Transcribed from microfilm and contributed by: Charles A. Sherrill, 1992
A project of the Bradley County Historical Society

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Petition Number 145, Year 1839_

[Envelope postmarked Columbus, Tenn. Oct. 12, addressed to John F. Gillespy, Esqr., Nashville, Tenn. The Clerk has noted “Petition of Zachariah Rose praying that act making Ocoee River navigable be repealed. Bradley 1839.]

Your constituent To the legislature of 1839 where assembled Would represent to your honorable body that from our local situation in Bradley County especially near the Ocoee River we suffer a great ill convenience in consequence of having no streams of sufficient size for grist mills and other machinery by which the settlers are compelled to go from ten to thirty miles to mill or pulverize their corn with a pestle as many have had to do in this vicinity until recently,[.] [A]nd Fry and Cate have erected a mill on Sd river below the point to which it is declared navigable that grinds from 60 to 80 bushels of grain per day without which the settlers must suffer for bread.

And your body is well assured that the settlers on the above named river has paid for the channel of it as high as any other part of their farms and all we ask is the use of the water. As the river is not really navigable at all affording but little water and obstructed with numerous falls and shoals and if improved, to control[?] the channel in a narrow space would spoil all the fords and put the people to considerable expense and trouble crossing the river to cultivate their farms each planter being compelled to keep a boat,[.]

A]nd the river declared navigable about six geographicks[?] miles, public interest of the people is, that your honorable body repeal an act passed 17th January 1838 declaring sd river navigable from its mouth to Samuel Pharis.

Mr. Shields (who lives in Columbus) is building a mill up at the mountain and who as the circumstances would demonstrate is actuated by private or personal interest has gotten up a petition to send on to your honorable body to have the river cleared out as though the legislature had not appointed commissioners to superintend the same,[.] [P]lainly betraying the scheme, he has obtained some adherents near that place by promising them if they sign sd petition it will be one means of drawing the County Cite of the new County up there and I supposed has got John Austin to go on to Nashville to attend to the scheme[.] [A]nd they have assumed the privilege to put down names of men without their consent. Example I heard John Cromwell say that John Shields had put down his name in the above manner he stated it in presents

[sic] of Erby Boyd and others.

From what I have said I have not intended it as instructions but that you may make your selves acquainted with our situation and the commotion in our Country. There is a considerable agitation relative to preferences. I need not say much because Col. McMillan is well acquainted with our situation that in most all cases improved land is occupied by men whom the setlers have hired or by those who are squatting about to get pay for their indel–ce[?]. Make your selves acquainted with our situation and we have no doubt in your attending to our interest as our representatives. Excuse the defor—chy[?] of this letter. Receive for yourselves my utmost esteem. Respectfully, Z. Rose

Firby[?] Gilespie, Esq.

Col. Joseph McMillan

James Walker, Esq.

N.B. There will be forwarded a petition in a few days with four or five hundred petitioners names requesting your body to repeal the above recited act.