Tennessee Supreme Court Cases

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View Entry Year Case Name County Cause/Crime Case Description Division Location # Pages Order
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