Heard County was created by act of the legislature on December 22, 1830, and was named for Hon. Stephen Heard, who was elected President of the Council on Feb. 18, 1781, and in the absence of Gov. Howley became Governor de facto. An Englishman who moved to Wilkes Co. from Virginia, Heard fought in the Revolution and distinguished himself at Kettle Creek. Among the first county officers were Clerk of Superior Court William Wood, Clerk of Inferior Court Paschal H. Taylor, Coroner David Cox, and Surveyor Jackson Fitzpatrick, while the first sheriff, Jonathan Mewsick, was not commissioned until 1832.