The Duck River Valley Chronicle A Brief history of Maury County, Tennessee Bicentennial Edition 1807 - 2007
By Michael Edward Bennett copyrighted 2009 0
Foreword In the mid 1990’s I attended a conference on System Thinking at MIT where one of the presenters, Dr. Jay Forrester, made a presentation on the American public school system whereby he explained how things change over time through the dynamic behaviors of social and physical systems in education. Dr. Forrester maintained that the American public educational system has left a legacy of having nearly every American student handicapped with a learning disability. He explained that the traditional American educational pedagogy process sequence follows five fundamental steps: (1) Learn facts (2) Comprehend the meaning of facts (3) Apply facts to generalizations (4) Analyze generalizations to break into constituent parts (5) Synthesize learning to assemble constituent parts into whole meaning Dr. Forrester maintained that most students of public education systems never reach the fifth step of “putting it all together.” Traditional public education is compartmentalized into separate unrelated subjects. In the increasingly more complex society, poorly prepared teachers struggle with their subject matter fitting into the context of the whole relevant reality of the present day perceptions. Students are expected to create a unity of reality from unrelated static subjects that in the real world are dynamic and interact. What is missing from most educational processes is the direct application of time. Take for example, Civil Rights in America; How are the lessons of history over two hundreds years to be interpreted in the present day context of reality? How will our present day social, political, economic, environmental and individual decisions determine our future? By the time a student reaches high school they posses a wealth of facts about biological, environmental, social, economic, and physical systems but lack a frame work into which the facts can be fitted with understanding and insight into their perceptions of the real world. To gain real learning and insight in a frame work that makes sense of reality Dr. Forrester maintained that American public education should reverse the traditional educational pedagogy process sequence and begin first with step five in our elementary schools. Then move backward through steps four through one to accomplish real learning. To most public education students today history is what happened last month. History has lost favor in our public schools and should be restored as the primary science of bridging time and our dynamic and interactive social decisions and their inheritance. Accordingly, I have in my own way made some attempt to provide the reader of these reported facts as published in their time and language with a frame work of state, national and global events as a frame work for local Maury County history. Hopefully the reader will be able to see some interconnection of such things as war and local behaviors; technology and local prosperity, infrastructure and local economics; environment and quality of life; politics and racism and arts & entertainment and education and local leadership. The local recorded events, decisions, activities, personalities and attitudes are written in the language of the time. Some may be offensive and disturbing in today's world. Still these same social, political, environmental and physical events have contributed to what and where Maury County is today. The reader should keep in mind these are “reported events” and “reported facts” and as such are subject to reporting error. Therefore the accuracy, involvement, guilt or innocence of any individual or event cannot be determined fully without further research and is not implied here. The sources are secondary in nature taken from some 40,000 plus newspapers on microfilm in the Maury County archives that I have researched over the last five years. The project turned out to be more than I thought it would be as I averaged about 30 hours a week researching, sorting and editing recorded events for over three years. None of which could have been accomplished without the resources, photos and assistance of the Maury County Archives Director, Bob Duncan and staff for which I am deeply grateful.
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Introduction You don’t have to be “born and raised’ in Maury County to love Maury County. Having arrived in 1986, one could not but appreciate the friendly people and beautiful landscape of Maury County. Maury County is blessed with fertile land, a beautiful river and good hearted people. This book represents only a small token of myself and my wife Denise's appreciation of these blessings. To understand and appreciate Maury County history one has to first understand that she was born out of the throes of a great rebellion. At the that time there was no Tennessee or Kentucky and the western land was then known as the “Western Frontier” and “Indian territory”. With the mother of Tennessee being the American Spirit of Manifest Destiny and the father being the American War of Independence, Tennessee became a state in 1796. With the ratification of the American Constitution in 1787 the states ceded their claims of these western lands to the federal government. The “Northwest Territory” and “Territory South of the Ohio River” was rapidly settled through land grants. By the early 1800’s some 88 Revolutionary war veterans came to Tennessee with others to claim their new lands in present day Maury County and make for themselves and others who followed, a new life south of Nashville, following the negotiations of several treaties with native American Indian tribes that concluded in 1806. To better understand this connection between Tennessee, Maury County and the birth of our nation I have included a general review of historic events and personalities from 1775 to 1806 that contributed to making Tennessee the 16th state of the union and the establishment of Maury County in 1807. The reader is encouraged to read the list of events over a particular period of time to fully understand the series of events in their context of the time, including state, national and global events. In some ways reading these series of events in my own mind is like the number painting I undertook as a youth. When I was younger I had some number paint kits whereby I would paint all the number five’s, or eights or two’s on the canvas with the corresponding numbered paint provided. Low and behold at the end of the process I had a completed picture of a perceived world class landscape, or so I thought. In a similar manner, reading sections of this book will I expect produce a similar landscape of Maury County and her people for the reader. In the process the reader hopefully will be transformed into a local Maury County historian, second to none. I am deeply grateful for the assistance of Mrs. Alice Algood for her invaluable editing services and my wife, Denise for her continuing support and technical assistance in transcribing my hand written notes into finished product for print.
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• United States
1775
• World •
Feb 9 – British Parliament declared Massachusetts's, a colony in rebellion.
March 23 - American Revolutionary War hero, Patrick Henry makes his famous speech “give me liberty or give me death” in Virginia’s provincial convention.
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Feb 15 – Pope Pius VI elected 250th Pope, replacing Pope Clement XIV who had died.
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April 5 – Transylvania Company organized at Boonesboro, Ky. and later petitions Continental Congress for statehood.
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March 30 - British Parliament passes Restraining Act, prohibiting New England from fishing in New Foundland and Nova Scotia’s North Atlantic fishery’s.
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April 18 – Several post rider’s, including Paul Revere set out to warn colonists of approaching British troops sent to Lexington, Mass. to confiscate arms.
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April 19 – American Revolution begins with Battle of Lexington-Concord in Massachusetts's when 78 militia fired upon 700 British soldier’s for “The shot heard around the World.”
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May 10 – Second Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia, 55 delegates present.
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May 10 – Ethan Allen and 83 Green Mountain boys, including Benedict Arnold capture British Fort Ticonderoga in New York on Lake Champlain without a shot fired, trans port captured cannon to Boston.
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May 20 – Mecklenburg County adopts first Declaration of Independence in Charlotte, North Carolina, read to public by Thomas Polk and sent to New Bern, N.C. and Philadelphia for adoption.
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June 14 – Continental Congress authorizes forming a Continental Army with George Washington as Supreme Commander.
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June 16 – Colonel William Prescott with 1200 men from Cambridge, Mass. occupy Breed’s Hill overlooking Boston.
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June 17 – Battle of Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill) fought at Boston, British suffer 1000 causalities, Americans suffer 400 to 600 causalities.
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July 3 – General George Washington takes command of Continental Army at Boston.
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July 26 – Congress establishes US Post Office with Benjamin Franklin as first Post Master General.
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July 30 – Captain James Hook returns to England after 2nd voyage to explore the South Pacific.
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Aug 23 – King George declares the American colonies in full rebellion
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Nov 10 – Continental Congress Est. US Marine Corp.
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Nov 13 – American forces under General Richard Montgomery capture Montreal.
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Nov 28 – Congress Est. US Navy, manned by Privateer’s.
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Dec 31 – British repulse attack by Gen. Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold at Quebec, Montgomery killed and Arnold wounded.
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• Maury
1775
• Tennessee •
March 17 - Judge Richard Henderson of North Carolina and Cherokee Chiefs sign the Treaty of Sycamore Shoals to lease 20 million acres of land in Kentucky and Middle Tennessee for $10,000 in trade goods from the Transylvania Company, following Daniel Boone cutting the “Wilderness Road” through the Cumberland Gap.
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April 1 – Watauga Association opens land office to handle patents along Watauga, and Holston Rivers under Sycamore Shoals treaty.
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May – Kasper Mansker, Michael Stoner and several other “Long Hunters” visit Stone’s River area and Great French Salt Lick where they find Timothy DeMonbreun settled, trading with Indians from a cave along Cumberland River.
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Dec 28 – John Sevier, moved into Watauga River area near present day Elizabethton Tn.
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• United States
1776
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Jan 9 – Thomas Paine published “Common Sense”, a scathing attack on King George III reign over the colonies.
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Jan 16 – Continental Congress approved enlistment of free blacks into Continental Army, 1st Rhode Island all black regiment was first mustered into service.
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March 2 - Americans begin shelling Boston with cannon moved from Fort Ticonderoga.
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March 4 – General Washington and Continental Army capture Dorchester Heights and force the British to evacuate Boston.
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April 13 – General Washington and Army arrive in New York City to defend against the British.
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April – City of Natchez platted and organized.
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April – Virginia votes to annex Kentucky land leased to Transylvania company of Judge Richard Henderson.
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May – Betsy Ross, finishes first Stars and Stripes American flag.
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June 28 – Colonists repulse British attack at Charleston, SC.
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July 4 – Continental Congress adopts Declaration of Independence with 56 patriots signing.
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Aug 26 – Washington defeated in Battle of Brooklyn Heights, retreats to Manhattan Island.
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Sept 9 – Congress passes resolution to call new nation, “The United States of America”.
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Sept 15 – British invade Manhattan to begin battle of Harlem Heights. Fort Washington falls.
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Oct 28 – British defeat Washington at White Plains, N.Y.
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Nov 16 – British capture Fort Washington after siege on Manhattan.
• World •
Feb 17 – Sir Edwin Gibbon, English historian published the “History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.”
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March 9 – Adam Smith publishes “Wealth of Nations”
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May 2 – France and Spain agree to secret arms supply to American rebels.
• •
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Spirit of 76 Nov 30 – Captain James Cook begins 3rd and final exploration of South Pacific Sea.
Dec 25 – General Washington and Army cross the Delaware River to capture Trenton, N.J. and 1000 Hessian troops.
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1776 • Maury
• Tennessee
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March – Watauga settlements receive word that Dragging Canoe unhappy with the Treaty of Sycamore Shoals and urged by British would attack the settlement.
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June – First Baptist Church west of Appalachian Mountains. Established at Watauga, the Buffalo Baptist church.
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July – Nancy Ward, “beloved woman” of Cherokee, warns settlers of Indian attack at Long Island Flats (Kingsport, Tn.)
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July 20 – Battle of Long Island Flats , First battle of Revolutionary War west of Appalachian Mountains by American Forces when Capt. James Thompson attacks the Cherokee in present day Tennessee.
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July 20 – Cherokee Indians attack Fort Watauga and lay siege, where John Sevier pulls Catherine “Bonnie” Sherrill over the wall during the attack to save her, he later marries her.
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Aug 22 – Citizens of Watauga, Holston and Carter’s Valley, Tn. petition North Carolina to annex them.
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Sept – Fort Patrick Henry erected near sacred Cherokee Long Island (Elizabethton, Tn.) along South fork of Holston River.
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Sept 15 – British invade Manhattan to begin Battle of Harlem Heights.
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Dec 6 – Virginia legislature creates Kentucky County from parts of Judge Henderson’s leased Cherokee property.
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• United States
1777
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Jan 3 – General Nathaniel Greene captures Princeton, New Jersey.
