Fort Nashborough and the Settlers of Nashville, TN

• From the Friends of Metropolitan Archives of Nashville and Davidson County.
• See also Anson Nelson's Brief Annals of Nashville
• Photo of reconstructed Fort Nashborough

A group led by James Robertson are considered to be the first permanent settlers to arrive in what is now Nashville / Davidson County, Tennessee. They came from the settlement at Watauga in what is now upper East Tennessee, walking overland. Along the way Robertson encountered John Rains, a former Long Hunter, and an assemblage of men and families headed from the New River area of Virginia to Kentucky. Robertson talked Rains and his group into joining him on his trek to the Bluffs of the Cumberland. Robertson and company arrived at the site in late December 1779.

John Donelson and a flotilla of flatboats, carrying the families of many of the men who had come earlier with Robertson from Watauga, arrived in April of 1780.

In May of 1780 the settlers signed a document called the Cumberland Compact. Although not all settlers signed, there are 255 signatures and it is a helpful tool in identifying many of the first settlers.
James Robertson is credited with giving the new settlement the name of "Nashborough" in honor of Gen. Francis Nash, a North Carolina officer who had been killed in the battle of Germantown, in 1778. In 1784 the name was changed to Nashville by act of the North Carolina Legislature.

In addition to Nashborough there were a number of other small communities established in the area either shortly before or soon after the arrival of the Robertson / Donelson group. The most well known of these forts or stations are Eaton's on the east side of the river, Freeland's in north Nashville; Casper Mansker's at Goodlettsville; Asher's near Gallatin; Donelson's at Clover Bottom on Stone's River; Union near where Spring Hill Cemetery in Madison is today; and Renfroe's or Red River Station, about forty miles northwest of Nashborough.

On April 14, 1783, North Carolina established Davidson County, named for Gen. William Davidson, an officer of North Carolina in the Revolutionary war.

"Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby Enacted by the authority of the same, that all that part of this State lying west of the Cumberland Mountain where the Virginia line crosses, extending westward along the said line to Tennessee River, thence up said river to the mouth of Duck River, thence up Duck River to where the line of marked trees run by the commissioners for laying off land granted the Continental Line of this State intersects said river (which said line is supposed to be in thirty-five degrees fifty minutes north latitude) thence east along said line to the top of Cumberland Mountain, thence northwardly along said mountain to the beginning, shall after the passing of this Act be and is hereby declared to be a distinct county by the name of Davidson."

Brief Annals of Nashville

By Anson Nelson, Recording Secretary of the Tennessee Historical Society

Very large tribes of Indians must have occupied the country around Nashville for many miles, and possibly for several hundred years previous to the seventeenth century. This is attested by the numerous places of interment for the dead, covering several acres in each place. An immense "burying ground" was on Harpeth river, another at the mouth of Stone's river (not many miles from the city), another in what is now North Edgefield, just across the Cumberland, another in what is now North Nashville, and still another in and around the sulphur spring bottoms, in the city. In fact, at almost every lasting spring, graves can be found all over this section of country.

So far as we know, the Suwanee, or Shawnee, tribe were the original possessors of the soil, but were driven out by the Chickasaws and Cherokees, who made it a hunting ground for all the tribes, until the whites came and took possession.

A Frenchman, whose name we do not know, was here as a trader in 1710, who had a cabin or trading post near the river, a little north of the Lick Branch. Living with him was a lad about fifteen years of age, named Charles Charleville, who eventually succeeded the Frenchman in business, and who died at the age of eighty-four. When the first American hunters came here, which was in 1770, or thereabouts, they found Mons. Timothy De Mon Breun, occupying the place left by Mons. Charleville. Hence the name of French Salt Lick was given to the Sulphur Spring. Mons. De Mon Breun lived here for many years, and died in 1826, at a good old age, His descendants, the Demonbreuns, are still with us, and Demonbreun street was named in honor of the venerable Timothy.

The first white settlement made in Nashville, was in the winter of 1779-80, a winter remarkable for its severe coldness. The immigrants crossed the river, with their baggage and cattle, on the ice. General James Robertson headed one party, John Rains another, from North Carolina. A small party from South Carolina soon followed. Captain John Donelson's party, from the settlements in East Tennessee, arrived in the spring Of 1780. A few rude cabins were built where the city now stands, whilst others were erected in the vicinity. Necessity soon compelled them to erect forts, and the principal one was built at the foot of Church street, near the upper wharf, because a large, bold spring from the bluff. This post was agreed upon as the headquarters, and the name of Nashborough was given to it, in honor of General Francis Nash, of North Carolina, who was mortally wounded in the battle of Germantown, October, 1777. It was at this fort that a compact for their self-government and protection was voluntarily entered into, on the memorable first day of May, 1780. This compact, or form of constitutional government, can be found in Putnam's "Life and Times of General James Robertson."

In the summer of 1780, Robert Gilkie sickened and died, and was the first man of the white settlers that died a natural death. Philip Conrad was killed by a tree falling on him, near the junction of Cherry and Demonbreun streets, the same summer.

Captain Lieper was the first man married in the settlement, and his was the first wedding west of the Cumberland mountains. The ceremony was performed by Col. Robertson, who was at the head of the Government of Notables, in the summer of 1780. No spirits were used on the occasion although there was a feast and dancing. The great delicacy for the ladies was roasting ears, while the men eat dried meat, buffalo tongues and venison.

