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The Watauga Association: First in Freedom?

© Jim Buckenmyer

The first settlement of the southern, trans-mountain frontier started when some of the longhunters made their way down the great warrior's path out of western Virginia. They settled in an area of modern day, upper East Tennessee. The people that settled there became a veritable who's who of the early frontier. The first documented settler was William Bean. In 1769 he left his extensive holdings in Virginia, resigned as Captain of the local militia and moved to the area called Watauga. The first white child born in the Southern Frontier was Russell Bean. Family and friends soon joined them. Among them were Daniel Boone, Isaac Shelby, John Sevier, William Crockett, David Crockett, Richard Henderson, James Robertson, William Cocke, John Carter, and Jacob Brown. Isaac Shelby went on to become the first Governor of Kentucky. John Sevier the first Governor of Tennessee. William and David Crockett were uncles to the legendary Davy Crockett. Richard Henderson was the guiding force behind the Transylvania Purchase. John Carter and Jacob Brown were merchants. William Cocke was a hero in the Revolutionary War. All of them were first and foremost pioneers.

These early settlers, many of them refugees after the Battle of Alamance, found several problems waiting for them. They thought that the land they had settled was in a region claimed by Virginia. When the Virginia/North Carolina line was surveyed it was found that they were actually well into North Carolina. This was land claimed by Lord Granville by a royal grant. Title to the land was forbidden by the Proclamation of 1763. The Cherokee also claimed the land. The lawless element also flourished. Since North Carolina was both geographically and politically inaccessible to them they decided to form their own government, the Watauga Association.

In May of 1772 the settlers from around the region met at Watauga Old Fields and wrote the articles of association. Unfortunately no copy of these is known to exist. In order for the articles to take effect a unanimous vote was necessary. The Articles provided for a five judge panel to act as a court where a majority decision would decide the issues. According to a later petition to the legislature this panel provided the administration of government, recorded deeds, issued marriage licenses, decided civil cases, and adjudicated criminal proceedings. The articles were only binding on those that had agreed to them, the rest were sent from the country.

Theodor Roosevelt referred to the Watauga settlement as "the first free and independent community on the continent". Lord Dunsmore of Virginia agreed. In a letter to the Earl of Dartmouth, British Secretary of State for Colonial Affairs, he wrote, "...it at least sets a dangerous example to the people of America of forming governments distinct from and independent of His Majesty's authority."

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