This page last edited on 23 Jul 2006.
Here is crude map that shows roughly how the Civil Districts were laid out in the west end of Knox County. This map may be used to locate the land of my second great grandfather William Cole, indicated on the map with a red X. None of the Civil District boundary lines or county lines were really as straight as this crude rendering would suggest.
Roane Anderson
County County
----Clinch River------
| | |
| Dist.9 | Dist.19 |
| | X |
Loudon |^^^^^^Beaver Ridge^^^^| more of Knox County
County | | |
| Dist.10 | Dist.11 |
| | |
----Tenn. River-------
Blount Link to detailed modern map of the land
County
The Concord community is in Knox County, Dist. 10. The Beaver Ridge community is in Knox County, Dist. 19, and is north of the ridge itself. William's land was in Dist. 19. Downtown Knoxville is about 15 miles or so to the east of this map. To orient the map correctly, you have to rotate it about 30 or 40 degrees counter-clockwise because the ridges don't really run east and west. They really run southwest to northeast. The Tennessee River is the boundary between Knox County districts 10/11 and Blount County. The Clinch River is the boundary between Knox County districts 9/19 and Anderson County. The boundary between districts 10/11 and districts 9/19 is Beaver Ridge.
Plumb Creek (AKA Plum Creek) rises in District 10 close to Beaver Ridge. It runs east and parallels the south side of the ridge, flowing into Dist. 11. Lovell Road follows the same route as the creek. About midway of Dist. 11, the creek takes a hard left and flows north through a gap in Beaver Ridge into Dist. 19. Lovell Road makes the same hard left. As you go through the gap in the ridge on Lovell Road, you drive onto William's land.
The land may be described as being on Plumb Creek at Beaver Ridge and Ball Camp. The land may be found in modern times at the intersection of Lovell Road with Middlebrook Pike. There is a T intersection with Lovell Road terminating at Middlebrook Pike. Lovell Road intersects with Middlebrook Pike just after passing through the gap in Beaver Ridge The Ball Camp Baptist Church is across Middlebrook Pike from Lovell Road.
The districts are important because they confirm that this was my William Cole. My William was living in Dist. 19 in the 1870 census, and he was the only Cole in Dist. 19 in 1870. Similarly, William Cole of Dist. 19 was sued for $500 in 1871, and $500 was the purchase price of the land.
I have worked out the simple geometry of the description of the land and I come up with about 52.8 acres, which is very close to the "fifty acres more or less" that is listed in the deed. My calculations include a little uncertainty because the creek does not run straight, and the creek is the east boundary of the property.
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Deed of Conveyance|
James H. Cox | This indenture made and entered into this 29th
to | day of January 1869 between James H. Cox of
William Cole | the one part and James (sic, should be William) Cole of the other both of
stamped? 50 | the county of Knox and State of Tennessee witness
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that the Said James H. Cox for and in consideration of the Sum of
five hundred dollars to him in hand paid the receipt whereof
is hereby acknowledged hand and by these presents doth give
sell alum? in for of unto William Cole his heirs and assigns
forever a certain tract or parcel of land lying in the county of
Knox and State of Tennessee and on the waters of Plum creek
and Beaver Ridge adjoining the lands of C. Morris, B.W. Smith,
and others. Beginning on two Small Post Oaks Thence South
fifty East Sixty Eight poles to a stake and marked pointer?
on the top of Beaver Ridge thence north Fifty East ninety three
poles to a Stake on the East bank of Plum creek thence down
the East bank of Said creek as it meanders Fifty Six poles to a
Stake in Murphy's line thence with Said line South Fifty
Eight West twenty poles to a Stake thence North Fifty five
West twelve poles to the Ball Camp line thence with Said line
South fifty five west Eighty nine poles to the beginning contain-
ing fifty acres more or less with all the right title claim
demand of him the Said James H. Cox by his heirs an assigns for-
ever in and to the Said fifty acres of land to have and
to hold the same with is appurtenances and the Said William
Cole his heirs and assigns forever against the lawful
claims of any person or persons whatsoever claiming
a part of Said land Either in law or Equity and the
Said J. H. Cox warrants and defends the Said William Cole
and his heirs and assigns against the claim or demand of
of any person or persons whatsoever claiming any part
of Said land the day and year above written Signed
and delivered in the presence of
James H. Cox
State of Tennessee |
Knox County | Personally appeared before me Wm. Rule
clerk of the county court of Said county the bargainer to the
foregoing deed with whom I am personally acquainted and
acknowledge the he executed the same for the purposes therein
contained.
Witness my hand at Office in Knoxville the 19th day of February 1869
Registered Feb 19th 1869 at 12 Oclock M. Wm. Rule clerk
R.L. Hall Register
This page last edited on 23 Jul 2006.