Order Cases Online
The files located in the Tennessee Supreme Court Cases represent an especially valuable resource for historical and genealogical research at the Tennessee State Library and Archives [TSLA].
Use quotes for an exact search. ex. "J. W."
View Entry | Year | Case Name | County | Cause/Crime | Case Description | Division | Location | # Pages | Order |
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View Entry | 1926 | Arthur England v. State | Claiborne | Liquor, Sale of Illegal |
Order only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 68 | 1 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1890 | Alex A. Arthur et al. v. William Sowder et al. | Claiborne | Land, Confirmation of Ownership |
Additional Plaintiffs: The American Association, Limited of London, England and the Middleborough Town Company. The plaintiffs requested the court determine the legal ownership of title to certain land grants and tracts that defendant Sowder, and others, claimed before the plaintiffs purchased them and executed their contract. |
East | Range: 19 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1801 | 346 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1937 | Alice Redmon, by Next Friend v. C. H. Redmon | Claiborne | Land, Sale of |
Additional defendants: Alva Richardson, Lon Francisco. |
East | Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1107 | 51 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1860 | Archibald Leger v. John Mayers, et al. | Claiborne | Slaves, Selling of |
Note: seems related to incomplete case John Myers, et al. v. Archibald Leger found in box ET 1174. Additional defendants: Hezekiah Mills, George S. Wolfe, Peter Ogan, William S. Rose, Mc H. Bray, Benjamin Bray and J.S.M. Walker and Nelson Retron, exe. of Beverly Mayer, dec. Leger had married Sally, daughter of Beverly and Polly Mayer; Beverly owned 6 slaves when Polly died to be divided among her children. The slaves were sold in previous suit but Mayers refused to divide proceeds with Leger. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1199 | 161 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1862 | B. F. Murphy & others v. W. T. Moss | Claiborne | Deed of Trust |
Last will & testament of William Goin, Claiborne Co.; Elizabeth, his widow; mentions negro slaves, woman: "Kel," and her three children: "David," "Callaway," and "Louisa Jane." Negro man, "George," girl: "Eliza," boy: "Jim." Many others listed. Plaintiff: Pleasant Murphy, William Murphy. Cross bill: B. F. Murphy & others v. Benjamin Sewell, exors. v. B. F. Murphy & others. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1203 | 60 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1940 | Cora Cody, et al. v. Louvernia Branson, et al. | Claiborne | Land, Partition of |
Additional Complainants: Mae Rains, Hazel England. Additional defendant: Walter Breeding. Complainants sought to have estate of J. A. Bransford, dec., administered, and real estate belonging to deceased partitioned. |
East | Range: 6 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 476 | 139 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1841 | Den Lesee of John Capps v. Bouyer Bullard | Claiborne | Possession of Land |
John Capps leased a track of land from defendant for a term of 10 years. When defendant in possession of land & refused to turn it over, plaintiff sued for possession rights and cost of suit. Note hand drawn map of tract in dispute on page 43. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1148 | 45 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1933 | E. N. Duncan et al. v. R. W. Payne | Claiborne | Land, Sale of |
This case involves a conflict over the sale of a tract of land in Claiborne Co. E.N. Duncan arranged to sale the tract of land to a man in Texas in exchange for a tract of land there. E.N. Duncan, however, only owned half the tract of land as he had split it with his brother Ben Duncan and E.N Duncan's wife refused to move or sign any sort of deed. This case is in two folders in ET Box 1462 |
East | Range: 10 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1462 | 282 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1946 | Farris Whitaker[?], Jr. et al. v. Dossie Whitaker, et al. | Claiborne | Land, Partition of |
Additional Complainants: Clarence Whitaker, Swann Whitaker, Wanda Whitaker, Ora Whitaker. Additional Defendants: Hattie Schultz, Judge Clayton Whitaker, Roosevelt Whitaker, Betty Whitaker, Don Whitaker. Whitaker[?] is also spelled Whiteaker[?] in some instances. |
East | Range: 7 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 772 | 257 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1847 | Francis Lyon [Lyons?] v. William P. & Thomas M. Jones | Claiborne | Slaves, Selling of |
