Biography of John Tillman Faulk, a longtime resident of Ouachita Parish. ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** We are grateful to Mr. Charles Schweizer for his generosity in sharing his Faulk research with us. Additional Faulk genealogies, developed by Mr. Schweizer can be found at listed under "Faulk and History". We are pleased to be able to post the following data on John Tillman Faulk, a longtime resident of Ouachita Parish. AN OVERVEW OF JOHN TILLMAN FAULK IN MY OPINION John Tillman Faulk was born 26 December 1784 in then Bladen now Columbus County NC near present town of Fair Bluffs. Other records indicate he was born in 1782 and 1785 but this is not unusual, people didn't remember. He was probably born at his materal grandparents home where he could receive medical care. We next find him charged with murder in Montgomery Co GA where he was acquitted in October 1805. Considering the evidence his acquittal is a miracle. In the trial John Tillman Faulk was listed as a Schoolmaster so he must have received a good education as he grew to manhood.The following year, 1806, his father Jonathan Faulk living in nearby Wilkinson County GA applied for a passport to travel through the Creek Indian Nation . The application states the witnesses knew Jonathan Faulk going on two years which means he must have arrved about 1804. In 1807 John Tillman married Elizabeth Martin, a fourteen year old girl, in Natchez. He was twenty three years old but the marriage was a success. About 1810 Jonathan Faulk and John Tillman Faulk settled on a plantation on the west bank of the Black River about a mile south of present Jonesville LA. John Tillman Faulk engaged in making salt from the Sabine River. On one of his trips to market, a robber gang on the Black River extracted a toll on his load of salt. John Tillman Faulk enlisted in the Louisiana Militia for the War of 1812 and was one of twelve men wounded in the Battle of New Orleans. For this he drew a pension the rest of his life and it probably helped him financially. In 1816 he moved up the Black and Ouachita River to buy land south of present Monroe LA. He owned quite a bit of land before he died in 1871. He is buried in the Faulk family cemetery at Logtown also known as Fondale where he lived. He had four wives and fourteen children. His last wife was Kesiah Faulk daughter of "Black" James Faulk and Elender Penelope Shepherd "Nellie", a widow of Francis S Howard, and his fourth cousin. He and his descendants have always been active members of the Methodist Church. A remarkable man! VETERAN OF THE WAR OF 1812 The War of 1812 and Louisiana threatened by a British Invasion inlate 1814, John T. Faulk became part of DeClouet's Regiment, Louisiana Militia in Catahoula Parish as a private in Captain R.L. Sackett's Co., 15th Reginemt. The company made it to the Louisiana capital in time to participate in the famed battle of New Orleans. Faulk was wounded by a gun shot through the left thigh and was discharged 3 Feb 1815. By the Louisiana Legislative act of 7 Jan.1819, he received a pension of $8.00 per month. Later with the passage of several Federal Statutes awarding pension and bounty lands for veterans of US military service, he applied for his rights. With his application papers, he included an affidavit from fellow soldier John Carroll who stated that their unit was marched below New Orleans near English Turn on the Mississippi River in October and remained there until 24 Dec. 1814. A large portion of the British army landed opposite them on the east side. A party of British took up quarters in a big frame house on the night of 6 Jan. 1815. Capt. Sackett called for 25 men to cross the river and give a fight to the enemy in the house. John T. Faulk and John Carroll were two of the 25 volunteers. Faulk was sent to spy out the position. When he reported, he was sent a second time with orders to shoot a supposed sentinel. As he tried to comply with the order, be was seen by his enemy and got himself shot. He was so near the enemy fire his clothes caught fire from ensuring shots exchanged between friend and foe. One source stated that John Carroll carried Faulk to safety. However, another source noted that Faulk was wounded during the nightbattle of 28 Dec. 1814 and was found by John Kitterlin who "took himup in his arms" (Faulk being a small man) and removed him within the lines in safely. Mr. Faulk never knew his preserver until 1842, wherein Mr. Ketterlin stopped at his house on his way up (from Catahoula Parish) to the land office at Monroe to secure his land. While there, upon talking over past events and recurring to the battle of New Orleans, the discovery was made of their former opportune meeting, when their delight was mutual, and both brave men