Tennessee Supreme Court Cases

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View Entry Year Case Name County Cause/Crime Case Description Division Location # Pages Order
View Entry 1808 David Andrews v. William Sawyers & Martin Whitford Davidson Contract Dispute and Damages

Martin Whitford sold David Anderews a cow, a bed, a certain parcel of corn then growing, for $132. However, Whitford had business in North Carolina & asked that the chattel be left in his family's care until he returned. Before taking possession of the land and Chattel, Andrews asked that the deal be broken. Whitford said he destroyed the bond, but then Sawyers sued Andrews to recover the debt on the bond.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1a 30 Order A Copy
View Entry 1813 David Shelby v. Elijah Robertson, et al. Davidson Estate Dispute

David Shelby sued James Robertson, Bennett & Robert Searcy, & Sarah Robertson, exe's of Elijah Robertson who died in 1790. Before his death, Elijah had promised to sell Shelby an enslaved male between the ages of 12-25. Following his death Elijah had not yet delivered the enslaved person, so a suit was brought to recover him. Shelby rec'd a judgment to recover the amount through real estate owned by Rbtson. The heirs protested.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1a 10 Order A Copy
View Entry 1822 Elihu S. Hall v. Walter H. Overton Davidson Land Middle Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 334 8 Order A Copy
View Entry 1919 F. W. Woolworth Company v. Mrs. Gustine Connors Davidson Larceny Middle Range: 21 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 151 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1808 John Drake v. Thomas Cahoon Davidson Contract Dispute and Damages

Cahoon, as agent for Jedidiah T. Turner, who had obtained a US patent for a threshing machine, made a contract with Drake, William Christy, & Charles Fishbach to trade land for rights to the patent. The land and patent rights were exchanged, then Turner discovered that he was defrauded by the trade.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1a 24 Order A Copy
View Entry 1819 John Boyd v. John Maclin & William Lytle, Jr. Davidson Debt

Maclin owed Boyd $150 for land he purchased from Boyd. Maclin failed to pay, and Boyd sued to recover the debt.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1a 6 Order A Copy
View Entry 1872 James Chamberlain, assignee for John F. McCann v. Arthur M. Rutledge et al. Davidson Bankruptcy

Additional Defendants: A.S. Colyer, and W.B. Reese.

 Middle Range: 21 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 76 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1818 John Gordon v. Benjamin Joslin Davidson Debt Dispute Middle Range: 21 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 81 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1829 John Overton v. Egbert Haywood Davidson Debt Middle Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 371 10 Order A Copy
View Entry 1804 James Elliott v. Thomas Edmondson, Ann Hay, admr. of David Hay, dec. Davidson Equity

Additional defendant: Ann Hay, admr. of David Hay, dec. Land warrant, 640 acres, Davidson Co., NC (1785). James Elliott, assignee of Sampson Wilson, acreage near Arrington's Creek, NC entry #717 (1785).

 Middle Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 384 252 Order A Copy
View Entry 1809 Joel Lewis v. William Terrill Lewis, John Nauls, John Donelson, Rachel & Andrew Jackson, Jane & Robert Hayes, John & Andrew Jackson Donelson, Daniel, William, Alexander,& Severn, Donelson, John & Mary Caffery, Catherine Huchens, heirs of Stokley Donelson Davidson Land and Title Dispute

In 1787 Joel Lewis purchased acreage land from Mr. Gordon of Georgia. Wm. T. Lewis then claimed ownership to some of this land, being given a grant by the state of NC then conveyed it to Stokely Donelson, who agreed to convey other land to Joel Lewis. The conveyance was not made before Stokely died. The suit was filed to finalize land ownership.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 3 124 Order A Copy
View Entry 1822 John Mayfield, et al. v. Benjamin Seawell, et al. Davidson Land and Title Dispute

Additional plaintiff: Miarrias Seawell. Additional defendant: George Mayfield. Seawell sued over the ownership and boundaries of a tract of land originally purchased by Southerland Mayfield in 1784. Benjamin Sewell died during the trial.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 3 159 Order A Copy
View Entry 1815 John Gwin v. Richard Cook Davidson Land and Title Dispute

