choices, did have many slaves. Was he an influence on this decision? We'll never know. Happily, by 1830 there is only one free colored male in the household, and by 1840 - none.

In the Fall of 1833 James decided to move his large family to the wilderness of the Michigan Territory. It's quite possible the migration was made by way of the Erie Canal, recently completed. James supported Governor Clinton, to some opposition by his constituents, in the grand undertaking.

"During the first half of the 19th century, innovations in transportation made traveling faster, easier, and cheaper. The steamboat was the first to impact travel to Detroit. Before the steamboat, travel between Buffalo, New York, and Detroit took a month. In April 1818, the first steamboat on the Great Lakes, named the Walk-in-the-Water, made the trip in 44 hours and 10 minutes.

When the Erie Canal was completed in 1825, travel to Detroit was made even easier. The Canal connected the Hudson River with Lake Erie, making it possible to travel completely by water from the Atlantic states to Detroit. Moving from New York to Michigan became affordable and easy, because it was cheaper and faster to travel by water than by wagon."  ~Detroit Historical Society

It is recorded that upon arrival in the wilderness of Michigan, James erected a log cabin, and by the following year the first frame dwelling. James opened the first hotel in Grass Lake soon after. He purchased 480 acres of land in what was know as the "Toledo Strip", adjacent to land purchased by his son eldest Nelson.

About 1835 the couple welcomed their final child, a daughter named Iantha. 

I can't even begin to imagine what life would have been like in the wilderness. With 10 children, four under the age of 10, and one infant. Or how James' wife Martha coped with it all. Or how he kept his family fed and clothed. There are just so many things we take for granted in this modern world, things that are of no concern to us, that were literal life or death matters to these Pioneer people.

James was well liked in the new community of Grass Lake. His children grew, as did the town he was now a part of. He traveled back to Wallkill on occasion. There are land records that record James and his brothers selling the family farmland. The last parcel was sold sometime around 1840, about the same time James' other brothers left the area.  

In 1841 James and Martha witnessed the marriage of their daughter Frances Ann "Fannie" to Joseph Watkins. A grandson followed soon after. 

A happy time, no doubt, but it was to be short lived.

Sunday morning, April 20th, 1845 Fannie Faulkner Watkins passed away. She was 29. She left behind a grief stricken husband, a tiny son and mourning family. This was the second child lost to James and his wife. Son Harrison was employed with the railroad at the time, and would become involved in a scandal that would take him to the lead mines of Galena, Illinois in flight. Later that same year, around Christmas, James lost his beloved wife Martha. 

Now a widower, James continued to make his home with six of his children, the youngest having just turned ten, and his older brother David. A tight-knit family, they would remain under the same roof for most of the rest of James' life. 

In 1856 Harrison returned to Grass Lake to marry Jennie Whitford. The couple moved shortly thereafter to Minnesota. Harrison and his wife would give James 3 grandsons. 1861 brought the marriage of daughter Henrietta to Charles Cassidy, a prominent businessman of the area. They would give James two granddaughters. Not to be left out, Nancy Martha found her way to the alter in 1862 when she wed the widower John Soper, 20 years her senior. No children were born to this couple. The remainder of James and Martha's children never married, and continued living together the rest of their adult lives.

April 19th, 1869 Colonel James Faulkner died. He received a glowing obituary in the Jackson Daily Citizen:

 "Col. Faulkner was a citizen of Orange Co. N.Y., previous to his residence here. In the War of 1812 he was in command of a regiment stationed on Staten Island. Afterward he was an officer of the State Militia. He was elected to the Legislature for several terms, and supported the measures of Gov. Clinton, particularly for the construction of the Erie canal. This course gave offense to his constituents, but later years justified its wisdom and value. In 1833 Col. Faulkner removed to Michigan, at that time and for four years afterward a territory. He located at Grass Lake, then a wilderness. For a number of years he pursued a retired life, though not indifferent to the events of the time.  When the late national conflict came upon the country, though past 80 years of age, he comprehended the issues and committed himself upon the side of freedom. His life covers almost the whole period of our history as a nation - extending to within three years of the Declaration of Independence. Col. Faulkner was a man of more than common physical and mental vigor. He was self reliant, independent, cheerful and deliberate. His parents were members of the Presb. Church O. S. His ancestors were from Scotland. For a number of years past he was a constant reader of the Bible, and gave evidence that he had found comfort and peace. The present generation are deeply indebted to these men on the past. We inherit the valuable fruitage of their wisdom, toil and self sacrifice."

James is buried in Grass Lake Cemetery with his wife Martha, daughter Fannie and brother David.

Read The Series Here

Samuel Faulkner: Hiding In Plain Sight (52 Ancestors #7)

Samuel Faulkner is my favorite. I think because he was so hard to find. A multi-year brick wall that I just kept butting my head into until it finally cracked. One day a chink fell out and I quickly was able to tear the wall down.

Let's start at the beginning, shall we?

My introduction into the seductive world of genealogy came with a box of stuff from my grandmother, interesting family lore and Ancestry.com.

On my maternal side were Patriots, Pilgrims, Pioneers and suggestions at Royalty. Talk about Bright Shiny Objects! I quickly entered all my grandmother's research into my new Ancestry.com account and ... Oh My Gosh!! ... Well, I never! What?? By the end of an afternoon I had added centuries to my family tree! Centuries!

Well, that was easy. Mom's side - DONE.

I know, you are either laughing hysterically or totally aghast at this point. Wait. Things were soon to take a turn. I was about to get schooled.

So on to my dad's side. The Faulkner side. No one had ever done any research on my dad's side, that I was aware of. I actually had to build it from scratch. And, to make it even more interesting my dad was an only child. And had recently died. My mom had a few notes from a second cousin who could not be less interested in genealogy - so the quest began. With no one to consult on this family I set out to forge a new trail into the wilderness.

Samuel Faulkner is my 4th great grandfather on my paternal side, but I did not know this for a very long time. The oldest piece of information I had at the beginning of my quest was the name of my 2nd great grandfather. My father has started a file labeled "Operation Grandpa" which I did not find until after he had died, and it made me laugh.  He had been searching for the mythical Faulkners too!

Using Ancestry, I plugged in all the information my dad had gathered.  I immediately found some good census, birth and death records. I found marriage and divorce records. I found obituaries. I found children. And blessedly I did not find one single Family Tree to mess me up!