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April – Marquis de Lafayette 19, joins General George Washington’s Continental Army to fight the British without pay.
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June 14 – Congress adopts the “Stars and Stripes” as the official US flag.
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July 6 – British under General Burgoyne recapture Fort Ticonderoga from Americans.
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Sept 11 – General Washington defeated at battle of Brandywine in Pennsylvania by General William Howe.
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Sept 19 – Continental Congress flees Philadelphia with British approaching.
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Oct 4 – General Washington defeated at Germantown, Pa.
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Oct 17 – General Horatio Gates surrounds and captures General Burgoyne’s 1000 troops at Saratoga, New York.
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Nov 15 – Continental Congress adopts Articles of Confederation, sent to states for ratification.
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Dec 19 - General Washington and Continental Army move into winter quarters at Valley Forge, Pa.
• World
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Dec 17 – France recognizes the United States of America.
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• Maury
1777
• Tennessee
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April – North Carolina legislature establishes Washington County with Jonesborough as county seat in present day Tennessee.
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July 20 – Treaty of Long Island (Holston) signed by Chief Attakulla, the Overhill Cherokees cede land east of Blue Ridge Mountains and Nolichucky River.
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Aug – Dragging Canoe, son of Attakulla, relocates with Overhill Cherokee followers into Smokey Mountains after refusing to accept the Long Island Treaty.
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• United States
1778
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Feb 7 – Shawnee Indians capture Daniel Boone, he later escapes to warn settlers at Boonesboro of pending attack.
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Feb 23 – Baron Von Steuben joins General Washington and Continental Army at Valley Forge to assist in training troops.
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April 24 – Capt. John Paul Jones aboard USS Ranger captures British ship, “Drake.”
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June 19 – British withdraw from Philadelphia, General Washington re-enters the city.
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July 3 – 350 men, women and children of Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania who gathered in local fort for safety were massacred by British after surrendering .
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July 4 – Colonel George Rogers Clark captures British Fort Kaskaskia on Mississippi River.
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Aug 29 – French navy fleet arrives at Hampton Roads, Virginia to support the American Continental Army.
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• World •
Jan 18 – English explorer Capt. James Cook reaches Hawaiian Islands, named them the “Sandwich Islands.”
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Feb 6 – France signs treaty of military aid to form an alliance with United States against Britain, Britain declares war on France.
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March 15 – Capt. James Cook discovers Vancouver island off west coast of North America.
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July 10 – France declares war on Great Britain.
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Oct 3 – Capt. James Cook explores Alaskan coast.
Sept 7 – Shawnee Indians attack Boonesboro, Ky. and lay siege for 10 days before leaving, having been forewarned by Daniel Boone.
Dec 29 – British Colonel Archibald Campbell captures Savannah, Ga.
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• Maury
1778
• Tennessee
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March – Thomas Sharp Spencer and other Long Hunters settle near Great French Salt Lick. (Nashville)
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Fall – James Robertson, George Freeland, Zachariah Wells, James Healy, William Neely, Edward Swanson, William Overall and Mark Robertson with a Negro slave explore Great French Salt lick area and returned to Watauga settlement to prepare for return trip.
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• United States •
1779
• World
Jan 17 – City of Jonesborough, chartered by North Carolina legislature.
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Feb 25 – General George Rogers Clark captures British Fort Vincennes in Indiana territory.
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July – Virginia and North Carolina appoints a joint survey commission to survey Western Virginia/North Carolina line with Thomas Walker and General Daniel Smith of Virginia and Colonel Richard Henderson and William Smith of North Carolina. A dispute created two parallel lines two miles apart as the northern line became known as the “Walker Line” which later proved correct.
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Sept 23 - Capt. John Paul Jones sailing the “Bonhomme Richard” defeated British man of War ship “Serapis” off the east coast of England, declaring ,”I have not yet begun to fight.”
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Oct 11 – Polish Nobleman, General Casimia Pulaski, died of wounds received in the battle for Savannah, Ga.
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Feb 14 – Capt. James Cook killed on Hawaiian Island of Maui.
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June 16 – Spain declares war on Great Britain to support the American Revolution.
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Sept 21 – Spain captures Baton Rouge and Natchez.
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• Maury
1779
• Tennessee
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March – James Robertson and “Long Hunters” under commission of Judge Richard Henderson returned to Fort Patrick Henry to prepare for journey to settle in Nashville area.
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April – Colonel Evan Shelby with 300 men defeats Chickamauga Cherokee Indians on Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga in retaliation for joining British in war effort.
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June – Amos Eaton settles at Eaton Station, one and a half miles north of Great French Salt Lick .
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Oct – North Carolina legislature created Sullivan County, with Blountville as county seat, in present day Tn.
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Nov – James Robertson and 60 men depart Fort Patrick Henry for Great French Salt Lick on Cumberland River, via the Kentucky route.
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Dec 1 – John Rains settles on Brown Creek near present day Nashville and brings the first cattle into area.
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Dec 22- John Donelson and flotilla of 30 Flatboats with 300 men, women and children aboard depart Fort Patrick Henry enroute via Holston, Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers to Nashborough only to be halted in a short distance by extreme cold and ice in river.
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Dec 24 – James Robertson and 60 men cross the frozen Cumberland River at the Great French Salt Lick and settle on the bluff overlooking the Cumberland River. (Nashville)
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• United States
1780
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Feb 1 – New York cedes claims on western lands to congress.
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March 1 – Pennsylvania becomes first state to abolish slavery, only on new born.
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April – Andrew Jackson and brother Robert captured at Crawford house and imprisoned by Tories, brother died.
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April – Governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson, orders Colonel George Rogers Clark to build a fort on Mississippi River, 4 miles below the mouth of the Ohio River. (Fort Jefferson)
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May 12 – British capture Charleston, S.C.
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May 29 – Colonel Banastre Tarleton, commander of British Legion (Tories) defeats Virginia Cavalry regiment near Waxhaw, S.C., massacres 113 militia who surrendered.
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July 12 – 5500 French troops land at Newport, Rhode Island to join General Washington’s Continental Army.
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Aug 5 – General Benedict Arnold takes command of West Point., secretly agrees to turn over fort to British for 20,000 pounds.
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Aug 16 – General Horatio Gates and American troops defeat British at Camden, S.C.
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Sept 23 – British spy, Major John Andre captured with letters revealing treason of Benedict Arnold.
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Sept 26 – General Cornwallis enters Charlotte, N.C. with Redcoats and encounters “Hornets Nest’ of local Militia resistance.
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Sept 30 – Benedict Arnold found guilty of treason, escaped to British, Major John Andre later hanged.
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Oct 7 – Battle of Kings Mountain S.C. fought, Colonel Ferguson defeats 1400 loyalists with local militia’s.
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Oct 30 – General Washington appoints General Nathaniel Greene as new commander of southern district to replace General Horatio Gates.
• World •
March 12 – Bernardo de Galvez of Spain captures Mobile from British.
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Dec 20 – British declare war on Dutch for supporting the American Revolution
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• Maury
•
1780
Sept – Colonel James Robertson, Alexander Buchanan and 18 others pursued Indians who raided Freeland's Station in Nashborough to the Duck River where they killed and wounded several, recovering horses and stolen property.
• Tennessee •
Jan – James Robertson and settlers begin construction of Fort Nashborough on bluff of Cumberland River near Great French Salt Lick.
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Feb – John Donelson flotilla breaks free of ice in Holston River to begin journey to Nashborough.
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April 12 – Moses Renfroe and others leave the Donelson flotilla party to settle at mouth of the Red River, Indian attacks later force them to abandon the stand near present day Clarksville.
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April 24 – Capt. John Donelson and flotilla with 30 families, 300 men, women and children arrive at Fort Nashborough from Long Island, Tn. (Kingsport).
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May 1 – “Cumberland Compact” signed by 256 people in Nashborough to establish frontier Government, written by Judge Richard Henderson.
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May – John Sevier’s wife “Sarah’ Hawkins died.
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June – Kasper Mansker builds first fortified Mansker Station on Mansker Creek.
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Aug 16 – John Sevier married Catherine “Bonnie” Sherrill at Watauga settlement.
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Aug – Rev. Samuel Doak establishes the first Presbyterian Church west of Appalachian Mountains.
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Sept – North Carolina establishes military reservation in Western District (Middle Tennessee) for land grants to Revolutionary War veterans, modified and expanded in 1782 and 1784.
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Sept 25 – Sycamore Shoals musters 150 men near Elizabethton to march to battle of Kings Mountain.
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Dec 16 – General John Sevier and 300 men attack Cherokee Indians in battle of Boyd Creek.
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• United States
1781
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Jan 2 – Virginia cedes claim to western lands to US Federal government, removing obstacle to Maryland’s ratification of Articles of Confederation.
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Jan 5 – Benedict Arnold leads British force in attack on Richmond, Virginia.
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Jan 17 – Colonel Banistre Tarleton defeated by General Daniel Morgan in Battle of Cowpens, S.C.
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March 2 – Articles of Confederation ratified with Maryland adoption.
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March 15 – General Cornwallis defeated General Nathaniel Greene at Battle of Guilford's Court house.
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April 25 – General Cornwallis marches north from Wilmington, N.C. with 7200 troops.
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May 26 – Continental Congress approves National Bank.
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June 11 – Congress creates peace commission composed of John Adams, John Jay , Benjamin Franklin, Henry Laurens and Thomas Jefferson to negotiate peace Treaty of Paris.
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June – City of Lexington, Ky. founded.
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Aug 1 – General Cornwallis occupied Yorktown, Va.
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Aug 30 – French Fleet of 24 ships under Comte de Grasse arrived in Chesapeake Bay, defeats British Fleet in Battle of Chesapeake Capes.
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Sept 5 – General Washington with 11,000 troops traps General Cornwallis and 8700 British troops, French General Comte de Rochambeau joined siege.
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• World
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March 13 – Astronomer William Hershel discovered plant Uranus.
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May 8 – Spain captures Pensacola, Fla. after 61 day siege, British ceded Western Florida to Spain.
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Sept 4 – Spain founded Los Angles settlement in California.
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Oct 25 - James Watt awarded patient for rotary steam engine.
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Nov 5 – Netherlands grants US multi-million dollar loan for 15 war effort.
Fall – Elizabeth Jackson, mother of Andrew Jackson died in Charleston, South Carolina nursing her nephews.
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Oct 9 – General Washington begins bombardment of Yorktown, Va.
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Oct 19 – General Cornwallis surrenders Yorktown, Va.
• Maury
1781
• Tennessee •
Jan 11 – First white child born in Nashborough, son of Colonel James Robertson, named Felix.
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Jan 16 – Cherokee Indians attack Freeland's Station north of Fort Nashborough.
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March – “Dunham’s Station” built on present day site of “Belle Meade” by David Dunham.
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April 2 – Battle of the Bluffs fought between Indians and Nashborough settlers.
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July – Cherokee Chickamauga Indians sign 2nd Treaty of Long Island in East Tennessee.
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• United States •
1782
• World
Jan 7 – First US Commercial Bank of North America opens in Philadelphia.
