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 | 1894 | (?) v. H. F. Smith | Greene | Child Custody |
Brief only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 98 | 7 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1928 | Bryan Mayo v. State | Hawkins | Child Support |
Plaintiff is appealing the charge of "Non support of children." Case is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 86 | 1 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1949 | Beulah M. Loy v. Sheridan C. Loy | Knox | Child Custody |
Additional Causes of Action: Child Support and Divorce. Court of Origin: The Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court for Knox County. |
East | Range: 6 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 282 | 324 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1935 | Brookside Mills v. Railway Express Agency | Knox | Child Custody |
REA wanted to collect $741.13 due on a check executed by the Brookside Mills and drawn on the mills' account at the East Tennessee National Bank of Knoxville. Local REA agent John I. Dale had no authority to endorse a check made to his company, so he sent it to the main office in Atlanta where it was deposited. However, the check was not paid by the ETNB because it had suspended operations. Sole question being argued was whether plaintiff presented check for payment with reasonable time. |
East | Range: 6 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 876 | 65 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1869 | Barbara Maurer et al. v. Jacob Keeny | Hamilton | Child Custody |
Additional Plaintiff: Annie Mauer. Both defendants are minors and represented by their Next Friend Joseph Ruohs. The defendants state that their deceased father, before dying, asked Ruohs to administer his estate and take custody of his daughters. Plaintiffs accuse Keeny of unjustly filing for guardianship. Plaintiffs state Keeny is unsuited to be guardian due in part to his lack of belief in the Bible. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1182 | 73 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1941 | Blanche Hodge et al. v. Herbert Hodge | Washington | Child Support |
Add. Plaintiff: Virginia Hodge. |
East | Range: 6 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 435 | 88 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1843 | Charles B. Crawford v. Benjamin Clayton | Rutherford | Child Custody | Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 385 | 20 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1923 | Claude E. C. Wilson v. Laura O. Wilson | Shelby | Child Custody |
The defendant was granted a decree of divorce on Aug. 16, 1922. She was also awarded custody of their 4 minor children- ages 15,14,11, and 9. The petitioner charges that the defendant has not been conducting herself properly since the divorce decree was granted. She has been guilty of both drunkenness and lewdness. She has become pregnant and has deserted the minor children, leaving them to fend for themselves. Petitioner seeks custody of the children. |
West | Range: 78 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1843 | 110 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1876 | Charles E. Crockett v. State | Knox | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Anna Kirk told the court in May 1875 that she was pregnant with Crockett's child. The case details that Kirk had financial means to support the child, but Crockett confessed to being the father. [Four years later Kirk filed another bastardy case against Thomas J. Donahue. The case settling his estate, & attempting to legitimate the child is in box ET 643, ET 623, ET 467.] |
East | Range: 5 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 16a | 24 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1874 | Christopher Brewer v. Abraham Jefferson | Fayette | Child Custody |
The issue is paternity. Two men claim to be the father of an orphan child, Brewer insisting that the mother, Florida Mason, told him on her death bed that he is the father, and he wants to adopt her and make her legitimate. Jefferson insists someone named York Cooper is the father, and Cooper wants Jefferson to continue caring for the child. |
West | Range: 84 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 38 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1921 | E. Busher et al. v. State ex. Rel H. M. White | Davidson | Child Custody |
Claimant, a widower, is sued to regain custody of his daughter, age 3, who has been in the care of his wife's mother since the wife died. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 169 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1914 | Elliott Young v. John J. Boehler | Shelby | Child Custody |
Concerning adoption of Rhoda Boehler, daughter of Adam J. and Grace Young Boehler. John J. Boehler is the brother of Adam J. Boehler. At the time John Boehler came down from Ohio to see the conditions his orphaned niece was living in, he found her with her grandparents, Mrs. R. D. Young and John Young, living on a "Shanty Boat on the banks of the Wolf River near the City of Memphis." |
West | Range: 79 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1315 | 28 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | Eliza Ann Buxton alias Eliza Ann Jenno v. Catlett G. Hurtt | Morgan | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
"Catlett G. Hurtt who has been accused on oath by me Eliza A. Buxton otherwise called Eliza A. Jenno, a single woman of having begotten the female bastard child called Sarah Ann, of which she was delivered in said County on or about the 21st day of November, 1852, to be dealt with as the law directs." |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1164 | 19 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1937 | Evelyn Roberts v. Guy R. Black | Knox | Child Support |
