(from the archived Roots of Roane Web site)

Rittenhouse Academy (from the RoaneTNHeritage archived Web site)

An Act passed by Congress April 18, 1806, known as the Compact of 1806 appeared at first to be a major milestone in the advancement of public education. Unfortunately, the Act tied the establishment of schools with the extremely complicated problem of title to the western lands across the Appalachians. Under the provisions of the Act, TN legislature divided TN into Survey Districts.

A petition to establish Academies in the several counties, and for appointment of trustees thereof was dated 13 Sep 1806. In Section One, the following might be of interest to Roane area researchers:

ROANE: Rittenhouse Academy

• Thomas J. Van Dyke
• Samuel Eskridge
• Jacob Jones
• Zaccheus Ayer
• Jesse Byrd

 

ANDERSON: Union Academy

• Arthur Crozier
• Benjamin C. Parker
• Jesse Roysdon
• Hugh Barton
• Samuel Frost

 

BLOUNT: Porter Academy

• Gideon Blackburn
• John Montgomery
• John Lowry (merchant)
• Joseph B. Lapsley
• Andrew Kennedy

 

KNOX: Hampden-Sidney Academy

• Nathaniel Cowan
• John Crozier
• Thomas Humes
• John Adair
• George McNutt

 

At the bottom of the original page, Pat McDonald wrote the following:

I find it interesting that Maury Academy was in Jefferson County; Madison Academy was in Grainger County; McMinn Academy was in Hawkins County; Rhea Academy was in Greene County; Jefferson Academy was in Sullivan County; Franklin Academy was in Campbell County; Campbelle Academy was in Wilson County; Anderson Academy was in Cocke County; but Overton Academy was in Overton County.

Go figure. 🙂