Stop Thirteen: John Chisholm's Tavern

Chisholm’s Tavern was completed sometime in 1792 on lot 17, just below Blount Mansion, not on the spot where the historical marker is currently located. Captain John D. Chisholm came to Knoxville in 1790 with William Blount. The tavern was originally constructed as his home, but later became the frontier’s community’s first tavern with both lodging and dining facilities. The log structure may have looked something like this.

There have been discussions that the Tennessee State Legislature may have met there when Knoxville was the state capitol. John Chisholm, born in Scotland, was a large man with very red hair. John was first married to Patience Massengill, known as “Patty.” Patty ran the Chisholm Inn and they had 11 children. John Chisholm, serving as a business agent for William Blount, hatched a plot to have the Cherokees and frontiersmen invade poorly defended Florida. This force would then turn Florida over to the British. In payment, Britain would name Chisholm superintendent of Indian affairs. Chisholm went to Philadelphia to present his plan to the British ambassador and seek financing but got no commitment. However, the ambassador sent Chisholm to London to seek approval. After some consideration, the British government rejected the risky idea. In Chisholm’s absence, Blount took control of the project. If successful, the scheme would allow Blount to sell land at a profit and prevent personal bankruptcy. Moreover, the adventure would make him a hero in Tennessee. After consultation with another large-scale land speculator, Dr. Nicholas Romayne, in New York, the intrigue grew to not only capture Florida but also New Orleans. Blount himself would lead the forces against New Orleans, and Chisholm agianst those in Pensacola, Florida. The deal failed, William Blount was impeached, and Chisholm ended up in a London debtor's prison in May 1797. Chisholm was released when he signed a full confession and named his co-conspirators. Upon release, John returned to Knoxville. In 1799, Patience Chisholm was granted a divorce from John because he was living with a Cherokee woman named Patsy Brown and refused to live with Patience again. It was reported that John Chisholm had numerous Cherokee wives. Patience remarried the next year and moved to Louisiana. John Chisholm’s son, Thomas, with his Cherokee wife, Patsy, would become the future Chief of the Western Cherokee. In 1819, Chisholm moved with his son, Ignatius (mother was Patience Massengill), to Arkansas. The famous Chisholm’s Trail used to drive cattle from Texas to Kansas City railyards is named for John’s grandson, Jesse.

Standard Tour Mission

Use the props on the table next to the historical marker to recreate John Chisholm’s Tavern. Take a photo of your team.

Virtual Tour trivia questions:

Which Cherokee chief was a long time friend of John D. Chisholm?

John D. Chisholm came to the United States in 1777 from what town in Scotland?