Stop Ten: Sevier Monuments

In a United States barracks like this in Elizabethton, Tennessee, called Fort Watauga, John Sevier, Tennessee’s first governor, rescued Bonny Kate Sherrill, who later would become his second wife four years later. The sudden appearance of Cherokees surprised several women out milking cows, forcing them to rush to get back inside the fort. Bonnie Kate was unable to get back inside before the gate was locked and had to be pulled over the palisade walls by John Sevier. Sarah Jane Hawkins was the first wife of John Sevier. In the spring of 1780. it became necessary for the Sevier family to take refuge at the nearest fort. They arrived at Fort Nolichucky, which was a very difficult six miles from their Little Limestone Creek plantation. Sarah, having complications from the birth, made it to the Fort, but very early one morning, she gave birth to her tenth child and passed away. She was buried that same evening in the nearby forest amid a thunderstorm. This was considered Indian land. Because they were well aware the Cherokee attacked at dawn, they left after nightfall and completed the burial by midnight, knowing an attack was imminent. The militia smoothed over her grave and scattered leaves to give the appearance that the ground was untouched. John feared the Cherokee would defile her grave, so they made no marking of it at all. John, himself, could never find it again. A monument on the Knox County Courthouse lawn marks her memory. Seven months later, John Sevier married Kate Sherrill. Sevier had 10 children with Sarah and another 8 children with Kate. John Sevier and Kate Sherrill Sevier are buried in the lawn of the Old County Courthouse. John Sevier died while running a treaty line in Alabama and was buried there originally. Half a century later, interested citizens obtained permission to disinter the body and return it to Knoxville for reburial on the courthouse lawn here. One of the largest crowds in the city’s history gathered to witness the frontier hero’s reburial. Bonny Kate Sevier later moved to Alabama with some of her children and died there. Her body, also, was returned to Knoxville for reburial on the Knoxville Courthouse lawn, next to John Sevier.

Standard Tour Mission:

Take a photo of your team in front of the Sevier monuments to the left of the Old Courthouse.

Virtual tour trivia questions:

Sevier is the English version of the name Xavier. From which country are John Sevier’s ancestors?

In the 1790’s, John Sevier started a brick mansion on lot 59 in Knoxville. Due to financial difficulties, Sevier abandoned the project and sold the lot to his son, who later sold it as well. The house was completed and still stands today on Cumberland Avenue. What is the name of the house?