Acts of 1786 Chapter 32

WHEREAS from the extent of the County of Davidson, it renders it very inconvenient and troublesome to many of the inhabitants thereof to attend the courts, general elections, and other public meetings appointed therein: That from and after the passing of this act, the said county of Davidson, be divided by a line beginning where the county line crosses the west fork of Stones' River, down the same to the junction with the main Stones' River thence a direct line to the mouth of Drakin Lick Creek, thence down Cumberland River to the mouth of Kaspus Creek, thence up the said creek to the head of the War-Trace Fork, thence a northwardly course to the Virginia line, at a point that will leave Red River, old station, one mile to the east; and all that part of Davidson that lies to the west of said line shall continue and remain the county of Davidson; and all that part of the said  county of Davidson that lies east of the said dividing line, shall thenceforth be erected into a new and distinct county by the name of Sumner. And for the due administration of Justice: That the Court for the said county of Sumner, shall be held constantly by the Justices thereof on the second Mondays of January, April, July, and October in every year; and the Justices for the said county of Sumner are hereby authorized and empowered to hold the first court in the same at the house of John Hamilton, all subsequent court for the said county on the days above appointed for holding the courts therein, at any place to which the said Justices shall from court to court adjourn themselves, until a court house shall be built for the said county of Sumner, and then all causes, matters, and things depending in the said court, and all manner of process returnable to the same, shall be adjourned to such court house; and all courts held in and for the said county of Sumner, shall be held by commission to the Justices in the same manner, and under the same rules and restrictions, and shall have and exercise the same power and jurisdiction, as are or shall be prescribed for other courts held for the several counties in this state.