life is voluntary - tale of two seviers

[Arizona Coin Collector]

Hello

On the story below.

I grew up in Nashville Tennessee. After reading
the story, I have been trying to find and image
of these coins that was minted by "The State Of
Franklin".

This to me is both numismatic history, and
hisory of Tennessee as well.

If anyone knows, or has information and/or images
of these coins minted by "THE STATE OF FRANKLIN"
please let me know.

--------------------------------------------

FROM:
http://seymourherald.com/news/2009/jan/02/life-is-voluntary/

life is voluntary - tale of two seviers

published: January 02 2009 09:35 AM
updated:: January 02 2009 10:35 AM
By Henry Piarrot

Before Tennessee had even achieved the status of
imagination, Sevier County was formed in September
1794. The place takes its name from John Sevier,
the only governor of the almost state of Franklin,
as well as the first man to later govern Tennessee,
which he did on two occasions.

Sevier was a very important character during the
early turbulent years of the settlement of the
remarkable mountainous region we call home today.

Shortly after the Revolutionary War, the original
colonies were asked to pay for their new
independence and create a financially sound country.
However, because taxing the distant population was
challenging, nearly bankrupted North Carolina
ceded the rugged western portion of the state to
the new federal government, basically paying a
large portion of their debt with land instead of
cash.

A bill in May 1784 gave away their surly western
counties, but stipulated that they would remain
part of the state if Congress declined to accept
them. Not only would this scheme lower the state's
tax assessment, it would rid itself of the difficult
westerners without actually giving them the victory
of independence.

Additionally, since the settlers were building on
lands previously pledged to the Cherokee and Choctaw
nations within their treaties with North Carolina,
the entire enterprise only intensified hostilities
with the local tribes.

At first, the citizens of the abandoned region
decided in the meantime that federal rule was not a
bad idea, especially since North Carolina had given
them almost no support in exchange for the taxes
demanded or protection from the Indians.

Also, nothing was ever done to help with criminals
fleeing into their area escaping justice for
dastardly deeds committed elsewhere. They also saw
other benefits as an independent state in terms of
their own taxation, as they had a better personal
understanding of their own unique problems.

Then, once North Carolina realized the citizens
were willing to raise taxes for their own good, the
legislature responded by repealing the cession act.

However, by that time the originally unwanted
people refused to rejoin their former government
and several names were considered for their new
state. "Franklin" was eventually chosen with hopes
of gaining the favor of Benjamin Franklin, one of
the most esteemed and influential men in the world
at the time.

John Sevier was elected governor, courts were
established, new counties added, coins were minted
and Franklin adopted a constitution.

Nevertheless, the Franklin government had a difficult
time surviving on what was actually Indian land and
by the fall of 1787, an all-out Indian war seemed
imminent. Davidson County (Nashville today,) one of
the fastest-growing areas of the western frontier,
originally refused to join Franklin's quest for
recognition.

But when the Indian raids intensified, James
Robertson, co-founder of Nashville, sent out a call
for help, North Carolina faltered.

But Franklin did not, as Sevier led 2,000 men 250
miles west through the woods to Nashville. The show
of force was in the end enough to disband the
natives without a fight. Shocked and disillusioned
with the North Carolina government, Robertson now
supported Franklin.

Inspired by North Carolina loyalist John Tipton,
the next year another insurrection occurred that
pitted settler versus settler. This inspired the
Indians to strike again and within a month, the
wilderness was on fire. The situation became so
bleak that the North Carolina militia finally
marched forth to battle alongside the men from
Franklin.

The Americans ultimately prevailed, but the war
so exhausted Franklin and the other frontier
colonies, that in June 1789, the new Federal
Constitution was ratified and Franklin, Nashville
and the surrounding areas became US territory.

Consequently, in 1796, what was once considered
North Carolina from the Appalachians to the
Mississippi River became the state of Tennessee
and John Sevier was elected its first governor
as well.

Henry Piarrot is the general manager of the
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Kodak.
Please send all story recommendations
to hpia...@yahoo.com .

..

[RWF]

Thanks for an interesting article.

[George D]

Arizona Coin Collector wrote:
> Hello
>
> On the story below.
>
> I grew up in Nashville Tennessee. After reading
> the story, I have been trying to find and image
> of these coins that was minted by "The State Of
> Franklin".
>
> This to me is both numismatic history, and
> hisory of Tennessee as well.
>
> If anyone knows, or has information and/or images
> of these coins minted by "THE STATE OF FRANKLIN"
> please let me know.
>

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Was_there_a_state_of_franklin_coin_minted

[Arizona Coin Collector]

"George D" <geo...@arizona.com> wrote in message
news:LNyal.17441$3_4....@newsfe10.iad...

Hello

Thank you for sharing the above web link. :)