In 1797, Richard Cook of Granville County, North Carolina conveyed land to William Gwin of Sumner County, TN. The two made multiple agreements concerning multiple parcels of land over the years. John Gwin was William's heir & sued to settle the land matter so that his bequest might be finalized, and the estate settled.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 2a 34 Order A Copy
View Entry 1808 John Overton v. John Allison, et al. Davidson Land and Title Dispute

In 1800, Overton obtained a judgment against the heirs of David Allison of $920.14. In his lifetime Allison purchased many plots of land from many people including Landon Carter & Andrew Jackson, but failed to obtain the deeds or register the conveyances. Overton sued: Jane, John, William, & Peggy Allison, and Andrew Jackson to recover the judgment, even if it were to be paid in land.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1a 39 Order A Copy
View Entry 1824 John McNairy, et al, exe. of Margaret Tait, dec. v. W. L. Hannum, et al, admr. Of Thomas Hill, dec. Davidson Debt

Additional plaintiffs: Robert Bell, George Bell. Additional defendants: John Stump, John Con, Felix Robertson, Robert Hill

 Middle Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 364 30 Order A Copy
View Entry 1823 John Hodge v. Jesse Wharton & Stephen Caldwell, exe. of George M. Deadrick Davidson Trespass

Cause of action is listed as Trespass and Ejectment.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 365 29 Order A Copy
View Entry 1809 Rebecca Sappington v. Roger Sappington Davidson Estate Dispute/ Settlement

Dr. Mark Brown Sappington died, leaving a large estate including enslaved people in Nashville. His second wife, Rebecca Boyce sued to retain the dower to the estate. Near the same time, Mark's brother Francis died also leaving an estate. Documents include an extensive probate inventory & sale sheet, detailing the belongings of the family (including detailed kitchen furniture) as well as detailing the community invested in the estate through the purchase of Mark's things.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1a 83 Order A Copy
View Entry 1874 R. L. Whittington v. Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad Company Davidson Personal Injuries

Whittington sued the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad by next friend for $20,000 in damages for personal injuries sustained while at work. Whittington was riding on the train when it went off the track & onto the road bed. He was thrown from the car, & attempted to hang on to some bars attached to the train. The train turned over on to him, crippling him.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 6a 70 Order A Copy
View Entry 1828 State v. John Hitchcock Davidson Assault and Battery Middle Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 371 6 Order A Copy
View Entry 1923 State v. Nashville Railway& Light Company, et al. Davidson Unknown

Only contains supplemental brief & not actual case docket. Cause of action & other defendants unknown.

 Middle Range: 33 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 451 6 Order A Copy
View Entry 1808 Samuel Pryor v. Andrew Jackson & John Hutchings Davidson Failure to Pay

In 1806, merchants Jackson & Hutchings contracted to sell Samuel Pryor over $4k of merchandise they had shipped in from Philadelphia & New Orleans. Pryor had until January 1, 1808 to pay the debt, but he failed to do so. Jackson later complained that both Pryor & his surety were insolvent. Pryor's agent was Sampson Sawyers, A & H's was Edward Roberts. Invoice given to John Hoggatt for safekeeping at Clover Bottom. Exhibit illustrates array of goods available in the area in 1806. See also MT 2a.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1a 53 Order A Copy
View Entry 1810 William T. Lewis v. Stockley Donelson, et al. Davidson Conveyance, Illegal

Hon. Parry W. Humphreys, Judge of Superior Court of Tennessee. Plaintiff- Lewis, alleges misuse of power of attorney privileges by defendant- Donelson. Additional defendants: William Tyrrell, Charles McClung, David Ross, John Dickinson, Andrew Jackson, Rachel Jackson, Robert Hays, John Caffery, Catherine Hutchings, William Donelson, Alexander Donelson, John Donelson, Severn Donelson, Leven Donelson, Andrew Jackson Donelson, John Sevier

 Middle Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 212A 0 Order A Copy