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

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Petition Number 42, Year 1841_

[Notes on envelope show that it was addressed to Hon. G. W. Rowles, House of Representatives, and marked as a “Petition from certain citizens of Polk & Bradly counties, praying a partial alteration of the county lines.” The clerk’s note shows that it was heard in the House on Nov. 29, 1841, and was read and refered to the Committee on New Counties & County lines. Signed by Jno. Blevins, Assistant Clerk”.

To the Honerable General Assembly of the State of Tennessee

Your memorialists Citizens of Bradley County and living closely adjacent to the line of Polk County humbly represent to your honerable body that they labor under many and serious disadvantages in consequence of the present location of the lines dividing the two Counties of Polk and Bradley which will be better unders[t]ood by the Honerable General Assembly when your memorialists states that their farms are at present in both Counties, the County line running nearly in the centre of the sections for nearly fourteen miles, it being the line dividing the first and second Ranges East. Your Memorialist would further state that by the arraingements of the School Sections of the two Counties which is made to corespond exactly with the Township lines, your memorialists are completely excluded from the School Sections of either County and they are thus deprived of their right of the benefit in that fund which is in the wisdom of the legislature was given for the education of _all_ the Children in the State.

And the disadvantage which your memorialists labor under is that their lands being divided by the County lines imposes on them the necessity of listing their property and Setling their taxes with the revenue collectors of both Counties and under all the circumstances your memorialists feel assured that the honorable General Assembly will grant them relief [underlined] in the premises.

They therefore humbly sugjest and prey that the County line deviding the two Counties be mad[e] to conform to the Range line. Beginning with it on the Georgia line which is within about one mile of the present County line (near the Boat yard), and continuing with the range line till it Strikes the road near Armstrong’s ferry on the Hiwassee River. Thence with the line as it now is.

The following is a map of the Range line and the present County line.

[Small map follows, shows Georgia line and Boat Yard, Foreman place, and Hiwassee River]

Petition to Move Polk / Bradley County Line (continued)

I do hereby certify that the I run and marked the line deviding the Counties of Bradley and Polk under an act of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee. Acts 1839 & 1840 chapt. 10, Sect. 18, and that the above map is correct. Given under my had this 29th day of Oct. 1841.

James McKamy

Citizens of Interested Persons Citizens of Bradley County Polk County