Roberts sued former husband Black for 330 weeks' worth of child support for their daughter, Margaret C. Black. At $4.00 p/week, that totaled at least $1300.00. Margaret was 9 years old when she was accidentally killed in January 1937. |
East | Range: 8 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1029 | 26 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1933 | Florence Dale v. N. S. Dale | Shelby | Child Support |
Pltf. sued dfnt., an employee of the I. C. R. E. and NonConnah, for child support, noting dfnt. had not paid anything toward support of child (unnamed). |
West | Range: 76 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 2170 | 16 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1947 | Georgia Higdon Kirby v. Millard E. Kirby | Knox | Child Support |
Additional Cause of Action: Recovery of Alimony. Exhibits include bill of sale, inventory list, uncashed check and divorce documents, correspondences, envelopes, military documents. |
East | Range: 7 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 571 | 585 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1868 | Henry Williams v. State | Robertson | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Henry Williams is the father. Anna Vester is the mother. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 319 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1926 | H. G. Payne v. State | Hamilton | Child Support |
Order only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 70 | 1 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1949 | Hattie S. Merrill v. William Raymond Merrill | Knox | Child Support |
Exhibits include divorce decree. |
East | Range: 7 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 561 | 67 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1905 | Hyman Sheffler v. Mrs. Adolph Schaffer | Shelby | Child Custody |
Supreme court case only. Original court unknown. Rosa Schaffer is the child in question. |
West | Range: 81 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 888 | 28 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1905 | Hyman Scheffler v. Mrs. Adolph (Mattie) Schaffer | Shelby | Child Custody |
Custody of child, Rosa, whose father- Hyman Scheffler, sues for custody over stepmother, Mrs. Adolph (Mattie) Schaffer. |
West | Range: 80 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 999 | 189 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1825 | John Lawson v. James Scott | White | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
James Scott was accused of having illegitimate child with Elizabeth Campbell. The child was named Rochell Scott. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 185 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1946 | Jasper Fillers v. State | Greene | Child Support | East | Range: 6 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 246 | 42 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1931 | Jessie Lafollette v. State | Washington | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Bessie Tittle is 28 and lives in Johnson City with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Tittle. She accuses the Pla. in error of fathering her illegitimate child. Bessie worked at a small store owned by her family. Pla. delivered ice and coal to the store. Bessie was 26 when she and the pla. were first intimate. Bessie originally planned on marrying Roy Crockett, a soldier, but she had not seen him for two years while he was in the army. When he came home, she was pregnant. Exhibit: Post Card from Pla. |
East | Range: 10 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1339 | 66 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1901 | Joel R. Reed v. A. F. Gibbs et al. | Knox | Child Custody |
Incomplete case: decree only. Child: Mamie Katherine Reed. |
East | Range: 9 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1078 | 1 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1910 | J. L. Hooks v. C. L. Davidson | Shelby | Child Custody |
The plaintiff and defendant clashed over the adoption of a child named DeWitt Hooks. |
West | Range: 80 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1270 | 219 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | John S. Stanley v. State | Knox | Child Support |
Official cause of action: Bastardy, although child support was a result of court decision. Widow Polly Ault gave birth to a male child on Sept. 9, 1849, in Knox Co. John S. Stanley was reputed to be the father. The court adjudicated the paternal relationship and decreed support to be given Polly for child's upkeep. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1136 | 12 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1877 | John P. Green v. State | Monroe | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
John P. Green was charged with being the father of an illegitimate child in Monroe County. The mother was listed as Mary Jane Wilson. |
East | Range: 19 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1663 | 47 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1906 | Katherine Cureton by next friend v. W. W. Cureton | Hamilton | Child Custody |
Final Decree only. Additional Cause of Action: Child Support. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 89 | 5 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1934 | Katherine W. Hays v. W. T. Hays | Washington | Child Custody | East | Range: 8 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 807 | 47 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1928 | Katie Allen, et al v. C. F. Allen, et al | Shelby | Child Support |
