Carter County, Tennessee Court Records The first court of Carter County was held on July 4, 1796, at the home of Samuel TIPTION. The following magistrates were present: Andrew GREER Landon CARTER Nathaniel TAYLOR David McNABB Lochonah CAMPBELL Gutridge GARLAND John VAUGHT Joseph LANDS Reuben THORNTON The first county officers elected were: Godfrey CARRIGER - Register Joseph LANDS - Ranger George WILLIAMS - Clerk John MACKLIN - Trustee Nathaniel TAYLOR - Sheriff The first constables were: Charles COLYER Aaron CUNNINGHAM Samuel MUSGROVES Thomas WHITSON Solomon CAMPBELL John ROBERTSON Nathaniel Taylor and Nathaniel Folsom were paid $50 each for laying off the town of Elizabethton as the county seat. The following persons served on the first grand jury: William DUGGER George INGLE John STOVER John FENTRESS Mathias WAGGONER Levi LOYD Jeremiah CAMPBELL William PUGH William DAVIS William DUGGER Julius DUGGER Joseph FORD John WORLEY Stephen REDMAN John POLAND James RANGE Michael HYDER John PEOPLES Robert LUSK Only half of these people who were summoned actually served on the grand jury The April term of 1797 the court was held at the home of William MATLOCK in Elizabethton, afterwards they met in the new courthouse. In 1820 a committee was appointed to sell the old courthouse and supervise the building of a new one. Members of that committee were: Jeremiah CAMPBELL William CARTER James KEYS Jonathan HAMPTON and Alfred M. CARTER In 1852 another courthouse was needed and commissioners who oversaw this project were: Godfrey NAVE C. W. NELSON L. W. HAMPTON R. C. WHITE John WRIGHT Christian CARRIGER Alfred TIPTON The first lawyers of Carter County were: James Patton TAYLOR Alfred W. TAYLOR Thomas D. LOVE Hon. Thomas A. R. NELSON