Cocke County, Tennessee
Ramsey's Annals of Tennessee

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Washington County was laid off Nov., 1777, with the following boundries: Beginning at the north-westwardly point of the County of Wilkes, in the Virginia Line; thence, with the line of Wilkes County, to a point twenty-six miles south of the Virginia line; thence, due west to the ridge of the Great Iron Mountain, which, heretofore, divided the hunting-grounds of the Overhill Cherokees, from those of the Middle Settlements and Vallies; thence, running a southwardly course along the said ridge, to the Uneca Mountain, where the trading-path crosses the same, from the Valley to the Overhills; thence, south, with the line of this State adjoining the State of South-Carolina; thence, due west to the great River Mississippi; thence, up the same river to a point due west from the beginning.

Sullivan County is made to begin on the Steep Rock; thence, along the dividing ridge that separates the waters of the Great Kenhawa and Tennessee (?) to the head of Indian Creek; thence, along the ridge that divides the waters of Holston and Watauga; thence, a direct line to the highest part of the Chimney-Top Mountain, at the Indian boundary. Sullivan County is that part of Washington, which lately was north of this line.

The line dividing Washington from Greene, began at William Williams's, in the fork of Horse Creek, at the foot of the Iron Mountain; thence, a direct course to George Gillespie's house, at or near the mouth of Big Limestone; thence, a north course to the line which divides the Counties of Washington and Sullivan; thence, with the said line to the Chimney-Top Mountain; thence, a direct course to the mouth of Cloud's Creek, on Holston River. That part of Washington which lay to the west of this line, was, thenceforward, to be the County of Greene.

Davidson County - The boundaries of Davidson county were as follow: Beginning on the top of Cumberland Mountain, where the Virginia line crosses it; extending westwardly along said line to the Tennessee River; thence, up said river to the mouth of Duck River; thence, up Duck River, to where the line of marked trees run by the Commissioners for laying off the land granted to the Continental line of North-Carolina intersects said river, which said line is supposed to be in thirty-five degrees, fifty minutes, north latitude; thence, east, along said line to the top of Cumberland Mountain; thence, northwardly, along said line to the beginning.

Sumner County - The line of division began where the county line crosses the west fork of Stone's River; thence, a direct line to the mouth of Drake's Lick Creek; thence, down Cumberland River to the mouth of Kasper's Creek; thence, up said creek to the head of the War Trace Fork; thence, a northwardly course to the Virginia line, at a point that will leave Red River Old Station one mile to the east. That part of Davidson County that lay east of this line, was to belong to Sumner County.

Hawking County was formed by dividing Sullivan. The divisional line began where the boundary line between Virginia and North-Carolina crosses the North Fork of Holston; thence, down said fork to its junction with the main Holston; thence, across said river, due south, to the top of Bay's Mountain; thence, along the top of said mountain to the top of the dividing ridge between the waters of the Holston and French Broad, to its junction with Holston River; thence, down the said River Holston to its junction with the Tennessee; thence, down the same to the Suck, where said river runs through the Cumberland Mountain; thence, along the top of said mountain to the aforesaid boundary line, and thence along said line to the beginning. All that part of the territory lying west of the north fork of Holston, was erected into the county of Hawkins.

Tennessee County - Beginning on the Virginia line; thence, south, along Sumner County to the dividing ridge between Cumberland River and Red River; thence, westwardly, along said ridge to the head of the main south branch of Sycamore Creek; thence, down the said branch to the mouth thereof; thence, due south across Cumberland River to Davidson County line. All that part of Davidson County, west of this line, was erected into a county called Tennessee.

