The Land
Bledsoe is divided into three distinct areas by nature...the Cumberland Plateau, Walden's Ridge and the Sequatchie Valley.
The Cumberland plateau was named for the Duke of Cumberland by Dr. Thomas Walker, a Virginian. Sequatchie/Sequachee is of Cherokee origin and means "hog trough" or possibly opossum. There are two stories of the naming of Walden's Ridge. One story supposes it is named for a hunter, John Walling who died there; the other suggests it was named for Elisha Walden.
Many early settlers were farmers. The rich fertile land around the Sequatchie River provided the perfect environment for the corn crops which were the mainstay of the settlers.
Migration
Most early settlers in Bledsoe county came from eastern seaboard states (North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina ) or the counties of upper east Tennessee namely, Roane, Grainger, Anderson and Knox. Expansion was rapid in the early days of the county. More than 3000 people immigrated in the 5 year period between 1805 and 1810.
The significance of this petition is that it is the first document we have found that proves Benjamin Grayson, sr. in Bledsoe county, Tenn. with his sons. See the biography of Benjamin for other details....RRG
|
|
2-25-1809; Petition of citizens of Bledsoe County who settled in the Indian Boundary Line before it was run and who left their improvements asking that some provision be made to restore their property when the Indian title is extinguished.
| John Anderson | Joseph Grayson | Eli Thurman | Saml Terry |
| Peter Looney | James Standefer | Thomas Allred | John Portman |
| John Thomas | Wm Lee | Jesse Roberts | John Smith |
| Benj Grayson | John Walker | T.Coulter | Issac Stephens |
| Robert Long/Lang | JameGooden | William Roberson | John Rogers |
| James Roberson | Geo Skillern | Daniel Wood | John Julien |
| Stephen Bishop | Michael Rawlings | George C. Cozby | John Dwiggins |
| Alexr Coulter | John Hutson | Timothy Hixson | Mills Robinson |
| Archibald Beard | Jos/Jas Hoge | Joel Hillerd | Charles Copland |
| J. Narramore | Ephraim Hixson (name written in German) |
Forgason Jackson | Jesse (or Josep) Grayson |
| Wren Grayson | Stephen Chelton | Adam Lamb | John Scofy? |
| Steven Sutton Sr. | Richard Moon | Wm Holland | Benj Grayson Snr |
| John Stanfill | James Hoose? | Jonathan Basham |
With thanks to Dr. George E. Fox for the transcription as well as the digital reproduction of the document.