clasped hands in life-long friendship. It was later told that Faulk's wound in the left thigh from a musketball was so large that a surgeon drew a silk handkerchief through it to clean out the powder. From that injury, he was crippled for the remainder of his life. He as all others of his unit was honorably discharged on orders of General Andrew Jackson at their encampment below New Orleans. He is listed in Ancestory.com's Military Records: War of 1812 Muster Rolls as a Private in Declouet's Regiment, Louisiana Militia. There is another listing in the War of 1812 Muster Rolls for a Private George Faulk from Baker's Regiment of Louisiana Militia. George Faulk was a son of Luke Faulk, a line that moved from Pensacola Florida to Southwest Louisiana and whose relationship to the Monroe Faulks is unkown. NATIONAL ARCHIVES RECORD John Tillman Faulk's War of 1812 Pension Record is in the National Archives. DeClouts Regt., La Militia, Sarkotts Co., BLW 22839Old War Inf Regt 14098--80-55 War of 1812. LETTER OF JOHN TILLMAN FAULK TO WIFE KESIAH FAULK Kesiah Faulk complained about the cllimate at Logtown so she took her children and went to visit her sister, Lucretia Faulk wife of William Kendrick Faulk , in Athens Texas. She never returned to Logtown and is buried in the same cemetery as Lucretia in Athens Texas. It as reported that this letter is mounted on parchment and its page 2 cannot be xeroxed and has to be read through the back with a strong light. La. Ouachita 18th of November 1866 Why this long silence between you and me wife and children? I feel this day quite well in health and I now see fit to tell you from whence our family sprang and of the stock of people from which we came. We came from Europe according to the words of our forefathers. In 1671, there was a province on the river Rine, it lies between Germany and France; there was a large number of that province, that protested against the Roman Catholic order of religion who were called by way of reproach Hughenot Protestants. The Pope of Rome ordered them all to be exterminated and on St. Bartholomews night, twelve thousand of the Protestant Hughenots were treacherously massacred and many more hunted up and tortured to death. All that refused to renounce the Protestant faith and return to the Romish mode of worship, were put to death. The persecution became so terrible against the Protestant Hughenots, that quite or nearly all were destroyed from the Rhine province. A number of hard battles were fought. Finally the Hughenots found their case hopeless and many of them fled to America to find a land of peace and quiet. The ship that brought them landed at Wilmington on the coast of North Carolina, which was then only a few houses, now a city of N.C. Well with that Ship's company, there three brothers, names thus- James Faulk, Right Faulk, and Melzer Faulk.These three brothers all raised families and their familes, no doubt raised families. Now from these three brothers sprang a numerous number and have given the name to not a few. I have seen many of the names and all that I have seen, if he had been careful to inform himself all can trace their origin back to the Hughenot brothers. And now my boys you need not be ashamed of your origin. I am satisfied that all the Faulks now in America, sprang from one or the other of these three brothers. The record says that all of the Faulks who were in the Rhine province were put to death, but these three brothers: all for the sake of Protestant Christian faith. Mind you, these protestants were of the Lutheran faith. Luther was the first successful reformer in his time: and after the dark ages of the world. Now in conclusion, allow me to admonish and beg of you, to not fail to make sure work for the salvation of your souls. Pray earnestly to God to enlighten your understanding, read often the Holy Bible and testament. They will point you out the way to heaven. Read them to your mother, brother and sister, the same I say to all of you. Let us try to meet in heaven, Shall we know each in that happy place? Yes, surely we shall be made known to each other it would give me much delite to see you but if you will not come to see me we shall not meet in this world for I am too feebel to undertake the journey to you. Tell me, do you keep any or all of the black people with you and if so on what terms do they stay with you? Do you give them a share of the crop or do you pay monthly wages to them? I say keep them if you can fairly. Tell me does your grandmother yet live and how is her health? Tell me of your Aunt Jane and hers, how they are doing? Tell of your Uncle Kendrick of him and his. Have you yet a school near you? /s/ J T Faulk To Keziah and Alfred and Nancy Jonathan I will fill this blank the second of