In 1785, the General Assembly was petitioned to authorize the removal of the existing courthouse in Montgomery County due to its inconvenient location that required ferrying across the Yadkin River. In 1791, an act was passed directing that the center of the county be located by actual survey, at which place Stokes was to be established. The commissioners, however, failed to act, and in 1792 new commissioners were named.

The courts were to be held at the home of Mark Kennet unless the justices decided on some other place more convenient. In that year, Henderson was established at the confluence of the Yadkin and Uwharrie Rivers. In 1795 the courthouse, on the land formerly belonging to James Tindall, was authorized to be sold. Tindallsville had been established in that year.