Also Grainger County. Others mentioned: Epaphroditus Hightower (Lyon's neighbor). Slaves: Martha (12 yrs. old), Lizzy (10 yrs. old). 1/20/15 (Thompson): added 4-pg deed of trust for these slaves from Hightower & Lyon to Chesley Jarnagin, Trustee, for the benefit of W. P. Jones, partner of R.M. Scruggs & Co, for various judgments in said Jones' favor. |
East | Range: 7 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 755 | 52 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1940 | Hannah Lee, et al. v. Dorsie Lee Johnson, et al | Claiborne | Land, Partition of |
Additional Complainants: Hallie Smith, G. H. Johnson, James Johnson, George Johnson. Additional Defendants: Edward Johnson, L. W. Carpenter. Bill filed for the purpose of partitioning the lands belonging to George W. Johnson, dec.. Exhibits: plat map, copy of claim deed, copy of deed, copies of description of land, copy of warranty deed. |
East | Range: 6 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 476 | 196 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1872 | Henry Hipsher v. John P. Bowen (in his own right & as admr of Hugh Jones, dec, & guardian of James F. Jones & others) & wife M. V. Bowen et al | Claiborne | Slaves, Selling of |
Hugh Jones died; admr Josiah Wyatt granted petition under authority of Confederate states to sell slaves belonging to estate, & Hipsher gave note to buy 1 slave, but sale occurred after Lincoln issued Emancipation proclamation & army already advancing to enforce it. Case asks whether Hipsher or heirs should bear monetary loss resulting from emancipation. Includes testimony of slaves who were sold. Add. Def.: Sarah F. Jones, Rachel J. Wyatt, James F. Jones, County Court Clerk David Cardwell. |
East | Range: 9 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1240 | 40 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1854 | Isaac Vanbeber Jr. v. N. A. Evans& James Ritter | Claiborne | Conversion of Property |
Plaintiff claims that defendant in full knowledge of Plaintiff's ownership of four horses and other property of the joint value of seven hundred dollars took and converted said property. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1155 | 15 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1849 | Isaac Vanbebber, guardian of minor heirs of Pleasant Goins v. Thomas S. W. Sawyers, et al. | Claiborne | Slaves, Selling of |
Dispute re. Sawyers' failure to pay for purchase of negro slave, Huldah, who he purchased at court-ordered sale of slaves belonging to Pleasant's estate. Defendants: Samuel Moon, William Marcum (securities for Sawyers). Case in which sale was ordered: Wm. Hamilton & wife v. Levi Goins, admr. of Pleasant Goins, dec. Also mentioned in this case: William Kincaid (Vanbebber's security). Court ruled in favor of VanBebber against Sawyers. Pssbly related case: Levi Goin v. Samuel Moon et al.(1854) in ET Box 1165. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1142 | 18 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1845 | James I. Norvell v. John Fletcher, et al. | Claiborne | Slaves, Ownership of |
Norvell leased several enslaved people from Fletcher, who resided in Kentucky and then refused to return them or to pay for them. The enslaved are not named. Mentioned: Edward Fletcher, Thomas J. Covington, Lewis T. Clements, Joseph Eve, Thomas C. Norvell, Joseph Ferrill. |
East | Range: 5 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 20a | 14 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1890 | Jason Russell v. Marion Bryant et ux. | Claiborne | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
The plaintiff brought suit to prove that he owned the right of way to his lot from that of his neighbors/defendants land. He claims they acknowledged his right for twenty years but then recently built a rail fence and obstructed the road. |
East | Range: 19 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1820 | 571 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1889 | J. L. and C. H. Rogers v. James Simmons | Claiborne | Land, Sale of |
Elijah Jones and T. D. Knight jointly held two registered land grants in east Tennessee. The whereabouts of all the heirs are unknown and dividing the land would be difficult. The plaintiff asked the court to grant them the right to sell the property for partition and split the proceeds among the heirs. |
East | Range: 19 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1830 | 67 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1834 | John Wallin v. James Dickinson | Claiborne | Trespass with Force of Arms |
The cause of action in this case is listed as both trespass with force of arms and assault and battery. James Dickinson is accused of striking someone with his fists and a cowhide. |
East | Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1100 | 31 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1845 | James Norville [Norvell?] v. John Fletcher et al. | Claiborne | Slaves, Ownership of |
Add. Defs: Ambrose Arthur, Joseph Eve, Joseph Ferrell, Thomas C. Norville. James' grandma Mary Norville conveyed slaves to him, but his brother Thos & sister Polly Moon (& brother-in-law Mathew Moon) claimed transfer was in trust for all grandchildren. Claim compromised but in meantime Jas. had conveyed slaves via mortgage to Fletcher. Dispute arose over that conveyance. May be same as/related to 14-pg case found in ET Box 20: James I. Norvell v. John Fletcher et al. Slaves named in transcript. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1127 | 519 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1838 | John D. Cipu, James Niely & Elizabeth Niely v. Joseph Boyer | Claiborne | Trespass with Force of Arms |
Boyer trespassed with force of arms into the plaintiffs' home. Filed for $400 in damages. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1149 | 50 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1884 | J. W. Buis, et al v. E. E. King & Wife | Claiborne | Land, Partition of |
In original bill, pltfs. claimed entitlement to partitions of land once owned by Abram Buis. Additional plaintiffs include David Buis, William D. Shipley, P. G. Fulkerson, M. V. Cottrell. |
East | Range: 19 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1854 | 159 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1848 | Joseph Jones v. Andrew Buchanan, et al. | Claiborne | Land, Confirmation of Ownership |
Other defendants: Archibald Cooper & wife, Elizabeth Todd Cooper; Alfred B. Jackson & wife, Harriet L. Todd Jackson; Nathan Buchanan. Plaintiff purchased plot of land in Tazewell, TN, from defendants, which, apparently, they did not have proper title to. |
East | Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1123 | 22 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1861 | John Pearson & William Smith, admrs., of Michael Pearson, dec. v. Joseph H. Davis, et al. | Claiborne | Wills, Construction of |
Michael Pearson died & Pla. were appointed admrs. Will required sons Sterling & Pleasant to buy land, with proceeds to daughters Elizabeth (m. Joseph Davis), Eleanor (m. Abraham Davis), Louisiana (m. William Smith) & Catharine (m. Walter Davis). Also required sale of negroes, proceeds to daughters & son Jefferson. Primary issue: clause requiring bequests to daughter Elizabeth (who died after Michael) to be kept in trust for her sole benefit w/o control/use by her husband, until marriage dissolved. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1175 | 54 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1945 | Mrs. T. S. Fuson v. M. W. Whitaker[?], admr. of Cornie Whitaker[?], dec., et al. | Claiborne | Recovery of Land/Property |
Additional Defendants: Dora Sturges, Mary Duckworth. This case involves the ownership of certain wall/display cases in a building owned by Dr. T. S. Fuson, dec., in his lifetime. Whitaker[?] is also spelled Whiteaker in some instances. Exhibits: depositions, bill of sale, note sued on, mortgage securing debt, plea in abatement, decree for sale, decree confirming sale, original bill in another proceeding. |
East | Range: 6 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 370 | 131 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1849 | Mary Ann Brown, by next friend Thomas Brown v. William C. Kyle et al | Claiborne | Slaves, Selling of |
Add. defendant: Isaac Youkum. Plaintiff is a child of eight years old who was born a slave and the property of Isaac Vanlibin. Thomas Brown is a free man and appealed to the state to obtain the freedom of the plaintiff and he paid $100 for her and her sister. It is unknown if T. Brown obtained a bill of sale, but Vanlibin tried to sell them to pay off debts to the defendants. Seeking an injunction to prevent the defendants from taking the plaintiff and her sister out of the country. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1168 | 67 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1844 | M. M. Rogers v. John Hunter, Jesse Rogers, & David F. Rogers | Claiborne | Trespass with Force of Arms |
sued for damages of $1,000. The defendants stole stills from the plaintiff's house, causing damage to the area. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1170 | 62 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Peter Sharp & Co. v. Joseph Ferrell et al.; Solomon Jones v. Joseph Ferrell, et al.; Rodden G. Ferrell v. Peter Sharp & Co., et al.; Joseph Ferrell v. Peter Sharp & Co., et al. | Claiborne | Slaves, Ownership of |