The first male child born in Nashville was Felix Robertson, whose birth occurred on the 11th of January, 1781. He became a noted physician, was mayor of the city in 1818, and also in 1827 and 1828.

The Government of Notables, of which John Montgomery was the first sheriff, and Andrew Ewin first clerk, passed away in 1783, and the State of North Carolina spread her motherly wings over the settlers, and established an Inferior Court, vested with extraordinary powers. A court-house and prison were ordered to be erected—of hewed logs!

The first survey of lots in the new town was made by Thomas Mulloy (for whom Mulloy street is named), in 1784. The original copy of the survey was lost, and Mulloy made another survey in 1789 for Judge John Overton, a copy of which is now in the archives of the Tennessee Historical Society.

The first physician made his appearance in 1785, in the person, of John Sappington, who compounded pills, covering them with mystery and a coat of sugar, and they were extensively used and known as "Sappington's pills." They had a wonderful reputation. Lardner Clark, " merchant and ordinary keeper," was the first man to open a dry goods store in Nashville, which he did in 1786. His stock of goods was purchased in Philadelphia, packed on ten horses, and came through the State of Virginia, East Tennessee and part of Kentucky. Mr. Clark's goods consisted of cheap calicoes, unbleached linens and coarse woolens; and be combined liquor selling and tavern keeping with his dry goods operations. Wearing apparel, until then, was composed almost entirely of dressed skins. Other licensed taverns were soon opened, and rates of charges for food and spirituous liquors were established by law.

In 1787, the twenty-six one-acre lots, which bad been sold for four pounds each, North Carolina currency, were taxed at one dollar-total, $26. This was the first assessment of real estate.
In 1788, the Constitution of the United States, which had been adopted by ten States, was voted upon by this settlement and almost unanimously rejected. In 1789, North Carolina adopted the Constitution. The State of Franklin arose in East Tennessee, and then expired, and all wheeled into line as members of the confederacy of States.

January 12, 1789, Andrew Jackson was admitted as an attorney at law, and was appointed ' Attorney General in 1790.

In 1796, the first church was erected in Nashville, on the Public Square, near the courthouse, jail and stocks. It was known as the Methodist Church, and was torn down or removed in 1807 or 1808.
In 1796 or '97, Thomas Bailey, an Englishman, reached Nashville from Natchez, passing through these western wilds on a tour of observation. After returning home, he wrote an account of his journey, and in speaking of Nashville and the early settlers, he mentioned the fact that he saw more wheeled vehicles here than any one could have supposed in such a new, wild settlement. He said the early settlers were strong-minded, as well as strong-bodied, and capable of carrying on a government of their own if need be. He said they were becoming wealthy, and were rapidly improving in education, manners and dress. Mr. Bailey was afterwards the first President of the Royal Astronomical Society of London.

In May, 1797, three dashing young Frenchmen arrived in Nashville, who attracted a good deal of attention, and afforded the greatest joy to old Mons. De Monbreun. They were brothers, sons of the Duke of Orleans, and the eldest was subsequently known as Louis Philippe, King of France. They left here in a canoe, proceeding down the Cumberland river to the French settlements in Louisiana.

The first newspaper published in Nashville was "The Tennessee Gazette and Mero District Advertiser," in 1797, by a printer from Kentucky, named Henkle. The following year he sold the paper to Benjamin J. Bradford, who changed the name to "The Clarion," and soon after sold it to his cousin, Thomas G. Bradford. The Historical Society has a copy—No. 81, vol. 2, bearing date November 2, 1801—of "The Clarion," though not in a good state of preservation. The Clarion was afterwards enlarged, and called "The Clarion and Tennessee Gazette," by a union of the two papers. In 1807, another paper was published here, called "The Impartial Review and Cumberland Repository."
In 1801, the town was placed under the government of an Intendent and six Commissioners, and a law was passed by the General Assembly at Knoxville, to authorize them to build a market-bouse. Water street was laid off and opened this year. In 1804, the population was four hundred, and the Legislature empowered the authorities to sink a well on the Public Square, and also to draw a lottery for the extension of the northeastern boundary of the lots on Water Street to the Cumberland River. The Commissioners were authorized to make certain deeds, etc.

Aaron Burr arrived in Nashville May 29, 1805, and was the guest of General Jackson. A public dinner was given him, and be was caressed and toasted by every one. He came again August 16, the same year, and had great honor and attention paid him, and was again the guest of Jackson. But when his schemes began to be developed, his name became odious, and be was burnt in effigy by the citizens in the autumn of 1806.

In 1806 the town was incorporated, with a mayor and six aldermen. Joseph Coleman was the first mayor, and held the office for three years. Charles Dickinson was killed by General Jackson, in a duel, this year.

In 1810 the population was 1,100. The Legislature assembled here for the first time. It subsequently met in Murfreesboro', Kingston, Knoxville, etc., until its final location in Nashville.

In 1811 and 1812, a great many men volunteered for the war against Great Britain. Thomas G. Bradford printed, in 1812, a book entitled " The Military Instructor," containing Baron Steuben's tactics. Four years afterwards " Clark's Miscellany, in Prose and Verse," was printed.
In 1813, the celebrated fight between Jackson and Hays, and the Bentons, took place at the City Hotel.

General James Robertson, the old pioneer, died on the 1st of September, 1814, universally regretted. The volunteers from the Creek campaign returned in May, 1814, and a public dinner was given them at the Bell Tavern. Felix Grundy delivered an address of welcome, which was responded to by General Jackson on behalf of the volunteers. . . .