Nov 1866. The twenty sixth of this month is my birthday. I do wish you could be with me on the twenty sixth of this month to eat a birthday dinner with me. Can it be soe? Rite to me and let me know how you arfe faring and what you are doing and what your prospects are? Tell me what you intend to do. Tell me do you keep the mill and gin in working order or has it gone to decay? I hope not, I paid much money to William Faulk for it and the land. Take good care of the land and cause it to pay you well for working of it. CBS Comment: Dispite what John Tillman Faulk wrote no one has been able to substantiate the story of the three Faulk brothers from the Rhineland, the area around Wilmington NC was a wilderness inhabited by indians and there is no Huguenot record of these three brothers. The Faulks in Athens Texas laughed at James Jonathan Faulk's book saying "Cousin Jimmie" wanted very badly to be a member of the Huguenot Society but was unable to do so. CBS Comment: The references liusted under Jonathan Faulk are also applicable to John Tillman Faulk. Refedrences: Carol Ann Lane, 880 San Pedro Ave, Carol Gables FL 33156 wrote 24 Sep 1990, Your letter said that you had been to the old Faulk farm. Do you mean Belmont in Ouchita Parish? If you do, I have an old survey done by a DAR chapter in the area (the Logtown cemetery) of that cemetery. Many of those graves have been vandalized. The road is still in the same place, but many of the markers are no longer there, so the survey made by the DAR is quite valuable in my opinion. Buried there is John T Faulk. His tombstone reads "Born in Bladen County, North Carolina December 26, 1784 - November 5 1871 died in Ouchita Parish, Louisiana". Very truly yours, /s/ Carol Ann Lane EXTRACT OF LETTER OFJOHN TILLMAN FAULK TO JAMES J FAULK Logtown Post Office, Ouachita LA Sept 1 1867 Mind this place is my residence and the same place that I have lived on for the last 33 years and the same place you and Alfred were born on. I suppose (Al)fred has to work now in the field, well his father worked in the field before he was born, yea and I lived better before I ever owned slaves. They have been a curse to the South. J T Faulk OUCHITA PARISH LAND RECORDS On Oct 23 and 30 OF 1967 Fannie Faulk Munholland and I, Nell Hayes Faulk, researched the records in the Clerk of Court's office in Ouchita Parish. We found records that John T and Aquilla Faulk (brothers) bought 400 arpents (an arpent was a little less than an acre) of land lying on the east side of the Ouchita river on August 23, 1815 for the sum of $1,200 from Felicity, widow Lamy, now the wife of John R Dewitt. (Conveyance Book D page 151). I counted 87 transactions made by John T Faulk. JOHN TILLMAN FAULK HONORED A talk given 9 April 1994 at gravemarking ceremony at Faulk Cenetery, Logtown, Ouchita Parish, Louisiana, just south of Monroe, on the Ouchita River by Mrs Gene Flourney Stack. The ceremony honoring John Tillman Faulk, a War of 1812 veteran at the Battle of New Orleans, was sponsored by the Govenor William C C Claiborne Chapter, US Daughters of 1812. A bronze marker placed by John T Faulk's grave was unveiled and dedicated. Over 55 descendants and friends were present. Excerpts from Mrs Stack's talk. My grandfather left it (letter of John T Faulk to son James Jonathan Faulk) in his papers and my Mother, Mary Faulk Flourney, inherited it and now it has come down to me, and I treasure it highly. I keep it in the old Faulk secretary along with the old Faulk books which have always been kept in this secretary. Of course many of them bear other names-- such as Rush, Williams, Turnley, Morris, those who have married into our branch of the Faulk family. Some of the books have old flowers pressed into them, old ribbons, newspaper clippings. There has been no room in the secretary for any other books for over 80 years so when I open the glassdoors of the secretary I go into books that the Faulks have read for over 150 years. These would not be all of the Faulk books just the ones that our branch of the family has held onto and added to down through the generations. A fourth source of information came from DeBow's Review, Vol 12 of 1852. This gives an account of John T Faulk as an early settler in Catahoula Parish and tells of his service in the War of 1812. The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV occurred in 1685. John T Faulk was one of twelve men wounded in the Battle of New Orleans and the injury him crippled for life. JOHN TILLMAN FAULK ACCUSED OF MURDER 1805 GEORGIA ) Wilson Horn, Buny Duly Sworn Montgomery County ) saith on his oath that on the first of instant that he was present at the house of Maty Horn and saw John Tillman Faulk take a rifle gun and did shoot the said Mary Horn and kiled and