Boundaries - Historical Notes

The following is a summary of acts which authorized boundary changes for Jefferson County.

1. Acts of 1796, Chapter 34, appointed Joseph Greer, Abraham McClery, and William Bailes, as commissioners to run the boundary line between Knox County, Jefferson County, and Sevier County agreeable to an act of the Legislature and the Representatives of the Ohio Territory which divided Jefferson County into two district counties (published herein). All the inhabitants of the area would perform their duties in Knox County until the line was ascertained.
2. Acts of 1803, Chapter 46, appointed David Stuart and William Taylor as commissioners to run and mark the line between Cocke County and Jefferson County agreeable to the Act of the General Assembly.
3. Acts of 1804, Chapter 19, authorized David Stuart to appoint one chain carrier in Jefferson County and another one in Cocke County to assist him in ascertaining, measuring, and marking the line between the two respective counties beginning on the south side of the French Broad River.
4. Acts of 1805, Chapter 14, provided that Peter Bryan and Joshua Gill, who were commissioners appointed by Sevier County's Quarterly Court to ascertain the line between Sevier County and Jefferson County, be allowed the sum of $2.00 each for each and every day they have served as such which amount would be paid by Sevier County. Mordecai Lewis would also be allowed the sum of $2.00 per day for each day he had spent surveying the line between Jefferson County and Sevier County. Chain carriers were to be paid $1.00 for each day they worked at that task.
5. Acts of 1806, Chapter 1, set up surveyor districts and offices across the State so as to include Jefferson County among them.
6. Acts of 1811, Chapter 41, changed the line between Jefferson County and Cocke County beginning on the south side of the Nolachucky River, at the narrow neck in Outlaw's Big Bend of the said River, thence due west 90 poles to the river bank; thence with the present line between the two counties; and all that appeared north of the said line would be added to Jefferson County.
7. Acts of 1811, Chapter 110, stated that after the passage of this Act, the line of Cocke County would be changed so as to include the inhabitants on the waters of Cosby's Creek, which was supposed to be in Jefferson County. These people would hereafter be considered as citizens in Cocke County.
8. Acts of 1815, Chapter 13, stated that the new cut road so far as it extended through the plantation of Thomas Crossley on the road leading from Cheeks Cross Roads to Dodson's Ford on the Holston River would be hereafter considered as the line between Hawkins County and Jefferson County, leaving Crosby in Hawkins County.
9. Acts of 1817, Chapter 23, rearranged the boundary line between Jefferson county and Cocke County so as to include an island in the French Broad River, lately known by the name of Kenney's Island, thence running south to the lines of the said counties so as to include the lands of David Beck in Jefferson also.
10. Acts of 1817, Chapter 158, which was incorrectly cited as Chapter 148 in the earlier Volume, clarified the true dividing line between Grainger County and Jefferson County to be the main stage road from Panther Springs to a house occupied by Phelps Reed, John Moffett, and Joseph Shannon, successively.
11. Acts of 1820, Chapter 154, appointed Gabriel McCraw, of Hawkins County, Charles T. Porter, of Jefferson County, and Joseph Shannon, of Grainger County, as commissioners, who would run and mark the line between Hawkins County and Jefferson County from the marked corner on the watery fork of the Bent Creek where the road leading from Dodson's Ford on the Holston River to where Cheeks Cross Roads crosses the same, thence to Bull's Gap, all agreeable to the existing law. When completed, they would make out reports on the work and submit them to their respective courts.
12. Acts of 1825, Chapter 310, named Johothan Wood, of Cocke County, and William Taylor, of Jefferson County, as Commissioners to run and mark the line between the two counties beginning at the French Broad River where the said line leaves the River below the Dutch Bottom and continue with the same to the extreme height of English's Mountain and report the same to their respective courts. Each county must compensate their man with a reasonable amount for his services.
13. Acts of 1827, Chapter 176, changed the boundary lines between Jefferson County and Cocke County so that part of Jefferson County which was south of the Nolachucky River, or what was known as Robert Hill's Bend, be wholly contained within Cocke County.
14. Acts of 1845-46, Chapter 47, Section 4, changed the lines between Jefferson County and Grainger County so as to run with the stage road from the head of Panther Spring to John W. Hill, Sr.'s place so as to include the property of J.N. Shannon wholly within Jefferson County.
15. Acts of 1845-46, Chapter 174, moved the properties belonging to William Thompson, including his residence, out of Sevier County and into Jefferson County.
16. Acts of 1847-48, Chapter 51, transferred the property of James Barton from Jefferson to Grainger County by changing the boundary to run with the stage road from Joseph Shannon's to Isaac Barton's.
17. Acts of 1847-48, Chapter 197, rearranged the boundary between Jefferson County and Grainger County so that the line would leave Panther Creek, at or near Robert Potter's Senior, and strike it again at about forty rods west of the dwelling place of William Rice so as to include the dwelling and the lands owned by the said Rice wholly in Jefferson County.
18. Acts of 1849-50, Chapter 69, realigned the boundaries between Grainger County, Hawkins County, and Jefferson County, so as to include the storehouse of Obadiah Boaz, at Cheek's Cross Roads in Grainger County, and so that the line would run with the main stage road leading from Knoxville to Jonesboro to Cheek's Cross Roads, and from thence along the Bean Station Turnpike to the residence belonging to Boaz.
