David Henry Faulkner, Sr.

"Where It All Begins"

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It has been said that this family is of Irish and Black Dutch descent. I have a few facts that confirms this family belief. However, nothing to contradict it. Therefore, it must be so.

The Faulkner name has been interperated and spelled several different ways: Fortner, Folkner and Falkner. David Henry Faulkner, Sr.’s divorce decree and marriage license states the name as Fortner. However, Fortner does not appear on the Muster Roll. The names David H. Folkner, Jr. and David H. Folkner or Falkner, Sr. appear on the roll. I have used the spelling in this document that was used in the document from which the information was taken.

David "Henry" Faulkner, Sr.’s birth date is questionable. There were several instances where his age did not coincide with previous dates from other documents. The best that I can assume is that he was born about 1815, in Tennessee. He was most frequently referred to as D. H. or Henry. In this document, I will refer to him as Henry, unless quoting from another document.

The son, "David" Henry Faulkner, Jr., was born January 6, 1842. The controversy begins with the second wife, Louisa Jane Foy Fortner. She stated that David's name should have been Fitzgerald, because he was the son of the first wife, Anna Jane (Dickery, Vickery, Victory) Fitzgerald Fortner. However, David claimed her as his mother and stated that he was the only son of David Henry Fortner, Sr. He also stated that he had lived all his life on the farm with his father until signing up for the army. A statement made by the Captain of their regiment, James Ledgewood, said that he knew David Fortner and Isaac Fortner also called Isaac Fitzgerald, one a son and one a stepson. I think that he confused Isaac with Enoch (step-son) who was also in their regiment. Isaac was known to be a cousin and brother-in-law to Henry.

I believe David is the son of Henry and Anna Jane, especially since he was named after him. However, they would not have been married at the time of his birth, but most likely living together

Anna Jane (Victory) was married to John Fitzgerald, May 23, 1839. According to information from a descendant of John Fitzgerald, Anna Jane had one son, Enoch, and possibly another by John Fitzgerald. In a codicil to John Fitzgerald’s will, dated Sept. 9, 1861, it stated, "I give and bequeath to my son Enoch which is by my second wife Jane, One Dollar as his part of my estate..." John married the third time in 1844. Enoch J. enlisted under the name Folkner or Falkner with Henry and David.

According to Henry’s bill for divorce in 1867, he married Anna Jane Victory (Vickery or Dickery) about Oct. 20,1861 in Union County, Tennessee. They lived together until about Mar. 15, 1962. Henry charged that Anna Jane committed several acts of adultery in Knoxville and Greene County with Hiram Woods and others unknown to him. Anna Jane ran off with Hiram Woods, a rebel soldier, during the second year (1862) of the Civil War, while Henry was serving in the Union Army. Hiram was a friend of Henry’s more than two years.

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"He (Henry) was always a healthy man until he went into the army. He never drank. He worked in a cooper shop and made wood work for wagons. (A cooper makes or repairs vessels made of staves and hoops, such as casks, barrels, tubs, etc.) He was regular at his work. He worked every day and had no sickness," according to David.

Henry (about age 47), David (age 20), Enoch J. Fitzgerald Falkner (about age 22), Henry’s step son, enlisted in Company F 3rd Tennessee Infantry Volunteers as Privates at the same time on February 14, 1862 at Flat Lick, KY. Isaac Fitzgerald Fortner (Falkner,Folkner), Henry’s cousin and brother in law, served in Company G 2nd Tennessee Cavalry as a blacksmith.

For six months after they left home (till Aug. 1862), they laid over at Flat Lick without blankets or tents. An acquaintance, J. C. Chiles* recalled, they had only a plank to sleep on. Henry told Louisa, "We were greatly exposed to the elements, especially the time I stood picket in knee deep water. This exposure plus carrying my knapsack on hard marches produced my disease of bronchitis." Henry and David were on picket, "ring guard" and marches together.

August 1862, at Cumberland Gap, KY, J.C. Chiles* recalled that Henry was sick.

Late December or January 1863, about the time of the Battle of Murfreesboro (Dec. 31, 1862-Jan. 2, 1863), while on the march from Nashville to Murfreesboro, David said, "He (Henry) complained of a cough and said that his legs and breast hurt him. He looked bad; pale, poor and lean. He had always been a fleshy man. His hair had begun to turn whiter. He was excused from duty for about two weeks before he was discharged, a good while after the battle."

