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 | 1855 | Edward T. Bale v. Elizabeth King & William A. Rowan et al | Hawkins | Land and Title Dispute |
Add. defs: Charles King, Lucinda Rowan, Jacob Varnal a Freeman of Colour. Bale (m. Mahala Bussel, daughter of Wm Bussel, dec) accused defs of going into Bale's wheat field & cutting, binding, carrying off, & converting wheat to their own use. Defs say wheat not on Bale's land, but land owned by Elizabeth, wife of Charles (now dec) & daughter of Wm Rowan who lived at mouth of Beech Creek & drowned in Holston River, & her claim is through her dad, who purchased from Michael Montgomery who had NC grant. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1159 | 27 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | Elijah Kennard v. Thomas Rutherford & Sarah Rutherford | Hawkins | Slander |
sued for damages of $2,000. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1160 | 16 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | Frances Green, by next friend, David Green et al. v. Elizabeth Vaughn | Hawkins | Estate Dispute/ Settlement |
Mentioned: John, Daniel, & May Green, Elizabeth, Amanda, May & Phoebe Vaughn. John M. Vaughn died, & his wife Elizabeth Vaughn took benefits for herself she refused to share with the other heirs. She sold an enslaved man named Boss, keeping the profits, the other heirs sued for their bequests. Enslaved include: Patten, Fanny, Ripey, May, Martha. |
East | Range: 5 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 9a | 47 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | James Gibbons v. Michael Tarter et al | Hawkins | Trespass and Damages |
Add. defendant: Peggy Tarter. Case of trespass with damages in the sum of $2,000. This case is a response to an earlier trial in which the Tarters were the plaintiffs and Gibbons the defendant. Gibbons states Tarter maliciously made false statements against him to tarnish his good name and standing in the community. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1161 | 18 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | John H. Ellis, trustee for Eliz. Fisher, et al. v. James Fisher | Hawkins | Estate Dispute/ Settlement |
Nancy Fisher, formerly Ellis was heir to John Ellis' estate. She died shortly after John. The estate includes some land & an enslaved girl, Sarah. Her value was estimated as low considering she was older & no longer able to have children. Suit seeks to settle the estate, dividing the remainders among the heirs of Nancy Fisher. |
East | Range: 5 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 10a | 18 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | James Cooper v. John Larkins | Hawkins | Ejectment |
"to answer John Den, lessee of James Cooper of a plea wherefore with force and arms he broke and entered the close of the plaintiff and ejected him to his damage five hundred dollars." Small plat map included in case file. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1162 | 49 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | King Peck Hansford & Co. v. James T. Brice | Hawkins | Damages |
King Peck Hansford & Co. is a partnership made up of John G. King, William G. Peck, Samuel W. Hansford and George C. Laughorne. N. B. Brice, acting as agent for King Peck Hansford & Co., purchased hogs from James T. Brice. The hogs were never delivered. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1188 | 15 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | Legatees of Joseph McMinn, dec. v. Joshua Phipps, admr. of O. Bradley, dec. | Hawkins | Wills, Contested |
Case also mentions Hancock County. Case file is incomplete; brief only. 11/21/14 added 40-pg transcript, from which it appears legatees were charging Phipps & another deft (Charles W. McMinn) with defrauding them of their interests under the will. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 69 | 113 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | M. S. Wells v. Jacob Sturm, et al. | Hawkins | Wills, Contested |
It was Aily Sturm's wish that upon his death the slave Harry, who had been an "obedient & faithful servant," be liberated. Montgomery S. Wells was executor of the contested will. Other defendants: Catherine Sturm; James McCall & wife Eliza (nee Sturm); M. T. Cox & wife Sarah (nee Sturm); Samuel E. Snapp, Nancy Sturm Snapp's widower; and William F. Sturm. |
East | Range: 9 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1081 | 17 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | State v. James Bloomer | Hawkins | Assault and Battery |
Bloomer, a laborer, assaulted John Minor "to the evil example of all others in like cases." Witness Thomas Barrett testified that Bloomer asked Minor, a free man of color, to dismount his (Minor's) horse and give him the marriage license. If he did not produce it, Bloomer threatened to cut Minor's throat. Minor's brother William Minor was accused of abducting Bloomer's unnamed niece, a "white female infant of tender years" for the purpose of marrying her. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1162 | 17 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | Thomas Hicks v. David Lyons | Hawkins | Trespass with Force of Arms |
Alexander Hicks also listed as plaintiff in file. The defendant allegedly trespassed on the plaintiff's property and assaulted him, causing damage to his body and state of mind. sued for $1,000. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1161 | 38 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | William Mountcastle, guardian of Susan Mountcastle Mills (aka Susan Jane Mills) v. Hiram Mills, admr. of Ambrose Mills, dec., & John Mills et al. | Hawkins | Estate Dispute |
Ambrose married William's sister, who died before Ambrose did, leaving infant dau Susan. Ambrose brought Susan to live with Wm, under care of Wm's dad, mom & maiden sister, where she was when Ambrose died in 1851, Wm's dad died in 1853 & when suit filed. Ambrose had 3 brothers: Hiram (his adm'r), & Perry & John, each of whom obtained nominal guardianship of Susan for brief periods, which Wm believes was to get their hands on estate. Wm then named guardian & filed this suit, alleging estate mismanaged. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1164 | 17 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | William Johnson & others v. William B. Neal & others | Hawkins | Injunction |
Originated with two suits over the theft of a large sum of money. Plaintiffs and defendants too numerous to list. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1143 | 79 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | William C. Groves et al.v. Anna Groves et al | Hawkins | Trespass with Force of Arms |
Add. plaintiffs: E. Groves, William Lowry, Thomas Groves, William L. Groves, E. Wells, Susan Wells, John Flora, Henry Crawley, Jacob W. Crawley, and others listed in file. Add. defendants: Mary Groves, Jacob Groves, Susan Groves, & James H. Nance. The defendants allegedly broke and entered the plaintiff's home and ejected them to damages of $5,000. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1176 | 64 | Order A Copy |