I contacted Historical Societies, wrote to cemeteries, joined Yahoo groups, posted to message boards. I posted public trees on every site I could think of hoping to lure a cousin or two. I ordered genealogy and history books through the library that I couldn't view online.

I discovered some second cousins I did not know I had, and managed to track them down via long evenings Googling. That hard work proved unfruitful for family info, but I gained brand new kin.

None of this was easy. There were a lot of misses. A lot of dead ends. A lot of "I'm sorry, we are unable to help you with your request". A lot of years searching in vain for a man with no name.

I can't even describe the twists and turns my research took. The one step forward two steps back. The high hopes dashed in an instant. And all the quitting. Throwing my hands up in disgust and walking away - muttering "it's impossible!" "it can't be done!".

But something kept pulling me back. I was a mad woman on a mission. Why was no one else researching this family? No one! I became very protective of MY Faulkners. Yes, My Faulkners. I had gone there. At this point I had invested 4 years of solely researching this particular family. Investing my own blood, sweat and tears. I lived and breathed Faulkner history. I was pretty annoying to be around.

With all the information I was able to gather I had been able to prove my way back to my 3rd great grandfather - a regionally famous man named James Faulkner - I wrote about his wife here.  Of course, in all the biographies and histories done on him there was never a mention of his father.

And I had a very strong candidate for my 5th great grandfather, William Faulkner. Very strong.
Early on in my research I was given a transcript of his will. By all indications this was my 5th great grandfather. And it listed 4 sons. Hallelujah!

Maybe.

So, how to get from James to William? Another year or so passed as I worked the four sons lines. I ruled out one right away as he was deceased and there was no mention of any offspring. Another was a Patriot and there had been some lineage work done on him. The third son married into the Bull family of New York, and traceable through extensive histories. That left Samuel. Invisible Samuel.

Plugging Samuel in to my database brought me nothing. I started my writing, searching, posting campaign yet again, to no avail. This man was invisible! This man who, at one time owned 1000 acres of land in Wallkill, New York was invisible! Another year passed and I sadly put my quest for Samuel away. Vowing to travel to New York one day to pick up the search in person. Time to get on with life. Time to rejoin the living.

Then it happened.

A week after Christmas.

2012.

A casual mention in a chat room about newly added unindexed records on FamilySearch.

Oh. Hell. Yes.

Locked in my Genealogy Cave - fueled on nothing but raw tenacity and coffee - eyes bleary and red from hours of scrutinizing the computer screen ....... there it was!

No. What? Did I do it? Did I just find Samuel?

Staring in shocked disbelief. Frozen in the moment. The quest was over. OVER.

Stumbling out of the Cave I began my happy dance. I did a little Church Lady, and cried tears of joy.

It was a wonderful, frustrating, magical 5 years. I learned a lot. Not only about my Faulkner family, but about researching from scratch and doing it right. Best lesson ever. This is why Samuel Faulkner is my favorite. I worked hard for him and was rewarded magnificently.

Samuel Faulkner was never really lost. Just hiding, in plain sight.

Finding Faulkner: Extra! Extra! Serendipity Strikes, Again!

It started, as good quests always do, with a family tale.

Wednesday morning, September 21st, 2016. Sitting in the Cave, as usual, preparing to write a sketch about James Faulkner. I thought I had all the facts. I thought I had collected all the evidence. I was happily tapping away at the keyboard, minding my own business, painting a picture of James' life, as I had come to know it.

On a whim I decided to pop over to his Find A Grave page, pasted there was a great deal of information on him; snippets from books, his obituary. Easier to review it all in one place, I though to myself. Years ago the town historian had created his memorial, added everything she knew, including the fact that the actual location of his grave was unknown. The records having been destroyed by fire in 1929. No marker could be found. Over the years I had placed marker requests anyway, hoping someone could ferret something out. They always returned the same results. Exact location unknown. No marker. "Walked the entire cemetery, found nothing". Couldn't find his wife either, for that matter.

Okay. Fine.

Someday, I promised myself, I'd go there and personally look for James. Grass Lake, MI isn't really all that far from Chicago. "Something" told me it just wasn't a lost cause. He was a war veteran. There was an odd bit of documentation I had unearthed at one point as to his burial location. The cemetery had changed names since then, but still..... Carrying on, I didn't give it another thought.

Then Wednesday happened.

Opening James' memorial page, I was greeted with the most magnificent sight! His grave marker!


And it was BIG! How was this missed??? After weeping, and doing a little Cave whooping, perhaps some delighted screaming - the neighbors may have wondered what all the celebratory hollering was about - I wrote a note to the Angel who found this Holy Grail.

His name is Vern.

He wrote right back. "I know exactly where it is by the photo I took before. It's at the front of the cemetery just off the road. I was facing east when I took it. I didn't understand why it was marked "no marker"; being so big."

Exactly!! Another case of a Faulkner hiding in plain sight. Seems we're good at it.

I told Vern that a trip to Grass Lake was now on my short list - this I needed to see with my very own eyes. He wrote back "If you need any help when you get here, just give me a call and I will take you right to them."

(Oh, Vern. You are an Angel!)

Around the marker are not only James, but Martha, his wife. (Who, incidentally, has her OWN marker next to this one!) Their daughter Fannie and James' brother David!

These photos had been quietly sitting on Find A Grave since May 21st - four months to the day!

There are days when I am so frustrated with Find A Grave that I'm 'fixin' to quit' - and others, like Wednesday, when it is my new best friend. As with anything else, I suppose, it's the people who make the difference. Vern is good people. A Find A Grave angel.

I've been most fortunate on this quest to be helped, many times over, by kind souls who just love genealogy and history and merely want to help any way they can. Humbled by all the unrequested help that has come my way, I look for ways to Pay it Forward every chance I get.

And, oh my yes! A trip to Grass Lake is being planned - it's a short 4 1/2 hour drive from the Cave, the fall colors will be beautiful ........ can't wait!

Finding Faulkner: The Progeny | James Faulkner {Gen 1}

It started, as good quests always do, with a family tale.

James Faulkner was born to William and Mary on February 18th 1731, according to the Bull Family Book*. This date has not been proved. It is said he was born in Wallkill, Ulster Co, New York.

James married Catherine Bull, daughter of William Bull and Sarah Wells.