January or February 1863, at Murfreesboro, W. A. Rodgers, M. D., examined and treated Henry for bronchitis. He had him mustered out of service on this account. They were from the same county and section. The doctor later made two affidavits for Henry’s pension claim. After his death, the doctor was guaranteed payment by Col. J. C. Chiles* for another affidavit for Louisa Fortner.

March 1, 1863, Henry’s Certificate of Disability for Discharge describes him as being 55 years of age (DOB 1808?), five feet-six inches tall, fair complexion, black eyes and dark hair and listed his occupation as mechanic. The discharging officer wrote, "He was a good soldier until in August 1862 at which time he had at Cumberland Gap a severe spell of sickness and has not been able for duty since."

David said, "After his (Henry’s) discharge, he went back to Kentucky and had a spell of sickness; got so bad he could not travel. He got to Knoxville and was there during the siege (Nov. 1863-Dec. 4, 1863) with the soldiers." David recalled, "I saw him the second day after the rebels left Knoxville (Dec. 6, 1863). I got there with my regiment from Sale Creek. We were marching there to the relief of Burnside’s army. He came to the regiment at Love's Creek above Knoxville to see me. And I saw him every week or so until we went to Georgia in 1864."

David said, "We parted at Strawberry Plains, he to go home (the upper edge of Knox County) and I to go on (the) Georgia (Atlanta) Campaign with (my) regiment. Then I saw him no more till after I was mustered out."

Hiram Williams said, "I met ... D. H. Fortner in the latter part of 1863 after he was discharged and came to my house remaining a month or so and up to the time he married was here (Bull Run) every month to see his daughter in law." (David married Louisa Jane Curlee in 1859 in Lafayette, Pulaski Co., TN). He described him as a very narrow chested man. Hiram Williams recalled, "During 1864 we made two trips to Kentucky together which both took 10 or 15 days on each trip and he stood the trip well. We rode horse back all the trip. (What troubled him the most while living near me was) family troubles principally."

According to M. T. Burkhart, "Henry’s occupation was farmer after he came out of the service. His earnings from his labor would not amount to seventy-five dollars per year from that time until he died. He was not employed by anyone, but made what little he could on rented land." He collected $6.00 a month from his pension benefits.

David said, "I mustered out in March 1865. I went home to Heiskell's Station in three days. I went to visit him (Henry). He was living with one of his cousins near House Mountain, 18 miles from Heiskell's Station."

October 1865, Henry met Louisa Jane Foy. They had only known each other a month or two before they got married on Dec. 12, 1865. I believe she lived on Joseph Bishops farm, in Bull Run, at the time. Joseph Bishop said, "(I) knew the said David H. Fortner a short while before the War of the Rebellion up to (the) date of his death. The fact is I made the match or had a hand in making it the said Louisa J. Fortner."

According to David, "She was a lewd woman." Louisa Jane Foy had four illegitimate children. Two were living, about ages 10 & 14, when she married Henry. She said, "(He knew about the children) but never reproached me about it anyway. I have never been guilty of any lewdness since I married." Several witnesses testified that she was of good character after her marriage. David said that the general report was that her son, J. B. or Jim Foy (DOB Abt 1858) was the son of *Lt. Col. J. C. Chiles (witness in the pension case and acquaintance of Henry). The other, a daughter, Obedience Jane (DOB Abt 1854), was the child of a merchant in Knoxville by the name of Nelson.

When it was reported that the first wife, Anna Jane Vickery, was still alive, Louisa told Henry that she would not live with him unless he got a divorce. They separated and he filed for divorce. She lived on Skagg's farm in Skaggston during this time.

George Williams recalled, "I saw him (Henry) several times a year while he was living in Bull Run. Then he moved up the upper end of Knox Co., 10 miles distant and saw him a few times until he died. He was divorced from his wife a year and _____ _____ _____ his kinfolk’s. Then he remarried (Louisa)."

Henry and Anna Jane's divorce was granted on Jan. 18, 1867. He (age 51) and Louisa (age 38) were married for the second time on Jan. 31, 1867 in Knox County.

