Question

I have someone born in 1786, since Tennessee didn't become a state until 1796, what state would it have been in 1786?

Comments

Would you please provide some details?  What is the person's name?  What record are you looking at?

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This Wikipedia article will provide some details on Tennessee history in the period before statehood: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Tennessee#Government_under_North_Carolina

Answer 1

It was briefly called The State of Franklin, but that was never officially recognized. It was called the Southwest Territory for awhile but that wouldn't make sense now.  You can just call it Tennessee and it wouldn't bother anybody.

Comments

Franklin only encompassed what is now easternmost Tennessee. Tennessee was part of North Carolina until 1789.