MAGISTERIAL RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT AND OTHER RECORDS
MADISON COUNTY, TENNESSEE
By Jonathan K. T. Smith
Copyright, Jonathan K. T. Smith, 1996

EARLIEST MADISON COUNTY SETTLERS AS REVEALED IN LEGISLATIVE PETITIONS

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            Acting in the interest of the United States, Tennessee and North Carolina governments, General Andrew Jackson and Isaac Shelby, as commissioners, made a treaty of cession for the western section of Tennessee and western Kentucky, with the traditional Indian owners, the Chickasaws, October 19, 1818. The treaty of cession was accepted by the national government and ratified when President James Monroe signed it on January 7, 1819. (TENNESSEE LAND LAWS, edited by Henry D. Whitney, 1891, page 486) The legislature of Tennessee convened in October 1819 and accepted the cession and expressed its intention of honoring the old North Carolina grants made heretofore in the newly-acquired territory and that it would also establish land offices so that the land could be speedily and effectively distributed.

            On October 23, 1819 the state legislature divided the area known as the Western District of Tennessee into seven surveyor districts; these were sub-divided into ranges that ran north and south in five mile squares called sections. (IBID., pages 202, 204) Present-day Madison County was located in two surveyor districts, numbers nine and ten. "One other district to begin thirty-five miles west of the Tennessee River, on the south boundary line of the state; to run north according to the true meridian fifty-five miles for its western boundary; thence east to the Tennessee River; thence up the Tennessee, to the southern boundary of the state and with said boundary to the beginning; which shall be known and distinguished by the name of the NINTH DISTRICT." One other district "beginning at the southwest corner of the last mentioned, running west with the south boundary line of this state thirty miles; thence north fifty-five miles; thence east to the northwest corner of the aforesaid district; thence south to the beginning; to compose one other district, which shall be known and distinguished by the name of the TENTH DISTRICT." (IBID., page 201)

            The first settlers in what became Madison County started to trek into the area in 1819, even before the lands officially were set for sale the next year. There were sufficient settlers to petition the state legislature for the forming of counties from the new territory.

            Among the first counties to be organized within the Western District of Tennessee was that one named for James Madison, the fourth president of the United States. It was destined to become one of the key counties of the state. MADISON COUNTY was created by the state legislature on November 7, 1821. (ACTS OF TENNESSEE, 1821, Chapter 32, page 41)

            The several petitions addressed to the state legislature from the settlers of this area have been preserved and are kept in the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville. The present writer has taken their names directly from the original petitions as arranged for him by the clerk handling these papers.

            Most of the settlers who signed the petitions lived within what became Madison County. However, those persons living in Range Three of the Ninth Surveyor District, sections 6-11, lived in that area which became Henderson County on November 16, 1821.

            Madison County, as drawn with its range and section lines and published on the Mathew Rhea "Map of Tennessee, "1832 (and engraved by Tanner, Dawson and Knight, Philadelphia, Pa.), is shown on the next page (with curved arrows drawn to mark the division lines of the 9th Surveyor District (the eastern part of the county) from the 10th Surveyor District (more central and western part of the county).

 

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PETITIONERS TO REQUEST NEW COUNTIES

Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville. Legislative Petitions:
61-1821:

To the honourable the members of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee. We the citizens of the western district in the state aforesaid residing on the waters of the Forked Deer River, beg leave to represent to your honourable body, that we labour under many inconveniences arising from the unorganized state of our country. We your petitioners therefore pray that you grant us relief by designating and laying off this section of country into counties having their constitutional limits or as near so as circumstances will permit, and in order more permanently to establish the lines of the same, your honourable body will see the propriety of circumscribing the Country of Stewart, Humphreys, Perry and Hardin to these constitutional limits or as near as circumstances will justify, your petitioners recommend the adoption of the above plan with a full persuation of its constitionality and that it will have a tendency to tranquilize the present as well as the future inhabitants of this country. Your petitioners further pray your honourable body to pass the necessary laws for the organization of a county that may include your petitioners who principally reside in the north west and north east corner of the north & south principal Surveyors District and in the Sections & Ranges as follows (to wit).