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May – North Carolina passes act granting each head of family in Tennessee 640 acres who settled in area prior to June 1, 1780.
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June – US Congress approves “Great Seal” of United States and the eagle as its symbol and motto, “E Pluribus Unum” and “Annuit Coepts” on ribbon in beak of eagle meaning “He favored our undertaking”.
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July – British evacuate Savannah, Ga.
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Aug 7 – General Washington creates the Order of the Purple Heart, recognizes wounded in combat.
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Nov 10 – Colonel George Rogers Clark with 1100 troops routes Shawnee Indians and burns villages near Chillicothe, Ohio. Last battle of Revolutionary war.
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Dec 14 – British evacuate Charleston, S.C.
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March 1 – Lord North resigns as British Prime Minister, Lord Shelburne forms new government.
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April 19 – Netherlands recognizes US government.
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Nov 30 – United States and Britain sign preliminary peace treaty in Paris, British recognize American Independence.
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• Maury
1782
• Tennessee
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May – Kilgore Station erected at mouth of Red River by James Robertson’s company near present day Cross Plains, later abandoned after Indian attacks.
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Sept – Daniel Smith settles in Nashborough and married the daughter of John Donelson.
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• United States
•
1783
• World •
Jan 20 – British sign peace treaty with France & Spain. Britain keeps Gibraltar but cedes Florida to Spain. France ceded Tobago and West Indies. US ceded land west of Mississippi River, Spain controls east bank of Mississippi River north to Walnut Hills. (Vicksburg)
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Feb 3 – Spain recognizes United States Govt.
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June – Jacob Schweppes founded first soft drink business in Switzer land.
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July – Joseph & Etienne Montgolfier launch first recorded human flight in hot air balloon near Lyon, France.
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Sept 3 – Treaty of Paris signed, officially ends Revolutionary War between America and Great Britain, also known as the Treaty of Versailles.
March – Young Andrew Jackson inherits about 400 pounds sterling from his grand father, Hugh Jackson, a weaver and merchant of Carrickfergus, Ireland, only to lose most of it in gambling and horse racing.
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May 30 – First American daily newspaper, The Pennsylvania Evening Post, published in Philadelphia.
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June 1 – British troops evacuate Tories from New York City.
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June – First American English speller published by Noah Webster in Goshen, New York.
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July – North Carolina nullified Judge Henderson’s claim to Transylvania area.
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Oct 23 – Virginia emancipated slaves who fought for Independence in Revolutionary War.
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Oct 28 – Major James Holland received 2558 acres in land grant from North Carolina for service in Revolutionary War, located on south side of Duck River, 1.5 miles above Fountain Creek. He moved to land in Maury County in 1811.
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Nov 1 – General George Washington gives farewell speech to Continental Army , which was disbanded.
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Nov 26 – US Congress meets in Annapolis, MD.
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Dec 23 – General George Washington resigns command of Continental Army.
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Dec 31 – Est. 100,000 US Tories emigrate from US to Halifax, Canada, England and Bahamas.
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• Maury
•
1783
April – North Carolina military reservation survey team moves south toward southern line of North Carolina of 35 degrees 30 minutes north to determine the “Continental Line” 55 miles north of the reference point called “Latitude Hill” located in present day Giles County, surveyed line becomes unacceptable in N.C.
• Tennessee •
Feb – North Carolina creates Greene County from Washington County, Greenville is county seat and awards General Nathaniel Greene 25,000 acres in Western district, (Maury County, Tn.)
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March 30 – North Carolina survey commissioners Absalom Tatum, Isaac Shelby, and Anthony Bledsoe arrive in Nashbourgh to survey North Carolina military reservation line .
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April – Kasper Mansker returns to Nashville area to rebuild “Mansker Station” , one mile below original station built in 1780 and abandoned.
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April – Rev. Samuel Doak receives charter from North Carolina legislature for “Martin Academy”, first school west of the mountains. Later re-chartered in 1795 in Sullivan County as Washington College.
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June 3 – James Robertson, John Donelson, and Colonel Joseph Martin negotiate a treaty with the Chickasaw Indians at Sulphur Springs, Nashville. (Treaty of Nashborough) Indians ceded land south of Cumberland River to Duck River Ridge. (Thompson Station area)
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Oct 6 – Davidson County created by North Carolina legislature, named to honor General William l. Davidson of Mecklenburg County, N.C. , killed in Revolutionary War. Nashborough is county seat, covers nearly ¾ of Middle Tennessee or 12,000 sq miles.
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Oct 6 – North Carolina named Commissioners of Davidson Court of Pleas as Isaac Bledsoe, Samuel Barton, Frances Prince and Isaac Lindsey.
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Dec 20 – Second military reservation survey team arrives in Nashborough from N.C. to resurvey the military district, starting at Kentucky/North Carolina northern line to est. the “Commissioners Line” 55 miles south. Commissioners are Colonel William Polk, Henry Rutherford, and Ezekiel Polk with 100 soldiers.
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• United States
1784
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March 1 – US Federal Govt. takes possession of Virginia’s western lands, north of the Ohio River.
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April – American representatives of Anglican Church (Church of England) meet in Chestertown, MD. , form the American Protestant Episcopal church.
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April – North Carolina legislature passes 1st Western Land Cession Act, turning over control to Federal Govt., later rescinds act.
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May 20 – US Federal Govt. adopts New England township land survey system for Northwest Territory. It is based on 6 mile square townships, lines running north, south, east and west, townships to be 6 miles square, divided into 640 acre sections.
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June – Rev. Francis Asbury of Delaware, the representative of John Wesley, calls a convention in Baltimore, MD. to organize the Methodist Episcopal Church with Rev. Thomas Coke as Superintendent and Asbury as Bishop.
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Sept – US economic depression hits.
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Sept – Kings College in New York City reopens as Columbia College.
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Dec 21 – John Jay becomes first Secretary of State.
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Dec 27 – Methodist Church of America severs ties with Anglicans at conference in Baltimore, MD.
• World •
Jan 6 – Russia annexes Crimea in Treaty of Constantinople with Turks.
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Feb 28 – John Wesley chartered the Methodist Church in England.
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May 20 – Britain and Netherlands sign peace treaty.
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Aug – John Watt patents reciprocal steam engine in England.
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Aug 14 – Russians settle on Kodiak island, Alaska.
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Aug 16 – British create colony of New Brunswick.
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• Maury •
1784
Feb-March – Colonel William Polk, Henry Rutherford and Ezekiel Polk with 100 soldiers surveyed North Carolina Military Reserve and Established the “Commissioners Line”. (line ran east/west through present day Spring Hill, Tn.)
• Tennessee
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March – Colonel Isaac Bledsoe builds Fort at Bledsoe’s Lick (Castilian Springs), Colonel Anthony Bledsoe builds a station 3 miles away at Greenfield bend on Cumberland River.
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April – Kasper Mansker rebuilds fort at Mansker’s Station, north of Nashbrough.
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May – Colonel John Montgomery and Colonel Martin Armstrong platted City of Clarksville at mouth of Red River, named to honor General George Rogers Clark.
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May – North Carolina legislature est. Superior Court of Law for Davidson County, 24 year old Andrew Jackson appointed prosecutor.
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June – Nashville court orders that a ferry be established across the Cumberland River at the Sulpher Lick Creek branch mouth.
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June – Nashborough’s first physician arrived, Dr. James White, trained at University of Edinburgh, followed later by Dr. Mark B. Sappinton.
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July – Nashborough renamed Nashville because of disfavor of British spelling., named to honor Francis Nash, clerk to Judge Richard Henderson, killed in Battle of Germantown .
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July – Daniel Smith, pioneer and surveyor and family, settled near confluence of Drake’s Creek and Cumberland River. He served as Davidson County’s surveyor for North Carolina.
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Aug 23 – East Tennessee settlers declare independence and form state of Franklin, John Sevier as Governor.
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Sept – Fort Blount constructed at Flynn’s Lick and Cumberland River on the Walton road.
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Oct – White’s Creek, Battle of the Doe fought with Indians near Nashville.
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Dec 14 – Jonesborough made capital of State of Franklin.
22
• United States
1785
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Jan 11 – US 1st Constitutional Congress convenes in New York City.
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Jan 21 – Chippewa, Delaware and Wyandot Indians sigh peace Treaty of Fort McIntosh, ceding present day Ohio to US.
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Jan 27 – University of Georgia founded, first American state land College.
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March 10 – Thomas Jefferson appointed minister to France.
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May – North Carolina legislature est. Davidson County Court of Pleas.
•
May 20 – Land Ordnance of 1785 passed by US Congress, defines survey system, land sales of Northwest Territory townships of 6 sq miles with 36 sections per sq. mile &640 acres per section.
•
May 23 – Benjamin Franklin introduces bi-focal eye glasses.
• World
•
April – Spanish Governor reports 4000 people settled in Cumberland Valley area.
•
Nov 10 – France and Netherlands sign peace treaty.
•
•
July 6 – Congress adopts US currency as “Dollar” & decimal system .
•
Nov 17 – Church of England organized in New England.
•
Nov 18 – North Carolina est. Washington Militia district with Davidson, Washington, Greene, and Sullivan counties.
•
Nov 28 – Treaty of Hopewell signed by Cherokee and US Govt., Cherokee’s ceded land south of the Cumberland River. Choctaw and Chickasaw also signed, restores lost Indian lands in exchange for recognition of US govt. sovereignty, settlers very up set.
•
Dec – Colonel John Donelson killed in ambush along Barren River near Harrodsville, Ky. returning to Tennessee.
23
• Maury •
1785
Jan – William Cathy awarded 4000 acre land grant in present day Maury County by North Carolina legislature, Cathy was Revolutionary War veteran, land south of Duck River, Cathy’s Creek named for him.
•
Capital of State of Franklin in Greenville, TN.
•
Fall – Rachel Donelson 17, married Lewis Robards and moves to Harrodburgh, KY.
• Tennessee •
Feb – James Robertson and William Blount serve as state representatives in North Carolina legislature, traveling between Tennessee and Hillsborough, N.C.
•
March – Rachel Donelson married Lewis Robards of Lexington, Ky. She is daughter of John Donelson and Rachel Stockly.
•
April 8 – First land deeds in Nashville issued.
•
May - North Carolina legislature creates Sevier and Wayne Counties.
•
May – William Locke petitions Congress for Franklin statehood, petition denied by two votes.
•
June – Treaty of Dumpling Creek, negotiated by John Sevier, Cherokee ceded land south of Tennessee and French Broad rivers, later Cherokee denied treaty, claiming treaty was only temporary.
•
July – Office of Tobacco inspection Est.. in Davidson County.
•
Aug – State of Franklin adopts constitution.
•
Aug – James White, a Pennsylvanian settle’s on north side of Tennessee River just below mouth of French Broad River, builds a fort. Fort later becomes Knoxville.
•
Nov – Valentine Sevier and 90 settlers attempt to settle 3000 acres on “Great Bend” of Tennessee River. (Muscle Shoals, Ala.) Later abandoned because of Indian attacks.
•
Dec – William Blount elected to 2nd Continental Congress from Southwest Territory.