Jefferson County - The line follows. Beginning on Nollichucky River at the place where the ridge, which divides the waters of Bent and Lick Creek, strikes it; thence, with that ridge to Bull's Gap of Bay's Mountain; thence, a direct line to the place where the road that leads from Dodson's Ford to Perkin's Iron Works, crosses the watery fork of Bent Creek; thence, down that road to the head of Panther Creek; down the meanders of that creek to the River Holston: thence, a north-west course to the River Clinch. Again: from Nollichucky River, where the ridge that divides the waters of Bent and Lick Creek strikes it, a direct course to Peter Fine's Ferry, on French Broad; thence, south, to the ridge that divides the waters of French Broad and Big Pigeon, and, with said ridge, to the eastern boundary of the territory. Southward and westward of the line thus described, two new counties were to be established. The one, Jefferson County, to be butted and bounded by the above line, from the eastern boundary of the territory, to the River Holston, and down that stream to the mouth of Creswell's Mill Creek; thence, a direct line to the mouth of Dumplin Creek, on French Broad; thence, up the meanders of French Broad, to the mouth of Boyd's Creek; thence, south, twenty-five de grees east, to the ridge which divides the waters of Little Pigeon and Boyd's Creek; and, with the said ridge, to the Indian boundary, or the eastern bounding of the territory, as the case may be, and by the eastern boundary.

Knox County - The other county, Knox, to be butted and bounded by the lines of Jefferson county, from the mouth of Creswell's Mill Creek, to the eastern boundary of the territory, or the Indian boundary, as the case may be. Again: from the mouth of the said Creek, up the meanders of the River Holston, to the mouth of Panther Creek; thence, north-west, to the River Clinch; thence, by the River Clinch to the place where the line that shall cross Holston at the ridge that divides the waters of Little River and Tennessee, according to the treaty of Holston, shall strike it, and by that line.

Extension of Limits of Knox County - In consequence of the cession of Cherokee lands at the Tellico Treaty, the Knox county line was extended from the end of Clinch Mountain "a north-west course to Clinch River; down that river, opposite the end of the Cross Mountain; thence, with said mountain, to the Indian boundary at Cumberland Mountain, and with the Cumberland Mountain, agreeable to the Treaty of Tellico, to Emery's River; thence, down its meanders to the River Clinch, and down the same to the point where the line of the said treaty strikes it, and with that line to the Tennessee; thence, up the meanders of the same to the point formed by the junction of the Holston therewith; thence, up the meanders of the Holston, on the south side, to the mouth of Little River".

Sevier County - Beginning on the eastern boundary of this territory from thence, a direct line to the ridge that divides the waters of Little from the waters of Big Pigeon; thence, along the same to the head of Muddy Creek; thence, a direct line to the lower end of an island in French Broad River, formerly known by the name of Hubbert's Island; thence, a direct line to the mouth of Creswell's Mill Creek; thence, with the Knox County line to the top of Bay's Mountain; thence, along the said mountain, to where the French Broad runs

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through the same; thence, along the said mountain, and with the extreme height thereof, to the place where the ridge dividing the waters of French Broad from those of Little River, intersects the same; thence, with said ridge to the Pigeon Mountain; thence, along said mountain to the Indian boundary, and with the same to the eastern boundary of the territory; thence, to the beginning.

Blount County - The line began on the south side of the River Holston, at the mouth of Little River; thence, up its meanders, on the south side, to the mouth of Stock Creek; thence, up its meanders, on the south side, to the head of Nicholas Bartlett's mill-pond, at high water; thence, a direct line to the top of Bay's Mountain, leaving the house of James Willis to the right, within forty rods of the same line; thence, along Bay's Mountain, to the line of Sevier County; thence, with that line, to the eastern boundary of the territory; thence, southwardly, to the line of the Indian boundary, according to the Treaty of Holston, and with that line, to the River Holston, and up its meanders, on the south side, to the beginning.

Carter County - Beginning on the North-Carolina line, at a point from which a line, to be drawn due north, will strike the house of George Haines; thence, the nearest direction to the top of Buffalo Mountain; thence, along the heights of the said mountain, to the high knob on the same, near the north end thereof; thence, a direct line to the house where Jonathan Tipton, Jr., now lives, leaving said house in Washington County; thence, a direct line, to the south bank of Watauga River, at Jeremiah Dugan's Ford; thence, due north, to the Sullivan line. All the territory, east of this boundary, was established as Carter County.

