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John Williams Certificate and Plat Regarding Williamsburgh, Tennessee

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0889

  • Staff Only

This plat shows Williamsburgh, Tennessee (intended to be a suburb of Knoxville, Tennessee) as it was surveyed by John Williams in 1819. The area is bounded by Hugh White's land to the north, Water Street and Second Creek to the east, Market (or Main) Street to the south, and West Street to the west. The Holston River and the proposed course of Cumberland Street are also shown. Most of the plots in Williamsburgh are owned by someone surnamed Strong. The document also bears a notation made by Charles Morrow, Registrar of Knox County, in 1873 certifying that the copy is correct.

Dates

  • 1873 October 14

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet (1 oversize folder)

Abstract

This plat shows Williamsburgh, Tennessee (intended to be a suburb of Knoxville, Tennessee) as it was surveyed by John Williams in 1819. The area is bounded by Hugh White's land to the north, Water Street and Second Creek to the east, Market (or Main) Street to the south, and West Street to the west. The Holston River and the proposed course of Cumberland Street are also shown. Most of the plots in Williamsburgh are owned by someone surnamed Strong. The document also bears a notation made by Charles Morrow, Registrar of Knox County, in 1873 certifying that the copy is correct.

Biographical/Historical Note

The John Williams who created this certificate is most likely the John Williams who was born to Joseph and Rebecca (Lanier) Williams in Surry County, North Carolina on January 29, 1778. He received his early education in Surry County and was licensed to practice law in about 1799. Williams moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, was admitted to the Bar in 1803, and began practicing law. He served as a charter trustee of East Tennessee College (1807) and as attorney general of Tennessee (1807-1808) before becoming active in the military, where he served in the War of 1812 and in the Creek War of 1813-1814. In 1815, Williams was appointed to the United States Senate, where he remained until losing his seat to Andrew Jackson in 1823. President Adams appointed him charge de affaires to Central America, and Williams spent nearly a year in Guatemala. He was elected to the Tennessee State Senate in 1827 and retired from this post in 1829. Williams continued to practice law until his death on August 10, 1839.

Williams married Melinda White (daughter of Knoxville's founder James White), and the couple had ten children.

Arrangement

This collection consists of a single folder.

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480