•
Dec 29- James Robertson and Colonel Isaac Bledsoe obtain charter for Davidson Academy, Rev. Thomas B. Craighead, Presbyterian as director, Later becomes Cumberland College and later still Nashville College.
24
• United States
1786
• World
•
•
June 19 – General Nathaniel Greene died of sunstroke in Georgia.
•
July 11 – US Congress agrees to pay $10,000 tribute to Morocco to stop attacks on American ships.
•
Aug 29 – Shay’s Rebellion begins in Springfield, Mass. over the seizure of property for non-payment of debt.
•
Oct – George Washington makes first successful attempt to breed mules in US.
•
Oct – Congress authorizes raising 1350 troops to suppress Shay’s Rebellion.
May 1 – Wolfgang Mozart opera, “The Marriage of Figaro” premiered in Vienna.
25
• Maury
1786
• Tennessee •
Jan 10 – Chickasaw Treaty cedes claims to land North of Duck River Ridge, confirming John Donelson and Martin Treaty of 1783.
•
Feb- First lawyers arrive in Nashville, Edward Dougley and Thomas Murky.
•
Aug 17 – Davy Crockett born to John and Rebecca Crockett in State of Franklin, on Nolichucky River, at confluence of Limestone Creek in East Tennessee.
26
• United States
1787
•
Jan 25 – Capt. Daniel Shay leads local militia to capture Springfield, Mass. arsenal but failed to capture.
•
Feb 4 – Shay’s Army of farmers defeated at Petersham, Mass. By General Benjamin Lincoln’s troops, Shay is captured along with 13 rebel leaders to end revolt.
•
May – John Fitch demonstrates his steamboat of Delaware River.
•
May 25 – First Constitutional Convention meets in Philadelphia to form US Republican form of Constitution with 55 delegates.
•
May 29 – The “Virginia Plan” presented, large state plan, proposes three branches of Govt.
•
June 15 – “New Jersey Plan” presented to Constitutional Convention, proposes single chamber for legislature with each state having one vote regardless of size or population.
•
July 13 – Congress under Articles of Confederation creates “Northwest Territory” with approval of Northwest Ordnance, establishes conditions for statehood in territory.
•
July 16 – Constitutional Convention has compromise proposal of “Connecticut Plan” that proposes two house legislature, one house by state and the other by population.
•
Sept 17 – Delegates to Constitutional Convention approve US Constitution with “Great Compromise”, signed by 36 delegates from 12 states.
•
Sept – First cotton factory est. in US built in Beverly, Mass.
•
Oct 26 – First of “Federalist Papers” published, series of 77 essays calling for ratification of US Constitution.
•
Dec – North Carolina legislature appoints John McNairy as the Western District Superior Court Judge, who appoints Andrew Jackson 19, as the public prosecutor of the district.
•
Dec 7 – Delaware becomes the first state to ratify US Constitution.
•
Dec 12- Pennsylvania ratified US Constitution.
• World
•
May 13 – Arthur Phillip sets sail from Great Britain with 11 ships loaded with criminals for Australia.
•
Oct – King George III declared insane in England.
27
• Maury
1787
•
April – Nashville settlers follow Indians to Davis Ford on Duck River on McCutchan Trace to Huntsville and kill several.
•
June – James Robertson leads 120 men through western Maury County (Lick Creek area) to raid Indians at Coldwater, near Tuscumbia, Alabama, killing 26.
• Tennessee •
Jan 6 – North Carolina legislature creates Sumner and Hawkins counties with Gallatin and Rogersville as county seats.
•
June – First whiskey distillery and saloon est. in Nashville, “The Red Heifer” owned by John Boyd.
•
June – Middle Tennessee first brick house (Federal two story) built by William Bowen at Mansker’s Station.
•
July – Moses Shelby and several volunteers kill at the mouth of Duck River (Waverly area) on return from Coldwater raid by Indians.
•
Aug – North Carolina legislature approves 2nd road to Nashville from Clinch Mountain, to be built by Peter Avery to shorten old route. (Avery Trace)
•
Nov – Governor of the State of Franklin, John Sevier and 300 militia attack and kill dozens of Chickamauga and Creek Indians in lower towns.
28
• United States •
1788
Jan 1 – Quakers in Pennsylvania emancipate their slaves.
•
March 21 – Fire destroys 856 buildings in New Orleans.
•
April – Judge John McNairy joins Andrew Jackson in Morganton, North Carolina to begin trip to Nashville to set up court, traveling to Jonesbourgh, TN. ,where they remain for the summer until safe to travel on Walton road.
•
June 13 – Daniel Shay, leader of rebellion pardoned.
•
June 21 – US Constitution ratified with New Hampshire as 9th state.
•
June 25 – Virginia ratifies the Constitution.
•
July 10 – North Carolina grants Elijah Robertson and Mark Robertson 5,000 acres each on Fountain Creek.
•
July 26 – New York ratifies the Constitution.
•
July 29 – North Carolina issues warrant for treason against John Sevier over State of Franklin issue.
•
Aug 17 – John Cleves Symmes and group of land speculators Est. settlement on Ohio River named Losantrike, later named Cincinnati.
•
Dec 23 – Maryland cedes 60 sq miles to Federal government for future capital of Washington D.C.
•
Dec 31 – During 1788 over 500 flatboats and Pirogues from Nashville were recorded carrying fur, grain, horses, cattle and sheep down the Ohio River to New Orleans for trade.
• World •
Jan 1 – The Times. London's oldest newspaper first published.
•
Jan 18 – First English settler’s in Australia’s Botany Bay area est. a penal colony.
•
July 15 – King Louis XVI jailed 12 Deputies who protested his Judicial reforms.
•
Sept 25 – King Louis XVI allows French Parliament to reconvene, after being dissolved for two years.
29
• Maury
•
•
•
1788
• Tennessee •
Feb – James Robertson proposes naming Middle Tennessee area the “Mero District” to honor the Spanish governor, Don Estevan Miro.
•
Feb 29 – Battle of Tipton-Hayes House in Sullivan County between opposing factions in State of Franklin leads to end of State.
•
May 9 – Major James Brown and two sons killed by Indians near Nickajack town, Joseph Brown and sister Jane Brown captured and held prisoners by Indians 17 months.
•
May – North Carolina est. Tennessee County from Davidson County.
•
June – Widow Neely and Robert Jones killed by Indians near Camp Creek Station.
•
June – Rachel Donelson Robards separates from her husband, Lewis Robards and moved back to Nashville to live with her mother.
•
July 20 – Anthony Bledsoe killed by Indians near home in present day Sumner County at Greenfield Station.
•
Sept – Judge John McNary, newly appointed judge to Davidson County arrives , Andrew Jackson appointed prosecutor boards at Mrs. Donelson house.
•
Sept 25 – New “Southern Road” from White’s Fort (Knoxville) to Nashville completed called “Avery Trace”.
•
Sept – North Carolina legislature approves the “Mero District” for Judicial Court system.
•
Oct – State of Franklin officially dissolved, North Carolina reclaims territory.
•
Oct – Brown’s Stand, 4 miles south of Nashville attacked by Indians, several killed.
•
Dec 31 – 35 people killed in Nashville area by Indians over entire year of 1788.
April – Capt. William Pruett and 20 men pursue Indians into present day Giles County, on return they are attacked at Duck River with Moses Brown, Daniel Jackson and Capt. Pruitt killed.
Typical frontier Stand
Oct 26 – Judge John McNairy and Andrew Jackson 21, arrived Nashville, Jackson takes up lodging at widow Donelson blockhouse, 10 miles north of Nashville, rooming with Judge McNairy.
30
• United States
1789
•
March 4 – George Washington elected President of United States by popular vote of 38,818 from 10 states.
•
March 7 - First US Congress under new constitution convenes in New York City.
•
April 30 – George Washington inaugurated as 1st US President.
•
Aug 7 – Congress creates US War Department.
•
Aug – Georgia legislature grants several land speculators millions of acres in Yazoo and Mississippi River valleys.
•
Sept 11 – Alexander Hamilton appointed Sec of US Treasury.
•
Sept 24 – Congress passes Judiciary Act to est. US Supreme Court, with 5 associate Justices , one Chief Justice and 13 Federal district courts.
•
Sept 25 – Congress adopts 10 amendments to US Constitution, becoming the Bill of Rights, states must ratify amendments.
•
Sept 29 – Congress authorizes creation of US Army with 1000 men and officers.
•
Oct 3 – President Washington declares first national holiday of Thanksgiving Day on Nov 26.
•
Oct – New “Bourbon” whiskey becomes popular, made from corn in Bourbon County, Kentucky (Virginia)
•
Nov 13- North Carolina ratifies US Constitution on 2nd attempt , becoming 12th state to do so.
•
Dec 22 – North Carolina cedes western territory (Tennessee) to Federal Govt., creating Territory South of Ohio River.
• World
•
April 28 – Fletcher Christian leads mutiny on HMS Bounty against Capt. William Bligh.
•
July 14 – French Revolution begins with fall of the Bastille in Paris after thousands storm walls.
•
Sept – Don Esteban Miro’ signs proclamation offering liberal land bounties to Americans near Natchez. Andrew Jackson among the first to apply and receive land grant, establishes trading post where Bayou Pierre meets Mississippi River, 30 miles above Natchez.
31
• Maury
•
1789
• Tennessee •
Jan – Colonel John Sevier negotiates exchange of Cherokee prisoner, Joseph Brown.
•
March – Andrew Jackson builds log cabin trading post on Bayou Pierre, near Natchez.
•
March – Andrew Jackson granted license to practice law in Nashville.
•
Nov 30 – John Sevier elected US Congress from Western District of North Carolina., Territory South of Ohio River.
•
Dec 21 – Georgia Governor grants the Tennessee Land Company (Zachariah Cox) 3.5 million acres on great bend of Tennessee River (Muscle Shoals) for $46,875.
March – Indians attack James Robertson at his station near Nashville. Capt. Sampson Williams and 60 men, including Andrew Jackson pursue Indians to Holland island on Duck River. Capt William McCutchan and 20 men attack from north side, several Indians killed and buried on the Island.
32
• United States
1790
•
Jan 4- George Washington delivers first State of Union address.
•
Jan – North Carolina cedes western territory for 2nd time (Tennessee) to Federal Govt.
•
Feb 2 – John Jay, First Chief Justice of US Supreme Court opens first session in New York City.
•
March 1 – Congress authorizes first US census.
•
March 22 – Thomas Jefferson becomes first US Secretary of State.
•
April 10 – US patent office Est.
•
April 21 – Benjamin Franklin died, 84
•
May 26 – Congress creates “Territory South of Ohio River”, (Kentucky and Tennessee)
•
May 29 – Rhode Island becomes last state of 13 colonies to ratify US Constitution.
•
May 31 – President Washington signs first copy write law, protecting books and maps up to 14 years.
•
July 16 – District of Columbia Est. as Capital of US Govt. by Congress.
•
Aug 1- US population census reports 3.9 million people 697,624 slaves.
•
Aug 4 – President Washington signs bill to have US Govt. assume states Revolutionary War debts.
•
Aug 10 – First US ship to sail around the world, USS Columbia, returns to Boston Harbor.
•
Oct 28 – New York gives up land claims to Vermont.
