Rhea County, TN Private Acts: 1819

Compiled by the County Technical Assistance Service

NOTE: The CTAS compilation includes many acts which are not necessarily of interest to the family history researcher. Therefore, this page will list only those acts which involve county boundaries, boundary changes and acts which pertain to individuals.

ACTS OF 1819

Chapter 38, Page 46, incorporated the citizens of Washington in Rhea County under the Mayor-Alderman type of government subject to the same rules and regulations enacted for Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Chapter 3, Section 1. That the boundary lines of the county of Rhea, shall be as follows to wit: beginning at the mouth of the first creek above the Cherokee Agency, that empties into Hiwassee River, on the north bank; thence down the said river to its confluence with the Tennessee River; thence down said river including Jollys Island in said county, to the line of the county of Hamilton; thence with the line of Hamilton county to the Bledsoe county line; thence with said county of Bledsoe to the county of Morgan; thence with said county of Morgan to the county of Roane; thence with the line of the county of Roane to Whites Creek; thence down said creek to the mouth thereof crossing Tennessee River and running south forty five degrees east, eight miles from the mouth of said creek; thence due south to the top of the ridge dividing the waters of Soowee Creek from those of Mouse Creek; thence along the top of said ridge to the head of the creek that runs to the beginning; thence down said creek to the beginning.

Section 4. That the surveyor shall be appointed, by the county court of Rhea county, to run and plainly mark the lines of said county Rhea, where they are not bounded by natural boundaries, or the lines of other counties, and that said court, shall make the surveyor such allowance as they may think proper, to be paid by the trustee of said county of Rhea out of any monies in his hands not otherwise appropriated.

Passed November 19, 1819

Chapter 3, stated that the boundary lines of the county of Rhea, shall be as follows to wit:

beginning at the mouth of the first creek above the Cherokee Agency, that empties into Hiwassee River, on the north bank; thence down the Said river to its confluence with the Tennessee River; thence down Said river including Jollys Island in said county, to the line of the county of Hamilton; thence with the line of Hamilton county to the Bledsoe county line; thence with said county of Bledsoe to the county of Morgan; thence with said county of Morgan to the county of Roane; thence with the line of the county of Roane to Whites Creek; thence down said creek to the mouth thereof crossing Tennessee River and running south forty five degrees east, eight miles from the mouth of said creek; thence due south to the top of the ridge dividing the waters of Soowee Creek from those of Mouse Creek; thence down said creek to the beginning.

Chapter 72, Page 139, created the Seventh Judicial Circuit in the State assigning to it the Counties of Roane, Rhea, Bledsoe, Marion, Hamilton, McMinn, and Monroe. The General Assembly would select a Judge for the new circuit by a joint vote of both houses, and, further, appoint an Attorney General to prosecute in the name of the State. Court terms in Rhea County would continue to start on the third Monday in March and September.

Chapter 4, Page 30, assigned the Counties of Bledsoe, Marion, Rhea, and Hamilton to the newly created 11th Solicitorial District.

Chapter 69, Page 135, reapportioned the State for the General Assembly which still had 20 Senators and 40 Representatives. Anderson, Roane, Morgan, Rhea, Bledsoe, Marion, Hamilton, and McMinn Counties would join together to elect one Senator, and Rhea, Hamilton, and McMinn Counties would share one Representative.

Chapter 134, Page 165, was the legal authority for the Sheriff of Rhea County to collect any arrearages of tax, or any other debts he was authorized to collect before the establishment of Hamilton County from any person stricken off of Rhea County and placed into Hamilton County.