The Heritage of Daniel Haston

 

1840 White County & Van Buren County Line?


 


Why was the White County & Van Buren County line located on the ridge of the mountain on this map?
The early records of Van Buren County clearly indicate that occupants of the area south of the Caney Fork, including what is now called Cummingsville and westward over to Sparkmantown, were included among the earliest citizens of Van Buren County.  One of the strongest arguments for the creation of Van Buren County was the presence of the Caney Fork River that, in wet seasons, made it difficult for people of this area to access White County's county seat of Sparta, which was well north of the Caney Fork. 

Why then, did Jonathan C. Davis set the White and Van Buren County line on the top of the ridge, south of the Caney Fork River?  Was this a wishful attempt, on the part of White County, to retain the area between the mountain's ridge and the Caney Fork River as a part of White County?  At the time this survey was presented and recorded (January 1841), Van Buren County had already been officially established and was functioning.

Please contact Wayne Haston (waynehaston@aol.com) if you have information concerning this survey.

Pursuant to an order of the worshipful County Court of White, appointing Jonathan C. Davis, Esq. to run and mark the line between the Counties of White and Van Buren as his legally authorized Deputy.  I proceeded to the execution of said service on the thirteenth day of November A.D. 1840.  Beginning at the Court house in the town of Sparta and running thence South crossing the Caney fork at seven miles and eighty eight poles in all Eleven miles and two hundred and eighty eight poles to the extreme height of the ridge which divides the waters of Laurel Cove, Rocky river and Caney fork being the ancient boundary line between the counties of White and Warren.  In running this line I caused the chain to be leveled and plumbed, thus reducing said line to Horizontal measure, this fixing and ascertaining the distance to be Eleven miles and two hundred and eighty eight poles, falling short of twelve miles thirty two poles, and believing that I could not go beyond the ancient boundary of White County I terminated my measurement at this point.  I then proceeded to run the line between said Counties of White and Van Buren in a north westwardly direction.  Beginning at the Index as noted for the meridian line of Sparta, represented by the dotted line and running thence south seventy and one half degrees west one hundred poles to a point precisely twelve miles from Sparta, thence north forty eight degrees west one hundred and eight poles to a stake1, thence north thirteen and one fourth degrees west one hundred and twenty poles to a stake2, thence north fifty six and a half degrees west seventy fours poles to a stake3, thence south sixty eight degrees west one hundred and twenty two poles to a stake, thence north eighty one degrees west one hundred and forty poles to a stake, thence north fifty degrees west one hundred and sixty four poles to a stake, thence north eighty degrees west forty-forty two poles to a stake near Fanny Priests, thence north eighty eight degrees west estimated at three hundred and sixty poles to the top of the ridge between the Arch and Bone Caves including the Bone Cave in White County, the whole of the above lines are run upon and near the top of the dividing ridge which was formerly the line between the Counties of White and Warren.  From the top of the ridge between the Arch and Big Bone Caves I have adopted the line as formerly run by Turner Lane Senr. Esq. from thence to the mouth of Rocky River being the boundary line between the Counties of White and Warren, being well satisfied that nopoint therein, is said boundary twelve miles distant from Sparta, and therefore did not run, that portion of said line.  And in the further progress of running and marking said line I again returned to the point due south of Sparta.  Beginning at the Index noted on the meridian line of the town of Sparta and running thence up the extreme height of the ridge dividing the waters aforesaid north seventy five degrees East thirty poles to a stake, thence north forty one and a half degrees East eighty eight poles to a stake, thence south sixty eight and one half degrees East one hundred and thirty six poles to a ___ thence north(?) 36o east 21 (?) poles to a stake thence north two degrees west thirty eight poles to a stake, thence north forty four and a half degrees east eighty poles to a stake, thence south seventy degrees east fifty two poles to a stake thence south twenty two and one fourth degrees east twenty eighty poles to a stake thence south one degree west one hundred and eight poles to a stake and pointers in the Ancient boundary line between the County of White and Warren distant twelve miles from Sparta and between one fourth and one half mile distant from Spencer the County town of Van Buren County, the whole of the __ named courses being run as nearly as practicable upon the extreme height and middle of the dividing ridge aforesaid, -- thence north seventy eight degrees east two hundred and sixty eight poles to a stake, thence north seventy degrees east two hundred and eighty poles to a stake, thence north sixty five degrees east two hundred and twenty poles crossing Cain Creek near William B. Hastings and just above his house, course continues one hundred and twenty poles in all three hundred and forty poles to a stake, thence north sixty eight degrees east crossing the Pikeville road at two hundred and ninety eighty poles course continues in all three hundred and twenty poles to a stake, thence north fifty five degrees east three hundred and eighty poles to a stake, thence north fifty degrees east four hundred poles to a stake, thence north forty five degrees east four hundred and seventy (twenty?) poles to a stake, thence north thirty nine degrees east three(?) hundred and forty poles to a stake on the south bank of Bent Creek, thence north thirty two degrees east to the Caney fork estimated at three hundred poles the whole of which lines I __ to be plainly and distinctly marked by a blaze and two chops above and two below and is fairly represented by the within platt.  All of which is most respectfully submitted to the consideration of the worshipful for its approval and confirmation.

Jacob Lane
Deputy Surveyor

State of Tennessee
White County

January term 1841 of White County Court.  This day Jacob A. Lane Deputy Surveyor returned his report with a platt annexed of the line run between the Counties of White and Van Buren which is confirmed by the Court and ordered to be and Registered in the Registers office of White County.

Given at office the 4th day of January A.D. 1841

Test N. Oldham clerk of White County Court

Registered 16th January A.D. 1841

Test N. Oldham Deputy of__ Register White County

Source:  Pages 101-103 of White County, TN Deed Book M, TSLA microfilm roll # 63.


Perhaps the above action by the White County, TN court prompted the following action by the Van Buren County, TN court.