>From 1784-1788 the people of (now Tennessee) organized as the State of Franklin to protest the fact, among other things, that North Carolina didn't allow any representation from the area. Since the organization was without sanction from Congress, it was not a state of the United States and the "state" disorganized when the North Carolina militia defeated the "Governor" John Sevier's forces. The former "governor" who was arrested for treason in 1788 was elected to congress from NC in 1789. Sevier and the State of Franklin are the subject of a thesis at www.ls.net/~newriver/nc/wnc6.htm. According to the map Sumner Co was not part of Franklin. Franklin area is Knoxsville, Jonesboro & Greeneville areas. According to "Franklin America's "Lost State" ( real good bk on the subject of Franklin) pg 69-75 states no precise figures are available, but it has been estimated that a least five thousand familes settled in Franklin during the first half of 1786. About one thousand familes went to Nashville in the autumn of 1785 and it is believed that far more established homestead in the older portions of the territory. Franklinites boasted that they were citizens of the fastest-developing state in the Union and the claim may have been valid. A one-room school about 25 miles from Jonesboro that was occupied by only 3 boys in Sept 1785, was overflowing with thirty-two pupils the following spring. Knoxville, which was founded ine early 1786 had a population of more that two thousand by the end of the same year. According to this book this area had a growing population during this period of time. Lynn