The beginnings of Claiborne County came with the Boundaries Creation of the County Acts of 1801. The Clinch River, where Hawkins and Grainger lines cross, became the first boundary. The line followed the north bank of the Clinch River as it does today to a point opposite where the Knox and Grainger line strikes the said river. That part of Knox later became Union. The line then ran north, forty five degrees west, to the Kentucky state line. Then east along the Kentucky line to where the Virginia state line strikes Tennessee, being the Cumberland Gap of today. Then east with the Virginia-Tennessee line to a point from which a direct line to the beginning, would leave six hundred twenty-five square miles in the county of Hawkins.

There were several other changes that took place through the years until the county is what it is today. The most dramatic changes came in 1806 when parts of Claiborne and Anderson were given to form Campbell County, and again in 1844 when Hancock was formed from parts of Claiborne and Hawkins. The last dramatic change took place in 1850 when Union County was formed from Claiborne, Grainger, Campbell, Anderson and Knox Counties.

Subj:  [TNCLAIBO-L] First Districts of Claiborne County, TN.
Date: 7/20/99 10:19:55 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: bgood@newageinter.net (Steve and Barb)
To: TNCLAIBO-L@rootsweb.com

Hi.  Hey, this may help some of you using the early census that shows
districts.
This first layout of CLAIBORNE County districts was used in some of the
early ones.  Remember, UNION and HANCOCK were not formed yet, and CLAIBORNE
lost some of it's land to these two counties later.
Hope this helps someone,
Steve
----------
     Tazewell, Tennessee             Claiborne County
     January 25th   1836
           In pursuance of an act of the general Assembly of the state aforesaid and passed on the third
day of Dec'r, 1835.  Authorising the laying off the several counties in thes tate into convenient dis
tricts for the purpose of Electing Justices of the peace Constables and other officers of the County and State
Aforesaid Therefore we the commissioners appointed by A Joint Resolution of botyh Houses of the General Assembly of the state aforesaid passed on the eleventh day of December 1835  Having met in the Town of Tazewell in the county afore said on the day and state above Written and having been sworn according to Law  did proceed to lay off said Cty into twelve districts in the manner and form herein.
  And hereafter described . .
District N 1st
Known by the name of the Clearfork District
Beginning on the Corner of the said Claiborne and Campbell County lines and on the state line then with the said state line to the dividing Ridge which divides the Waters of the Clearfork of Cumberland River and the the Waters of Yellow Creek then with said dividing Ridge to the top of Cumberland Mountain then with the main top of sd mountain to the Campbell County line then with sd line to the place of Begining  And that the place of Holding Election in said District shall be at the House of James Parrott on the Clearfork
District N 2nd
Known by the name of the Speedwell District
Beginning on the topof Cumberland Mountain where the
Claiborne and Cmapbell County lines Crosses the same and Corner to N1 then with said lines to the Powels River then up said River to where the lot line of the letter D Crosses the same then with the sd line of Hendersons Grant to the top of Cumberland Mountain and with the top of sd Mountain to the place of Beginning.
And that the place for Holding Elections in said District shall be at the House of James Rogers.
District N 3rd
Known by the name of Old Town District.
Beginning on the North Bank of Powels River on the Lot line of the letter D in Hendersons Grant and Corner to district N2nd then runing up said River to mouth of Gap Creek then up said Creek to the Bridge above Summa,s Mill then up the Branch or Hollow so as to in clude Mark Shumates and out at the Head of said Hollow a direct line to the top of
Cumberland Mountain then with the same to the state line with said line to the Corner of District N1 and with the line of the same to the top of Cumberland Mountain then with the Main top of sd. Mountain to the said lot line of the letter D and then with the line of said lot line of the lot line of the letter D to the Begining and that the place
for Holding Elections in said District shall be at the House of Boston Graves.
District N4
Known by the name of the Cumberland Gap District
Beginning at the mouth of Gap Creek on the North band of Powels River then up said River to the mouth of the Canoe Branch then up said Branch or Hollow and out at the Head of the same then to the Machine Branch and with the same to the state line then with the state line to the line of District N3rd and with the place for Holding Elections in said District
shall be at the John Wallen Brick House on the Ky stage Road.
District N5th
Known by the name of the Robcamp District