Henry and Louisa Jane lived in Union County, TN. At the time of his death in 1871, they lived on Racoon Valley Road at the farm of M.T Burkhart about seven miles from Maynardville.

James Ledgewood said, "I never labored with or employed him, but he lived in my neighborhood (Raccoon Valley) close by me on a small piece of rented land. He nor his wife Louisa owned any land."

George W. Majors testified, "(About 1869), ... they first began to reside on my land and between ¼ and ½ of a mile distant. When he first came here, he put in 5 acres of corn...he was laid up for two weeks. ...(He) made two crops on my place in a little over two years. Not over half a good hand. I often employed him to do for me a days work and he never put in to exceed .40 cents with when (I) usually paid .50 cents. He frequently came and stayed all night with me and attend church one or two times a month while on my place. He would spit up a good deal of matter especially when confined with his bad spells and his wife would keep a small piece of old carpet on the floor for him to spit on. I helped nurse him for two weeks prior to his death."

David Henry Faulkner, Sr. died July 10, 1871 while residing on M. T. Burkhart's Farm, Raccoon Valley, Union County, Tennessee.

David recalled, "I was present the night he died. He had been bed-fact for near two week. I was there off and on all the two weeks attending him. The last two days I never left him except a couple of hours to go to my own house and back. It was said to be bronchitis that he died of. He was 56 years old (DOB 1815)."

In 1884, Louisa Jane Fortner filed for a Widow's Pension. She testified that her two illegitimate children were living in Denton Co., Texas. Her daughter, Obedience Jane Athan, was living at Little Elm and a widow. Her son, J. B. (Jim) Foy's P.O. address was Story, Texas. She said that David had moved over into Kentucky 8 or 9 years ago and had only seen him once since. In 1885, she stated that Isaac Falkner was dead.

David was also a witness in 1885. Speaking of Louisa Fortner, he described her, "Now near sixty. She looks right smart and gray. She is crippled from a white _____, but is a smart active woman yet."

In 1885, the deposer asked David, "Are you sure you never did (make an affidavit in the case or for your father when he applied for a pension)?" "I am. I was never asked to make one," he replied. He was asked, "The affidavit in the case signed David H. Fortner or David Falkner is not yours?" "No. It must be my uncle or it is forged," he answered.

Another witness in 1885, Lt. Col. Chiles*, stated that he had known and been personally aquainted with Louisa for forty years. He was Lt. Col. of Company F 3rd Tenn from Sept. 1862-Dec. 1862 and knew Henry as a casual acquaintance only. He said, "When ... Louisa J. Fortner lived in Union County, Tenn, (after her husband's death), she occasionally visited at my house and she thereafter returned to Knox County aforesaid about the fall of 1873 and has since lived in Knox County. ...(She) is an old acquaintance of mine ... ."

In 1885, George Williams, witness, said that David lived at Jenks, Roan Co. Tenn and that Isaac Fortner alias Fitzgerald was dead.

Louisa Fortner collected a Widow's Pension of $8.00 per month until her death about 1898.

Descendants are in New York, according to Lillian Morton.

David Henry Faulkner, Jr.

"And Life Goes On"

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"During the war, the bullets were so thick that I could stick my hat out and get a hat full," David was often heard saying. David's army records describe him as being five feet eleven inches tall with black hair, gray eyes and light skin, which was marked with small pox.

For six months after they left home (till Aug. 1862), they laid over at Flat Lick.

August 1862, they were at Cumberland Gap, KY, with their regiment. From there, they marched to Nashville.

Late December or January 1863, about the time of the Battle of Murfreesboro (Dec. 31, 1862-Jan. 2, 1863), they marched from Nashville to Murfreesboro, TN. David continued on with his regiment to the Georgia (Atlanta) Campaign in 1864. David said, "While in Atlanta, GA in the fall of 1864 I developed rheumatism and varicose veins in both legs."

David was discharged February 23, 1865. He mustered out in March 1865.

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David was born, Jan. 6, 1842, and raised in Clinton, Anderson Co., TN. His mother, Anna Jane Vickery, ran off with a rebel soldier during the second year of the Civil War (1862). David last heard from his mother two years after the war (1867). His father divorced Anna Jane Jan. 18, 1867.