•
Dec 2 – US Capital moves from New York City to Philadelphia.
•
Dec 6 – Jason Lewis Robards appeals to Virginia legislature for divorce from his wife Rachel Donelson Robards.
•
Dec 20 – Samuel Slater begins production of first American cotton spinning mill in Pawtucket, R.I.
•
Dec 20 – Kentucky Legislature denies divorce request of Lewis Robards from Rachel Donelson Robards.
• World •
Feb 20 – Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II died, 48
•
March 27 – Shoelaces first invented.
•
Oct 23 – Slaves revolt in Haiti.
33
• Maury
•
Gov. William Blount
1790
• Tennessee
•
June 8 – William Blount appointed Governor of Territory South of Ohio River by President Washington.
•
July – Andrew Jackson escorts Rachel Donelson Robards to Natchez, home of Mr. Abace Green to escape alleged threats against her
•
Aug – Territory South of Ohio River population census reports 35,691 non-Indian population and 3,417 black slaves.
•
Oct 23 – Governor William Blount sets up residence in Jonesborough.
•
Nov – William Walton awarded contract to finish and improve road from Knoxville to Nashville. (Walton Road)
•
Dec 15 – Gov. Blount visits Nashville and James Robertson.
•
Dec 15 – Andrew Jackson sworn in as Attorney General on new US Territory South of the Ohio River.
•
Dec 31 – Tennessee Walking Horse breed begins development in Nashville Basin.
34
• United States
1791
•
Feb – President George Washington appoints John Sevier and James Robertson as Major Generals of Washington and Mero districts.
•
Feb 25 – President Washington signs bill creating Federal Bank of United States.
•
March 3 – Congress creates US Mint.
•
March 4 – Vermont becomes 14th state in Union.
•
March 30 – President Washington selects site of new District of Columbia, and US Capital, Frenchman Major Charles L’Enfant begins layout of Capital.
•
April – Congress charters First US Bank, recommended by Alexander Hamilton
•
June – Anthracite coal discovered in Pennsylvania.
•
Aug – Andrew Jackson 24, and Rachel Donelson Robards 24, married in home of Thomas Green near Natchez, Miss.
•
Sept – First successful sugar refinery opened in New Orleans.
•
Oct – First US macadamized road constructed between Lancaster and Philadelphia, Pa.
•
Nov 4 – Combined Indian forces of “Chikamaka”, Creek, Chippewa, Shawnee, Delaware, Iroquois, Miami, Wyandot, and Dakota led by Chief Little Turtle, defeated General Arthur St. Clair with 1200 men at Wabash River in Indiana near Fort Wayne, 800 killed.
•
Dec 15 – Bill of Rights (10 amendments) ratified by twothirds of states to become effective.
• World
•
June 21 – King Louis XVI of France and his family captured trying to leave the country, fleeing the French Revolution.
•
Sept 13 – King Louis XVI accepts new French Constitution.
35
• Maury
1791
• Tennessee
•
June – John Thompson, son of James & Eliz killed by Indians, south of Nashville.
•
July 2 - Treaty of Holston signed by all parties, at White’s Fort (Knoxville), ceded land southeast of Little Tennessee River and east of Clinch River , reconfirms sets Duck River Ridge as southern boundary of Nashville treaty and authorizes building a road from Knoxville to Nashville.
•
Oct – Andrew Jackson and Rachel Donelson Robards 24, return to Nashville as married couple.
•
Oct 3 – City of Knoxville platted (Whites Fort), James white holds lottery for 64 lots.
•
Nov 5 – First Tennessee newspaper, “Gazette” published in Knoxville.
36
• United States •
1792
Feb 20 – Congress re-establishes US Post Office.
•
May 17 – 24 Merchants & Brokers organize New York City first stock exchange market at 68 Wall street
•
June 5 – Kentucky admitted as 15th state of union.
•
• World
•
March 20 – French legislature approves use of guillotine for execution.
•
April 14 – France declares war on Austria, Prussia and Sardinia.
•
May – Treaty of Natchez signed by Choctaw Indians, ceding to Spanish the land around Walnut Hills (Natchez) at mouth of Yazoo River.
•
May 11 – Columbia River discovered by US Capt. Robert Gray.
•
May 16 – Denmark abolishes slave trade.
•
May 18 – Russia invades Poland.
•
June 13 – King Louis XVI dissolves French Govt.
•
Aug 13 – French Revolutionaries imprison King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
•
Sept 21 – First French Republic formed.
•
Dec 11 – King Louis XVI put on trial for treason.
July 18 – US Navy hero, John Paul Jones died in Paris, 45.
•
Oct 12 – Society of St Tammany marks first Columbus day celebration in New York.
•
Oct 13 – George Washington lays the cornerstone for the new President’s Palace. (White house)
•
Nov 25 – 1st Farmer Almanac published.
•
Dec 5 – George Washington re-elected President unopposed.
•
Dec 15 – 1st Life Insurance policy issued in Philadelphia.
37
• Maury
•
1792
• Tennessee •
Jan 18 – The three sons of Colonel Valentine Sevier, Robert, William, and Valentine and three others were ambushed by Indians and killed on the Cumberland River enroute to Nashville to answer a militia call.
•
Jan – Nashville reports two taverns, one distillery, one dry goods store, one blacksmith shop and 21 log cabins enclosed by log stockade.
•
Feb 17 – Dragging Canoe’s brother, Chief Glass attacked and killed several Nashville settler’s. Dragging Canoe died celebrating the victory, John Watts from Alabama becomes chief.
•
Feb 19 – Bledsoe’s Station attacked, killing several.
•
March – Three small girls and one boy killed by Indians at Johnson’s Fort. Four boys killed and scalped at Brown’s Station, 4 miles south of Nashville.
•
May 26 – Ziegler's Station near Nashville attacked by Indians, 5 killed, 18 taken prisoner.
•
June – Tennessee Territorial Assembly est. Knox and Jefferson Counties.
•
Aug 10 – Governor William Blount and General James Robertson meet with Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians at Robert’s Station near Nashville to negotiate treaty.
•
Sept 10 – John Gordon appointed Lieut. In Davidson County militia.
•
Sept 30 – Buchanan’s Station attacked by 500 Creek and Cherokee Indians on Mills Creek, south of Nashville, led by John Watts and followers.
•
Oct 27 – Territorial Governor William Blount appoints Isaac Roberts Lieut. Colonel , Commandant of Davison County Militia.
•
Nov – Fort Southwest Point near “Kingston” completed at junction of Tennessee and Clinch rivers by John Sevier.
•
Dec – General John Sevier est. his 640 acre farm “Marble Springs” in Knox County from North Carolina Revolutionary War land grant.
Fort Southwest Point
38
• United States •
1793
Jan 9 – Frenchman Jean Pierre Blanchard makes first hot air balloon flight in America between Philadelphia and Woodbury, New Jersey.
•
Feb 12 – Congress passes first fugitive slave act, provides for return of all runaway slaves.
•
March 2 – Sam Houston, future governor of Tennessee and President of Republic of Texas born near Lexington, Va.
•
March 21 – William Julius Polk, son of Colonel William Polk and Greselda Gilchrest born in Mecklenburg, North Carolina.
•
May – First US Federal coins minted.
•
June 10 – Washington D.C. replaces Philadelphia as US Capital.
•
Aug – Over 4000 died of Yellow Fever in Philadelphia.
•
Sept 18 – President Washington lays corner stone of US Capital building in Masonic ceremony.
•
Sept 27 – Lewis Robards filed petition of divorce of Rachel Donelson Robards in Harrodsburg on grounds of bigamy, finalized in Kentucky courts.
•
Oct 28 – Eli Whitney patents cotton gin.
• World •
Jan 21 – King Louis XVI of France guillotined in Paris.
•
Jan – Russia and Prussia sign partition treaty to divide Poland.
•
Feb 1 – France declares war on Britain and Netherlands.
•
March – “Reign of Terror” sweeps Paris in French Revolution.
•
Aug 29 – Santo Domingo (Haiti) abolishes slavery.
•
Oct – Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaws and Creeks meet at Fort Nogales with Spanish Governor Caroondelet to sign treaty of mutual assistance to dominate Louisiana and West Florida.
•
Oct 16 – Marie Antoinette guillotined in Paris.
39
• Maury
•
1793
July 2 – Nathaniel Teal, mail carrier killed at Cathy’s Creek (present day Rutherford Creek) returning from Natchez.
• Tennessee •
Feb – James Robertson discovers iron ore and begins construction of Cumberland Furnace south of Nashville.
•
March – Chickamauga and Cherokee Indians attack Buchanan’s Station near Nashville.
•
April 9 – Isaac Bledsoe killed by Indians near Daniel Smith’s Rock Castle home in cornfield at Bledsoe Lick Station near Nashville.
•
April 27 – Greenfield Station attacked by Cherokee Indians near Nashville, several killed.
•
Aug 25 – Governor Blount calls for election of Territorial Representatives and convention at White’s Fort. (Knoxville)
•
Oct – John Sevier, AKA: “Nolichucky Jack” and 700 militia attack several Creek and Cherokee towns near Rome, Ga. In retaliation for attack of Sept killing of several at Alexander Cavels Station.
•
Dec 1 – James Robertson Jr., son of General James Robertson killed by Indians along with John Grimes.
•
Dec 22 – Tennessee territorial election for General Assembly representatives held.
•
Dec 31 – Between 50 and 80 people killed by Indians over past year near Nashville. 40
• United States •
1794
• World
Jan 14 – Dr. Jessie Bennet of Edom, Va. performed first Cesarean section operation on his wife successively.
•
March 22 – Congress passes law forbidding slave trade with foreign countries.
•
March 27 – Congress approves building three frigates for US Navy, USS Constitution, USS Constellation and USS United States.
•
May 27 – Cornelius Vanderbilt born on Staten Island, N.Y. , to become owner of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and Steamship line.
•
May – Richard Allen, founded African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church in Philadelphia.
•
June 4 – Congress passes Neutrality Act, banning US citizens from serving in any foreign war.
•
June 25 – John Jays Treaty with Britain ratified by Senate, British agree to evacuate Northwest Territory by 1796 and give right to transit on Mississippi River to New Orleans.
•
July 9 – Fort Massac Est. on Ohio River near mouth of Cumberland River.
•
Feb 4 – French First Republic National Convention votes to abolish slavery in all French colonies.
•
May 6 – Haiti under L’Overture rule revolts against France.
•
June 4 – British troops capture Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
•
June 4 – Robespierre elected President of French Republic Convention.
•
July 28 – Robespierre sent to Guillotine.
•
Aug 1 – US Whiskey rebellion begins in Pennsylvania over tax on whiskey.
•
Aug – Spanish build Fort Confederation on Tombigbee River, 200 miles north of Mobile, Alabama.
•
Aug 20 – Major General “Mad” Anthony Wayne defeats combined force of Miami, Shawnee, Ottawa, Chippewa, Sauk, Potawatomi, Fox, and Iroquois Indians at Battle of Fallen Timbers in Ohio on lower Maumee River.
•
Aug 26 – France surrenders island of Corsica to British.
•
Dec 25 – Samuel Polk married Jane Knox, father and mother of future President James K Polk.
