Acts of 1808 Chapter 9

SECTION. 1.  That from and after the passing of this act, Roane county shall be bounded on the south-west by the following line, viz.  Beginning on the north bank of Tennessee, at the end of the ridge that divides the waters of White's creek from those of Piney River; thence along said ridge, to Wallen's ridge; thence north forty five west to Overton county line.

SEC. 3.  That all that tract of country lying within the following described bounds shall be, and is hereby made and constituted a new and distinct county, by the name of Bledsoe, viz.  Beginning on the north-west end or corner of Rhea county, where it strikes the road leading to West Tennessee; thence north forty five west, to Overton county line; thence southwardly with said line, to White county line, and with that line to the southern boundary of this state; thence eastwardly with said line to the corner of Rhea county line; thence with said line to the beginning.

SEC. 8.  That John Tollet, Joseph Hoge, and James Standefer, are hereby appointed commissioners to fix on the most suitable place for holding courts for Bledsoe county, until otherwise provided for by law.

SEC. 9.  That for the due administration of justice, that the court of pleas and quarter sessions shall be held in and for the county of Bledsoe, on the first Mondays of April, July, October and January; and the justices for said county, shall hold their respective courts at the place that shall be fixed upon by said commissioners, until otherwise provided for by law, and shall have and exercise the power and jurisdiction as are or shall be prescribed by and for the courts of the several counties in this state.

SEC. 10.  That said county of Bledsoe be, and the same is hereby declared a part of the district of Hamilton, in the same manner and for all purposes, civil, criminal and military, in as full and ample manner as any county in this state, and shall send two jurors to the superior court of said district.

SEC. 12.  That a majority of the acting justices of the counties of Rhea and Bledsoe, when in session, shall have power, and are hereby authorized and required, to lay a county tax, not exceeding twelve and one half cents on each hundred acres of land liable to taxation; twelve and one half cents on each white poll; twenty-five cents on each black poll; fifty cents on each stud horse, kept for covering mares; said tax to be laid from year to year, until otherwise provided for by law.

SEC. 13.  That the election for governor, representatives to congress and members to the general assembly, shall be held at their respective places of holding courts, in the counties of Rhea and Bledsoe, by the sheriffs or their deputies, under the same rules and regulations as are prescribed by law, and on the same days which elections for such purposes, are authorized to be held; and those citizens of Rhea and Bledsoe counties, formerly citizens of Roane county, shall be entitled to vote in their respective counties.

SEC. 14.  That it shall be the duty of the returning officers for the counties of Rhea and Bledsoe, to meet the returning officer of Roane county, in Kingston, on the succeeding Monday, with the number of their respective polls, and with him compare the same; and the returning officer of Roane, those duly elected members of the general assembly, and give certificates accordingly; and it shall be the duty of said sheriff to transmit a just statement of the polls of election for governor and representatives to congress, to the speaker of the senate, in the same manner as by law directed.

SEC. 16.  That the sheriff of Bledsoe county shall open and hold an election at the place of holding court in said county, on the third Friday and Saturday in February next, for the purpose of electing field officers of the militia of said county; and the militia of said county shall compose the thirty first regiment of the militia of this state, and shall be attached to the third brigade.

November 30th, 1807.