Overton, John, 1766-1833

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John Overton was a Tennessee lawyer and politician.

From the description of John Overton papers, 1827-1830 [manuscript]. WorldCat record id: 23294706

John Overton was an early Tennessee jurist, who served on the Tennessee Supreme Court. Also, he was a founder of Memphis, Tennessee.

From the description of Letter, dated 1808 February 19, Nashville, Tennessee, to Return J. Meigs. (University of Tennessee). WorldCat record id: 47091540

John Overton (1766-1833), Tennessee pioneer, jurist, and dedicated supporter of Andrew Jackson, was born in Louisa County, Virginia. He studied law in Mercer County, Kentucky (1787), and then moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he shared lodgings with Andrew Jackson. They became steadfast friends and were partners in a number of speculative land ventures, including the founding of Memphis, Tennessee, in 1819.

Overton succeeded Jackson to the state Superior Court (1804-1810 and 1811-1816). He was a widely recognized authority on land legislation in Tennessee. He was also reputed to be the state's wealthiest citizen. After his resignation from the bench in 1816, Overton committed himself to the furtherance of Jackson's political career.

(Biographical information from the Dictionary of American Biography .)

From the guide to the John Overton Papers, ., 1827-1830, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Overton, John, 1766-1833. John Overton papers, 1827-1830 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Armstrong, Martin. Murdock collection of Overton papers : addition. Tennessee State Library & Archives, TSLA
creatorOf Minor, Henry, 1783-1839. Letter, 1830. Alabama Department of Archives and History
creatorOf John Overton Papers, ., 1827-1830 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Yandell family. Yandell family papers, 1823-1877. The Filson Historical Society
creatorOf Overton, John, 1766-1833. Letter, dated 1808 February 19, Nashville, Tennessee, to Return J. Meigs. University of Tennessee, John C. Hodges Library
referencedIn Overton family. Collection of miscellaneous papers, 1827-1830. [microform] Mostly business letters to John Overton. Vanderbilt University Library, Jean and Alexander Heard Library
creatorOf Henley, David, 1749-1823. David Henley papers, 1794-1808, bulk 1794-1801. Tennessee State Library & Archives, TSLA
creatorOf John Overton Papers, ., 1790-1840 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
creatorOf Overton, John, 1766-1833. John Overton papers, 1790-1840 [microfilm manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Catlett, Hanson, d. 1824. Figuers collection, 1764-1965. Tennessee State Library & Archives, TSLA
referencedIn Knox County (Tenn.). Land records of Knox and Davidson counties, Tennessee, 1786-1805. Tennessee State Library & Archives, TSLA
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Anderson, Joseph, 1757-1837. person
associatedWith Barclay, David. person
associatedWith Bell, John, 1797-1869. person
associatedWith Benton, Thomas Hart, 1782-1858. person
associatedWith Blount, William, 1749-1800. person
associatedWith Blount, Willie, 1768-1835. person
associatedWith Campbell, George Washington, 1769-1848. person
associatedWith Cannon, Newton, 1781-1841. person
associatedWith Carr, Samuel. person
associatedWith Claiborne, William C. C. (William Charles Cole), 1775-1817. person
associatedWith Claybrooke, E. J. person
associatedWith Claybrooke, John. person
associatedWith Clay, Henry, 1777-1852. person
associatedWith Cocke, William, 1747-1828. person
associatedWith Coffee, John, 1772-1833. person
associatedWith Coleman, Hawes. person
associatedWith Dickson, William, 1770-1816. person
associatedWith Eaton, John Henry, 1790-1856. person
associatedWith Emmerson, Thomas. person
associatedWith Gaines, Edmund Pendleton, 1777-1849. person
associatedWith Haywood, John, 1762-1826. person
associatedWith Henley, David, 1749-1823. person
associatedWith Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845. person
associatedWith Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. person
associatedWith Knox County (Tenn.) corporateBody
associatedWith Lewis, William Berkeley, 1784-1866. person
associatedWith Lindsley, Philip, 1786-1855. person
correspondedWith Meigs, Return Jonathan, 1740-1823 person
associatedWith Minor, Henry, 1783-1839. person
associatedWith Overton family. family
associatedWith Sevier, John, 1745-1815. person
associatedWith Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862. person
associatedWith White, Hugh Lawson, 1773-1840. person
associatedWith Winchester, James, 1752-1826. person
associatedWith Yandell family. family
Place Name Admin Code Country
Tennessee
Tennessee
United States
Subject
Families
Land speculation
Lawyers
Women
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1766-04-09

Death 1833-04-12

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