In the Ninth District in the 10th Section and First Range, Petitioners No. 35
In the 10th Sec. & 2d Range, Petitioners No. 29
In the 10th Sec. & 3d Range, Petitioners No. 17
In the 11th Sec. & 1 Range, Petitioners No. 11
In the 11th Sec. & 2 Range, Petitioners No. 62
In the 11th Sec. & 3 Range, Petitioners No. 36

And in the Tenth Surveyors District
In the 9 Sec. & 3 Range, Petitioners No. 8
In the 10th Sec. & 1 Range, Petitioners No. 33
In the 10th Sec. & 3 Range, Petitioners No. 16
In the 10th Sec. & 1 Range, Petitioners No. 5
In the 11th Sec. & 2 Range, Petitioners No. 7

 

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And for the due administration of justice in said county, we further pray your honorable body to appoint the following gentlemen Justices of the Peace in and for said county (to wit), James Trousdale, Nelson J. Hess, 10th District 10th Sec. & 1 Range. B. G. Stewart, 10th Sec. 1st Range, 9th District. William Atchison, Abner Browne & James Thompson, 11th Sec., 2nd Range & 9th District. James A. McClary, 11th Sec., 3d Range & 9th District. William Harris, 9th Sec., 3rd Range & 10th District. Thomas Fite, 2nd Range 2nd Sec. & 13th District. John Rutherford at the key corner. John Bell, 3rd Range, 10th Sec. & 9th District. Samuel Taylor, 11th Sec. 1st Range & 9th District.

Your petitioners will ever pray &c. /dated September 28, 1821/

Benjamin Gwin Samuel Viles David Melton Daniel Crouse Edwin Bradberry William Redings Henry Chambers Isaac Sellers James Price George Earnhart B. M. Barrow Jas. Burrow I. Hunnell Dan'1. Barcroft William Barcroft E. Stewart J. Trout Jno. McBride B. McNabb John Cornell Jo. M. Taylor Robt. Box Spencer Grant Robt. Graham D. Connell Jas. Winters John Linch Abner Marsh John Oldham John Page W. B. Moore Dickson McMillin Jos. L. Price Sam'l. Taylor David Moore E. Oldham A. Brown Robert Reid T. P. ______ Elisha Harbour James Harbour

Philip Huggins John Jones Lindley Box Stanford Anderson William Wilson Willie Anderson Daniel Sullivant Eleven Sullivant Thomas Gatlin Burtis Alford William B. Moore Thomas James John Gately James Thompson Jno. Hargrave Jesse Thomas Joel Thomas James A. McClary Thomas Palmer C. W. Taylor John Weaver Isum Delany John Cinch Andrew Giffen Will Harris H. L. Gray Francis Taylor William Freer John P. Thomas William Stevenson N. I. Hess Lewis Williams William Atchison John Thetford Jno. B. Hogg Reuben P. T. Stone Sam'1. Moore David A. Moore Thomas Black Thomas Adams Samuel F. Moore

Lewis Needham Coston Sawyer Joseph Thetford Andrew Thomas Simon Thetford Jacob Bradbury William Thetford George Bradbury Leven Sullivan Willis Nichols Thomas Grissom Adley Alexander Jacob Bradbery John Fisher John Bradbury James Reade Wm. Causlin Jonethen Conel Walter Thedford Zacharah Thomas Samuel Bradshaw Carey H. Moore William Moore Jas . M. Alexander John Hall Edward Boswell Archabald Dison James Boswell James Ashton John Moore John Evans Grean Warren Jeremiah Tinkle Hennary Warren George Anderson James Dosse John Steele William Osburn William Penn Henry Reed Thomas Bell

 

 

