CREATION OF CLARKE COUNTY IN 1801

Athens Historian Volume I (1996)

(On file at the University of Georgia Library)

ACTS OF THE GEN. ASMBLY. OF GA.

ACTS OF 1801 – PAGES 90-92

AN ACT TO DIVIDE

THE COUNTY OF JACKSON

SEC. 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY MET, AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE SAME, THAT ALL THAT PART OF THE COUNTY OF JACKSON, LYING AND BEING IN THE FOLLOWING LIMITS, SHALL FORM ONE OTHER COUNTY, AND SHALL BE CALLED AND KNOWN BY THE NAME OF CLARKE (THAT IS TO SAY) – THE LINE DIVIDING SAID COUNTY OF CLARKE FROM THE COUNTY OF JACKSON, SHALL BEGIN ON THE APPALACHEE RIVER AT THE MOUTH OF MARBURY’S CREEK; THENCE A DIRECT LINE TO RICHARD EASLEY’S MILL ON THE MIDDLE FORK OF THE OCONEE RIVER, FROM THERE A DIRECT LINE TO WHERE THE OGLETHORPE LINE CROSSES THE NORTH FORK OF BRUSH CREEK, THENCE ALONG THE GREENE LINE TO THE APPALACHEE RIVER, THENCE UP SAID RIVER TO THE BEGINNING.

SEC. 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED BY THE AUTHORITY AFORESAID, THAT WILLIAM HOPKINS, WILLIAM STRONG, DANIEL BANKSTON, JOHN HART AND JOHN COBB, SHALL BE AND THEY ARE HEREBY APPOINTED COMMISSIONERS, AND THEY OR A MAJORITY OF THEM, ARE VESTED WITH FULL POWER AND AUTHORITY TO FIX ON A MOST CONVENIENT AND CENTRAL PLACE WITHIN SAID COUNTY, AT WHICH THE COURTS AND ELECTIONS SHALL BE HELD, AS SOON AS A SUITABLE BUILDING ARE ERECTED [sic] THEREAT, AND THE SAID COMMISSIONERS, OR A MAJORITY OF THEM, ARE HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND EMPOWERED, TO CONTRACT WITH FIT AND PROPER PERSONS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING A COURT HOUSE AND GAOL IN THE COUNTY AFORESAID WHICH AFTER AT LEAST THIRTY DAYS NOTICE, SHALL BE ERECTED, THE COURTS AND ELECTIONS FOR SAID COUNTY, SHALL BE HELD AT THE HOUSE OF ISAAC HILL.

SEC. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED BY THE AUTHORITY AFORESAID, THAT THE JUSTICES OF THE INFERIOR COURT OF SAID COUNTY, ARE HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND EMPOWERED TO LEVY A TAX NOT EXCEEDING ONE SIXTH OF THE GENERAL TAX, ON THE INHABITANTS AND TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN THE SAME FOR THE PURPOSE OF ERECTING A COURT HOUSE AND GAOL AS AFORESAID, WHICH SHALL BE DONE IN SUCH MANNER AS IN THE JUDGEMENT OF THE COURT SHALL BE LEAST BURTHENSOME TO THE INHABITANTS.

SEC. 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED BY THE AUTHORITY AFORESAID, THAT BEDFORD BROWN, SHALL BE AND HE IS HEREBY APPOINTED TO RUN THE LINE OF SAID COUNTY; AND THAT THE CHARGES THEREOF SHALL BE PAID BY THE INFERIOR COURT OF THE COUNTY, TO BE LEVIED AS IN THIS ACT IS DIRECTED.

SEC. 5. [OMITTED – PERTAINS TO JACKSON COUNTY – R.N. FICKETT III]

SEC. 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, THAT THE — SEVERAL ACADEMIES OF JACKSON AND CLARKE COUNTIES, SHALL BE CONSOLIDATED INTO ONE ACADEMY, AND THAT THE NEW COURT HOUSE OF JACKSON [LOCATED AT CLARKESBORO – R.N.F. III] SHALL BE AND THE SAME IS HEREBY VESTED IN THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE AFORESAID COUNTIES OF JACKSON AND CLARKE, WHICH NOW ARE OR HEREAFTER MAY BE APPOINTED COMMISSIONERS OF THE ACADEMIES OF THE AFORESAID COUNTIES.

SEC. 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, THAT NO MONIES SHALL BE DRAWN OUT OF THE TREASURY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ERECTING A COURT HOUSE OR GAOL IN EITHER OF THE SAID COUNTIES; ANY LAW TO THE CONTRARY NOT WITHSTANDING.

SEC. 8. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, THAT THE SAID COUNTY OF CLARKE, SHALL BE AND THE SAME IS DECLARED TO BELONG TO THE THIRD BRIGADE OF THE THIRD DIVISION OF THE MILITIA OF THIS STATE.

DAVID MERIWEATHER, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JOHN JONES, PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, PRO TEMPORE

ASSENTED TO DECEMBER 5, 1801

JOSIAH TATTNALL, JUN., GOVERNOR

NOTE:

WATKINSVILLE WAS SELECTED AS THE COUNTY SEAT OF CLARKE COUNTY. JEFFERSON WAS SELECTED AS THE COUNTY SEAT OF JACKSON COUNTY. THE OLD COUNTY SEAT OF JACKSON COUNTY HAD BEEN CLARKESBORO. RICHARD EASLEY’S MILL WAS LOCATED AT TALLASSEE SHOALS, ABT. 7 MILES N.W. OF ATHENS ON THE MIDDLE OCONEE RIVER. R.N.F. III