19. Acts of 1851-52, Chapter 189, Section 3, altered the dividing line between Jefferson County and Sevier County at Creswell's Creek so that all the lands of Thomas Stringfield would be wholly contained in Jefferson County. This Act was repealed by Acts of 1854, Chapter 130, but seemed to be reenacted again by Acts of 1856, Chapter 248.
20. Acts of 1851-52, Chapter 299, moved the area beginning on the side of the road leading from Russellville to Knoxville where the Arnott Road intersects the said road near Taylor's Blacksmith Shop at Cheek's Road; thence with the said Arnott's Road to Arnott's Gap at the Greene County line, out of Jefferson County and into Hawkins County. All the citizens and property in the area would have the same status as other residents of Hawkins County.
21. Acts of 1853-54, Chapter 130, changed the line between Hawkins and Jefferson County.
22. Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 161, Section 2, changed the lines between Jefferson County and Grainger County so that the property of Charles E. Eckle would be included wholly in Jefferson County.
23. Acts of 1855-56, Chapter 248, Section 4, moved the house and lands of Thomas Stringfield out of Knox County and into Jefferson County.
24. Acts of 1857-58, Chapter 47, detached the farms of William Taylor and Jesse Hunt from Grainger County and attached the same to Jefferson County.
25. Acts of 1859-60, Chapter 135, Section 7, changed the boundary line between Jefferson County and Grainger County so as to include the farm and residence of Mrs. Naney Senter wholly within Grainger County.
26. Acts of 1869-70, Chapter 48, Section 5, moved the farm known as the "Dr. Cassin's Farm" now owned by John C. Tate, out of Grainger County and into Jefferson. The farm which was named the "Mastin Moore" farm, owned by D. W. C. Senter, went out of Jefferson County and into Grainger County.
27. Acts of 1877, Chapter 44, noted in the preamble that differences of opinion existed on whether the line between Jefferson County and Hamblen County was nearer than eleven miles to the county seat of Jefferson County which, if true, would contravene the constitutional limitations. This Act described the line by metes and bounds and named William H. Eckle, Samuel P. Johnson, and Temple Harris, all of Jefferson County, and Rufus E. Rice, William Howell, and Wilson C. Witt, of Hamblen County, to run and mark the line as described herein. Plats of the line were to be made for each county and the commissioners would be paid a reasonable amount for their services by each county. This Act was repealed by the one following and the subject boundary line was restored as it was prior to the passage of this Act.
28. Acts of 1879, Chapter 55, moved the home and lands belonging to William Phillips out of Jefferson County and into Cocke County.
29. Acts of 1879, Chapter 56, detached the river island farm now owned by John Vance, Jr., which was situated in the Holston River from Grainger County and attached it to Jefferson County.
30. Acts of 1881, Chapter 54, transferred the properties of S. A. Sims out of Jefferson County and into Sevier County.
31. Acts of 1883, Chapter 38, realigned the boundary between Jefferson County and Sevier County so that the lands of John Russell, the heirs of William Felker, and Benjamin Manning, would all hereafter be contained wholly in Sevier County.
32. Acts of 1883, Chapter 54, moved the properties owned by James A. Caldwell and John Caldwell out of Sevier County and into Jefferson County.
33. Acts of 1883, Chapter 139, changed the boundary lines between Jefferson County and Cocke County so that the property belonging to J. K. Garner would hereafter be included wholly in Cocke County.
34. Acts of 1885, Chapter 104, removed the lands of C. M. Bowen and Mary Bowen from Hamblen County and placed them in Jefferson County.
35. Acts of 1889, Chapter 106, altered the boundary lines between Jefferson County and Sevier County so that the real properties belonging to S. A. Sims and Benjamin Manning would be contained wholly within Sevier County.
36. Acts of 1889, Chapter 189, took the entire farms belonging to A. C. Huff and E. B. Hale out of Jefferson County and placed them in Hamblen County.
37. Acts of 1899, Chapter 385, changed the line between Hamblen County and Jefferson County so that certain lands belonging to W. C. Watkins, which were conveyed to him by John Talbot, containing about 45 acres, would be located wholly within Hamblen County. Section 2 of this Act moved about 80 acres of land owned by M. A. Roberts out of Hamblen County and into Jefferson County.
38. Private Acts of 1901, Chapter 260, rearranged the boundaries between Jefferson County and Sevier County so that the houses and farms of James Langston and M. A. Langston would be contained wholly within Jefferson County.
39. Private Acts of 1901, Chapter 283, transferred the properties belonging to W. G. Cate, J. W. Douglass, J. P. Moore, W. G. Bull, and E. Bull out of Sevier County and placed them altogether in Jefferson County.
40. Private Acts of 1907, Chapter 227, changed the boundaries between Jefferson County and Grainger County so as to include wholly within Jefferson County all of what was known as "Old McKinney Island" which was owned by E. G. Price, James Vance, and Samuel Vance, and located in the Holston River.
41. Private Acts of 1907, Chapter 386, further removed from Jefferson County and placed altogether in Grainger County all the lands constituting "Vance's Island," owned by W. A. Frazier, which Frazier had bought from James K. Vance, and his wife.
42. Private Acts of 1937, Chapter 471, moved the lands belonging to Mack H. Hunter and Herbert Roberts, which adjoined one another, out of the Ninth Civil District of Jefferson County and into the Second Civil District of Hamblen County