City of Jackson fyi

City of Jackson

The city of Jackson was founded by an act of the General Assembly, passed in 1821-22, entitled an “act to establish a seat of justice for Henry, Carroll, Henderson and Madison Counties.” The act called for fifty acres of land, to be deeded to the commissioners. The commissioners chosen by the Legislature were Sterling Brewer and James Fentress. The places had in view for the seat of justice, as elsewhere stated, were Alexandria, Golden’s Station and Jackson. The larger portion of the settlers at that time were living at Cotton Grove and vicinity, and as Jackson was a nearer point to them than either of the others, it was looked upon as the more suitable or desirable site for the seat of justice; hence it was chosen. The land to be obtained was to be by donation, or purchase on the most favorable terms. The thirty acres of the original plat of Jackson, lying east of Market Street, was obtained from John McNairy, Joseph Phillips and Wm. E. Butler, attorney, in fact, for the three, on April 9, 1822. Said thirty acres was a part of entry No. 13, for 500 acres owned by said parties. The conditions of the deed were that the lands were to be donated to said commissioners, Brewer and Fentress, but a lot of his own choice was to he reserved by each of the owners in the sale of town lots. Nineteen acres and a portion lying west of Market Street were purchased of David Shannon at $10 per acre, and a choice lot reserved. The last named property was a part of entry No 2, for 170 acres, made by Thomas Shannon, father of David Shannon. The corporate limits of Jackson have been extended fifty acres from time to time, as its growth required. In 1860 it embraced one square mile; now it embraces two miles square, or four square miles, or 2,560 acres.

Ref.. Goodspeed’s History of Tennessee

The Goodspeed Publishing Co., Nashville TN, 1886-1887

This is the web address. Very informative read

https://www.tngenweb.org/records/madison/history/goodspeed/index.html