Beginning at the mouth of the Canoe Branch on the North Bank of Powels River then up said River opposite the mouth of Russells Creek then up said creek to the mouth of the Ceder fork then up said fork to the Head of the same then so
as to cross Wallens Ridge at the Hendersons Gap then so as to incluse Francis Patterson to the top of Powels Mountain then up the same to a point opposite the mouth of little Mulberry Creek then to the same then down Big Mulberry to the Mouth of the same then up Wallen Ridge opposite to Wm. Bailz old place then so as to include the same to the state
line then with the state line to the corner of District N4 then with the same to the Beginning
And that the place for Holding the Elections in said Dirstict shall be at the House of John Rialey
District N6th
Lnown by the name of the Mulberry Gap District
Beginning on the top of the Powels Mountain and Corner of District N5th then runing with said Mountains so as to incluse Thos King boart? on BlackWater to the Hwkins County line then with said line to the state and with the state line to the Corner of N5th then with the lines of the same to the place of the Beginning
And that the place for the Holding Elections in said District shall be at the House of Abner Hatfield.
District 7th
Known by the name of hte Brier Creek District
Beginning on the Hawkins Cty line and Corner to District N6th and runing thence with said line to Clinch River then down said River so as to include Robert Grissoms? the so as to include George Barnard and Michael Pearson to the Corner of District N5th on the top of the Powels Mountain then to the Corner of District N6th then to the Beginning.
And that the place for Holding Elections in said District shall be at the House of the Widow Maden
District N8th
Known by the name of Cycamore District
Beginning on Clinch River on the Corner of District N7th Below Robert Grissoms then down said River to the Road leaving Royal Jinnings ford on Clinch River then with said Road to the top of Wallens Ridge then with the said Ridgte to Hendersons Gap to the line District N5th then with the said line to the Corner
of District N5th District N7th on the top of Powels Mountain then with the line of District N7 to the Beginning
And that the place of Holding Elections in said District shall be at Jacob Shultz store on Big Cycamore Creek
District N9th
Known by the name of the Tazewell District
Beginning on the top of Wallens Ridge in Hender sons Gap and Corner to District N8th & N5 then down Ceder fork and Russels Creek with the line of District N5th to Powels River then down sd River to the mouth of the Lonesome Valley then up said Valley so as to incluse George Treece Samuel Cloud
and Richard Harper to the top of the dividing Ridge Between the waters of Barren & Straight Creeks and with said Ridge so as to incluse Wm Bullard and Mill and then a direction to the extream Highth of Wallens Ridge then to where
Jennings Road Crosses the same and and Corner to District N8th then with the top of siad Ridge to the Beginning
And that the place of Holding Elections in said District shall be at the Court House in the town of Tazwell
District N10th
Known by the name of the Lone Mountain District
Beginning on Clinch River on Jennings Road and corner to N8th then down siad River to the mouth of straight Creek then up sd Creek to the mouth of Mays Mill Branch then up the same to the the dividing Ridge between the waters of Straight Creek and Barren Creek and with the top of sd Ridge to the line of N9th then with the same to
Jinnings Road on Wallens Ridge and Corner to N8th & N9th and with said Road to the Beginning
And that the Place for Holding Elections in said District shall be at the House of the Rev. Samuel McBee.
District N11th
Known by the name of the Sand Lick District
Beginning on Powels River at the mouth of the lonesome Valley and Corner to District N9th then with the line of sd Distrcit N9th to the top of the dividing Ridge dividing the waters of Straight Creek & Barren Creek to the line of District N10th then with the top of said Ridge to Mays Mill Branch then with the same to straight Creek then with said Creek to Clinch River then down sd. River to the mough of little Barren Creek then up said Creek to the Head of the same
and the A Direct line to Powels River so as to include James Queens on sd River and then with the said River to the place of Beginning.
And that the place for Holding in said District shall be at the House of Elijah Harp.
District 12st
          Known by the name of the Big Valley District.
Beginning at the mouth of little Barren Creek on Clinch River then Runing down sd River to the Campbell County line the with the said County line to Powels River then up said River to the Corner of Distrcit N11th then with said line
to the Head of little Barrne Creek then down sd Creek to the Beginning and that the palce for Holding Elections in said Distrcit shall be at the House of Henry Sharp Sr.

Given under our Hands this 28th day of January 1836
              Wm. Rogers
              Walter Evans
              Elijah Jones
              Jas. Overton
        (Commissioners for Claiborne Cty. Tennessee)

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