4 cases heard together by consent, all of which relate in some way to 6 slaves in which Joseph Ferrell has interest: Mariah & children John, Lucy Ann, George, Henry Clay; & woman Charity. Various parties attempting to attach/otherwise gain that interest. John, Peter & Wm. Sharp dba Peter Sharp & Co. Add. Def. in 1st 3 cases: Jacob Cloud & Cynthia Norvell, admrs. of James J. Norvell. Rodden is Joseph's son who raised siblings when Joseph's wife became deranged during Joseph's litigation to recover slaves. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1158 | 298 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1944 | Ruth Sevier Knight v. John Sevier, et al. | Claiborne | Land, Partition of |
Additional defendant: Irene Hamilton Sevier, exor. of J. M. Hamilton, dec. Bill was filed to partition or sell the Lula Woodson farm and selling for partition land owned by Dr. J. M. Hamilton. |
East | Range: 7 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 578 | 241 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1883 | State v. James Cooper | Claiborne | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Title page only |
East | Range: 18 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1994 | 1 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1944 | State v. Brad Neal | Claiborne | Liquor, Sale of Illegal |
Cause of Action: Selling Beer within 2,000 ft. of a public school. |
East | Range: 6 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 428 | 52 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1947 | State v. Morgan Bailey | Claiborne | Liquor, Sale of Illegal | East | Range: 6 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 428 | 17 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1945 | State v. Herman Leffew | Claiborne | Possession of Illegal Weapons |
Cause of Action: Carrying a pistol. |
East | Range: 6 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 426 | 18 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1836 | State v. William McHenry | Claiborne | Obstructing a Public Road/Road/Right of Way |
Construction of a fish dam interfering with navigation of Powells River. |
East | Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1100 | 11 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1839 | State v. Jacob Schultz | Claiborne | Liquor, Sale of Illegal |
Unlicensed sale of spirituous liquors. |
East | Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1100 | 4 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1853 | State v. N. A. Evans et al. | Claiborne | Breach of Official Duty |
Evans was a former clerk of this court & was serving in that capacity at the time of a final trial & judgment against J.M. Woods for assault & battery. This suit is to recover from Evans & his securities money he collected in connection with that case. Add. Def.: Securities for Evans, including W.R. Evans, Daniel Huff, Thomas J. Johnson, Robert Crockett, J.R. Smith, Samuel Moore, William McBee, William Houston. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1153 | 6 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1858 | State v. William W. Hollingsworth | Claiborne | Disturbance of Public Worship |
A Methodist congregation was having a church trial of Hollingsworth, who had been accused of speaking evil of some of the ministers of the church. In his defense, Hollingsworth stated that everything he said was true, after which the disturbance occurred. The jury found him guilty and fined him $10. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1160 | 12 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1867 | State v. George W. Lewis & Andrew McKee | Claiborne | Breach of Bond |
Lewis & McKee breached the $1,000 appearance bond they had posted by failing to bring John Branham to court to answer an indictment for larceny. Lewis & McKee alleged various procedural defects, resulting in the court's dismissal of the charge, which dismissal the Attorney General appealed to the SC. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1194 | 6 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1877 | State v. William Hayes et al. | Claiborne | Breach of Bond |
State brought suit against the defendant and his sureties on bond (too many to note) as revenue collector for failing to collect and pay over money to the proper offices. |
East | Range: 20 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1648 | 23 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1858 | Thomas McClain, John McClain & William McClain, minors, by their guardian William Kincaid v. Willis D. Alder, admr of Thomas McClain, dec, B. C. Bratcher & John Kincaid | Claiborne | Slaves, Ownership of |
