Here is some interesting information concerning a state that did not quite make it -the “State of Franklin”. On to the story…
The State of Franklin was an unrecognized proposed state located in present-day East Tennessee. Franklin was created in 1784 from part of the territory west of the Appalachian Mountains that had been offered by North Carolina as a cession to Congress to help pay off debts related to the American War for Independence. It was founded with the intent of becoming the 14th state of the new United States.
On May 16, 1785, a delegation submitted a petition for statehood to Congress. Eventually, seven states voted to admit what would have been the 14th federal state under the proposed name of “Frankland”. This was, however, less than the two-thirds majority required under the Articles of Confederation to add additional states to the confederation.
The State of Franklin (sometimes referred to as Frankland), as shown on this map (Tennessee State Archives), existed from 1784 to 1788 and was formed from the area of Colonial North Carolina west of the mountains separating present-day Tennessee and North Carolina. Franklin was never admitted into the union. The extra-legal state existed for only about four and a half years. By early 1789, the government of the State of Franklin had collapsed entirely and the territory was firmly back under the control of North Carolina. Soon thereafter, North Carolina once again ceded the area to the federal government to form the Southwest Territory, the precursor to the State of Tennessee.
This map shows Franklin’s counties on a modern Tennessee county map.
Notable Franklinites include:
- William Cocke (1748–August 22, 1828); American lawyer, pioneer, and statesman.
- David “Davy” Crockett (August 17, 1786 – March 6, 1836); famed frontiersman and statesman, born in Greene County, Franklin.
- John Sevier (1745–1815); Governor of Franklin; first governor of Tennessee.
- Lt. Samuel Wear (1753–April 3, 1817); co-founder of Franklin; veteran of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and the Indian wars; fought at the Battle of Kings Mountain.
- Gen. James White (1747–August 14, 1821); American pioneer and soldier who founded Knoxville, Tennessee.
Sources:
Tennessee State Archives
Wikipedia
Welcome to “Sharing the Stories of History with Tim Mann”!
Meet Timothy A. Mann, a passionate historian born and raised in the heart of Shelby County, Ohio where Tim’s roots run deep in the rich soil of American history. As the author of articles and books, including “Frontier Miscellany Concerning the Miami County Ohio Militia,” “Colonel John Mann, His Kith and Kin,” and “Frontier Militia – The War of 1812,” Tim’s literary contributions have enlightened and inspired countless history enthusiasts.
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