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Sameal Molder Robert Box Joshua Penn Thomas Hopper Armstrong Rylie David Spain John _____ George C. Davidson John Wood Henry ________ Hervy Wood John E. Davidson Levi T. Woods David Woods Waller Cornell John Cornell John Winn Joel Dyer Thomas Fite J. Butler Jonathan Blackwell Hardy Blackwell Mat. Roberts John Spencer James F. Randolph Jeremiah Randolph Josiah S. Ellis Micajah Harbor Josiah Thetford Thomas Sullivant Millington Blalock William Blalock William Smith, Jr. William Smith, Sr. Nathan Clarck Stephen Smith Andrew Smith R. Phelps John Fisher Sam'1. Hobbs W. D. Lewis Wm. Nash R. B. Nash Abijah Kelly Ben Porter Fred'k. Barfield Geo. C. Barfield Dan' l. H. Barfield Jas. Sutherland Wm. Erwin Wm. Nash, Jr. Young Wilson William Norwood Dan'1. Eastwood E. B. McCoy P. Raynes John Wear George Wear

D. Johnson James M. Inge Isaac Curry R. Wood Eli Sullivant John Jones Asa Weaver William Spencer Henry Rutherford Jas. Langford Willis Chamberlin E. P. Chambers W. C. Chambers Griffith Rutherford Olivir Crenshaw John Hamilton Ransome Hill Jno. Rutherford Jno. Rutherford, Jr. William D. Lewis Henry McPeak John Parker Isaac Manire James Stallcup Williby Hammond Allen Forehand James M. Lewis George C. Best Thomas Palmer Jessee Wood Greenup White John Montgomery Jurdon Spence B. G. Stewart C. Lane Wm. Phimister Benja. White Abraham Hill Curtis Sawyer Abner Roads David Poor Elisha Ferrell Henery Bettis Thomas Neville Anslem Russell Abraham Osburn George Gentry John Bates Thos. Kirk Joel Redens George Koins Elijah Baker John Ridens Allen ______ Wm. Bettis Drewry Bettis Wiley Bettis Sam'1. Waddill

George Gentry (again; marked through) James Dillard Abner Spence William L. Mitchell Will H. Dyer Jas. Neavill Jno. Rone A. Weeks L. W. Ellmore(?) A. Duncan Jas. Trousdale Martin Lowrance Henry N. Coulter John Bowen Sam'1. W. Farmer Robert Edmonston John Trousdale Drewry White W. R. Hess Jno. H. Gibson Jas. Vaulx John Fare Robert Tidwell Jno. G. Caruthers Michael Clarke Jno. Clarke Thos. Silivan Philip Huggins John Jones J. L. Wortham Charles Stewart Jno. Young L. S. Johnson Peter Eaker Zebedee Grentry Harry Dodson Joseph Bolding William Bolding, Snr. William Bolding, Jr. Thos. Nash John Kelly John Nelson John E_des Isaac Vaneer James Stallcup Robert ______ Wm. Fitzhugh John Bowen Ben Franklin Taylor Newman William Patterson John Patterson ______ Roberts Hardy Blackwell Hugh Butler Thos. ______

 

 

(Page 68)

Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville. Legislative Petitions:
62-1821-1A:

To the hon'ble the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, the petition of sundrie inhabitants west of Tennessee River humbly sheweth, that we reside in the 7th, 8th, 9th Sections of the First, Second and Third Ranges in the 9th & 10th Surveyors Districts. That the population of the free male inhabitants in those sections entitle us to be encorporated and organized into a county with the dew administration of justice agreeable to the constitution of this state and should we be included within the limits of any county laid out agreeable to a petition, exhibited to your honorable body for laying out the whole section of our country into counties having their constitutional limits. We pray you in your wisdom to encorporate and organize us into a county by defining our limits by the appointment /sic/ magistrates and by all other legal means which will give us a fair representation both in the general & state government.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.
/dated September 28, 1821/

Roderick McIver Wm. Ruleman Mark Langston Walker Williams Stephen Williams John Spencer, Sen. John Spencer, Jun. Fendal Whitworth Sam'l. Whitworth Isaac Whitworth Jacob Hill Lorenzo D. Whitworth Philmer Whitworth

