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 | 1865 | A. M. Torbett v. J. H. Worthy & George Worthy | Monroe | Other |
Torbett was apparently a bond broker and the Worthys were endorsers. However, at least one of the notes were written for Confederate money. The suit sought to determine the amount of debt owed, its validity, and recover the debts. |
East | Range: 5 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 6 | 6 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | Alexander E. Smith v. Conrad Eisenhower | Cocke | Other |
The Confederate Eisenhower (also spelled Icenhour) forcibly took a "rifle gun" from Union sympathizer Smith during the Civil War. Smith was asking for compensation. Governor Isham Harris mentioned in transcript. Case has its roots in the March 19, 1862, order of Tennessee's "Rebel Legislature" to confiscate arms from Union sympathizers. See also State v. Brotherton and Boyer (1866), Box ET 1139. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1132 | 6 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | Alfred H. Haynes v. The East Tennessee & Georgia Rail Road Company | Bradley | Negligence |
Haynes contracted with railroad to do some repair work and, while he was performing said work, an unscheduled train running from Chattanooga to Cleveland appeared & hit Haynes, thereby injuring him. He sued the railroad for trespass on the case, claiming $10,000 in damages. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1200 | 15 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | Andrew J. Trewhitt v. Lemuel M. Jones et al | Bradley | False Imprisonment |
Add. Defs: Wm H. Tibbs, John G. Carter, Wm A. Camp, Lemuel Shugart, E. F. Johnston, Joseph Tucker. Trewhitt said Defs took him by force & imprisoned him in Knoxville & in Mississippi. He claimed $20,000 damages, asked court to attach Defs' property; he believed Def. had absconded & left Tennessee. Court did so. Camp & Carter dismissed as Def.; default judgment against the rest. Jury awarded $5,000 damages. This was during Civil War; Trewhitt arrested as Confederate conscript. Mentions Capt Foster. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1200 | 64 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | A. P. Grinstead v. James V. Hayes et al. | Davidson | Debt |
Additional Defendants: John H. Minton, B. G. Hayes |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 303 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | Abner Shacklett v. Rebecca Polk | Attachment |
Plaintiff filed for an attachment against defendant to secure the payment of a note of $10,000.00. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: 7 Shelf: Box Number: 526 | 10 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1865 | Alexander Haun Jr. by next friend v. Pleasant A. Witt | Jefferson | Trespass with Force of Arms |
Alexander Haun Jr. sues by next friend Alexander Haun, Sr. for trespass, assault and battery, and false imprisonment against Pleasant A. Witt. sued for damage in the sum of $3,000. |
East | Range: 8 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 788 | 49 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | Bank of Tennessee v. C. L. Nelson et al. | Rutherford | Debt Dispute | Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 315 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1865 | Burrell Badgett, et al. v. M. D. Bearden, admr. of Seth Lea, dec. | Knox | Trespass with Force of Arms |
Additional Plaintiffs: W. N. Maxwell. sued for damages in the sum of $25,000. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 101 | 83 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | C. Carter v. Turner Foster et al. | Davidson | Land and Title Dispute |
Additional Defendants: Mariah Porter, George Hitchings, John Gleares, Henry Gleares, the Bank of Tennessee, William Gleares, F. R. Cheatham, John Gleaves, and W. D. Robertson. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 305 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | David Randal et al. v. A. Barton et al. | Coffee | Land and Title Dispute |
Additional Plaintiffs: H. H. Harrison. Additional Defendants: J. A. Carden, C. O. Purvis, W. B. Gibson, and Silas McBer. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 315 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | David Chandler v. John Headrick | Blount | Trespass and Damages |
Case also involves charges of slander. |
East | Range: 5 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 26 | 61 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | Enoch Fly v. Tolbert Fanning | Davidson | Trespass and Damages | Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 305 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1865 | Eli Odom v. William Cantrell | Sumner | Debt Dispute | Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 315 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1865 | G. Turner v. State | Giles | Theft |
brief only; appeal of livestock theft; no date mentioned - cited an 1865 act; incomplete |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 302 | 8 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | Henry Harris v. J.W. Thornburgh | Grainger | Debt, Petition on |
