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.
Samuel McCorkle was born about 1760 in Taneytown, Frederick County, Maryland. He may have been the son of James McCorkle and Elizabeth Rhea.
He married Mary Alison.
They moved from Frederick County, Maryland about 1787 to Sullivan County, Tennessee.
Their children may have included:
John McCorkle (1789, married Polly Cunningham),
Samuel McCorkle (1790, married Christina),
Susannah McCorkle (1794, married Joseph Scott),
Francis McCorkle (1795, married Isabel Sevier granddaughter of Robert Sevier),
George McCorkle (1797)
Finley McCorkle
Samuel McCorkle was in Sullivan County in 1796, 1797, and 1812.
John McCorkle was in the 1812 census of Sullivan County, Tennessee.
In 1790 the household was in Sullivan County, Tennessee.
In 1793, Samuel McCorkle bought 400 acres in Sullivan County next to Benjamin Webb and Joseph McCorkle.
In 1794 Samuel was appointed to be a Justice of the Peace for Sullivan County.
Samuel McCorkle sold the first town lots in Middletown (Bluff City) in 1798.
Tennessee was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1796. It was initially part of North Carolina.
North Carolina was one of the thirteen original Colonies. It was first settled by small farmers and grew quickly in the mid 18th century.
Sullivan Co., Tennessee Deed Book 2, p. 673:
State of North Carolina to Samuel McCorkle
Transcribed by Robert W. Keyes
State of North Carolina No. 586
To all to whom these presents shall come greeting know ye
that we for & in consideration of the sum of fifty shillings
for every hundred acres hereby granted paid into our Treasury
by Samuel Mccorkle have given & granted & by these
presents do give & grant unto the sd Samuel Mccorkle a
tract of land containing four hundred acres [400] lying & being
in our County of Sullivan on the south side of Holston river
including the plantation where Edward Chote formerly lived
Beginning at Andrew Cittles corner forked poplar near
the river
then on a dividing line between said Samuel Mccorkle & Jos Mccorkle South 29 degs West 152 poles to a pine tree
then on sd line North 80 deg west 70 poles to a poplar
then
South 6 poles to Benjamin Webs corner white oak then with his
line South 75 West 84 poles to his corner spanish oak
then with
his line South 66 degs west 178 poles to a forked poplar
then
on sd line North 130 poles to a stake then up said river the
several courses to the beginning as by the plat hereunto annexed doth appear
together with all woods waters mines minerals
hereditaments & appurtenances to the sd land belonging or
appertaining to hold to the sd Samuel Mccorkle his heirs
& assigns forever
yeilding & paying to us such sums of money
yearly or otherwise as our general Assempbly from time to time
may direct provided always that the sd Samuel McCorkle shall cause this grant to be registered in the registers office
of our sd County of Sullivan within the time limited by law
otherwise the same shall be void
& of no effect in testimony
whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent
&
our great seal to be hereunto affixed witness Richard Dobbs
Spraight Esquire our governor Captain general & commander in chief at Newburn the 27 day of June in the 17 year of
our independence & in the year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred & ninety three [1793].
By his Exclly Com'd Richard Dobbs Spraight
J Glasgow Secretary
June 24 th day 1794 Reg'd Ex'd Exed M.A.
American colonists continued to use British monetary units, namely the pound, shilling and pence for which £1 (orli) equalled 20s and 1s equalled 12d. In 1792 the dollar was established as the basic unit of currency.
