History of Tennessee :: General John Sullivan, County :: Kingsport

 

SULLIVAN COUNTY : named for General John Sullivan

See Current Kingsport Tennessee County Clerk and Government Information

General John Sullivan : short

John Sullivan of 'Sullivan' County:

Paul Revere was a Patriot courier of information on unrest in Boston.
In 1774 when things got tight in Boston, Revere met with a group secretly.
"He rode to Portsmouth, New Hampshire in December 1774 upon rumors of an impending landing of British troops there, a journey known in history as the Portsmouth Alarm. Although the rumors were false, his ride sparked a rebel success by provoking locals to raid Fort William and Mary, defended by just six soldiers, for its gunpowder supply."
Four months later was the famous Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.

After Revere's ride to Portsmouth, the Patriots rallied about 400 men and marched into Fort William and Mary to steal the gunpowder.
The next night, John Sullivan led a raid into the Fort. "On the following day, Thursday, December 15, 1774, a party of men came from Durham to Portsmouth. That night, together with other citizens, under the leadership of John Sullivan, they again took the fort and carried off the lighter cannon and all of the small arms."

John Sullivan's relatives like to put it this exaggerated way:
"Sullivan fired the first shot of the American Revolutionary War, during the Battle of Fort William and Mary in December 1774."

John Sullivan also was one of the key commanders of the battle that took place in Long Island New York.. which could also be another reason North Carolina named this area Sullivan County due to the Cherokees famous Long Island of the 'Holston'.

John Sullivan was also a 'scorcher' of the 'Indians' driving out and destroying all towns of the Iroquois in western New York.
So psychologically it is possible that the name 'Sullivan' let the Native Americans in this area know that 'they better line up, or else'.

So though controversial, as many rugged leaders were in that day, John Sullivan was considered a 'hero' back in New Hampshire and was voted into the Congressional Congress in 1780.

Sullivan County began October 1779 as part of North Carolina
February, 1780, the Sullivan County Court was organized.
1784-88 it was part of the State of Franklin
1790 it rejoined North Carolina
North Carolina ceded the area to the federal government in April 1790, after which it was organized into the Southwest Territory May 26, 1790, until June 1, 1796.

Tennessee : Tennessee, with Sullivan County, was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1796 as the 16th state. The first state created from territory under the jurisdiction of the United States federal government.

Thus John Sullivan became a namesake of Tennessee.
1. A 'first person' player of the preRevolutionary War
2. General Sullivan a leader of the Battle of Long Island, New York.
3. General Sullivan a ruthless 'destroyer' of the 'Indians'.

NEW! *** UPDATE See new historical update showing William King is how Kingsport got its name. March 18 2021 Follow This Link

NEW! Read about the Battle of Island Flats from new 2018 essay. Key areas of history from Dickson Elementary School woods westward. Download HERE..[Dickson Video]

The first celebration of Independence Day, July 4, 1776, took place at Fort Patrick Henry...Click here



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Enjoy Kingsport Archives photographs posted by Kingsport Archive Manager Brianne Johnson Wright pinterest.com/kptarchives

'Chief' the Eagle flies once more over the Holston River
and the Cherokee Nation's Long Island










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HAPPY SPRING 2021 !
KINGSPORT TENNESSEE!
August 21 2021 is our 199th Anniversary for the first City Charter 1822

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Throughout the years known as The Model City :: Kingsport Tennessee
NEW Interstate I-26 Exit Numbers
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Exit 8 is the new I-26 Exit
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Kingsport TN Exit 8 Sign Interstate 26 and 81Kingsport TN Exit 4 Sign Interstate 26 and 81
  • Bays Mountain, Holston River,Greenbelt Path.
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  • GPS Coordinates: Kingsport is located
    at 36°32'13?N, 82°32'32?W


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    USAirways Magazine Kingsport Tennessee TN
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  • DiscoverKingsport.com would like to honor Dan Crowe who passed away December 1, 2005. Part of my inspiration in the back of my heart was to develop this site to fulfill a regret I had in High School. Coach Crowe allowed me lots of out-of-class time to work on a video project about the history of Tennessee Eastman. It turned out that the school television equipment could not handle the project due to the new studio being constructed. I wanted to let him know that his influence as a teacher and a gentleman was not forgotten. You may read about Dan Crowe's influence in our community here.
  • Thank you Dan Crowe. I look forward to seeing you again.
  • Please email Historical Signs/Marker Information Here
  • We are looking for any Historical Sign or Marker in the Kingsport Tennessee area. At this time there is no record of all these historical areas. The list will be made available at the Chamber of Commerce, Netherland Inn/Exchange Place Association and Internet for the public.
  • Thank you for your assistance.
  • Historical Markers in Kingsport

    Looking Down The River :: Kingsport Tennessee Netherland Inn
    From the Southeast ::
    Bays Mountain
    Kingsport Tennessee

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    View Then

    Hitchup Time :: Kingsport Tennessee ExchangePlace
    Hitchup Time ::
    ExchangePlace
    Kingsport Tennessee

    ViewToday
    View Then

    Coming Up On The Inn :: Kingsport Tennessee Netherland Inn
    Coming Up On The Inn ::
    Netherland Inn
    Kingsport Tennessee

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    View Then

    South Long Island :: Kingsport Tennessee Holston River
    South (East) Long Island ::
    Holston River
    Kingsport Tennessee

    View Today
    View Then


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