Colonel William Polk

(1758-1834) Revolutionary War veteran William Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. After fighting in several Revolutionary War engagements, where he was severely wounded twice, he served in the North Carolina Legislature. President Washington appointed Polk Supervisor of Internal Revenue for the State of North Carolina.

Polk served as a trustee of the University of North Carolina, was the first president of the State Bank of North Carolina, and was nominated twice for governor. He was one of the earliest land owners in Tennessee, acquiring more than 175,000 acres of land including the famous “Rattle and Snap tract in Maury County.”

Several of his fourteen children settled in Maury County and built some of the finest homes in the state including “Rattle and Snap,” “Hamilton Place,” and “Ashwood Hall.”

Information provided by Tom Price, Director of The Maury County Archives