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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
View Entry | 1851 | Andrew P. Cook v. Hiram Roberts | Wayne | Estate Dispute |
Additional parties: Absolom B. Gant and David Cook, executors of Hiram Roberts and Rial J. Roberts, Rial Brewer. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 93 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Archibald Prewitt v. William H. Wisener & James Mullins | Bedford | Debt | Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 388 | 4 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1851 | Alexander McMillan v. John Nail | Knox | Trespass with Force of Arms |
Nail accused of entering McMillan's land, erecting a fence, & erecting a dam across Swan Pond Creek causing said creek to overflow & damage the land. Justice of Peace ruled for McMillan & awarded $25 damages, which Nail appealed to Circuit Court. Circuit court ruled in McMillan's favor & awarded $8 damages, which Nail appealed to SC. Nail tried to argue overflowing of McMillan's land caused not by Nail but by mill race conveying water to mill. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1158 | 16 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Amos Carden, for the use of R. C.& A. A. Humphreys v. Andrew Smyth | Monroe | Petitions for Certiorari |
Dispute began over note given by defendant to plaintiff over sale of a horse. Plaintiff won judgment against defendant & defendant was appealing. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1156 | 14 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Archibald C. White v. Isaac C. Thomas | Lincoln | Trespass and Damages | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 232 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1851 | Andrew G. Pickett v. Martin W. Sloan, et al. | Smith | Land and Title Dispute |
Additional Defendants: Archibald Sloan and Samuel T. Coker. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 232 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Abdallah Brunson v. Henry Laird, et al. | Giles | Custody |
Additional Defendants: Robert Laird, Caleb W. Wilson. This case could be labeled as estate settlement or custody dispute. Abdallah Brunson is sued on behalf of Mary Ann Wilson, "an idiot." The case states that her brother, Caleb W. Wilson, received custody of her after their father's death in order to take the portion of the estate that was left to her. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 233 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Alfred Fullbright v. Elizabeth Clemons et al. | Davidson | Estate Dispute |
Isaac Clemons son who was also named Isaac was said to be insane and there is a dispute with how he handled his father's estate after his death |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 258 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Abner K. Lowe, by his next friend, William Mitchell v. William J. Lowe, et al.. | Grainger | Estate Dispute |
Defendants: William J. Lowe, admr. of Abner Lowe; Abraham Lowe, Isaac M. Lowe, Looney W. Lowe, Edward M. Lowe, Enos K. Lowe. Samuel Lowe, father of the plaintiff, dec. July or Aug. 1830, in Monroe Co., TN. Plaintiff was five months of age. Plaintiff's grandmother, Mrs. Anna Hawkins, raised him until 13 years old. Estate dispute involving properties in Monroe County, TN. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1155 | 27 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Benjamin L. Holland, admr. of Stephen Clark, dec. v. John Hareford | Warren | Debt Dispute | Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 389 | 40 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1851 | Balis Jones v. Samuel Snapp, et al. | Greene | Land and Title Dispute |
Dispute originated with Jones's purchase of land from George House who operated a forge on Camp Creek. Co-defendants: Greenberry Fannon; Alfred, Alexander W., Alexander C., Samuel P., Oscar, and John M. Brabson; George Pearce; and Andrew Kennedy. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1158 | 161 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Carlos D. Steele& Thomas C. Cannon v. John Tillman& James R. Terry | Bedford | Estate Dispute |
Additional party: Samuel Doak |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 232 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Charlotte, Ellen & George, persons of color v. William Cain | Knox | Slaves, Ownership of |
Ellen & George (minors) were Charlotte's daughter & grandson. About 10-15 yrs. ago, Charlotte & Ellen were emancipated by will of Charlotte's former master William Townsend (dec) of AL, yet Cain held them in servitude as his wife was Townsend's daughter. Cain often threatened to sell Pla. to slave traders. George born after Townsend died. Pla. asking court to enjoin Cain from selling them & to declare them free. Per Townsend's will (in transcript), Charlotte previously belonged to Holbert family. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1158 | 20 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Clement H. Saffell, admr. of Margaret McElwee, dec. v. James K. Cox | Blount | Slaves, Ownership of |
Margaret McElwee married James McElwee, 1811. Separation not long after marriage. Margaret gained possession of slaves. Nephew, John Cox and Samuel Saffell (husband of her niece) acted as consultants on her estate. Dispute over ownership of slaves. Slaves: Cynthia, aged fl. 30 yrs.; Anna, aged fl. 9 yrs.; Ritter, aged fl. 6 yrs.; Palmer, aged fl. 1.5 years. Other slaves mentioned: "Samuel, Gilbert, Ellbert, Eliza, Violet, and Josephine." Slaves to be emancipated at McElwee's death. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1158 | 62 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Clementina A. Saffell v. George W. Churchwell | Knox | Other |
Churchwell was collection attorney who rec'd several notes for collection on behalf of Saffell (as assignee of her sister, R. Caroline Berry). Unable to get Churchwell to tell her what he had collected, despite numerous attempts, Saffell filed this suit. Cause of Action: Saffell asked court for accounting & for Churchwell to turn over what he collected. Debtors involved: Samuel Prater (now deceased), George Shetterby. Court's jurisdiction also included Anderson & Blount Counties. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1158 | 48 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Cane Johnson v. Robert & William L. Chilton | Montgomery | Debt | Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 388 | 13 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1851 | Charles W. Dickson, et al. v. John Montgomery, et al. | Tipton | Wills, Contested |
Dickson and Shelby counties are also mentioned. Additional Plaintiffs: Mikhail M. Dickson, Law D. Dickson, Charley S. Dickson, David P. Dickson, Priscilla J. Dickson. Additional defendants: Geo F. Raworth, Jacob Voorheis, Margaret P. Voorheis, Laua D. Bo |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 385 | 54 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Charles G. Jones, admr. of Thomas Lofton, dec. v. Shadrick Lofton | Maury | Wills, Construction of |
Andrew Jackson's name is mentioned in this case. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 389 | 15 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Curtis Mills, admr. of estate of John Shields, dec. v. Heirs & Creditors of said Estate | Sevier | Estate Settlement |
Shields died intestate in 1840 leaving a widow, Rachel, and infant child, Isabella. John Cook was appointed Isabella's guardian and later married Rachel. Shields was said to have left a large amount of debt. Nancy Shields purchased land from the estate at auction. John Carson was the principal creditor. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1158 | 13 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Daniel F. January v. Royal Turner | Sevier | Garnishment |
Garnishment of wages in the amount of $9.04. The plaintiff served as a teacher in the 8th civil and school district, Sevier Co. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1155 | 22 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | David Rankin v. Andrew M. Stone et al. | Bledsoe | Land, Partition of |
Additional Defendants: Mary E. Fort, James A. Fort, and Mary A. Fort. Plaintiff is seeking to establish a dividing line between his land and the land belonging to the Plaintiff Stone. Both tracts of land originally belonged to L. Belcher who divided the land and willed the two tracts to his sons Allen and Willie Belcher. |
East | Range: 10 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1422 | 70 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Edward A. Mosley, et al. v. Samuel E. Gilliland& Matt Marshall | Lincoln | Wills, Contested |
Additional Plaintiffs: James and Ann Finch. Case deals with a competing wills concerning slaves. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 232 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | E. M. Gillespie& others v. Alexander Hopkins& others | Washington | Debt |
Eliza Gillespie is the admin of the estate of George Gillespie, deceased. George Gillespie owes a debt to Alexander Hopkins and Samuel Alsbrook for $1000. This case is an attempt to collect that debt. Other names mentioned: John McKinney, James Taylor, and Peter Parsons. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1152 | 80 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Edward Trice v. John H. Adams | Montgomery | Fraud |
John Adams hired Caroline, a slave belonging to Edward Trice, to work on his tobacco farm. The farm caught on fire and Adams blamed Caroline. Trice believes that Adams hatched this plan to defraud him. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 233 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Ephram Murrey, admr. of William Woodward v. John Woodward | Washington | Estate Dispute/ Settlement |
In 1844, William Robeson gave a note to Isom Woodward's brother for land belonging to Isom's father, William Woodward, who was gradually becoming mentally incapacitated. Wm's land was divided amongst his heirs before he died, some selling off land for profit. Suit sought to further settle Wm's estate, including notes due to the estate. |
East | Range: 5 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 8 | 19 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad Co. v. Calloway Hodges | Jefferson | Other |
Def. Hodges refuses to allow the plaintiff right-of-way through his land, asking for more compensation for damages than the plaintiff deems fair. In accordance with the rules of its charter, plaintiff asks the court to appoint commissioners to assess what damages should be paid to Hodges. Commissioners reported that reported that Hodges should receive $1,000 for damages & that the railroad would enhance the value of his property. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1155 | 24 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Fielding Deadrick, admr. of George M. Deadrick v. Andrew Morrison | Davidson | Debt Dispute | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 235 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1851 | Gustavus Angus, et al. v. Amos Grigsby | Giles | Estate Dispute |
Additional plaintiff: James Angus. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 233 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | George W. Smith v. Orville Ewing, et al. | Davidson | Land and Title Dispute |
Additional defendants: Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the State of Tennessee. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 389 | 55 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Granville A. Pillow, exe. of Marsha Cook, dec. v. Joseph Rye | Maury | Wills, Contested | Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 389 | 13 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1851 | George H. Billingsby v. Marcellis Smith& Ranson Smith | Bledsoe | Debt |
Plaintiff recovered a judgment against the defendants for the sum of four hundred dollars being the consideration for a parcel of land. Plaintiff claims that the defendant prevented him from collecting his said debt. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1151 | 20 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | George W. Rose v. Calvin Huddleston | Grainger | Other |
Dispute over whether cost of attendance of witness Allen Hurst would be allowed as part of the bill of cost. Underlying judgment rendered on compromise between parties. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1158 | 5 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Garland Smith v. Stephen Blankenship | Polk | Debt |
Smith complained that Blankenship, administrator of the estate of Samuel Patterson, owed him $220.00. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1155 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Henry Donohoo, et al. v. Francis M. Lea, et al. | Bradley | Estate Dispute |
Dispute over the estate of Joseph Donohoo who died in 1840 without issue. The case origin is in Donohoo's alleged assault on Charles K. Gillsepie and Donohoo's subsequent sale of land to Gillespie. The slaves Malinda and Fine [?] are mentioned in will. Plaintiffs: James, Charles, Henry, and Samuel Donohoo; George and Malinda Turk; Lewis and Margaret Shepherd; Green and Nancy Taylor; Jarrett and Mary Ann Dent. Defendants: Pleasant and Rebecca C. Lea; Thomas H. Callaway; John and Sally Humphrey. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1158 | 48 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Isaac W. Alexander & wife Sarah Alevxander v. James Lisby & Edward Legg | Knox | Land and Title Dispute |
James Lisley was the guardian of Sarah Alexander. Isaac and Sarah filed suit against him, his securities, William Bell & wife, & other associated with the estate of Anderson Pursley, of which Isaac was admr. James Lisby sold a tract of land he inherited from the estate to Legg, & Lisby was accused of trover, considering the estate was not settled. An injunction was filed to prevent the sale of the land. |
East | Range: 5 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 22 | 11 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Isaac A. Allen v. James Gray Click, William Click, Thomas J. Click, heirs of George L. Click, dec., Daniel Stephen, Alexander E. Smith, William C. Roadman, Andrew B. Edgar, T. A. Howard, & Daniel Allen | Greene | Land and Title Dispute |
Isaac bargained with his father Daniel for land in Cocke County, buying it for $1500. After researching the title, Isaac found the land actually belonged to George Click, whom had executed a deed of trust to Howard & Roadman as trustees, securing the land to John Fain, whom Click owed $560. Isaac sued to settle the chain of title and the disputed deed. |
East | Range: 5 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 23 | 102 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Isaac C. Dibblee v. Jarred H. Graham | Marion | Rent Dispute |
Plaintiff was renting room from defendant while working as a contractor for the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. When presented with bill, plaintiff called some of the charges exorbitant. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1152 | 22 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | John Herriford et al. v. Samuel Parks et al. | Grundy | Trespass and Damages |
Additional Plaintiffs: Joseph Gilliam and Philip Bibles. Additional defendants: James H. Murphy, Christian Smith, Benjamin Trussel, James Klepper, John Klepper, and William Henly |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 231 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | John Den, lessee of Blanton, et al. v. Ridgley, et al. | Williamson | Ejectment |
Action of ejectment for 640 acres of land in Lincoln County. Grant No. 377 from North Carolina to D. Vance, Moore & Williams for 5000 acres of land. Davis Vance, deceased, previous owner of land in question. Deed of partition dated 15th June 1807. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 232 | 16 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Jesse Q. Sewell v. William H. Johnson | Franklin | Usury | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 232 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1851 | J& J Lafferty v. Thomas H. Conn | Grainger | Ejectment- Unlawful Detainer |
In 1847 Lafferty purchased land from Edmond Collins in Grainger County. The sale was not registered with the sheriff, & the tenants of the land were not notified of the sale. The suit argues that because of these details the sale was void, & land ownership was still rightly Conn's. |
East | Range: 5 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 9a | 65 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Jonathan McThompson v. State for Elizabeth Hill | Williamson | Assault and Battery | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 245 | 14 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1851 | James H. Lock v. Richard Bandy, et al. | Bedford | Trespass and Damages |
Additional defendants: George W. Bandy, Enoch D. Rushing, William D. Hill |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 389 | 27 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | John Bass, exe. of Dorothy G. Camp | Giles | Wills, Construction of | Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 389 | 15 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1851 | James B. Smith v. Isaac VanBebber | Claiborne | Unknown | East | Range: 7 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 753 | 22 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1851 | Jackson Buckley v. Willis D. Alder, admr. | Campbell | Trespass and Damages |
This is an East Tennessee case from Campbell County. Alder was administrator for Thomas McLain, deceased, whom Buckley claims owed him money. |
Middle | Range: 34 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 647 | 20 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | John Hale v. John G. Brazleton [Brazelton?] et al. | Bledsoe | Land and Title Dispute |
Add. Defs: Aladdin Parmley, Robert E. Con, Edward Herndon. Parmley owned land that was sold to satisfy a debt & Brazleton was the purchaser. However, the legal description of the land contained in the sheriff's deed to purchaser was defective. Brazleton then sold the land to Hale. This lawsuit revolves around a dispute related to the defective legal description in the sheriff's deed. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1136 | 38 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | James Swagerty v. Nathan H. Stokely | Cocke | Debt |
Defendant charged with "trespass in the case of assumpsit". Plaintiff sued defendant for $500 damages, charging that he has refused to repay $120. The problem arose from a horse race between Swagerty & Stokely that occurred in late July 1850 in which each man put up a $100 stake. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1152 | 22 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | John Den, lessee of John F. Huddleston v. John A. Blackburn & Asa Tolliver | Grainger | Ejectment |
Case originates with Richard Fen breaking into the close of John Den and ejecting him from the premises. Blackburn and Tolliver had title to the land. Others involved: John Armstrong, John Lally, John and Joseph Crabb, John and Mary Warwick [Warrick] and their son Perington and daughter Martha Smith. Text of John Warwick's will included--it provides for the distribution of his individual worldly goods. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1155 | 42 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | John Easley, Chairman, et al. for the use of Claiborne County v. Larkin L. Herrell, Revenue Collector, et al. | Claiborne | Taxation Disputes |
John Easley, Chairman of the County Court, charged Herrell (Harrell) with refusing and neglecting to pay over to William Whited, county trustee, the balance of public revenue for 1849. Other defendants: Samuel Moore, W. W. Greer, Stephen Owsley, James Minton, John Cardwell, N. H. Moore, J. B. Smith, E. P. Herrell, and Solomon Fulks. Power of attorney of several defendants. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1155 | 18 | Order A Copy |