Here is the ancestry of William C. Faulkner, author.

1. William Faulkner, 1575-before 1638, England. He married Elizabeth Filmer 1592-1665.

2. John Faulkner, Sr. 1628 Wales - 1708 Maryland. He married Elizabeth Filmer, born 1631.

3. Thomas Faulkner 1655 England -1709 Maryland. He married Margery Ann, last name possibly Stewart, 1664-1709.

4. John Pleasant Faulkner 1678 - 1727 Maryland. He married Sarah Elizabeth Ford, or maybe Forde, 1678-1731.

5. William Joseph Faulkner, Sr. 1714 Maryland - 1807 North Carolina. He married Priscilla Lewis, born 1736.

6. William Joseph Faulkner, Jr., or Forkner, 1752 - 1807 North Carolina. He married Susannah Wells 1753 - 1850.

7. William Joseph Faulkner, III 1796 - 1842 Tennessee. He married Caroline Word, born 1779.

8. Wiliam Clark Faulkner, or Falkner 1825 - 1889 Tennessee. He married Holland Pearce 1828 - 1849.

9. John Wesley Faulkner, or Falkner 1848 - 1922 Mississippi. He married Sallie Murray 1850 - 1906.

10. Murray Cuthbert Faulkner, or Falkner 1870 - 1932 Mississippi. He married Maud Butler 1871 - 1960.

11. William Cuthbert Faulkner, or Falkner 1897 - 1962 Mississippi.

My first cousin, who worked at Ole Miss for years, was a friend of J.T.W. Faulkner, III, brother of William C. Faulkner. They discussed the legend that says the two families are related, but finally decided that there is no relation between the two families.

My dad said that his parents took him many times when he was a youngster to visit with the Falkners of Ripley, MS. He believes that the two families are related. I see many similarities between the two families so I believe it is worth looking into. I have looked at his direct line and I can find no connection there but now I need to look at other branches of his family.

I think the most likely possibility of a relationship between the two families is Nathan Faulkner 1745-1827, son of Francis Faulkner 1704-1783, grandson of John Faulkner, Jr. 1653-1726, great-grandson of John Faulkner, Sr. 1628-1708. Nathan has a son, Archibald, born 1770 in Edgefield, SC. He is the first Faulkner that I have seen in South Carolina. Our Nathan left South Carolina in the 1830's. His children can be found on the census with him, possibly with the exception of Thomas who may have stayed in South Carolina. I don't see anyone old enough to be his parents traveling with him so if the older Nathan is his father then he would have died before Our Nathan began to move west.

So, looks like my next project is to look closely at Francis 1704-1783 and his son Nathan 1745-1827.