Follow-up to previous litigation involving Pla.' claims that Alder mismanaged their dad's estate. One such previous lawsuit involved a slave (Sally) who belonged to the estate. (See related 1846 case: Wm Bowman & wife Susannah Bowman v. Willis D. Alder, adm, ET Box 1126.) Pla. successfully recovered the slave, but now John Kincaid (who was assigned judgments Frederick Bolinger got against Alder as admr) is trying to execute judgments against Sally. Hence this suit. Alder absconded to Texas. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1188 | 28 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1924 | Third National Bank v. T. S. Fuson, et al. | Claiborne | Recovery of Money/ Wages |
Additional Defendants: J. B. Fulton, Russell Berkau, A. K. Sharp. G. H. Rowland, and Joe Phillips. Case file is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 93 | 1 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1856 | Valentine Fulps, et al. v. Vincent Meyers | Claiborne | Breach of Trust |
Additional plaintiffs: Johnson Mayse, Pleasant Miller, William Ansley, Levi Gein, Henry Soard, William Lewis. Meyers was tax collector and Fulps, et al. were his bonders. Meyer failed to turn all his collections over to the county. |
East | Range: 5 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 21a | 24 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1887 | William Fugate, et al v. Jonathan Fugate, et al | Claiborne | Guardianship of Minors |
John Fugate guardian of William & R. C. Fugate. Nature of case unclear, but there appeared to be some question as to whether John Fugate handled the financial affairs of his wards properly. John Fugate asked the court for compensation for his services. File consisted largely of depositions. See also: ET, Box 813 & ET, Box 815. |
East | Range: 19 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1841 | 571 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1859 | Will of William Bullard | Claiborne | Wills, Construction of |
Incomplete file containing only will of William Bullard. Wife Barthena Bullard. Children: Susan Burchfield, Joseph H. Bullard, Daniel C. Bullard, George B. Bullard, Sarah L. Bullard, Benjamin P. Bullard, Martha Jane Bullard, William B. Reece Bullard, & Mary Jane Bullard. Negro slaves: Jake, Rose, Anthony, Nancy, Betsey, Bob, Jack, Caroline, Eliza, William, Lucinda, Barthena, Charity, Lucy, Tim, Julia Ann, Eva Jane, Henry, John, Nelson, Will, Lurany, Maria. Lots of land described in will. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1132 | 16 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1853 | William Bullard v. James S. Thompson | Claiborne | Trespass with Force of Arms |
John Den, lessee of Bullard was forcefully removed from his residence by the defendant, causing injury. sued for $500. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1151 | 108 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1859 | William Murphey v. William L. Moss, et al. | Claiborne | Slaves, Ownership of |
William Goin, in his will, bequeathed to his daughter Elizabeth Murphey (wife of complainant) a slave named Malinda. After the probate, Malinda was reduced to William Murphey's possession. During her enslavement she gave birth to George, Nancy, Charles, Brown, Mary, and James. In 1856 some of them were wrongfully levied upon for a debt incurred by Murphey's son. Disputing ownership were Pleasant Murphy, C. Y. Rice, William Kirkpatrick, and Nelson McCrary. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1179 | 83 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1856 | William Murphy & wife Elizabeth Murphy v. Pleasant Murphy, E. D. Murphy, C. Y. Rice, William Kirkpatrick & Nelson McCrary | Claiborne | Slaves, Ownership of |
Incomplete file; decree only. No defendant had filed an answer except Rice, who withdrew his answer, so court granted plaintiffs' complaint, perpetually enjoining defendants from selling negro slave Nancy & restoring her to plaintiffs. Court also ruled that William Going (dec), Elizabeth's dad, had bequeathed the negro girl Malinda to Elizabeth, who had raised Malinda's children (George, Nancy, Charles, Brown, Mary & James), & that plaintiffs should therefore have title to said children. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1182 | 4 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1867 | William Hayes v. William A. Blackburn & Thomas Henderson et al | Claiborne | Trespass with Force of Arms |
Add. defendants: Samuel Walker, Daniel Burchett, Pryor L. Lanham, William Lanham, George Henderson, Isaac Walker, Hawkins Campbell, Thomas Campbell, John Campbell, Richard Campbell, & C.Y. Rice. Plaintiff is sued for damages in the sum of $5,000. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1197 | 28 | Order A Copy |