To them were born seven children (all town of New Windsor):

• William Bull Faulkner b. 1758
• Sarah Faulkner b. 1768
• Joseph Faulkner M.D. b. 1770
• Mary Faulkner b. 1773 d. 1859 - spinster
• Catherine Faulkner b. 1781 d. 1833 - spinster
• Martha Faulkner b. 1784 d. 1834 - spinster
• Male Child b. 1786 d. 1795

From the Bull Book*: "James Faulkner resided in Little Britain, New Windsor Precinct, where he served as road commissioner in 1772, and as assessor in 1778-80. On 25 Oct 1775, he was commissioned 1st Lieut. on Capt. Wm Telford's Co, 2nd Regt. Ulster Co Militia under Col James McClaghry, and served throughout the Revolution. Little more is known about him."

James Faulkner died 5 Sep 1806. He is buried in the Goodwill Presbyterian Churchyard in Montgomery, Orange Co, New York.

*The history and genealogy of the William Bull and Sarah Wells family of Orange County, New York : the first six generations in America and Canada - McWhorter, Emma

The Faulkners Of Ulster|Orange Co NY: A Proof Argument

William Faulkner, it is said, came to the Colony of New York from Scotland as a young man. This is family lore, and as yet is unproved.

William Faulkner was in New York as early as 1738. He was listed among the men serving under Captain John Byard in the company of militia of the "Wall a Kill" in Ulster County.(1)

It is reported by several historians that he resided at Stony Ford. In the book The History of Orange Co (2) it is said that "the Faulkner family made an early settlement" of the area.  From The Bull/Wells Family genealogy(3) it is reported that William served as Captain in the Ulster Co militia during the French and Indian war. His name appears in a 1763 muster roll as such.(4)  In an area rich with early pioneer stories, it is quite difficult to uncover much more on William, or other Faulkners of that time.

There has been much confusion as to the identity of William. Most of it stems from the numerous spelling variations of his surname found in the area surrounding Wallkill. Variations include Faulkener, Faulkender, Falkener, Falkner and Faulkner. His will has proved the biggest stumbling block. Spelled Faulkender, this will has been attached to many the incorrect family, in a variety of states surrounding New York.

After examining the records I have found to date, I feel I am able to make a convincing argument tying William Faulkner to his sons, William*, James and Samuel; and further establish lineage from Samuel to his sons Robert, John and James. (*William the son is a recognized DAR patriot, for the sake of clarity I will refer to him as Col. William when necessary,  from here forward) 

This direct evidence has come to light since the Record of Wills Recorded At Albany, New York, 1629 - 1802(5) has been digitized. We can now read the entire probate papers packet that establishes this tie.

William Faulkner died sometime between the writing of his will, dated 11 Sept 1783, Ulster County New York, and 23 Dec 1784, Ulster County New York, when it was entered into probate. William's will reveals that he was a landowner, and owned over 1000 acres of land plus several farms in Wallkill, Ulster Co, New York.

While the family surname is spelled Faulkender throughout the will, it is discovered that William was illiterate, merely 'making his mark' to sign his will. In examining the probate papers and bond of administration letter that follow the will it is further discovered that the three sons did actually sign their names, and in fact spelled their surname either Faulkner or Faulknor.(5)

Final page of William Faulkender's will papers showing William's surname spelled Faulkner along with the original signatures of his three sons, William, James and Samuel, inheritors named in the will.

(My own thought on this is that if William was a Scottish immigrant he may have spoken with a heavy accent. He may have been saying Faulkner (or Falconer), but it sounded like Faulkender! Consistent spelling remember, is a fairly new phenomenon)

To son William, he gives "the farm adjoining the Wallkill which I now live upon (...), one fifty acre lott on the long hill and two hundred acres of my undivided part of the lott of one thousand acres lying in or about the pine swamp". To son James, he gives "the farm he now lives upon (...) and providing that he shall convey to his youngest son when he shall arrive to the age of twenty one years that part of said farm formerly occupied by my son Joseph, while alive". To son Samuel, his gives "the farm he now lives upon, together with one fifty acre lott on the long hill and also two hundred acres of my undivided part of that lott of one thousand acres in or about the pine swamp".(5)

By this will we know that in 1784 there were at least three Faulkner males living in Wallkill.

In the 1790 census of Wallkill, Ulster Co, New York there are 3 Faulkner heads of household. The name is spelled Falkener in this record(6)  Samuel, William and James' oldest son, also named William.

There is only one Samuel listed in the town of Wallkill in the census years 1790 through 1810.(6)(7)(8)

In 1807 Samuel deeds some of his land and farm to his son, David, and names his other sons, James, John and Robert, in the transaction. "(...)being a part of that farm or lot of land upon which the said Samuel Faulkner now lives which is bounded as follows (to wit) Northerly by a lot of land sold by the said Samuel Faulkner to his son John Faulkner, Westerly by lands sold by the said Samuel Faulkner to his son Robert Faulkner, southerly by lands of Col. William Faulkner, easterly by the patent line of said tract of one thousand acres containing one hundred and thirty acres (...)" "if the said David Faulkner should die without lawful issue of his body begotten then the remainder over to Robert Faulkner, James Faulkner and John Faulkner, sons of the said Samuel Faulkner (...)"(9) 

By this we learn that some of Samuel's land was adjacent to Col. William's land. This evidence strongly suggests that this is the same Samuel and William as recorded in the will of William Faulkender, above.(5)

Col. William Faulkner died in 1831 and in his will leaves land to his son William J. and his daughters Susan McBride, Jane and Martha Faulkner. "First, I give and bequeath unto my son William J the farm on which I live situated in the said town of Wallkill and containing about two hundred acres. Also a fifty acre lot situated in said town of Wallkill on the Long Hill (...) to my daughters Susan McBride, Jane Faulkner and Martha Faulkner (...) I give and bequeath a lot in the pine swamp in the said town of Wallkill containing about forty acres of land"(10)

The description of the land owned by Col. Faulkner is similar enough to the description of the land given to William the son of William Faulkender as to draw a reasonable conclusion that Col. Faulkner is the son. Further, William Faulkner is a proved DAR patriot, ancestor # A039331 and his descendant listings associated with him are the very surnames listed in his will(10)

• Looking at the 1800 census, again there are 3 Falkener (note spelling) heads of household.(7) Samuel, Agnes who is William's widow and John who is Agnes' son.

• 1810 shows 5 Faulkner heads of household.(8) Samuel, Robert who is Samuel's son, Col. William, John and Mathew who are sons of James

• 1820 4 Faulkner heads (11) Col. William, James and John M who are Samuel's sons, and Mathew.

• 1830 2 Faulkner (12) Col. William and William J., his son.

