Acts of 1794 (1st Session) Chapter 11

AN ACT TO DIVIDE THE COUNTY OF JEFFERSON INTO TO [sic] TWO DISTINCT COUNTIES.

WHEREAS, THE INHABITANTS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, WHO LIVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF FRENCH BROAD RIVER, LABOUR UNDER DIFFICULTIES IN ATTENDING AT COURTS AND MUSTERS, IN HAVING THE RIVER TO CROSS, AND OTHER INCONVENIENCIES ATTENDING THE PRESENT EXTENSIVE BOUNDARIES OF SAID COUNTY:

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GOVERNOR, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SOUTH OF THE RIVER OHIO, That the county of Jefferson be divided by a line as follows, to wit. Beginning on the Eastern boundary of this Territory; from thence a direct line to the ridge that divides the waters of Little Pigeon from the waters of Big Pigeon river; thence along the same to the head of Muddy creek; thence a direct line to the lower end of an island in French Board river, formerly known by the name of Hubbert's island; thence a direct line to the mouth of Cresswell's mill creek; thence with the Knox county line to the top of Bay's mountain; thence along the said mountain to where French Broad river runs through the same; thence along the said mountain, and with the extreme height thereof, to the place where the dividing ridge that divides the waters of French Broad from those of Little river intersects the same; thence with said ridge to the Pigeon mountain; thence along said mountain to the Indian boundary, and with the same to the Eastern boundary of the territory; thence to the beginning. And all that part contained in the said boundaries, shall thenceforth be erected into a new and distinct county, by the name of SEVIER.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT ENACTED, That Jospeh Wilson, Robert Polk, Samuel Magahee, Samuel Newell, and Thomas Buckenham are hereby appointed commissioners; and authorised to lay off, and appoint a place the most centrical and convenient in said county, for the purposes of erecting a court house, prison, and stocks.

SECTION 3. And for the due administration of justice in said county, BE IT ENACTED, That the court for the said county of Sevier shall be held constantly by the justices of said county on the last Mondays in January, April, July, and October in every year; and the justices for said county of Sevier are hereby authorized and empowered to hold the first court for the same at the house of Isaac Thomas; and all subsequent courts for said county, on the days above mentioned for holding 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 Sevier; 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 said county of Sevier, shall be held by commission to the said justices in the same manner, and under the same rules and restrictions, and shall have and exercise the same powers and jurisdiction as are or shall be prescribed for other courts held for the several counties in this Territory.

Passed: September 27, 1794.