The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1900-02-01
HISTORY OF TENNESSEE.
From the Earliest Settlement to the Pres
snt Time.

After the Watauga and adjacent set
Elements, known under the general
designation of the District of Washing
ton, had been annexed to North Caro-
lima, the history of Tennessee for about
seven years was part Of the history Of
North Carolina. In November, l777,
the district became Washington coun-
ty, and was made part of the Sails
bury judicial circuit. Courts of pleas
and quarter sessions were established
and justices of the peace and sheriffs
appointed.
Steps were taken to attract emigra-
tion, and a land office opened. The
road from North Carolina to Washing
ton county was improved and new roads
made allowing the passage Of vehicles
all of which increased the inflow Of
population.
Not only were the pioneers continu-
ally troubled by the Indians, but the
Tories in bands infested the country.
Vigilance committees were formed and
so summarily was justice administered
that these bands OF robbers and nur-
dersrs were dispersed; vhon the COM
nittees dissolved and ths regular h'ibu-
nails Of the county were leit to try indi-
yidual offenders.
Much ridioule is directed at the coun-
" courts OF TennesSse, such as that
they believe themselves clothed with
the power even to repeal the Constitu-
tion, but it il fesred that the courts
of pioneer times really merited much
ridicule, though their procedure was
effective, while going to extremes.
To give the reader an idea of the
manner q dispensing justice in the
early days, a few instances will be
taken from the records Of the County
Court of Pleas Of Washington county
the county seat of which was Jones'
boro, the frst laid off in what after
wards became the state of Tennessee.
No doubt such records can be found
in the archives of Davidson, Hawkins,
Sullivan, Sumner, Knox and Tennes-
see counties.
The first session OF the court was
held in the log cabin of Chas. Rober-
son, near Jonesboro, Feb. 90, 1878.
Its first act, it seems, was to fine John
Sewer, Jr, for some matter condemned
as contempt Of court. Indeed, the
court seemed unusually sensitive, and
the people must have had poor opin-
ion of it, for large number of fines
were assessed for contempt. John
Sewer, ST., was clerk at the time his
SON was fined. The aggregate fAes
imposed on Sam Tate for Insulting
the court" at one term amounted to
A0, 900, continental currency.
At the May term, 1778, some one OF
three suspected persons took horse
belonging to Sam Sheriff., father of
Sewers wife, Bonnie Kate, and left
the country. The court was nonpIussed
but made this entry Of record.
On motion it appears that Joshua
Williams Johnathan Helms and GER
tain James Lindley did feloniously
steal certain Bay gelding horse from
Iaml Sheriff. Sener. Ordered that il
the said Saml. Sheriff. can find any
properly of tho said Joshua Williams
Johnathan Helms and said Lindley
that he take same into his possession.
The suspected persons were appar-
entity never caught, but saddle and
coat of Williams were found and sold
for the benefit of>Sherrill.
The settlers were particularly severe
on the traitors and spies, as this entry
shows:
VS. For Treason Feby 177G
George Lewis
On hearing the facts and considering
the Testimony of the Witness 1t is Of
the opinion of the Court that the de.
fendant be sent to the District Gaol
1t Ape. to the Court that the said Lei
Wis is q spie or An Officer from Florids
sat of the English Army.
At this term ten prisoners were tried
for treason. Five were convicted, theil
property conhscated and the defendants
sent to the district Jail at Salisbury
/ N. G.
At the August term, 1882, John Vanr
was found guilty by jury for horse
stealing, the punishment being death
The jury recommended him to the mer
cy of the court, but Judge Spruce Nc
Cay, notorious tyrant, was presiding
and refused to extend mercy. During
the same court two other unfortunate'
were found guilty of horsestealing, ant
the Judge disposed of all three crimi
nails in this brief order:
Ord that John Vann Isaac Chote 4
VIM. White now under Sentence O
Death be executed on the tenth day o
September next.
As particular instance Of the sever,
aud barbarouS way of furnishing crimi
nails, the case of the State Of Nortl
Carolina against Elias Pyboum, fo
horsestealing, is noticed. The entr.
is made in the Superior Court of Lay
and Equity, at the August term, 1890
twenty years after the first settlemen
on Watauga. The full entry is as fol
lows;