41
• Maury •
1794
Jan 7 – Capt . John Murray and 20 men pursue Indians who attacked and killed John Helen and others near Nashville across Duck River at present day Davis Ford, enroute to Tennessee River where they attacked Indians and killed 11.
• Tennessee •
Jan 1- Governor William Blount issues call to convene Territorial General Assembly in Knoxville Feb 28.
•
Jan 17 – Andrew Jackson and Rachel Donelson Robards married 2nd time in Nashville after controversial divorce of Rachel from her 1st husband, Lewis Robards.
•
April 1 – Thomas Sharp Spencer, Long Hunter died from wounds received in ambush in Van Buren County, Tn. returning from Virginia.
•
April 28 – 250 Creek and Cherokee Indians attack Greenfield Station near Nashville in Sumner County.
•
April – Tellico blockhouse constructed in Monroe County, Tn. at confluence of Tellico and Little Tennessee River.
•
May – Fort Blount constructed on Avery Trace in present day Jackson County.
•
June – Tennessee Territorial General Assembly charters Blount College (University of Tennessee), America’s first non-denominational college.
•
July 6 – Isaac Mayfield killed by Creek Indians in his cornfield in present day Brentwood.
•
Aug 5 – Joseph Brown leads 8 scouts to head waters of Elk River for purposes of finding secret route to Indian settlement at Nickajack town.
•
Aug – Tennessee Territorial General Assembly creates Sevier County with Sevierville as county seat.
•
Sept 6 – Major Ore, under orders of General James Robertson assembles 600 militia at “Brown’s Blockhouse” and proceeds to “Taylors Trace” to Black Fox’s camp (Murfreesboro) to attack and kill Indians in retaliation for Indian attacks.
•
Sept 13 – Colonel William Pillow and Major Ore and militia attack Cherokee villages at Running Waters and Nickajack town, killing 70 Cherokee.
•
Sept – Tusculum College chartered, founded by Samuel Doak.
•
Dec 28 – Governor William Blount meets with Cherokee chiefs at Tellico Blockhouse for peace treaty conference.
42
• United States •
•
1795
• World •
Jan 3 – Lithuanian Polish Republic Est. by treaty between Russia and Austria.
•
March 29 – Ludwig Beethoven 24, debuted as pianist in Vienna.
•
May – Fort San Fernando de Las Barrancas constructed by Spain on 4th Chickasaw Bluff on Mississippi River, site of present day Memphis, Tn.
•
May 15 – Napoleon Bonaparte captures Milan, Italy.
•
July 14 – “La Marseilles” adopted as French National anthem.
•
July 22 – Spain and France sign Treaty of Pyrenees, Spain cedes Santo Domingo to France.
•
Oct 4 – Napoleon Bonaparte leads troops in Paris to rout counterrevolutionary forces.
•
Oct 24 – Russia, Austria and Prussia force King Stanislovas Augustas of Poland to abdicate and divide Poland among themselves.
Feb – 11th Amendment to Constitution sent to states for ratification. (citizen in one state can’t sue another state)
May 8 – Congress re-creates US Post Office Department.
•
Aug 3 – Indian tribes sign Treaty of Fallen Timbers with “Mad” Anthony Wayne at Greenville, Ohio, ending Indian resistance in Northwest Territory.
•
Sept 5 – US pays $1 million in tribute to pirates in Tripoli to protect American shipping and release 115 hostages.
•
Sept – First flatboats from Nashville began arriving in New Orleans, Riverboat men walk back to Nashville, Kentucky and Ohio via the old Chickasaw Trace. (Natchez Trace)
•
Oct 26 – Pinckney’s Treaty signed by Spain and US, Est. southern boundary of US and right to travel on the Mississippi River . (AKA :Treaty of San Lorenzo) Spain accepts 31 degrees 30 minutes north latitude as northern boundary of West Florida, cedes Natchez district to US.
•
Nov 2 – James Knox Polk, 11th President of US, born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
•
Nov 28 – US pays $800,000 & Frigate to Algiers and Tunis as tribute for safe shipping passage.
43
• Maury
1795
• Tennessee
•
Jan – Chief William Colbert and 70 Chickasaw Indians kill and scalp five Creek Indians found on Duck River.
•
Jan 5 – Elisha Walker, mounted spy, killed by Indians 12 miles south of Nashville. (Williamson County)
•
March 3 - Edward D White believed to have been born in log cabin in present day Maury County, moved to Louisiana and becomes Governor of State, US Congressman and appointed Chief Justice US Supreme Court, died 1847
•
March – Last recorded killing of Great Eastern Bison in Tennessee.
•
April – Richard Anderson, believed to have settled near present day Kettle Mills area in Maury County.
•
June – Elijah Robertson, brother of James Robertson, founder of Nashville erected a Chestnut log cabin on old McCutcheon Trace. The log home today is located on Baptist Church road, 1.2 miles from Culleoka and owned by Mrs. Patricia Algood Junkin and her husband Bruce. She is the daughter of Mrs. Alice Algood and Colonel Reuben Algood. Log home called “Whippoorwill Hills.”
•
July 10 – Tennessee Territorial Assembly authorized building a wagon road from Knoxville to Nashville by George Walton.
•
Aug 15 – General James Robertson resigns his military appointment as General of Mero district militia after President Washington takes issue with attacking Indians at Nickajack and Running Waters towns.
•
Sept – Tennessee legislature creates Blount County and names Maryville as County seat to honor Gov. Wm. Blount's wife, Mary.
•
Nov – Walton Road between Knoxville and Nashville opened for wagons.
•
Nov – Tennessee census lists 65,338 free whites, 11,924 slaves in three county Mero district.
44
• United States
•
1796
•
March 9 – Napoleon Bonaparte married Josephine de Beauharnais.
•
April – Havana Cigars from Cuba first exported to Britain.
•
April 13 – Napoleon defeats Austrians in Battle of Millesimo, Italy.
•
May 10 – Napoleon defeats Austrians at Battle of Lodi Bridge, Italy.
•
May 14 – English physician, Edward Jenner administers first small pox vaccination to his gardener’s son, James Phipps, to demonstrate immunity to small pox.
•
Nov 7 – Catharina II, Great Czarina of Russia died, 67.
April 22 – US Supreme Court rules Federal law supersedes State law.
•
May 18 – Congress passes land act to sell public lands in Northwest Territory for $2 per acre in 640 acre parcels.
•
June – Natchez population listed as 5318.
•
June – First official US regular mail service begins between Natchez and Nashville, 550 miles.
•
July 4 – First Independence Day celebrated.
•
July 11 – US forces occupy Fort Detroit as British withdraw under terms of Jay treaty.
•
July 22 – City of Cleveland founded by General Moses Cleaveland on Lake Erie.
•
Sept 17 - President Washington delivers his “Farewell Address” to Congress to end 2nd term, warns against “entangling alliances”. +
•
• World
Dec 7 – John Adams elected President over Thomas Jefferson by electoral college, 71-68, Jefferson becomes Vice-President.
45
• Maury
•
•
•
1796
June 19 – Colonel Joseph Brown married Sally (Sarah) Thomas in Nashville, later moved into present day Maury County and built cabin on Lytle Creek.
• Tennessee •
Jan – Tennessee Constitutional Convention ends in Knoxville with adoption of proposed constitution.
•
Jan – First church erected in Nashville, Methodist log church on public lot #57.
•
March – Cumberland Iron furnace begins operation.
•
March – Tennessee County agrees to give up name to name new state.
•
April 1 – Captain John Gordon appointed Post Master of Nashville.
•
April – H. Ogden Holmes patents more efficient “Saw gin” used in Tennessee
•
May – Tennessee legislature creates Montgomery, Roberts, Grainger, and Carter Counties. Clarksville becomes County seat for Montgomery and Springfield for Roberts County, made out of Tennessee County.
•
June 1 – Tennessee admitted as 16th state in union.
•
Nov 3 – John Sevier elected first Governor of Tennessee, Andrew Jackson elected first Congressman.
•
Nov – “Rock Castle” , home of General Daniel Smith constructed along Cumberland River.
June 21 – Captain Benjamin Carter register’s Revolutionary War land grant of 3840 acres at Davidson County Register of Deeds for land located on both sides of “Carter’s Creek in present day Maury County.
Governor John Sevier
46
• United States
1797
• World
•
Jan 1 – Albany made capital of New York.
•
Jan 14 – Napoleon Bonaparte defeats Austria at Rivoli, Italy
•
Feb 8 – First coal fueled glass factory in US begins operation in Pittsburg, Pa.
•
Feb 14 – Spanish fleet destroyed by British in Battle of Cape St. Vincent.
•
March 4 – John Adams inaugurated 2nd President of US.
•
March 2 – British authorize war ships to seize neutral vessels, including American ships.
•
April- President John Adams sends troops to East Tennessee to expel settlers from un-ceded Cherokee lands, Tennessee legislature protests.
•
May 10 – First US Navy ship of war, USS United States launched.
•
June – Secretary of State, Charles Pickney reports over 300 US ships captured by French in last year.
•
June 24 – Congress orders 80,000 militia called up to defend US for possible war with France.
•
June 26 – Charles Newbold of New Jersey receives patent for cast Iron plow.
•
July 10 – Eli Terry receives American patent for clock. •
Oct 22 – First successful parachute jump from a balloon made in France by Andre Jacque Garnerin.
•
Sept 20 – US frigate “USS Constitution”, old iron sides, launched in Boston.
•
Nov 19 – Sojourner Truth, abolitionist born.
47
• Maury
1797
• Tennessee •
Feb – Fort Southwest Point construction completed on hill overlooking Clinch River and Tennessee River (Kingston) along Walton road.
•
July – Tennessee General Assembly elects Andrew Jackson as US Senator.
•
July 7 – US Congress votes to charge Senator William Blount with “High Misdemeanors” for conspiracy with British to enlist Frontiersman and Cherokee Indians to assist British to conquer Spanish Florida and Louisiana in exchange for bribe.
•
Aug – James Robertson sells Tennessee’s first Iron mill to Montgomery Bell.
•
Sept – Tennessee legislature creates Cocke County from existing Jefferson county,
•
Sept 18 - Colonel Isaac Roberts served in Tennessee General Assembly.
48
• United States •
•
1798
Jan 8 – 11th Amendment to US Constitution ratified, prevents citizen of one state from suing another state.
•
Feb 20 – French capture Rome and proclaim Roman Republic, Pope Pius VI flees Rome to Siena, later deported to France.
•
March 29 – Republic of Switzerland formed.
•
May 2 – Toussaint L'Overture, black leader in Santo Domingo (Haiti) forces British to withdraw after five years of fighting and 20,000 killed.
•
June 16 – Napoleon captures Malta.
March 30 – US takes possession of Natchez.
•
April 7 – US Congress creates Mississippi Territory.
•
April – President Adams reveals French diplomats attempted to solicited bribes in exchange for more friendly treatment in seizure of US ships in “XYZ Affair. “
•
• World
May 3 – Congress creates Department of Navy and increases Army size to 10,000 fearing war with France.
•
June 6 – Congress ends imprisonment of debtors.
•
July 1 – Napoleon captures Alexandria, Egypt.