Thornburgh executed $100 note in favor of Harris, who gave Confederate money (rebel money) for the note, which Thornburgh used to pay another debt & to pay a high price for medicine. Dispute over whether Confederate money qualified as consideration. Thornburgh argued no consideration for note, since Confederate money not recognized by law as money at all & had no legal value. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1141 | 10 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | Henry J. Fritts v. Wiley H. Monnger | Roane | Trespass and Damages |
The defendant allegedly aided and gave to rebel soldiers two rifles owned by the plaintiff. The defendant did so under malicious and vindictive circumstances and the plaintiff is sued for damages in the sum of $60. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1198 | 16 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | Horace Maynard v. John J. May et al | Knox | Debt on Account |
Add. defendants: Reuben E. Fox, administrator of the estate of Joseph W. Fox (dec.). The plaintiff is sued to recover a debt on account in a sum under $100. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1198 | 20 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | John Thompson v. Turner S. Foster | Davidson | Debt | Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 317 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1865 | John Roberts v. Samuel C. Swan | Knox | Recovery of Money/ Wages |
Roberts sued for $5,000, but Swan "absconded or so conceals himself that the ordinary process of the Law cannot be served upon him." |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1203 | 20 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | Joseph Pinkerton & John McEwen v. M. F. DeGraffenreid | Williamson | Debt Dispute | Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 315 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1865 | James Sartin v. S. P. Goodman& J. C. Walker admr. of H. P. Forrester | Grundy | Slaves, Ownership of | Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 315 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1865 | John Holland& William Rigsby v. Elijah Neely | Cannon | Debt Dispute |
Case specifically references the Civil War. Holland purchased a horse from the Defendant "for the express purpose…to be used in the Calvary services of the Confederate state." After Union forces won the war, Defendants are sued for their money back. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 315 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | Jesse Matlock v. William Littleton, Jr. | Roane | Debt, Balance on |
Plaintiff is sued to recover a debt in the sum of under $500 for rent of land for the year 1864. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1198 | 19 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | John A. McKamy, guardian for William R. Dail, admr. v. H. B. Bowling & D. H. Cummings | Anderson | Debt |
John A. McKamy was the guardian of Peggy C. McKamy for the use of W. R. Dail, administrator for the late Peggy C. McKamy. Question regards the lawfulness of U.S. Treasury notes to pay a debt. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1203 | 8 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | L H. Squires, et al. v. J. D. Bone, admr. Of William Bone, dec. | Smith | Land and Title Dispute |
Additional Plaintiffs: John Moores and E. A. Wright. Case also involves a debt dispute. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 315 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | Mathew Watson v. Henry Bassett | Davidson | Unlawful Detainer |
Lot is on Cedar street between Cherry and Sumner |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 307 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | Mary Roehl, by her next friend J. M. Roehl v. William Boond | Washington | Debt |
William Boond borrowed $4500 from Mary Roehl. Boond owned a tract of land in Jefferson County near Talbot's Station. The Roehls' requested an attachment of the land in order to satisfy the debt. See box ET 1595 for additional documents. |
East | Range: 5 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 13 | 179 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | M. H. Mays& E. S. Spencer v. Thompson& Claiborne | Maury | Debt Dispute |
Defendants' full names are not listed. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 305 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | Maury Brown, et al. v. Lew Owen, et al. | Land and Title Dispute |
Dispute also involves debt. Case file is incomplete; brief only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 71 | 10 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1865 | Mary Cate v. Thomas G. Cate, Robert McRee, Sr., & S. McRoy | Hamilton | Petition for Divorce |
Original bill was filed to obtain a divorce and alimony from the bonds of marriage. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1161 | 29 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | Nancy Stephens v. W. H. Shelton et al. | Bedford | Debt Dispute |
Additional Defendant: John Jakes. Plaintiff is an elderly woman who claims that the Defendants pressured her into taking Confederate money to pay a debt they owed her despite her protests. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 315 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | N. E. Morgan et al.v. John Cloud | Claiborne | Ejectment |
