18th Century

Whereas, by the Ordinance of Congress of the 13th of July 1787 for the Government of the Territory of the United States North West of the River Ohio, it is directed that, for the due Execution of Process civil & criminal, the Governour shall make proper Divisions of the said Territory, & proceed from Time to Time as Circumstances may require, to lay out the Parts of the same where the Indian Titles shall have been extinguished, into Counties & Townships subject to future Alteration as therein specified

Beginning at the Mouth of the little Michilmakinack River, running thence Southerly in a direct Line to the Mouth of the little River above Fort Massac upon the Ohio River, thence with the said River Ohio to its Junction with the Mississippi, thence up the Mississippi to the Mouth of the Illinois River & so up the Illinois River to the Place of Beginning—with all the adjacent Islands of the said Rivers Illinois & Mississippi" Should be a County by the Name & Style of the County of St Clair. And on the same Day was issued the following Proclamation

Whereas the Division of the County of St Clair into Districts has not been found to give that Ease and Facility to the Administration of Justice which was expected and the great Extent of the County would render it almost impracticable were the Courts to be held at one Place only, it has therefore become necessary that it should be divided and a new County erected. Now Know ye that by Virtue of the Powers vested in me by the United States I have ordered and ordained, and by these Presents do Order and ordain that all and singular the Lands lying and being within the following Boundaries

Beginning at the standing Stone Forks of the Great Miami River, & down the said River to its Confluence with the Ohio River, thence with the Ohio River to the small Stream or Rivulet above Fort Massac—thence with the Eastern Boundary Line of St Clair County to the Mouth of the Little Michilmakinac, thence up the Illinois River to the Forks or Confluence of the Thekiki & Chikago, thence by a Line to be drawn due North to the Boundary Line of the Territory of the United States, & so far Easterly upon said Boundary Line, as that a due South Line may be drawn to the Place of Beginning— Should be a County by the Name & Style of the County of Knox

Beginning at the completion of the 41st degree of north latitude, one hundred and twenty miles west of the western boundary of Pennsylvania, and running from thence by a line to be drawn north parallel to and one hundred and twenty miles west of the said west line of Pennsylvania, and to continue north until it comes to 42 degrees 2 minutes north latitude ;thence with a line to be drawn east, until it intersects the said western boundary of Pennsylvania: tbence with the said western boundary of Pennsylvania south, to the completion of the 41st degree of north latitude, and from thence west, to the place of beginning.

Beginning on the Ohio river, at the middle of the fourth township of the second range of townships, in the seven ranges, and running with the line between the third and fourth sections of that township north, to the western boundary of the said seven ranges;thence south with the said western boundary, to the middle of the fifth township, in the seventh range of townships;thence east, with the line between the third and fourth sections of the said fifth township, to the Ohio river, and from thence with the Ohio river, to the place of beginning.