Nancy Fortner
http://www.glorecords.blm.gov shows a land record #37972 dated 10 Jun 1856, Washington County, Alabama with the names William Banks, Nancy Fortner and Nathan Fortner. This record shows that Nancy is the widow of Nathan Fortner. This land was given to the widows and minor children of War of 1812 soldiers.
I have found Nathan Fortner in a West Tennessee Militia unit. In 1812, our Nathan (born 1770 SC) would have been 42 years old so he was definitely not a minor. Nathan's father could have been named Nathan also. I have found Nathan in 1790 in the North Carolina census. But, why would a man from North Carolina sign up for a militia unit made up of soldiers from counties in Tennessee? Western North Carolina was given to the U.S.A. in 1789 and Congress accepted in 1790. This created the Southwest Territory (south of the Ohio River). Tennessee became a state in 1796. Tennessee County, NC was organized in 1788 from Davidson County, NC. Tennessee County, NC was divided into Montgomery and Robertson counties. The former Washington District was formed into the Southwest Territory in 1790. The Washington District was originally part of Virginia (1769) and became part of North Carolina in November 1776. The Washington District was comprised of Washington, Greene, Davidson, Sullivan, Hawkins, Sumner, and Tennessee Counties. In 1750, Anson County, NC was formed from Bladen County. 1753 the northern part became Rowan County. 1762 the western part became Mecklenburg County. 1779 the northern part became Montgomery County. 1779 the eastern part became Richmond County. 1868 the courthouse burned and records were destroyed.
The Nathan found in the 1790 North Carolina seems to be older than our Nathan. He appears to be Nathan (1745-1827) son of Caroline Huntley and Francis Faulkner of Massachusettes and brother of Asa Falkner who is listed on the same page as Nathan.
If Nathan (born 1770) is the son of Nathan and Nancy and the older Nathan served in the war of 1812, then where is he in the 1790 and 1810 Edgefield, SC census. We don't really know Nancy's age, but if Nathan (born 1770) was Nancy's child, then let's assume she was 15 years old when she had Nathan. That would put her birth year around 1755. She would be 101 years old when the land deal was made in 1856.
In 1790 Edgefield, SC census we have James, Thomas, Nancy and John all living near each other. John and Thomas appear to be the older than James. James has just him and a wife. Thomas has himself, his wife and 2 girls. John has himself, a wife and 2 boys. Nancy has herself, another female, 1 boy under age 16, and 2 males over 16. I can't find Nathan anywhere else so he must be one of the 2 males over 16. He would be 20 years old in 1770. The others were probably born in the mid to late 1760's. If Nancy is Nathan's mother then it seems that Nathan's father has already died by 1790 and could not have served in the War of 1812.
I don't think we can just assume that Nancy is Nathan's mother or even his sister. William Banks seems to have been a land buyer because he is on several land records in Alabama. I don't think we can assume that this is our Nathan. There are many Nathan's living around the same time as our Nathan. There are Nathans in Massachusettes, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Maybe Nathan (born 1770) served in the War of 1812 and was married to Nancy ? rather than Mildred Stewart. In that case, Nathan should be head of household in 1790 instead of Nancy.
Conclusion: I still have more questions than answers so I will keep on looking.
on 2017-02-20 18:12:47
SLF , from Mississippi, has been a Family Tree Circles member since Sep 2016.