•
June 14 – Congress passes Naturalization , Alien and Sedition Act, makes criticism of President Adams illegal, extends naturalization from 5 years to 14 years, President can expel foreigners under law.
•
July 22 – Napoleon captures Cairo, Egypt.
•
July 11 – Congress creates US Marine Corp.
•
Sept 12 - Benjamin Franklin Bache, grandson of Benjamin Franklin, arrested under Sedition Act for “Libeling” President Adams.
•
Oct – Spanish Governor of Louisiana awards Daniel Boone 850 acre land grant in northern Louisiana. (Missouri)
•
Nov 4 – Congress approves pay annual tribute to Tripoli for safe guard of US shipping.
•
Nov 20 – US ends treaty with France, ends all trade.
•
Dec – North Carolina issues 5300 land warrants in Tennessee to Revolutionary War veterans.
49
• Maury
•
1798
• Tennessee •
Feb – Family settlers, including the McEwen's, Goff's and Neely’s move to Holly Tree Gap area, Nolan's move to present day Nolensville area.
•
April – Workers digging at “Travelers Rest” near Nashville uncover ancient prehistoric Indian village and burial ground.
•
Oct 2 – 1st Treaty of Tellico signed by Cherokee, ceded land north of Little Tennessee and land between Clinch River and Cumberland River.
Summer – Nicholas Long Sr., Colonel in Revolutionary War for North Carolina died, leaving 5000 acre land grant on “Western Waters’ to his sons, Nicholas and Lunsford Long, where present day Columbia sits.
50
• United States
•
•
•
1799
March 2- Congress authorizes US Weight and Measurement Bureau.
•
Feb – Rosetta stone discovered by French archeologists in Egypt
•
March 6 – Napoleon captures Palestine.
•
March 12 – Austria declares war on France.
•
April 14 – Napoleon becomes first to call for establishing Jerusalem for the Jews.
•
May 20 – Napoleon withdraws from Egypt.
•
July 6 – Napoleon annexes Italy into his empire.
•
Aug 29 – Pope Pius VI died in Valency, France.
•
Nov 10 – A French Coup d ‘Etat places Napoleon Bonaparte in as Dictator.
•
Dec 24 – Napoleon places new French Constitution to referendum to French people for vote, making him Dictator, Constitution overwhelmingly approved.
March 28 – State of New York abolishes slavery.
June 6 – Patrick Henry died destitute in France.
•
Aug – Census shows only 368 white people live in Arkansas Territory.
•
Sept – First organized Labor union strike held in Philadelphia by Society of Cordswainers (shoemakers) for higher wages.
•
• World
Dec 14 – Former President George Washington died at Mount Vernon, 67.
51
• Maury
1799
• Tennessee
•
Oct 26 – Tennessee legislature creates Williamson County from part of Davidson County. Franklin is County seat. Smith County created, Carthage is county seat.
•
Oct 29 – Tennessee legislature creates Wilson County, Lebanon is county seat.
52
• United States
1800
•
Jan 7 – Millard Fillmore, 13th President born in Locke, New York.
•
Jan 10 – US population set at 5,308,483; Blacks 1,002,037
•
Jan 30 – US population reported at 5.3 million, 1 million slaves.
•
March – President Adams moved into unfinished “White House”.
•
April 4 – First Federal Bankruptcy Act passed by Congress.
•
April 28 – Congress est. Library of Congress.
•
May 7 – Congress divides Northwest Territory into two parts, Territory west of line from junction of Ohio and Kentucky Rivers named Indiana Territory.
•
June – “Great Revival” movement erupts in Kentucky with first revival meeting held by James McCready in Logan County, Ky.
•
Aug 30 – Gabriel Prosser leads 1000 slaves in revolt in Richmond, Va. , Prosser captured and hanged.
•
Sept – John Chapman, “Johnny Appleseed” plants Apple trees across Pennsylvania.
•
Nov 10 – Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied in electoral College for President.
•
Nov 17 – Congress holds first session in uncompleted Capital building.
•
Dec 25 – Martha Washington sets all her slaves free
• World •
Jan 1 – Dutch East India trading company dissolved.
•
Jan 8 – Austrians defeat French in 2nd Battle of Novi.
•
Jan – Napoleon appoints committee to re-write Roman law into new Civil Code.
•
March – Napoleon crosses Alps to invade Austria.
•
March 20 – French defeat Turks and re-enter Cairo, Egypt.
•
June 14 – Napoleon defeats Austria in Battle of Marengo, (Alessandria).
•
July – London population reaches 1 million
•
Sept 5 – British capture Malta.
•
Oct 1 – Spain makes secret treaty with Napoleon to transfer Louisiana Territory to France.
53
• Maury
1800
• Tennessee •
Feb 3 – First Williamson County Court meets at Franklin, authorizes several roads constructed, including one from Davidson County line to Holly Tree Gap and one from Franklin to mouth of Arrington Creek on Harpeth River.
•
March 21 – Senator William Blount died, 51.
•
April 5 – City of Franklin platted on 109 acres of Abram Maury.
•
May – Jesse and Ann Gooch Benton with 8 year old Thomas Hart Benton purchase 2500 acres in Williamson County.
•
Aug 4 – Nicholas Perkins granted license to practice law in Williamson County.
•
Aug – Tennessee population listed as 105,602,with 13, 584 slaves, Davidson County at 9965, Nashville at 345.
•
Nov – Mrs. Ann Benton, widow and her family relocates to Williamson County, originally called Benton Town , later Hillsboro and today Leipers Fork. Her son Thomas Hart Benton taught school in Maury County and Williamson County before moving to Missouri and becoming US Senator.
54
• United States
1801
•
Feb 4 – John Marshall appointed US Supreme Court Chief Justice.
•
Feb 17 – House of Representatives elects Thomas Jefferson President of US and Aaron Burr Vice-President on 35th ballot.
•
Feb 28 – Washington DC places under control of US Congress.
•
March 4 – Thomas Jefferson inaugurated 3rd US President.
•
April 21 – Eleuthere Irenie du Pont files for incorporation in Delaware to manufacture gun powder on Brandywine River.
•
June 1 – Brigham Young, Mormon Church leader born in Whitinghan, VT.
•
Aug 1 – US Navy schooner “Enterprise” defeats Tripoli Barbary pirates.
•
Aug 6 – 20,000 people show up for revival at Cane Ridge, KY., called by Barton Stone.
•
Aug 21 – Mastodon bones first uncovered in Newburgh, NY.
•
Sept – Philadelphia gets first drinking water through steam powered aqueduct pumping system.
•
• World •
Jan 1 – Ireland and Great Britain join together to form the “United Kingdom.”
•
March 24 – Alexander Romanov became Emperor of Russia
•
May 14 - Pasha Yusuf of Tripoli declares war on US, demands tribute.
•
June 10 – Tripoli declared war on US over failure to pay tribute for shipping.
•
June 14 – Benedict Arnold died in London.
•
July 7 – Toussaint L'Overture declares Haiti independent.
•
July 16 – Pope Pius VII and Napoleon sign accord.
•
Aug – Robert Fulton completes construction of submarine “Nautilus” at Breast, Ireland.
•
Oct 6 – Napoleon Bonaparte imposes new constitution on Holland.
Oct – Chickasaw Indians sign Treaty granting US right to build road through Mississippi Territory on Natchez Trace .
55
• Maury
•
•
1801
Spring – Tennessee legislature extended Williamson County line south to include Indian lands to southern state line.
• Tennessee
•
Spring – “Cumberland Road’ or “Walton Road’ between Southwest point and “Avery Trace“ at Carthage completed by George Walton.
•
April – Tennessee legislature creates Anderson, Claiborne, Jackson and Roane Counties.
•
July 5 – David Farragut born in Knoxville, TN., Admiral in Union Navy during Civil War.
Nov – US Army begins construction of improvements on Natchez Trace between Duck River Ridge and Duck River, on what is identified as the “Columbia Road.”
56
• United States
•
1802 •
Jan – Napoleon Bonaparte sends 35,000 French troops to Santo Domingo to put down Toussant L'Overture slave revolt.
•
Jan 25 – Napoleon elected President of Italy.
•
March 27 - France, Netherlands, Spain and England sign Peace Treaty of Amiens, ending European War and lifting US trade sanctions.
•
Aug 25 – Toussaint L'Overture captured and imprisoned in France.
•
Oct – Spanish Governor of Louisiana withdraws right of transit on Mississippi River at New Orleans to American traders, breaking Treaty of San Lorenzo.
March 16 – Congress Est. West Point military academy, US Army Corp of Engineers.
•
April 24 – Georgia cedes all western land claims, including Yazoo lands to Federal Govt.
•
May 3 – Washington DC incorporated as city.
•
May 22 – Martha Washington died, 70.
•
• World
Oct – Kentucky Presbyterian Synod and Middle Tennessee Presbytery withdrew from Transylvania Presbytery and to later form the Cumberland Presbytery.
57
• Maury
•
•
1802
Spring – Adam and Eve Ligget Derryberry settle and build log cabin near present day Joe Brown and Lasea Road in Maury County, structure still standing.
Summer – Benjamin Smith settle’s near Natchez Trace at present day Santa Fe.
• Tennessee
•
Spring – Nicholas and John Perkins open a Dry Goods store in Franklin.
•
May – Andrew Jackson elected Major General of Tennessee militia.
•
Summer – Capt. Edmund Pendleton Gaines surveyed and marked Natchez Trace for improvements.
58
• United States
1803
•
Feb 28 – US Supreme Court rules Congressional Judicial Act of 1789 is unconstitutional, making the US Supreme court the final highest authority of the constitution.
•
March 1 – Ohio becomes 17th state in union.
•
March – City of Natchez incorporated.
•
April 30 – US purchased Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million.
•
May 22 – First US public library opened in Connecticut.
•
Aug 31 – Capt. Meriwether Lewis 29, leaves Pittsburgh with small band of men and a Newfoundland dog on first day of the Journey of Discovery, arrives in Kentucky to join William Clark.
•
Oct 2 – Samuel Adams, former Gov. of Massachusetts and TEA Party leader died.
•
Oct 22 – State of Tennessee purchased license form Eli Whitney to operate Cotton gins, called “Saw –Gin.”
•
Oct 25 – Tennessee legislature creates Dickson County, Charlotte is county seat, Rutherford County, Murfreesboro is county seat, and Stewart County with Dover as county seat.
•
Nov 5 – John Sevier elected Governor of Tn.
•
Dec 9 – Congress passes law requiring Electoral College to vote separately for President and Vice-President.
• World •
Feb 25 – 1800 separate sovereign German states unite into 60 states.
•
April 19 – Spain reopens Mississippi River and New Orleans to American trade.
•
April – Denmark bans slave trade.
•
May 18 – Britain declares war on France.
•
Dec 20 – France formally transfers ownership of Louisiana Territory to US in New Orleans.
59
• Maury
1803
• Tennessee
60
• United States
1804
•
Feb 16 – Lieut. Stephen Decatur successfully leads a raiding party into Tripoli harbor to burn US Navel Frigate, “Philadelphia”, captured by Tripoli pirates.
•
March – Wahabi’s Moslems capture all of Arabia.