In 1839 There is a land sale recorded in Orange Co New York between David, James, John and Robert Faulkner and David Woodruff "This indenture made the fifth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine, between David Faulkner, James Faulkner and Martha Faulkner, wife of the said James, all of the town of Grass Lake, county of Jackson and state of Michigan, and Robert Faulkner and Sally, his wife, of of the town of Ontario, county of Wayne, and state of New York, and John M Faulkner and Catherine, his wife, of the town of Benton, county of Tioga, and state of New York, all parties of the first part and David Woodruff of the town of Wallkill, county of Orange, state of New York, party of the second part (...) for consideration of five thousand dollars lawful money (...) northerly by a lot of land formerly owned by John M Faulkner westerly by a lot of land formerly owned by Robert Faulkner southerly by land formerly owned by Col Wm Faulkner easterly by the patent line of the Elinor Tract of which this is a part containing one hundred and thirty acres of land " This document was witnessed by Antonette Faulkner, James and Martha's daughter.(13)

Although there is no known documents to prove this William and Samuel are the same William and Samuel named in the will of William Faulkender, the evidence is compelling and backed by the census records showing that they were the only likely candidates, and thus we can conclude that Samuel and William are the sons of William Faulkender.

In conclusion, although the evidence presented is indirect I feel it is conclusive, and sufficient to tie William Faulkender to Samuel, James and William and to further tie William to Samuel and thusly tie Samuel to Robert, David, John and James.

©Copyright 2016 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved

(1)New York Colonial Muster Rolls, 1664-1775, Vol 1, Report of the State Historian of the State of New York, Appendix H, Muster Rolls of a Century, pg. 608 [database on-line]
(2)Ruttenber, E.M. and Clark, L.H., History of Orange Co New York with Illustrations, Philadelphia: Everts and Peck, 1881 [pg 431]
(3)McWhorter, Emma, Seaman, Phillip and Booth, Dolly, The history and genealogy of the William Bull and Sarah Wells family of Orange County, New York: the first six generations in America and Canada, T.E. Henderson, 1974 [pg 131]
(4)New York Colonial Muster Rolls, 1664-1775, Vol II, Report of the State Historian of the State of New York, Appendix M, Colonial Muster Rolls, pg 735 [database on-line]
(5)Will of "William Faulkender", dated 11 Sept 1783,  Albany, NY, Wills, Ad - Af 1629 - 1802, New York Surrogate's Court, Albany Co, [New York Wills and Probate Records, 1659 - 1999 database on-line] 
(6)Year: 1790; Census Place: Wallkill, Ulster, New York; Series: M637; Roll: 6; Page: 213; Image: 479; Family History Library Film: 0568146 
(7)Year: 1800; Census Place: Wallkill, Orange, New York; Roll: 21; Page: 337; Image: 344; Family History Library Film: 193709 
(8)Year: 1810; Census Place: Wallkill, Orange, New York; Roll: 29; Page: 467; Image: 0181383; Family History Library Film: 00259
(9)"New York Land Records, 1630-1975," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-32871-19260-30?cc=2078654 : accessed 6 April 2016), Orange > Deeds 1812-1814 vol O-P > image 11 of 534; county courthouses, New York. 
(10)New York Probate Records, 1629-1971," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-28504-23777-43?cc=1920234 : accessed 6 April 2016), Orange > Wills 1830-1837 and 1787-1797 vol 1-2 and A > image 247 of 687; county courthouses, New York. 
(11)1820 U S Census; Census Place: Wallkill, Orange, New York; Page: 344; NARA Roll: M33_64; Image: 357 
(12)1830; Census Place: Wallkill, Orange, New York; Series: M19; Roll: 113; Page: 145; Family History Library Film: 0017173 

(13)"New York Land Records, 1630-1975," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-32877-943-38?cc=2078654 : 22 May 2014), Orange > Deeds 1839-1840 vol 66-67 > image 8 of 664; county courthouses, New York.

Finding Faulkner: Part Ten | And The Heavens Opened Up

It started, as good quests always do, with a family tale. 

Confused. Irritated. Exasperated, even.

I had come so far. Traveled the long and winding road. Compass pointed to my True North. Or was it Ithaca? Or Brigadoon? Have the years of bleary-eyed research been for naught? Did I get just so close, only to be stonewalled, again?

Samuel Faulkner was NOT French ...... was he? And, God as my witness, who the heck was Helen Murray? Somebody got some 'splainin' to do.

The original intent of the quest had been two-pronged. To prove or disprove the family tale, that our family descended from a Scottish Faulkner who immigrated to the Colonies in the early 1700's. And to link the family to the mysterious will of William Faulkender, that I felt in my bones was that immigrant, but needed to prove.

Let's lay out the facts. It's the only sound way to look at this conundrum.

We don't have to go back too far. And, perhaps we should just eliminate both Elizabeth Wilkin and Helen Murray since they were noted in books with no supporting documentation. Certainly another avenue of research, but not empirical to Finding Faulkner.

• Samuel Faulkner's wife was Elinor.
• Samuel Faulkner's sons were David, Robert, James and John M.
• Samuel Faulkner lived and died in Wallkill, New York. 
• There was only ONE Samuel Faulkner (spelled Falkener) in Wallkill in 1790, 1800 and 1810. (There was NO Samuel Faulkner in Wallkill in 1820 - lining up with the 1811 date of death)
• The only Faulkners (spelled Falkener) listed in Wallkill in 1790 were a James, a William and a Samuel.
• William Faulkender's will (abstract) dated 1783 listed sons: James, William Jr and Samuel.

I know. At this point it looks like I've done it. Right? It all looks good on paper. It all seemingly lines up. How can William Faulkneder NOT be the father of my Samuel? It could be that easy. Just say it is so, say I proved it, and walk away.

But I didn't prove it. There was still the question of the last name. Faulkender vs. Falkener vs. Faulkner. And really linking the whole thing together. You know, wrapping it up. Bringing it home.

Now, I know spelling was quite random in the 1700's. Many people were illeritate. There were a number of different languages being spoken in a small land area. Wallkill residents spoke Dutch, English, Irish, Scottish and French. That's a lot of different accents, even if they all learned to speak English. Which circles back to my original theory. Say "Faulkner" in your best, thickest Scottish accent. Sounds a lot like Faulkender, doesn't it?

So, who actually wrote the will? The original one. Not the abstract. Was it William? Mary, his wife? A neighbor, or some town official? If it was William, he'd certainly know how to spell his surname. And teach his children how to spell it too.

