The Year 1811 and the Birth of Marion County

By Chris Watts, Marion County Museum and Archives

Our home county of Marion was officially created on Monday, December 9, 1811, and is one of several U.S. counties with the distinction of being named for General Francis Marion, a hero of the American Revolution highly esteemed by South Carolinians who would eventually settle in South Mississippi. 

The world in which we live was a far different place two hundred years ago and it is fascinating to consider some other events that were occurring simultaneously.  For instance, in 1811 Napoleon Bonaparte was the dominate force in European politics.  Both composer Franz Liszt and novelist Harriet Beecher Stowe were born that same year. Slave uprisings were a stark reality among some Louisiana parishes while Percy Bysshe Shelley’s famous treatise; “The Necessity of Atheism” was printed.  Also in 1811 the great Ludwig van Beethoven was busily composing some of his finest symphonies. James Madison was serving as the president of a United States less than a year away from a war declaration against Great Britain.  In fact, not only were American and English sabres rattling at each another in 1811, the Creek nation to the east of Marion County was becoming more hostile towards encroaching whites.  Not surprisingly, only a year and a half later, five hundred settlers would be massacred by the Creeks at Fort Mims in the Mississippi Territory [in modern Alabama].

In the acts passed at the first session of the seventh general assembly of the Mississippi Territory, held at the Territorial Capital of Washington [near Natchez, Mississippi], one finds the printed words that literally gave life to Marion County, giving us a unique glimpse into the birth of our county.
    

Sec. 3.  And be it further enacted, That all that tract of country within the following boundaries, to wit:  Beginning on the line of demarkation, where the fourth range of townships east of Pearl river intersects the said line, thence west with said line of demarkation to the sixty mile post, east of the Mississippi, being the first range of townships, west of Tansopiho, thence north on said line of townships to the Chaktaw boundary line, thence along said Chaktaw boundary line, to the fourth range of townships, east of Pearl river, thence with said range to the beginning, shall constitute a county, which shall be called MARION.
 

Sec.  4 And that John Ford, George Henry Nixon, William Whitehead, Stephen [?]oble, and John Graves be, and hereby are appointed commissioners for Marion county; with power and authority to fix and establish the permanent seat of justice within their several counties; and in case of division of board of commissioners, a majority shall rule.
 

Sec. 5.  And be it further enacted, That the county courts of [Marion] be, and are hereby authorized, to levy a tax in their respective counties, for the years eighteen hundred and twelve and thirteen, for the purpose of erecting a courthouse and jail in each of the aforesaid counties:  Provided, The sum, so collected, does not exceed one half of the amount of the territorial tax.
 

Sec. 6.  And be it further enacted, That the tax levied, as aforesaid, shall be on the same species of property, as are subject to the territorial tax, and be payable only in gold and silver coins, made current by the laws of the United States, which tax shall be collected at the same time, by the same person, and paid over to the county treasurer at the same time, that collectors pay the territorial tax into the treasury.
 

Sec. 7.  And be it further enacted, That the tax collectors shall receive for collecting, as aforesaid, two and half per centum, on all monies so collected and paid into the county treasury; and on failure of any of the collectors aforesaid, the county courts of the aforesaid counties respectively, shall have the same remedy against such delinquent collector, as is by law given to the auditor of public accounts.
 

Sec. 8.  And be it further enacted, That the commissioners appointed by this act to fix the permanent seat of justice for Marion county, shall be bound, to fix the same on the west side of Pearl river, and within township number three.
 

Sec. 9.  And be it further enacted, That until commissioners for fixing the seat of justice within the counties aforesaid, do fix on the same, the courts of said counties shall be held at the following places and in the county of Marion, at the house of Ransom Oneal:  and so soon as the commissioners within any of the counties aforesaid, shall have fixed upon the seat of justice for their county, the superior, and county courts respectively shall meet at the place so fixed upon, and adjourn the court to some convenient place, fixed upon, until the court-house is in readiness for the reception of such courts, at which time the courts shall be adjourned to the same.

