Before Tennessee had even been imagined, Sevier County was formed in September 1794. The place takes its name from John Sevier, the only governor of the almost state of Franklin, as well as the first man to later govern Tennessee, which he did on two occasions. Sevier was a very important character during the early turbulent years of the settlement of the remarkable mountainous region we call home today.
Shortly after the Revolutionary War, the original colonies were asked to pay for their new independence and create a financially sound country. However, because taxing the distant population was challenging, nearly bankrupted North Carolina ceded the rugged western portion of the state to the new federal government, basically paying a large portion of their debt with land instead of cash. A bill in May 1784 gave away their surly western counties, but stipulated that they would remain part of the state if Congress declined to accept them.
Not only would this scheme lower the state’s tax assessment, it would rid itself of the difficult westerners without actually giving them the victory of independence. Additionally, since the settlers were building on lands previously pledged to the Cherokee and Choctaw nations within their treaties with North Carolina, the entire enterprise only intensified hostilities with the local tribes.
At first, the citizens of the abandoned region decided in the meantime that federal rule was not a bad idea, especially since North Carolina had given them almost no support in exchange for the taxes demanded or protection from the Indians. Also, nothing was ever done to help with criminals fleeing into their area escaping justice for dastardly deeds committed elsewhere. They also saw other benefits as an independent state in terms of their own taxation, as they had a better personal understanding of their own unique problems. Then, once North Carolina realized the citizens were willing to raise taxes for their own good, the legislature responded by repealing the cession act.
However, by that time the originally unwanted people refused to rejoin their former government and several names were considered for their new state. “Franklin” was eventually chosen with hopes of gaining the favor of Benjamin Franklin, one of the most esteemed and influential men in the world at the time. John Sevier was elected governor, courts were established, new counties added, coins were minted and Franklin adopted a constitution.
Nevertheless, the Franklin government had a difficult time surviving on what was actually Indian land and by the fall of 1787 an all-out Indian war seemed imminent. Davidson County (Nashville today,) one of the fastest-growing areas of the western frontier, originally refused to join Franklin’s quest for recognition. But when the Indian raids intensified, James Robertson, co-founder of Nashville sent out a call for help, North Carolina faltered. But Franklin did not, as Sevier led 2,000 men 250 miles west through the woods to Nashville. The show of force was in the end enough to disband the natives without a fight. Shocked by and disillusioned with the North Carolina government, Robertson now supported Franklin.
Inspired by North Carolina loyalist John Tipton, the next year another insurrection occurred that pitted settler versus settler. This inspired the Indians to strike again and within a month, the wilderness was on fire. The situation became so bleak that the North Carolina militia finally marched forth to battle alongside the men from Franklin.
The Americans ultimately prevailed, but the war so exhausted Franklin and the other frontier colonies, that in June 1789, the new Federal Constitution was ratified and Franklin, Nashville and the surrounding areas became US territory. Consequently, in 1796, what was once considered North Carolina from the Appalachians to the Mississippi River became the state of Tennessee and John Sevier was elected its first governor as well.
Henry Piarrot is the general manager of the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Sevierville Kodak.
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