At Watauga Old Fields, the Watauga Association was formed in 1772 as the first place west of the Alleghenies where men joined together in a written compact for civil government and for the preservation of their ideals of liberty. The thirteen commissioners elected were Charles Robertson, James Smith, George Russell, James Robertson, Jacob Brown, Jacob Womack, Zach. Isbell, William Bean, Robert Lucas, John Sevier, John Jones, William Tatham, and John Carter.