              COWLES MEAD,

              Speaker of the House of Representatives

              ALEXANDER MONTGOMERY

              President of the Legislative Council

              HENRY DAINGERFIELD

Secretary of the Mississippi Territory, executing the powers and performing the duties of the Governor of said Territory in his absence.

 APPROVED:  9th December 1811.

When carefully reading the acts that created Marion County, many interesting facts can be found. For instance, it is fascinating to consider that the county was originally much larger than now with boundaries that bordered upon the tribal lands of the Choctaw nation.  Also interesting is that the original county commissioners included the Reverend John Ford, who is known to all students of Marion County history, and George Henry Nixon. In less than three years, Nixon would lead a company of volunteer militiamen during the War of 1812, most of whom were from Marion County. Many of these soldiers were “mustered in” at the John Ford home in southern Marion County, and these same soldiers used the home as a rallying point awaiting the arrival of Andrew Jackson just prior to the Battle of New Orleans.

In section five, the origins of the original Marion County courthouse are laid out.  Taxes were levied throughout the county in the years 1812 and 1813 for the purpose of constructing the original wood frame courthouse and jail.  The original courthouse they erected would serve the county well into the twentieth century. Interestingly, the acts specify that the Marion County courthouse was to be located in Township 3 on the west side of the Pearl River. 

Until the courthouse was constructed, county court was held in private residences.  The acts specify that the residence of Ransom Oneal was to be used. Very little is known of Oneal today, although it is known that he signed a petition requesting the U. S. Congress to approve construction of a road along the Pearl River to shorten travel distance between Nashville and New Orleans. His name also appears in the 1816 Territorial census of Marion County showing that he had a family and owned five slaves. In addition to Oneal’s home, county records point out that the home of Captain Stephen Peak was later used by the courts. 

Although Territorial Governor David Holmes was absent from the proceedings that created our county, Cowles Mead was there, a man who would later spend considerable time in Marion County. In fact, when the Pearl River Convention for statehood was called to order at the Ford home in 1816, it was Mead who presided over the conference. Alexander Montgomery is known to be from Adams County, Mississippi and served in the Mississippi Territorial House of Representatives and on the Territorial Council.

Perhaps the most interesting event that occurred nearly simultaneously with the creation of Marion County was the New Madrid Earthquakes, a legendary natural disaster that would certainly have been seen as an apocalyptic event in the minds of pious settlers.  On Monday, December 16, 1811, exactly one week to the day after Marion County was created; the ground began to shake in Arkansas.  To this day, the ensuing earthquakes remain the most powerful ever recorded in the eastern United States.  Waterfalls appeared in parts of the Mississippi River, literally causing it to temporarily flow backwards.  Reportedly, church bells rang by themselves as far away as Ontario, Canada, while chimneys in Maine crashed to the ground and sidewalks in Washington cracked.  At present, the extent of the damage experienced by the early settlers of Marion County is unknown. For these brave souls who were braving the wilderness and creating a county, it would have seemed like a rough start indeed.

As always, thanks to Historical Society member Greg Price for his help and advice in the preparation of this article.

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The Marion County & City of Columbia Museum and Archives is interested in collecting genealogy, historic documents, photos, and artifacts from the area.  School groups are always welcome; we simply ask that they call ahead of time.  Celebrating Marion County’s Bicentennial Year!  Phone 601-731-3999 or visit our website at: http://www.marioncountyhistoricalsociety.com

The John Ford Home and Payne’s Chapel are open to the public Saturdays and Sundays from 2 P.M. until 5 P.M. and on weekdays by appointment.  Appointments can be made by calling 601-736-2938. 

Chris Watts
Curator, Marion County Museum & Archives
200 2nd Street, Suite 3
Columbia, MS  39429
601-731-3999
marioncountyhist@bellsouth.net