In an effort to encourage settlers to move west into he new territory of > TN. the mother state , N.C. --- > from Clinch Mt ( east TN) to French Lick (Nashville) > > A hunter Peter Avery, was selected to direct the blazing of this new trail > through the wilderness. The trail was laid out following buffalo trails > which the Cherokee Indians had frequently used as a war path. > > It lead from Fort Southwest ( Kingston area) thought he Cumberland > Mountains up into what is now Jackson County to Fort Blount (Gainesville > Area) > > From there it rambled along through the hills and valley of upper Middle TN. > to Bledsoe's Fort at Castilian Springs , then to Mansker's Fort and finally > to Fort Nashborough, > These five forts provided shelter and protection>" In 1787, the Assembly of > N.C. provided that 300 solders would be available for protection at the > Cumberland Settlements. ....." > " a portion of the Trace passed through Cherokee Land and the Cherokee > demanded a toll for use of the road...." The N.C. legislature ordered that > militia details of 50 men each would be kept in readiness to escort > travelers when large enough groups had grater at the Clinch River to head > west." > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > From another source they ; "would grater in Roane County N.C for the trip > west. as the military details, were as much for the new settlers as to keep > the squatters off Cherokee Lands" > > That area even after statehood till about 1840 had numberless Cherokee > families living there. Trace 200 years of TN History in 200 miles. Historic Avery Trace 1788 > Appears to have been published by "Historic Avery Trace Association > P.O. Box 177 > Gainesboro TN. 38562 > Ph 931-268-0971 comes from a pamphlet I may have picked up at the "Rock > House " in White County TN. > Located just a bit east of Sparta on Hwy 70. Rose C