David (age 17) and Louisa Jane Curlee (age 14) were married in 1859. They lived on the farm with his father until David and Henry enlisted in the army. During the war she lived at the home of Hiriam Williams in Bull Run. They lived in several different counties in Tennessee:

1842 in Putnam Co.,at Carthage, David’s birth place
1862 in Anderson Co., at Clinton
1870 in Roane Co.,
1871 in Union Co.,
1876 in Anderson Co.,
1879 in Knox Co.,
1880 in Anderson Co.,
1885 in Anderson Co., at Poplar Creek and Oliver’s
July 1871 in Union Co., near Raccoon Valley
January 1898 in Union Co., at Bull Run in Knox Co.

David and Louisa had eight children while living in Tennessee:

David Henry Faulkner, Jr. b: Jan 6, 1842 Carthage, Putman Co, Tn / Mississippi Rr d: Sep 9, 1927 Bennington, Bryan Co, Ok
+Louisa Jane Curlee b: Jun 1, 1845 Franklin, Ky or Hartsville, Tn d: Apr 5, 1936 Bennington, Bryan Co, Ok m: Dec 24, 1859 Hartsville or Lafayette, Macon Co., Tn
1 William Thomas Faulkner b: Dec 8, 1865 Clinton, Anderson Co, Tn d: Jul 20, 1893 Cold Creek Cove, Sevier Co, Tn: +Elizabeth Jane Cline b: Jan 21, 1872 Roane Co., TN d: Jul 30, 1964 Antlers, Pushmataha Co, Ok m: Abt 1886 TN
2 Henry Columbus Faulkner b: Feb 2, 1868 TN d: Oct 1944 Spanaway, Pierce, WA: +Betty Elizabeth Gaylor b: Mar 7, 1881 Newcomb, Tn d: Sep 11, 1962 Lakewood, Pierce, WA m: Dec 22, 1896 Jellico, Tn
3 John Harvey Faulkner b: Sep 25, 1870 TN d: Bef 1880 TN
4 James Henderson Faulkner b: Nov 14, 1873 Roane Co, Tn d: Dec 16, 1938 Toppenish, Toppenish, Wa: +Lillian Angela Ketchum b: Sep 18, 1876 Clinton, Anderson, Tn d: Dec 23, 1963 Puyallup, Pierce Co, Wa m: Jan 26, 1890 Clinton, Anderson, Tn
5 George Washington Faulkner b: May 29, 1876 Anderson Co, Tn d: Sep 29, 1965 OKC, Ok Co, Ok: +Rosa Catherine Graham b: Jan 25, 1879 Knox Co, Tn d: Nov 16, 1938 Bennington, Bryan Co, Ok m: Oct 8, 1899 Anderson Co, Tn; +Emma C. Everton d: Unknown OKC, Ok Co, Ok m: Dec 1947
6 Jefferson Wilson Faulkner b: Oct 7, 1879 Knox Co, Tn d: Apr 4, 1955 Tulsa, Ok: +Nora Alice Lucas b: Jun 23, 1882 Tn d: Mar 23, 1936 Henryetta, Ok m: 1905
7 Mary Ann Faulkner b: Jul 1, 1881 Tn d: Abt 1905 Tn: +David Hearill
8 Charles Auston Faulkner b: Jan 30, 1885 Tn d: Feb 19, 1980 Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co, IN: +Ethel Laney Lucas b: Oct 14, 1884 d: Mar 28, 1980 Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co, IN m: Mar 13, 1904 Crossroad or Powell Station, TN

They moved with their son, George, and his family to Oklahoma in 1909 by train. He built a two story home one and one half miles southeast of Bennington, Ok. He worked his own farm with his son, Charles, for awhile. After his farm was sold, he moved to a house in town with George. David's civil war pension was $72.00 per month. He gave $50.00 to George for rent, $2.00 to Gertie for care and kept $20.00 for their spending.

David had chronic asthma and was almost blind before his death of bronchial pneumonia. David died Sept. 9, 1927 at the age of 85. He is buried in Bennington Cemetery with a Union marker under the spelling Falkner, as it appeared on his Army records. His wife, Louisa Jane Curlee, is buried beside him.

Henry and Anna Jane's Divorce Decree

Tennessee Law, The Early Years, Divorce Laws

History of Company F 3rd Tennessee Volunteer Infantry

History of Company G 2nd Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry