In August 1784 delegates from Washington and two other western North Carolina counties that had split from Washington (all now in Tennessee), declared their Independence from North Carolina because of perceived neglect and misuse by North Carolina’s legislature. By May 1785 they had petitioned to be admitted to the United States as the new State of Franklin. The Franklin statehood request was denied. By 1789 the hopes for a State of Franklin faded. North Carolina refused to recognize several counties created by Franklin out of Washington County.