Most people who attained a primary education in the Tar Heel State know or remember learning that during Colonial times the Province of North Carolina was a proprietary colony of the British. In addition, you’ll remember learning that the British appointed a Governor to oversee the colony. But one lesser-known fact about the history of North Carolina is that we gave up entire counties that eventually became a provisional state almost no one ever speaks of.
The maps from the period are all over the page (literally in this case), however they show a much broader area of land than the current state of North Carolina is comprised of.
You may also remember that parts of Western North Carolina were given to the state of Tennessee. But most people don't realize that before Tennessee assumed the four North Carolina counties in question...
Those four North Carolina counties joined with four other nearby counties and formed the provisional State of Franklin, also known as Frankland, and the Free Republic of Franklin. It was created in 1784 after North Carolina gave up the four counties as part of an agreement with Congress to help pay off debts of the war. It was intended for the eight counties known as Franklin to become the 14th state.
But after North Carolina's Congress had agreed to give up the four counties, it decided to withdrawl the offer and sent an army of soldiers over to defend the territory.
Colonial statesman John Sevier had fought for independence in the Revolutionary War and was appointed to command the soldiers sent to defend the Western North Carolina Counties. But soon, there was a growing sentiment aligned against the overpowering North Carolina government, and the eight counties that became the Provisional State of Franklin banded together and elected Sevier as their first Governor.
In 1785, the Provisional State of Franklin, which included the former North Carolina counties of Washington (which included part of present day Carter County), Greene, Sullivan, and Spencer Counties along with four other counties that formed the provisional state submitted a petition for statehood. In the end, it failed, and the Provisional state of Franklin would eventually be included in Tennessee.
Of course, this is a much simplified summary of the events that occurred, but did you realize part of North Carolina almost became a state on their own (coupled with four more counties)?!
For more spell-binding facts about North Carolina facts, keep reading here!
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