Most of the area of present-day Newton County was part of the Municipality of Liberty from 1831 to 1834 and the Municipality of Bevil, which later became Jasper County, from 1834 to 1846. The area north of the Little Cow Creek, which includes one-fifth of the present county, was within the Municipality of San Augustine in 1834-35 and the Municipality of Sabine from 1835 to 1837, before becoming part of Jasper County in 1837. County created 4/22/1846 from eastern half of Jasper County and named in honor of John Newton, a veteran of the American Revolution. A small piece of the western border was ceded to Jasper County in 1852. The first commissioners' court convened near Quicksand Creek. Burkeville petitioned for the county seat in 1848, narrowly approved in 1849. It was moved to Newton in 1853. It was slightly favored for Burkeville in 1855, but officials refused to leave Newton. -Handbook of Texas Online: Newton County