East Tennessee is part of Appalachia. At the end of the French and Indian War, colonists began drifting into the area. In 1769, they first settled along the Watauga River. During the Revolution, the Overmountain Men defeated British loyalists at the Battle of Kings Mountain. The State of Franklin was formed in the 1780s, but never admitted to the Union.
from "Governor Blount's Journal" in American Historical Magazine, Volume 2
Monday October 25th 1790.
Appointed and commissioned the following persons officers in the Militia of Sullivan county.
Gilbert Christian Lieutenant Colonel Commandant. John Scott, Lieutenant Colonel. Matthew Rhea, first Major.
George Rutledge, Second Major
Isaac White, Nicholas Mercer, William Skillern, Joshua Hamilton, William Simson, William Snodgrass, David Lewis, Jacob Weaver, Robert Rutledge, William Blair, John Laughlin, and John KingLieutenants.
Sullivan County is in far northeast corner of Tennessee between North Carolina and Virginia and was originally part of those states. It was formed in 1779 when it was divided from Washington County.
Tennessee was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1796. It was initially part of North Carolina.