Grainger County - Beginning on the Main Road, leading from Bull's Gap to Haine's iron works, on Mossy Creek, at the house of Felps Read; running a direct course to the Kentucky road, on the north side of Holston River: thence, north, fifty degrees west, to the Virginia line; thence, west, with said line, to a point north-west of the end of Clinch Mountain; thence, a direct course, to the end of Clinch Mountain; thence, with the ridge that divides the waters of Richland and Flat Creek, to Holston River, at the upper end of the first bluff above Boyle's old place; thence, up the meanders of the river to the mouth of Panther Creek; thence, up said creek to the head spring thereof, near the house of John Evans; thence, along the main wagon road, to the beginning.

Montgomery and Robertson Counties were formed out of Tennessee County, by a line beginning at the upper end of the first bluff, above James McFarlin's, on Red River, near Alien's cabins; running from thence, a direct course to the Sulphur Fork, a quarter of a mile below Elias's Forts; thence, up the creek, as it meanders to the mouth of Brush Creek; thence, up the same, as it meanders to the head; thence, a direct course to the Davidson County line, at the mouth of Sycamore Creek; thence, with the Davidson line, up said creek, to the Sumner County line; thence, with the extreme height of the dividing ridge, eastwardly, to the Kentucky road, leading from Nashville; thence, northwardly, with said road, to the Kentucky State line; thence, west, with said line, to such place as a south-east course, leaving Joseph French in the lower county, will strike the beginning. Within this boundary was established the new County of Robertson. The remaining part of Tennessee County was to become a separate county, by the name of Montgomery.

Cocke County - Beginning on the North-Carolina boundary, on the south side of French Broad River, one mile from said river; thence, down the river, one mile, to where it intersects the line of Greene County; thence, with that line, to Nollichucky River, a small distance below Captain William White's house; thence, down the said river, to French Broad, leaving all the islands to Jefferson County; thence, down

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French Broad, in the same manner, to the bent of said river, opposite Colonel Parmenas Taylor's; and, from thence, a direct line, to the top of English's Mountain, within one mile of Sevier County line; thence, parallel with that line, to the uppermost house on Cozby's Creek; and, from thence, an easterly line, to a point on the boundary line of North-Carolina, as to leave six hundred and twenty-five square miles in Jefferson County; and, from thence, with the North-Carolina line, to the beginning.

Smith County - Beginning upon the south bank of Cumberland River, at the south end of the eastern boundary of Sumner County; thence, north, with the said eastern boundary, to the northern boundary of the State; and, with the said boundary, east, to where it is intersected by the Cherokee boundary; thence, with that boundary, to the Cany Fork of Cumberland River; thence, with said fork, according to its meanders, to the mouth thereof; thence, down the south bank of Cumberland River, according to its meanders, to the beginning.

Wilson County - Beginning upon the south bank of the River Cumberland, at low water mark, at the mouth of Drake's Lick Branch, the north-eastern corner of Davidson County; thence, with the line of Davidson County, to the Cherokee boundary, and, with said boundary, to the Cany Fork; and, down the Cany Fork, according to its meanders, to the mouth thereof; thence, down the meanders of Cumberland River, by the south bank, to the beginning.

Williamson County - Beginning at a point forty poles due north of the dwelling-house of Thomas McCrory, on the waters of Little Harpeth; running, thence, east, two miles and one hundred and four poles; thence, south, seventy degrees, east, sixteen miles and two hundred and seventy poles; thence, due east sixteen miles and two hundred and seventy poles; thence, due south to the Indian boundary; thence, with said line, westwardly, to the Robertson County line; thence, with that line, north, to a point due west from the mouth of Little Harpeth; thence, a direct line to a point on South Harpeth, south-west from the mouth of said Little Harpeth; thence, north-east, to the mouth of said little Harpeth; thence, a direct line to the beginning.

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