Acts of 1807 Chapter 37

SECTION. 1. That a new county be, and the same is hereby established south and southwest of, and adjoining the said county of Rutherford, by the name of Bedford, in memory of Thomas Bedford deceased; which said county shall begin at the south west corner of Rutherford, and south east corner of Williamson county on the Duck-river ridge, and run thence with said Williamson county line, to the line of the county of Maury; thence along the same southwardly to the south boundary of the state; thence eastwardly to the east boundary of Rutherford county; thence along the same to the ridge that divides the waters of Duck river from those of Cumberland; thence along the same westwardly, to the south east corner of Williamson county, leaving Rutherford county its constitutional limits; and all that tract of territory included in the above described lines, shall be included within the said county of Bedford; and all the lands north of the first described line on Duck river ridge where the said line intersects White county line, then north with said line until it strikes the corner of Rutherford and Wilson county line at a place known by the name of Rush spring, then to follow the old line of Rutherford county, as by law established, shall be and remain the county of Rutherford.

SEC. 2. That for the due administration of justice, the first court, and all subsequent courts shall be held in said county of Bedford, until the end of the next General Assembly, at the improvement lately made and occupied by Mrs. Payne, near the head of Mulberry creek, and all courts held in and for said county of Bedford, 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 the courts of the several counties in this state.

SEC. 3. That the courts of Bedford shall be held regularly by the justices of said county, on the fourth Mondays of December, March, June and September, annually.

SEC. 4. That it shall be the duty of the sheriff of said county of Bedford, to hold an election at the place of holding courts in said county of Bedford, on the first Thursday and succeeding day in March next, for the purpose of electing one colonel and two majors for the said county of Bedford, under the same rules and regulations as are prescribed by law in similar cases; and the militia of said county of Bedford shall constitute the twenty eight regiment, and be attached to the fifth brigade.

SEC. 5. That the elections for company officers for the county of Bedford, shall be held at such places as the commandant of said county may think proper to appoint; which said elections shall be held on the fourth Monday in June next, under the same rules, regulations, and restrictions as are prescribed in like cases.

SEC. 6. That said county of Bedford, be a part of the district for electing a governor, representative or representatives to congress, electors to elect a president and vice-president of the United States, and members of the general assembly, to which it hath heretofore belonged, and that the elections be held at the place of holding courts in said county; at the time and in the manner by law directed, and that the sheriff or returning officer, make a return of polls at the court-house in the town of Jefferson, on the day next succeeding each election, to the sheriff or returning officer for the county of Rutherford, and upon comparing the votes, they shall declare the candidate for the representation of said counties of Rutherford and Bedford, who may have the highest member of votes duly elected, and give a certificate accordingly; and it shall be the duty of the sheriff of Rutherford county, to make the return for senator of said district, as heretofore directed by law.

SEC. 7. That the sheriff or collector of public taxes for the county of Rutherford, shall have full power, and authority to collect any taxes that are yet unpaid, from any person or persons in said county of Bedford, and to collect any money that may be due on writ of Fieri Facias, that is at this time in the hands of said sheriff of Rutherford County, in as full and ample a manner as if the said county had remained a part of Rutherford county.

SEC. 8. That said county of Bedford shall in all cases, be considered and remain part of Mero district and send two jurors to Mero superior court; and Rutherford county shall send two jurors less than formerly compelled by law to do.

December 3, 1807.