Sam'l. Gardner William Ruleman Simeon Sullivan James Wisdom Charles Williams Benj. Sells Wm. S. Wisdom Clark Spencer Willm. Griffith _______ (smeared name)

 

 

Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville. Legislative Petitions:
62-1821-1B

To the honorable the General Assembly. We your petitioners residing on the waters of the Forked Deer humbly sheweth, that we reside in the 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11 Sections in the 1st, 2nd & 3rd Ranges in the 9th & 10th Surveyors Districts west of the Tennessee River and that should we be included in any one county to be laid out by sd. General /Assembly/ & impartial plan represented to your hon'ble body for laying out the whole western district with counties having their constitutional limits, we pray to be incorporated and organized into a county as so much of our territory of sections as may be included in such county and thereby granting to us such relief as in your wisdom you may deem necessary as will leave us no longer in want of the due administration of justice & your petitioners will ever pray.
/Dated October 3, 1821/

Simon Johnson James Brown Lewis Jones Samuel A. Lyon James L. Price Jno. H. Gibson Wm. Espey

Robt. Doak __________ (unreadable) Henry Reagan James Wright Nathan Simpson Joseph Hughes Wade Hampton Hughes

R. H. Wynn Adam R. Alexander Elijah McAfee Isaac Huggins Benjamin Hughes William Espey, Jur. Ebenezer Alexander

 

 

(Page 69)

David Jeffreys Wm. Bradshaw William Pace William H. Doake Alanson F. Doak Anthony T. Gray Alex. Braden Sen. Alexander Brallen Junior (evidently Braden) Carter C. Collier Daniel King Banester Tally John Graves Philip Graves John Harrison, Sen. James Adams Henry Butler William Butler Charl  Butler Abel Webb Siras Webb Micager Webb Sam'1. H. Shannon Greene L. Haralson James Moss James Harrison John Hyte Roderick Wright Joseph T. Haralson H. Haralson William H. Haralson James M. Haralson Vincent Haralson Stephen Booth Thos. Adair Jonathan Huston Byland Chandler Henry W. James John Thomas John Thomas, Junior John Haly Isaac Haly

Daniel Ross Willm. Sheppard Thomas Lacy, Senr. Thomas Lacy, Jur. Stephen Lacy Hugh Lacy John T. Brown Archd. Hight Gideon Harrison Francis Herron George Herron Samuel Givings Samuel Coner Benjamin Blyth Isaac T. Cates William Pace Fleming Pace Wilson Brown Murdock Murchison Duncan McIver Wm. Dalrymple John Slone Ben Rook Simon Murchison Daniel Murchison Josep  Allen James Rook Zachariah Bennet Thomas L. D. Parkes Wm. Sargent Isaac Brown James Marlin Charles Allen Isaac Sellers Pitts Chandler Richard Sanders James Alexander Wm. Alexander Anderson Odle Jacob Clifton Josep  Spruce Quinton Spruce

Hawken Spruce James Johnson Eli Taylor Joseph Wilson Wm. Wilson William Cant Iredell Williams Calvin Williams John Parker Allen Fuller Wm. Haltom John Liwallon F. Frazure Thos. F. Larrimore W. T. Laramore Smith Suleivan Abner Fentress West Fentress Oen Quinley William Deen William Golden Thomas Mathes Caltern Mathes Elijah Jones Thos. Jones Benj. Jones Anderson Bruce Obediah Nix John Bruce James Russel Josua Henderson Robert Rolens Joel Bugg

 

 

At an election on the South Fork of the Forked Deer River recommending magistrates, we the judges of the aforesaid election do certify that Adam R. Alexander, William Braden, Duncan McIver, John Thomas, William Haltom, William Harris, Joseph Linn was duly elected or recommended by a majority of the populace, given under our hands & seals this 18th day of Augt. 1821:
/Dated October 10, 1821/

 

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