•
May 14 – Lewis and Clark leave St Louis with Corp of Discovery, 55 foot keel boat and two Piraguas (large canoes)
•
June 15 – 12th Amendment to US Constitution ratified, remove any possible election tie between Presidential and Vice- President.
•
July 4 – Nathaniel Hawthorne, American novelist born in Salem, Mass.
•
July 11 – Aaron Burr kills Alexander Hamilton in duel.
•
Sept 5 – US Navy and Marines battles Barbary pirates of Tripoli, burn captured USS Philadelphia.
•
Sept 25 – 12th Amendment to US constitution ratified, requires electors to vote separately of Pres. And Vice-Pres.
•
Oct 27 – Lewis and Clark arrive at Mandan villages at upper Missouri River.
•
Dec 1 – Fort Dearborn erected on Chicago River, later becomes city of Chicago.
•
Dec 5 – Thomas Jefferson re-elected President..
•
Dec – John Ditto Est. “Ditto Landing” on Tennessee River in present day Madison County, Alabama, US makes it a “Port of Entry” for receiving and inspecting flour sent to area.
•
Dec – Barton Warren Stone and six Presbyterian ministers including Alexander Campbell were accused of “Arminianism” resigned from Kentucky Synod and adopted name “Christian Church” and took bible as their guide and, rejected church hierarchy, contended salvation open to all who believe in Christ and each congregation govern their own church. (Church of Christ)
• World •
Jan 1 – Jean-Jacques Dessalines proclaimed Republic of Haiti independent of France.
•
March 21 – Napoleonic Civil Code adopted by France.
•
May 18 – French Senate proclaims Napoleon Bonaparte Emperor.
•
Dec 2 – Napoleon Bonaparte married Josephine, declares himself Emperor of France.
61
• Maury
•
•
1804
• Tennessee
Spring – Joseph Brown moves into present day Maury County, builds log home on Lytle Creek. •
Spring – First official sanctioned “Jockey Club” horse race held in Gallatin, TN.
•
Sept – Sept 4 – Sarah Childress, future wife of President James K Polk born in Murfreesboro, Tn.
•
Nov – Andrew Jackson purchased first “Hermitage” farm of 125 acres with log home near Nashville.
Summer – John Gordon Est. ferry across Duck River at Natchez Trace crossing, builds home there.
62
• United States
1805
•
Feb 17 – New Orleans incorporated as city.
•
March – Aaron Burr begins journey down Ohio River secret trip to New Orleans.
• •
March 3 – Louisiana and Missouri territory Est. by Congress.
•
March 4 – Thomas Jefferson inaugurated as President for 2nd term.
•
April 26 – Lewis and Clark reach mouth of Yellowstone River.
•
July 1 – Congress Est. Michigan Territory.
•
July 23 – Chickasaw Chiefs sign treaty, ceded land from Ohio River to mouth of Tennessee River, up left bank of Duck River to Columbia Highway (Natchez Trace), thence along a ridge between Duck River and Buffalo River, thence a direct line west to Tennessee River near old Chickasaw fields.
•
July 25 – Aaron Burr arrives in New Orleans and is alleged to be secretly attempting to form separate country west of Mississippi River.
•
• World
Nov 7 – Lewis and Clark reach Pacific ocean at mouth of Columbia River in Oregon, build Fort Disappointment.
•
May 26 – Napoleon crowned King of Italy.
•
June 4 – Pasha of Tripoli signs Treaty to end war with US.
•
Oct 21 – British Admiral Horaito Nelson defeats French and Spanish fleet at Trafalgar, died in battle.
•
Dec 2 – Napoleon defeats Czar Alexander and Russian Army at Austerlitz, Moravia.
•
Dec 6 – Nicholas Conti died, French inventor of pencil.
•
Dec 23 – Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism born in Sharon, VT.
•
Dec 26 – French and Austria sign peace Treaty of Pressburg.
63
• Maury
•
•
•
•
1805
Spring – William Kersey founded Lodibar near Natchez Trace (Kinderhook).
• Tennessee
•
Spring – Chief Doublehead signed 2nd Treaty of Tellico, ceded all Cherokee claims to upper Cumberland lands in exchange for personal gifts, later tomahawked to death by Major Ridge and others.
•
April 18 – US Congress charters Davidson College in Nashville.
•
Oct 25 – Chickasaw Indians sign 2nd Treaty of Tellico, ceding land north of Duck River.
•
Oct 27 – Creek Indians sign 2nd Treaty of Tellico, ceding land north of Duck River.
•
Nov 16 – Choctaw Indians sign Treaty ceding land north of Duck river.
•
Nov – General Griffith Rutherford 85, died. He was Indian fighter, Brigadier General in Revolutionary War, surveyor of Middle Tennessee.
•
Dec – 3rd Treaty of Tellico signed by Cherokee, cedes all land north of Duck River and extended line to Tennessee River, including Cumberland Plateau.
Spring – Goshen log church erected near Santa Fe on land donated by John Fly.
Summer – Solomon Bunch builds mill on Cathy’s Creek (Greens Mill on Rutherford Creek) at Lanton.
Fall – Ebenezer Presbyterian Church (AKA: Reese’s Chapel) est. 9 miles south of Columbia on Campbellesville Pike. 2 acres of land donated by James Reese, Revolutionary War veteran from North Carolina, church burned April 12, 1885.
64
• United States •
•
1806
Jan 6 – Cherokee Indians sign “Dearborn Treaty” in Washington DC, ceded land north of Tennessee River. Chief Doublehead awarded 100 sq miles of land on north bank of Tennessee River at Muscle Shoals.
March 29 – President Jefferson commissioned National Road, 1st Interstate highway.
• World •
Jan 8 – Cape of Good Hope Colony becomes English possession.
•
Jan 30 – Prussia takes control of Hanover, Bavaria declared a Kingdom, Max Joseph crowned.
•
March – Joseph Bonaparte made King of Naples.
•
April 5 – Isaac Quintard patents Apple Cider.
•
April 10 – Leonidas Polk, 2nd son of Colonel William Polk born in Raleigh, North Carolina.
•
April 18 – Davidson College re-chartered as Cumberland College, James Priestly, President.
•
Spring – Nashville incorporated as city.
•
May – US Federal Govt. recognizes Tennessee Jurisdiction of land grants as well as North Carolina land grants in Tennessee. • May 30 – Andrew Jackson kills Charles Dickenson just over Kentucky state line in duel at Harrison’s Mill near Red River, Jackson severely wounded.
June 5 – Batavian Republic becomes Kingdom of Holland.
•
•
June 27 – British capture Buenos Aires.
July – Former Vice President Aaron Burr makes return trip down Ohio River with 60 followers, General Wilkerson writes President Jefferson of Burr conspiracy. (General Wilkerson later proven to be a paid spy for Spain)
•
Aug 6 – Holy Roman Empire ceases to exist with abdication of Emperor Francis I.
•
Oct 14 – French defeat Prussia in Battle of Averstadt.
•
Oct 17 – Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Emperor of Haiti assassinated.
•
Nov 21 – Emperor Napoleon I bans all trade with England.
•
•
Sept 23 – Lewis and Clark expedition returns to St. Louis after three year trek by Corps of Discovery.
•
Nov – President Jefferson issues order for Aaron Burr arrest for treason involved in conspiracy against Spain.
•
Nov 12 – Aaron Burr with his attorney, Henry Clay appears in Frankfort, Ky. Federal Court Grand Jury hearing for treason, charges withdrawn when witness, General James Wilkerson fled.
•
Nov 15 – Explorer Zebulon Pike discovers “Pike’s Peak” in Colorado.
•
Dec – Treaty of Washington signed by Cherokee, ceded land south of Duck River to state line for $14,000 , a cotton gin, and $100 annual annuity for Chief Black Fox.
•
Dec 20 – Aaron Burr arrested for treason in Natchez, departs in flat boat under guard to New Orleans, transported to Virginia for trial.
65
• Maury
1806
•
Spring – Capt. John D Love and wife, Susanna, early Maury County settler and the area’s first miller built his mill on Fountain Creek, where J.O. Cheek Mill later stood..
•
Spring – Samuel Polk and family move into present day Maury County, near Ezekiel Polk’s homestead on Rutherford Creek, 8 year old James K Polk with them.
•
April – George Cockburn (Coburn) builds a story and half log stand near northeast corner of old Columbia city limits to operate a ferry across Duck River.
•
June 8 – Gideon Johnson Pillow born in present day northern Maury County, then part of Williamson County.
•
Summer – Lemuel Prewett purchased 1000 acres along Fountain Creek for settlement. (Later becomes site for Fountain Creek Mill and the old Turnhill farm site, owned by James I Finney Sr., former editor of Daily Herald)
•
• Tennessee
•
March – Williamson County erects first brick courthouse in Franklin, TN.
•
April 3 – Andrew Jackson’s Thoroughbred “Truxton” races Capt. Erwin’s “Ploughboy” in two out of three match race at Cloverbottom race track near Lebanon road and Stone’s River crossing.
•
May 31 – Andrew Jackson severely wounded by Charles Dickenson in duel, recovers at Hermitage.
•
Aug 14 – Davy Crockett married Mary ‘”Polly” Finley in Jefferson County, Tn.
•
Fall – Tennessee legislature passes Cession Act, requires state set aside 100,000 acres of land for two colleges and reserve of 100,000 acres for purpose of Est. a academy in each county.
•
Sept – Aaron Burr visits Andrew Jackson at Hermitage enroute to New Orleans.
•
Oct – Capt. Fort visits Andrew Jackson at Hermitage and reveals Aaron Burr’s plan to invade Texas to establish a republic, Jackson informs President Jefferson.
Dec – First Zion Society members arrived in present day Maury County to survey center of 5000 acre land purchased from estate of General Nathaniel Greene to build first Zion log church.
66
•Middle Tennessee Settlements
67
• United States •
1807
• World
Jan 19 – Robert E Lee, Confederate General born in Stratford, Virginia.
•
Feb 27 – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American Poet, born in Portland, Maine.
•
March 2 – Congress passes law prohibiting the importation of slaves.
•
Aug 3 – Aaron Burr trial for treason begins in Richmond, Virginia, later acquitted, moves to France.
•
Aug 17 – The 150 foot steamboat, “Clermont” built by Robert Fulton begins round trip from New York City to Albany in 32 hours.
•
Sept. – Seth Thomas and Eli Terry begin production of large scale clocks with interchangeable parts in Connecticut.
•
Dec 22 – President Jefferson signs Embargo Act, forbids American ships to carry foreign goods, stops all trade with British and French.
•
Jan 28 – London introduces 1st gas street lighting.
•
Feb 8 – Napoleon defeats Russians at Battle of Eylau.
•
March 5 – First performance of Ludwig Von Beethoven’s 4th Symphony given.
•
March 25 – First railroad passenger service begins in England.
•
June 14 – Napoleon defeats Russians in Battle of Friesland.
•
June 22 – British warship HMS Leopard fires upon USS Chesapeake, boards ship and removes alleged British deserters.
•
July 7 – France, Russia and Prussia sign Treaty of Tilst, Prussia cedes Poland and Westphalia.
68