also that the sd Faulk said as the gun was fired "Now I have done what I wanted to do". Sworn this second day of September 1805. his /s/ JOSIAH WARREN /s/ WILSON X HORN mark GEORGIA ) This day before came Willson Horn Montgomery County) and being duky Sworn Saith on his oath that he was personally present at the house of Mary Horn on the first day of instant and saw John T Faulk take a gun out of her the said Mary Horn's house and did shoot and kill the said Mary Horn without any just Cause and Contrary to the Law and Peaceof this State. Sworn to this first day of September 1805. his /s/ JOSIAH WARREN /s/ WILLSON X HORN mark GEORGIA ) Whereas an inquest was called Montgomery County ) to view the Boddy of Mary Horn who is ---- found dead abd shot through the head. The Same- being duly sworn saith on there oath that after viewing the wound and gaining all Informaion they say that are agrred and believe that John T Faulk did willingly shoot and kill the Said Mary Horn. Sworn to this first day of September 1805. /s/ JOSIAH WARREN J.P. /s/ Noah Stringer Stephen Yunnington Jermiah Cory Alan Faircloth Benjamin Faircloth Richard Faircloth Robert Faircloth To any lawfull officer You are hereby Charged and Required in the name of the Stste without Delay tp take the body of said John T Faulk into your Caar and him Safely bring before me or some other Justice of the Peace for Said County then and there to be Delt with as the Law direct. Given under my hand this first day of September 1805 /s/ JOSIAH WARREN J P No/ / Montgomery Superior Court October Term 1805 The State vs John Tilman Faulk The prisoner arraigned and pleaded not guilty Octber 10, 1805 We all of the Jury do find the prisoner Not Guilty /s/ Lenior Webb, forman R W Walker State of Georgia ) The Grand Jurors on behalf Montgomery County) of the State of Georgia and for the body of the County of Montgomery aforesaid that is to Say, John Sheffield, J Collins, Wm Womack, J Rountree, H Warren, E Ward, F Duglis, J Knowland, Wm Kinchin, J McNorton, H Gilley, F Jackson, A Barrow, H Anderson, C Busch, J Bramfield, J Briggs, Wm Nelson, E Solomons, J Berryhill Upon their oath present that John Tilman Faulk late of the County of Montgomery aforesaid, Schoolmaster, that having the fear of God before his eyes but being moved and seduced by the institgation of the Devil on the first day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and five with force and arms at the Plantation of one Mary Horn in the County of Montgomery aforesaid in and upon one Mary Horn in the Peace of God and of the said State then and there being felonously wilfully and of his malice aforethought did make an assault and that the said John Tilman Faulk a certain Rifle Gun of the value of ten dollars then and there loaded charged with gunpoiwder and one leaden bullet which rifle gun he the said John Tilman Faulk in both his hands then and there held to against and upon the said Mary Horn then and there feloniously wiflully and of his malice aforethought did shoot and discharge and that the said John Tilman Faulk with the lead and bullet aforesaid out of the rifle gun aforesaid by the force of the gun powder shot and sent forth as aforesaid the aforesaid Mary Horn in and upon the left side of the face of the said Mary Horn a little below the left eye of Her the said Mary Horn with the leaden bullet aforsesaid out of the Rifle Gun aforsaid by the said John Tilman Faulk so as aforesaid shot, discharged and sent forth feloniously, wiffully and as of his malice aforethought did strike penetate and wound giving to the said Mary Horn then and there with the leaden bullet aforesaid so as aforesaid shot, discharged and sent forth as aforesaid out of the Rifle Gun aforsaid by the said JohnTilman Faulk in and upon the left side of the face of her the said Mary Horn a little below the left eye of her the said Mary Horn one mortal wound of the depth of four inches and and of the breadth of one inch of which said mortal wound the aforesaid Mary Horn then and there instantly died and so the Jirors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid do say that the said John Tilman Faulk the said Mary Horn in manner and form aforesaid feloniously wilfully and of his malice aforethought did kill and murder against the the peace and dignity pf the said State the safety and welfare of the inhabitants thereof. /s/ ROBT WALKER illegable October Term 1805 Witnesses included: Willson Horn, Josiah Warner, Jeremiah Conez, Jeptha Pennington, Willis Cason, Elias Grantham, Gordon Horn, James Miller and Nancy Grantham. October 10th 1805 James Millars attendance as an Evidence on the Part of the State against John T Faulk for murder----4 days at 75 cents per day ---$5.00 /s/ Wm Yarbrough J P /s/James Miller # # #