I needed to find that will. The original. Dang it. I needed to get to Albany, New York.

Shelving the quest, yet again, I began to hatch a scheme to get myself to New York......

Then it happened.

Sometime mid-March 2016 (you'd think I'd remember the exact date, wouldn't you?) I decided to tool around on Ancestry and see if I could find something new. They had uploaded "New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999"  a few months earlier (I was between subscriptions at the time) and I wanted to take a peek. When I opened William's profile in  Ancestry there was a new hint! From the wills collection!

Hands sweating, I held my breath and clicked on the image.

Disappointment. Again.

It was merely the handwritten transcript. Cool, sure, but not THE will. Intrigued, I knew I needed to do a good search of the records on my own, a better way to dig up records, anyway.

But wait ..... what was this? Off to the right, in the "suggested records" box? Another listing in the "New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999" One for a William H Faulkender.

Two questions ran through my head, William had a middle name? And, why hadn't this hint showed up as well? 

Clicking on it opened the Heavens and rained down the song of the Angels. (well, maybe not, but that's how I remember it) It was THE will and probate packet. The ACTUAL packet. Eight glorious pages of original handwriting, signatures and all.

Along about page three of the packet, 'Alice's Restaurant' lyrics came drifting into my head. "and there, there on the other side, in the middle of the other side, away from everything else on the other side, in parentheses, capital letters, quotated, read the following words:"

There it was. The signature. Or, should I say, the lack of signature. William was illiterate! (How often do you get excited about something like that?) He signed with an "X". The will was written in the hand of James Caldwall, one of three witnesses. Oh, and it got better. The probate documents contained the signatures of the sons William, James and Samuel. They were not great spellers, but they could write. And guess what? Each man spelled his name differently!

William Faulkender "X" signature on will

Wm Faulkner, James Faulknor, Samuel Fau?lner signatures on probate documents

Notation - not an "H"

Additionally, only the body of the will proper contained the Faulkender spelling. The probate papers recorded William's last name as Faulkner. And "H" was not his middle initial. It was a notation used throughout the will at the end of a line of text - perhaps a fancy hyphen. Transcription error!


Barring the discovery of the actual land deed Samuel signed in 1807 (ha!), whereas to compare signatures, or a time machine (I wish!), I feel this is as good as it gets. There were no birth certificates, no family photographs in the 18th century. No paper trail, as we know today, to prove lineage. I feel (mostly) satisfied, for now, to say that I have found what I was looking for. I have found Faulkner. And concluded the quest on American shores. Perhaps one day I will be able to continue the quest in William's homeland, Scotland. And maybe even learn why and how he came to immigrate to the Colony of New York over 300 years ago.

And just exactly how the family name was spelled!

Looks like it's time for a new quest!

Finding Faulkner: Part Seven | Serendipity and A Crashing Wall

It started, as good quests always do, with a family tale. 

When I left the search for James Faulkner's parent's behind it was spring of 2011. I'd been hard on the trail since late 2007, with fits and starts. I continued to dabble, periodically. I checked all the usual places for any new records. I tracked down some 2nd cousins I had no idea existed. (they had never heard of James) I sent emails (and snail mail!) to genealogical societies and cemeteries. I tried researching the McBride's. I went back and forth as to whether James or William were the more likely brother for James' father.

I went round and round in ever more maddening circles.

The more I looked at the evidence, the more convinced I became that neither James or William could be my James' father. That left Joseph or Samuel. Samuel who had married Elizabeth Wilkin, according to the Bull Book.

I followed that trail for a while, but got nowhere, and more nowhere. Samuel and Elizabeth has seemingly just vanished. Not even a marriage record could be found.

I was getting really tired of banging my head against this brick wall.

Then on perfectly ordinary late December day in 2012 a new post to the OCGSNY yahoo group showed up in my inbox.

 "Hi all, Hope you've had restful holidays, wherever you may be. Over mine, I happened to notice on the FamilySearch website that they've recently added digitized images for over 8 million pages of New York State deeds and land records. (...) While the records are not *electronically* indexed or searchable, they ARE indexed on the actual images."

What the ....What?!?

A quick look proved that, indeed, the land records had been digitized! Not indexed, but digitized. And the original index books were digitized too!!! A late Christmas present had just been delivered to my door! Sure it meant hours of combing through images, but happily it's one of my favorite things to do! (seriously)

Busy with work until mid January, I resigned to return to the records when I had the time necessary to really dig in and look.

That time came in mid March 2013. I had a good week of nothing pressing and decided to sequester myself in the Cave and comb through all the land records. First stop, the digitized index books. I looked for every Faulkner listed, making special note of any James. There were well over two dozen entries for Faulkner and it's variations. I searched Ulster County, Orange County and Sullivan County since all three counties converged at almost the exact location the Faulkner's were said to reside.

Noting the liber and page of each entry, I searched both Grantors and Grantees. This was very exciting! I'd thought I'd have to travel to Goshen or Albany, New York to lay my eyes on such documents, yet here they were ..... in my home!

Coffee in hand and dogs at my feet, I came away with a good list of suspects. Almost two dozen of them! I must confess to getting goose bumps on several occasions as the names I was reading in the deed books were the same names I had become familiar with in the Blue Book. I almost felt like I was coming home. I knew these people - and here they were, being recorded at the actual time they lived! Talk about a genealogist's high!

Now on to the actual land records! The first half dozen or so were duds. Well, in the sense that they were not specifically who I was looking for. (Later, they would actually become useful.)

Then .........

On page 5, volume 66, Orange County Deeds 1839 - 1840 read the following:

(...) Between David Faulkner, James Faulkner and Martha Faulkner wife of the said James, all of the town of Grass Lake, County of Jackson, and State of Michigan, and Robert Faulkner and Sally his wife, of the town of Ontario, County of Wayne, and State of New York, and John M. Faulkner and Catherine his wife, of the town of Benton, County of Tioga, and State of New York, all parties of the first part and David Woodruff of the town of Wallkill, County of Orange, State of New York, party of the second part (...) parcel of land situated, lying and being in the Town of Wallkill, County of Orange, State of New York bounded as follows to wit Northerly by a lot of land formerly owned by John M. Faulkner, Westerly by a lot of land formerly owned by Robert Faulkner, Southerly by lands formerly owned by Col. William Faulkner, Easterly by the patent line of the Elinor Tract, of which this is a part (...)

The document was witnessed by Antoinette Faulkner, James and Martha's daughter.

It was exceptionally hard to read!

After running around the house, screaming like a lunatic, I settled down to allow it all to sink in.

The brick wall had started to crumble.

David! David was James' brother?! The David who lived with James in 1850? Of course! And it appeared he had two more brothers as well! Now we might get somewhere!

Back to my list, there were quite a few John Faulkner's, several Robert Faulkner's, but only one David Faulkner. I decided to look at that next.

Liber O, page 11, Orange County Deeds 1812 - 1814........


THERE.  IT.  WAS.

I sat in quiet disbelief. Tears streaming down my face. Hardly able to breathe.

That loud crash you just heard? The brick wall tumbling to the ground.


This indenture made the fifth day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seven, between Samuel Faulkner of the town of Wallkill, county of Orange, state of New York, Farmer, and Eliner his wife, of the first part, and David Faulkner son of the said Samuel Faulkner and Eliner his wife, of the second (...) if the said David Faulkner should die without lawful issue of his body begotten then the remainder over to Robert Faulkner, James Faulkner and John Faulkner sons of the said Samuel Faulkner and Elinor his wife (...) that certain lot, piece or parcel of land situated, lying and being in the town, county and state aforesaid, and being a part of the farm or lot of land upon which the said Samuel Faulkner now lives which is bounded as follows (to wit) Northerly by a lot of land sold by the said Samuel Faulkner to his son John Faulkner, Westerly by lands sold by the said Samuel Faulkner to his son Robert Faulkner, Southerly by lands of Col. William Faulkner, Easterly by the patent line of said tract of one thousand acres (...) 

much easier to read!

Samuel!!! Samuel!! It was Samuel! My fourth great grandfather now had a name! And his name was Samuel! ...... But who was Eliner (Elinor)? Nickname for Elizabeth? Or a different person altogether. And what about Robert and John M.? Looked like there was now plenty to keep me busy!

to be continued ..........

Finding Faulkner: Part Six | New York Confusion

It started, as good quests always do, with a family tale. 

In the spirit of full disclosure I must confess that the timeline in this retelling is askew. I decided it would be easier to follow if the retelling progressed in a chronological order. Truthfully, the order was more chaotic, something like: sideways, back-the-way-you-came, chase a rolling ball (in the wrong direction), screech to a halt, push a boulder up a hill, and leap over a canyon. My Orange County feelers had been out since 2008, but the information I was getting led me on goose chase after wild goose chase. Add my myopic searching technique and the fact that I was missing a big piece of the puzzle (the whole Michigan interlude), most of what I learned early on did me no good. I attempted to go from point B to point E directly.

 ~ I would not recommend trying this at home! ~

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

New York bound, I started to really dig into anything I could land my hands on. Full immersion seemed to be the order of the day. My first query was to the OCGSNY Yahoo group. That lead to a big discussion on the Sarah Wells/William Bull family and one of their famous "sons", James Faulkner, who married Catherine Bull. Not much else was know of him, but I did learn of the "Bull Family Genealogy" book, or the "Blue Book" as it is sometimes referred to. And a section on Faulkner genealogy. What?!? A Faulkner genealogy??? This seemed too good to be true.

And, it was. Sort of.

But before I learned that I, without hesitation, placed my request for the book through the interlibrary loan program.

The day it arrived was better than Christmas! The book was a good 5 inches thick and read like stale toast. But there were Faulkners in it!! Lots of them! And McBrides too! Surely I was going to find my answers here.

I toted that book to work for well over three weeks, sneaking copies of the relevant pages.

Then I started to recreate the family as laid out in the Blue Book. Only I was focused on the Faulkners and not the Bulls. A story for another time, let me just say it was very interesting to see an entirely new book emerge from the information contained within the Blue Book's pages.

Now that I had enough information to progress, I pulled out all the bits I had been compiling. I worked that big tree, I had email conversations with other researchers, including the Bull Family genealogist. (Surely SHE would have the answers!) Seems no one could identify James, my James. As it turned out, I was the one to introduce James to the genealogy world. Until I brought his existence to light he was on no one's radar. Least-wise not that I have been able to find, even to this day. Poor James.

My introduction of this new James Faulkner, married to Martha McBride, started a maelstrom of speculation on his parentage. The known Faulkner's of Wallkill were all Presbyterian (promising!) most were members of the Goodwill Presbyterian Church. I borrowed all the books I could find pertaining to these church records. There were a number of them, it turned out. Surely there would be a mention of a marriage or baptism. I soon began to see James turn up on Ancestry as a son of either James (who married Catherine Bull) or His brother Colonel William Faulkner. These were my top choices too, but the documentation was just not there. Why were other researchers including him in their families?

I needed to dig deeper. In one of the many Orange County history books I borrowed (before they were digitized!), the History of Orange Co , page 431 had this sentence: "Still further east the Faulkner family made an early settlement."  I found several other references to the family, all rather elusive, they were clearly not as prominent as some of the other early players in Wallkill. Seems their roll was more supporting than starring.

Frustrated. A bit dismayed, I soldiered on.

I found James on the Political Graveyard website. I found him in the Military Minutes of the Council of Appointment of the state of NY, three separate years. I could not find anything about his time on Staten Island or any real records from his actual war service, other than the War of 1812 Service Record Index. He was also listed in the Bounty Land Warrant Applications Index. INDEX-schmindex! Looked like I would have to order some records, and perhaps some films. Or take a trip to the National Archives. Truthfully, my mind was boggled at the thought, and I set that avenue of research aside. (Happily, this retelling has fanned those flames anew and I have put the record search back on my docket.)

My best source was the now defunct Scotchtown Highlander. Sal, the site's curator sent me lots and lots of information. (I recently found an archived version of the site at the Middletown Thrall Library.) It contained nothing more on James, however. And absolutely no hint as to his actual parentage. How could a man who was seemingly as involved, militarily and politically, as James not make the history books? I was spinning in circles and getting nowhere. The bits and pieces of Faulkner information I was able to acquire were not adding up. This was one tough nut!

I turned once again to Ancestry, and the trees to which James had been added. Contacting the tree owners, posting to message boards. The return? Zero. Zip. Nada. The tree owners had merely copied James from other trees (my tree unfortunately, before I took it private), no one had a source, a fact, that I did not have. It all pointed back to me.

Confusing the issue (because, why not!) Sal from Scotchtown Highlander sent me an abstract of a will of one William Faulkender of Wallkill, who died in 1784. He believed this was the original Faulkner, but could find no proof, other than this typed abstract. The name was not quite right. I had seen this floating around Ancestry, mostly tied to a Faulkender family in Pennsylvania. (There was no end to the confusion that was occurring at this time!) The will listed a wife named Mary (no last name), and four sons, Joseph (deceased), James, Samuel and William. This will did line up with what the author of the Blue Book had concluded; That a William Faulkner was the father of four sons with the same names as these Faulkender boys. But little more was written, as the subject was about the Bull family, not the Faulkner family.

This gave me four possibilities for James' father. There was nothing more written of Joseph, and all that was said about Samuel was that he had married Elizabeth Wilkin. I already had explored James and William, and although both were good candidates, the research had been done rather well for the Blue Book, there was not a James listed as a son of either of them.

Increasingly frustrated, and now confused I set out to begin research on Joseph and Samuel. "The quiet boys". The two who did not leave any noticeable mark on the record of time. Not an easy feat, it turned out. Hitting dead end after dead end, these men really did not leave any breadcrumbs! I found a mention, once, of a Samuel, nothing that would illuminate the search of course, and nothing on Joseph. Nothing. Posting to message boards proved fruitless. Even OCGSNY had no suggestions. Joseph and Samuel lived so quietly they became invisible.

Bear in mind I was searching for pre-1780 documents. And at a time when less was digitized. I had been digging in New York for well over a year with not much to show for it. Short of a trip to the Hudson Valley, which was not an option, I resigned to put the quest to find Faulkner on the back burner for a while.

to be continued .........

Finding Faulkner: Part Five | Lingering In Michigan

It started, as good quests always do, with a family tale.

The questions remained. Who were James and Martha's 10 - or 11 children, was Harrison involved in the railroad scandal, did James' really own a plantation in Tennessee, and who was Nelson?

I know I said I was staying put in Michigan, but upon learning that James originated in Wallkill, New York, I felt the compulsion to put out feelers. I found, and joined, the OCGSNY Yahoo group; learning of their existence from the now defunct Scotchtown Highlander website where owner Sal had pointed me to the Orange County Gen Soc. I posted my first query in 2012. (I told you this journey took it's sweet time!) Where I immediately received a flurry of interesting responses.

Holy BSOs! All of a sudden I'm off and running! The hints and possibilities at actually finding Faulkner burgeoned! I got so excited I lost sight of my trajectory temporarily. Requesting books from Interlibrary loan, making mad copies (good to work at an office with a copier - shhhh, don't tell), chasing my tail ....... and smacking, yet again, into a brick wall.

Alack, New York is an adventure for another day.

Back in Michigan I set in to discover all of James and Martha's children. Keeping in mind what had been written: "There had been born to them eleven children, eight daughters and three sons, nine of whom are living and mostly residents of this State." I first turned to the census records. Starting with 1850 (first year all household members were listed by name) I found James age 67, with five women:

• Caroline, age 33
• Nancy, age 28 
• Antoinette, age 23
• Henrietta, age 18 
• Diantha, age 14 

all presumably daughters, and two men:

• Anson, age 25  
• David, age 81

Anson was most likely a son - but who's David? Another mystery.

Plugging all these names into Ancestry brought me myriad hints, and in short order I had good evidence of marriages and deaths for most of them. No additional record of a David Faulkner, however. That left me with 3 daughters and one son left to discover. (Factoring Nelson as a maybe and already knowing about Harrison)

The Seeking Michigan database is magnificent. I was able to find and download most of the children's death certificates - for free! All of them listed James and Martha as the parents - score!

With Deb's help (from the upper_midwest Yahoo group - see post here) I was able to locate two more daughters, Mary Jane and Frances Ann, and found additional supportive information on them to confirm they belonged to this family. One son and one daughter to go. (Fast forward to today, I am still unable to prove Nelson is a son of James and I'm no closer to finding that eighth daughter)

Interestingly, Antoinette Faulkner was listed as being born in 1825 - the same year Harrison was reported to have been born. Twins? I have not found a definitive birth date for Harrison yet - another piece of the puzzle still amiss.

The hunt for Nelson was proving futile. I found two land purchase records in 1837 adjacent to James. He did not show up in the 1840 census, unless he was still included in James' household. Then I found two land purchases for a Nelson Faulkner in Mineral Point, Wisconsin in the 1840's. Nothing else was turning up and I felt I was getting sidetracked. Nelson would have to be put aside.

Digging up more on the railroad scandal was also proving fruitless. There were records housed at the University of Michigan, but that would require a trip to their archives. I decided to leave Harrison behind as I focused on the third piece of the Michigan puzzle. James' Tennessee plantation.

I had not been successful in finding anything indicating a land purchase or sale in the state of Tennessee for James Faulkner. Only those Kentucky land grants,and those were highly doubtful.

Back to the census records, I located James in every U.S. census from 1810 to 1860. I found him in Wallkill, New York from 1810 to 1830 and I found him in Grass Lake, Michigan from 1840 to 1860. It was appearing that the plantation story was a myth. Employing a timeline I deduced that it would be nearly impossible for James to have actually lived in Tennessee for the length of time it would take to run a plantation. All of his children were born in Wallkill, as I had discovered on their death certificates, a time spanning nearly two decades.

However, to my deep dismay, I did discover that James was a slaveholder for a brief time. The 1820 census reports: "Slaves - Males - Under 14: 2; Slaves - Males - 26 thru 44: 1; Slaves - Females - 26 thru 44: 1" Ugh. This I did not want to see. There was also one "foreigner not naturalized" reported - I have yet to investigate this. By the 1830 census James' household consisted of 13 "Free White Persons" and one "Free Colored Persons - Males - 10 thru 23". So the story in Harrison's obituary had a glimmer of truth about it - but just a glimmer. By 1840 there were only 10 "Free White Persons" in James' household.

Feeling that my additional time spent in Michigan proved fruitful; bountifully so, it was time to push ever Eastward toward New York. Curious to see what the War of 1812 could tell me, and dig deeper into James' childhood; to his parents and that Presbyterian church. Voyaging further back in time, the Colony of New York in my sights.


footnote: My Faulkner male ancestors revealed in these writings will be treated to more in depth sketches at a later date.  

you can read all prior chapters here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Finding Faulkner: Part Four | Eastward Toward Michigan

It started, as good quests always do, with a family tale.

