The Skaggs-Files

All of Tennessee began as one single county: Washington County, North Carolina. Created in 1777 from the western areas of Burke and Wilkes Counties, North Carolina, Washington County had as a precursor a Washington District of 1775-76, which was the first political entity named for the Commander-in-Chief of American forces in the Revolution.

As settlers surged into the Tennessee country during and following the American Revolution, Washington County was successfully divided into other county units. When Tennessee was admitted to the Union in 1796, it had eleven counties, eight of them in East Tennessee and three in West (now Middle) Tennessee. By 1800 the number had increased to eighteen; in 1810 to thirty-eight; and to forty-five in 1820. Between 1820 and 1840, twenty-five new counties were added. The rapid creation of counties was obviously, first of all, a result of population growth; but perhaps equally represents, as a practical need the necessity of shortening the distance to the county "town". The proliferation of Tennessee Counties continued until 1880, when there were 96 of them. The total number was reduced by one in 1919, to the present ninety-five.
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Family Data Collection - Births

Name: Ferguson, John Ferguson
Father: Ferguson , John
Mother: Alston , Phillis
Birth Date: 1787
County: Davidson
State: Tennessee
Country: United States
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Census Report of Williams Settlement, April 21, 1835.
Nacogdoches (TX) Archives, April 21, 1835. Vol. 85, pp. 240-245.
Census taken by William Elliott of the Inhabitants of Williams Settlement,
and return made of the same on the 21st day of April, 1835.

John FERGUSON 48 Married 1787 farmer
Susan FERGUSON 48 do 1787
Warrick FERGUSON 17 Single 1818
Elijah FERGUSON 15 do 1820
John FERGUSON 7 1828
Ballard FERGUSON 5 1830
Melinda FERGUSON 2 1833