Avery's Trace

Avery's Trace

Following the end of the Revolution American settlers pushed westward from southwest Virginia and North Carolina, to settle in the lands of western Tennessee and Kentucky, and what was known as the Cumberland Settlement. In 1787 a 300 mile-long road was was constructed to take settlers into the Cumberland Settlements. Initially known as the "North Carolina Road" the route became known as "Avery's Trace" after the hunter, Peter Avery, who had been selected by the State of North Carolina to build it. Following buffalo trails Avery's trace passed from a point near modern Kingston, TN, to the French Lick, now known as Nashville. To help Avery construct the road the State of North Carolina committed 300 soldiers to the project. Each was awarded a land grant of 800 acres in exchange for a years labor on the road. During the first year 25 families traveled the Trace to Nashville.

Initially Avery's trace was no more than a rough, ten-foot wide trail blazed through the wilderness, and was passable only by pack horses. Later improvements turned it into a wagon road, but even then, it was a rugged road to travel. In places the road was described as "bottomless", and in others the road continued to be passable only on foot.

The eastern portion of the trace pssed through the Cherokee territory, and the Cherokee demanded that travelers through their lands pay a toll for use of the road. Conflict over use of the road escalated, and many settlers were killed trying to evade the tolls. North Carolina eventually started providing armed escorts for travelers, and established a series of forts along the Trace. An initial blockhouse was built in 1792 at the head of the trace near Kingston. This was replaced a few years later by Fort Southwest Point. Other forts were established, including Fort Blount, Bledsoe’s Fort at Castalian Springs, Mansker’s Fort, finally Fort Nashborough.