While I was still riding high on my new find, I became stricken with sadness; on two levels. One that my dad, the one who started this "operation" was no longer living. I couldn't call him up and say "hey! Guess what I just learned!" He would have been so excited - the information about the military would have fascinated him. The bit about Harrison being "a man of honest, upright character in all his dealings. he was well educated, as were all his brothers and a pleasing gentleman to converse with, having seen much, and observed and thought much about what he had seen" would have tickled him no end! (Ironically my parents had, several years before my dad passed, built a summer home/retirement home in Michigan - never once knowing the Faulkner family history in the state.) The other was the statement that James owned slaves. Even though it is a fact of this country's history, it is still very unsettling to be confronted with the reality that your family was a part of it.

I needed to learn more.

Failing to "consider the source" I lumbered ahead like a toddler after a toy and plugged this new information into my Ancestry tree. Looking back I wonder if my excitement hadn't blinded me more than necessary. If I had kept my head I would have avoided more than several rabbit holes and BSO's! But, I was racing to 'win' genealogy, so there's that.

Ancestry unfortunately gave me more than I could process at first. For some reason, unknown to me to this very day, I got a "hit" on over 15 land grants in Whitley Co Kentucky that returned for not only James, but also Harrison. Land grants for thousands of acres purchased on or around 1816. Consulting a map I saw that Whitley Co., KY is very close to the Tennessee border - could this be the plantation written about in Harrison's obituary? I sent away for copies of the grants, hoping to discover why Harrison was being listed along with James on the land. Next I did an internet search of Grass Lake, Michigan. I managed to find Genealogy Trails for Jackson County, MI and the Jackson County Michigan USGenWeb Project page. At the Genealogy Trails site I made a good find! It was here I discovered a brief bio on James, learning that he had erected the first hotel in town in 1834. I also learned that the Michigan Central Railroad came to town in 1842, perhaps corroborating Harrison's obituary.

The census records I consulted added an additional layer of confusion. In 1840 I found a James Faulkner in both Grass Lake, MI and Whitley Co, KY. There was a James Faulkner in Whitley Co, KY in 1830 and 1820. I couldn't wait to get those land grant copies!

In the interim I had discovered the upper_midwest Yahoo group and posed my query there. That group pointed me to two publications, History of Jackson Co, MI and DeLand's History of Jackson County, MI, (not the same book) which held some information on James and his wife Martha (not Jane! The cemetery inscription for Harrison was wrong!) It was in the DeLand's History that I discovered James had a daughter named Nancy...... and 8 other children!

Now before you think that I am some sort of genealogical wiz, or that this all happened in a matter of days, the truth of the matter is that this ferreting out of James took well over 3 years! I am recanting this from faded memory as another five or six have passed since that time. And, to be considerate, condensing most of the bits that don't make for good storytelling. The tedious hours filtering through records only to come up empty are best kept to myself. I am if nothing else tenacious, and I don't rest if I have not found the answer. There were periods that living with me was, perhaps, a bit dicey? But I soldiered on and eventually made some breakthroughs.

The land grants finally arrived. Yes, a James Faulkner did purchase a considerable amount of land, but there was no indication as to whether this was my James. And there was absolutely no mention of Harrison. A mystery, indeed.

It was through Deb, an upper_midwest group member, that I later discovered more of the children's names and the town in New York where Harrison and many of the other children had been born. Wallkill, Ulster Co., New York.  She also led me to James' obituary and introduced me to Find A Grave, where she had been documenting all of Grass Lake and had done a splendid job of recreating my ancestor's family.

James Faulkner's obituary:

Col. Faulkner was a citizen of Orange Co. N.Y., previous to his residence here. In the War of 1812 he was in command of a regiment stationed on Staten Island. Afterward he was an officer of the State Militia. He was elected to the Legislature for several terms, and supported the measures of Gov. Clinton, particularly for the construction of the Erie canal. This course gave offense to his constituents, but later years justified its wisdom and value. In 1833 Col. Faulkner removed to Michigan, at that time and for four years afterward a territory. He located at Grass Lake, then a wilderness. For a number of years he pursued a retired life, though not indifferent to the events of the time.

When the late national conflict came upon the country, though past 80 years of age, he comprehended the issues and committed himself upon the side of freedom. His life covers almost the whole period of our history as a nation - extending to within three years of the Declaration of Independence. Col. Faulkner was a man of more than common physical and mental vigor. He was self reliant, independent, cheerful and deliberate. His parents were members of the Presb. Church O. S. His ancestors were from Scotland. For a number of years past he was a constant reader of the Bible, and gave evidence that he had found comfort and peace. The present generation are deeply indebted to these men of the past. We inherit the valuable fruitage of their wisdom, toil and self sacrifice.

Obituary: Jackson Daily Citizen Tuesday May 4, 1869

The obituary made no mention of James owning a plantation. Or owning slaves. But I did have new leads in New York! His military and government involvement, and an allusion to his parentage! The first were mentioned again in the following:

From PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN... in a sketch on James' son in law Charles Cassedy:

Mr. Faulkner was a man of more than ordinary ability and learned surveying early in life, which profession he followed in his native county, laying out many of its lines and boundaries. He did gallant service as a Colonel in the War of 1812, and for several years was at the head of the New York State Militia. In politics he affiliated with the Democrat party and represented his native county in the New York Legislature one term. As a business man he was careful and conscientious in his dealings and one who enjoyed in a marked degree the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. After a long and well spent life, he departed hence at his home in Grass Lake Township, April 21, 1869, when eighty-nine years old. Col. Faulkner built the first frame house in Grass Lake Township and cut the first stick of timber on his land. The wife and mother had preceded her husband to the silent land many years, her death taking place about Christmas time, 1845, when she was probably fifty six years old. There had been born to them eleven children, eight daughters and three sons, nine of whom are living and mostly residents of this State.

Eleven children?!? DeLand's claimed there were ten. I still had not found all of them. Now, I needed to find one more. Thinking back, Harrison's obituary had said 'brothers'. So far I had found only one.

In another history of Michigan book there was this sentence: "Faulkner, James Col entered for land in Grass Lake Twp Jackson Co Michigan on 15 Jan 1836 in the same section as Nelson Faulkner" (From Pioneer Families of SE Michigan-Jackson Co by Helen Lewis) Nelson Faulkner? Who is Nelson? My first thought was brother, but then I started wondering if Nelson was that third son I was looking for.

As much as I wanted to head to New York, I knew my time in Michigan was not satisfactorily concluded. There was still much to be learned. Children's names, Harrison's involvement with the railroad, who Nelson was, and that darned plantation incident. I still needed to get to the bottom of that!

to be continued .......