Additional plaintiffs: J.J. Servell & S.E. Coltrel, securities. In this ejectment case, Circuit Court found for plaintiff, awarding him title of land in question, but only assessed damages at five cents. Defendant had lived on 100 acre tract since 1858. Said land belonged to N.E. Morgan's father William, dec'd, and bequeathed to him in his will. Originally, plaintiff sought damages of $300. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1139 | 31 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | Peyton McCrosky v. State | Sevier | Assault, Felonious |
This is an appeal. Peyton, a free black man, was accused of assault upon Leannah Reed, who was white, shooting and wounding her hand & arm on 22 March, 1865. Circuit court found Peyton guilty and sentenced 5 yrs. hard at the TN State Penitentiary. All of this came out of a scuffle between Peyton and Leannah's son Harrison Reed over a bottle of Whiskey. When Peyton wouldn't give it up to Harrison, he called for his mother to bring his pistol. The firearm discharged when Peyton grabbed for it. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1139 | 24 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | Rose & Turner, admrs. of G. D. Wright, dec. v. Johnson & Robinson, admrs. of J. D. Johnson, dec. | Roane | Debt Dispute |
Dispute over $2,700 for the purpose of paying and satisfying the liability credited when said receipt was executed and the same was never applied in the way in which it was supposed to be. |
East | Range: 9 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1241 | 68 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | State v. Pharaoh Lancaster & Henry W. Smith | Smith | Larceny |
Multiple counts of larceny with some being termed as Grand Larceny. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 172 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | State v. Julius Swagg | Franklin | Gambling |
Defendants is accused of betting on a game of cards. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 305 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | S. W. Summers & wife Frances v. Jane C. Wilson, et al. | Coffee | Wills, Contested |
Additional Defendants are not listed by name. Case also involves disputes over debt and slaves. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 305 | 60 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | State v. Austin Norman | Davidson | Theft |
Stole 100 lbs. of bacon. Defendant is a free person of color. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 303 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | State v. E. P. Brien& Moses Rice | Davidson | Theft |
Stole two mules. Moses Rice is a free person of color. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 303 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | State v. Francis Mitchell | Monroe | Robbery |
This Sept. 1865 term of court held in the Masonic Hall at Madisonville, the Monroe County Court House having been ' burned or destroyed'. Defendant charged with assaulting J.A. Gad and stealing bacon, a bay horse, goods worth $140. Though defendant pled not guilty, Circuit court found him guilty and handed down a sentence of 5 years hard labor at the TN State Penitentiary. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1141 | 37 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | State v. John R. McClain | Knox | Murder |
Frank R. McClain also listed as a defendant in the file. Victim: Abraham Hoover. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1194 | 44 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | State v. William A. Robertson | Marion | Assault and Battery |
Incomplete case file. Assault was against W. Goodman. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1200 | 6 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | State v. Amos L. Griffith & M. W. Sherry | Marion | Forgery |
Case relates to execution issued on judgment in case of M.W. Sherry v. Robert Dunkin [Duncan]. After Dunkin paid the judgment, Defs allegedly marked out the endorsement evidencing such payment on the judgment itself, with intent to defraud Dunkin. Def. indicted for forgery but indictment dismissed as being legally insufficient. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1203 | 8 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | State v. William Jones | Davidson | Theft |
Theft of a brown mare |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 303 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | State v. Thomas Grant | Franklin | Assault with Intent to Kill | Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 303 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1865 | State v. Clinton Mynatt, et al. | Union | Robbery |
Additional Defendants: M. L. S. Mynatt and Elvin Skaggs Case incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 101 | 20 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | State v. John H. Casey | Grainger | Robbery |
Defendant pleaded not guilty. He was sentenced to confinement in the state penitentiary and hard labor for ten years. He was rendered infamous and ordered to pay the costs of prosecution. |
East | Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1120 | 4 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | State v. Eugene Parham | Grainger | Robbery |
Judgment only. Case is incomplete. |
East | Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1121 | 3 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1865 | State v. Frederick Rehagan | Davidson | Murder |
Incomplete case file. Certified copy of judgment only overruling motion for a new trial and pronouncing sentence in murder case. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 765 | 2 | Order A Copy |