STATE OF FRANKLIN DOCUMENTS
ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN DIGITAL FORM
One of the most unique aspects of our county’s history was the role it played in the attempt to form the first state west of the Appalachians, the state of Franklin. This effort began in 1784 and continued into 1788. Though it ultimately failed, the legend that was Franklin continues. An important part of that history can be traced through the county records that have been uncovered in the archives.
Some of these documents were created by the Washington County government operating under Franklin’s auspices, while other documents were issued by the rival county government that chose to remain loyal to the mother state of North Carolina. This resulting civil war caused many documents to be lost. Those documents that survived have now been scanned and digitized and are viewable to researchers on our digital collections page (url: https://wctnarchives.org/digital-collections/).
Documents include bonds, depositions, warrants, and other court documents, and a will. A deposition recorded in 1803 by Judge Andrew Jackson in the case Ingram Heirs vs. William Cocke relates to events during the Franklin era. This landmark court case determined that actions taken by the Franklin government would be honored by the successor state of Tennessee. For a complete list of the documents, see the guide to the County Clerk Records (url: https://wctnarchives.org/record-groups/).
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Archived News Articles
October 1, 2018 Marriage Records now Available for Research
August 29, 2018 Margaret Sherfey Holley – 29 Aug 2018
August 28, 2019 Sanborn Fire Maps
July 3, 2018 George Washington Comes to Jonesborough – 3 Jul 2018
June 20, 2018 Early Tax Lists Are Now Digital – 20 Jun 2018
June 4, 2018 2018 Friends of the Archives – Annual Meeting 4 Jun
May 23, 2018 Dower Records Now Available for Research
May 9, 2018 Mildred Kozsuch Recognized in Naming of Reading Room
April 26, 2018 Property Assessor Records Are Now Available
April 16, 2018 First Anniversary of County Archives
March 23, 2018 Guide to the Wills Now Available Online
March 13, 2018 Archives Website Celebrates First Anniversary
February 27, 2018 Archive Annex Renovation Approved
February 15, 2018 Chancery Court Case Files Added
January 26, 2018 Major Gift Memorializes Kozsuch