Katie Allen was suing C.F. Allen for $500.00 for the support of Beatrice Allen, the couple's minor daughter. Katie believes that Quaker Oats Company owes C.F., and C.F.'s wages should be garnished to pay child support. Other complainant: Beatrice Allen. Other defendant: Quaker Oats Company. |
West | Range: 77 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1936 | 58 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1941 | Lillian G. Hilton v. James F. DeBord | Hamblen | Child Support |
Exhibits include correspondences. |
East | Range: 7 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 525 | 141 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1949 | Margaret P. Calhoun v. Charles M. Calhoun | Unicoi | Child Support |
Exhibit: original copy of divorce certificate from Transylvania County, NC. |
East | Range: 7 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 556 | 56 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1915 | Martha E. Berry v. Edward L. Berry | Shelby | Child Support |
M. E. Berry sued through her mother, Ruth A. Solly, as next friend. R.A. Solly and E.L. Berry married in 1896 and M.E. Berry was their daughter. They divorced in 1905 on the grounds of infidelity. Solly filed to gain the means and station in life that M.E. Berry is entitled to from her father due to Solly being unable to properly provide for her and support her education on her own. |
West | Range: 79 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1430 | 151 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1873 | Mahala R. Boggess as next friend of John B. Boggess et al.v. J. H. Boggess | Meigs | Child Support |
Add. plaintiff: Susan E. Boggess. M.R. Boggess and J.H. Boggess were married in 1859 and resided together until 1864. The defendant then became physically abusive towards the plaintiff, causing her to file for a divorce. |
East | Range: 9 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1228 | 51 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1932 | Margaret Fuller by next friend et al. v. Robert C. Fuller | Roane | Child Support |
Margaret Fuller is the infant daughter of Mary D. Fuller and the Defendant Robert C. Fuller. Mary and Robert separated in 1931 and later divorced. Mary was granted exclusive custody of Margaret. Mary now accuses Robert of refusing to pay child support. |
East | Range: 10 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1429 | 33 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1923 | May Ethel Pennington v. O. C. Ferguson | Lauderdale | Child Support |
Ms. Pennington is seeking to recover $300.00 in child support from O.C. Ferguson who is the father of her two small boys (aged 3 and 1). For the past seven months prior to the filing of this suit, Ferguson has failed and refused to support the children. For the sake of the children, Pennington , who has legal custody of the boys, has supported them. Pennington and Ferguson are not married. See WT1749 for Breach of Promise to Marry suit. |
West | Range: 78 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1744 | 159 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1941 | Mary Trantham et al. v. Clinton Tratham | Greene | Child Support | East | Range: 7 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 615 | 27 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1900 | Margaret L. Ashe v. John L. Cocke, et al. | Shelby | Child Custody |
Other defendants: Adelaide S. Cocke (spouse). For custody of Adelaide & Kathleen Rogers, daughters of Shep A. & Pattie S. Rogers (both deceased). Pattie S. Rogers was sister of Adelaide S. Cocke. |
West | Range: 81 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 790 | 143 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1936 | Myrtle Largent, as next friend v. Arthur L. Dalton | Polk | Child Support |
The plaintiff sued as next friend of Geraldine (her daughter). |
East | Range: 8 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 949 | 38 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | Nina Hackett Bevil v. John Bevil | Shelby | Child Support |
Bevil is also spelled Bevill. Dfnt. asserted the solemnization of their union occurred while he was too drunk to remember or object to the proceedings. He also claimed the child born unto the couple was not his, and refused support for the child. Connected to Bevil v. Bevil in WT1957. |
West | Range: 77 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 2045 | 193 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1878 | Polk Haynes v. State | Henry | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Additional parties: Elizabeth Hawkins |
West | Range: 84 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 113 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1937 | Paul Green, by next friend Alpha Green v. Grant Green | Sullivan | Child Support | East | Range: 8 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 910 | 33 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1912 | Pearl Walker v. W. M. Stanford | Carroll | Child Custody |
Pearl and W. M. were previously married and had a son named John. Case concerns the shared custody arrangement. Pearl Walker claimed W. M. was not honoring the agreed upon custody arrangement. |
West | Range: 79 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1324 | 46 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1933 | Rubye Crockett Brooks v. Tom Brooks | Benton | Child Support |
Plaintiff was granted a divorce May 21, 1925 and custody of their only child, Elwanda Brooks (aged 8 as of this case). Since said divorce, defendant had not paid any form of child support. Plaintiff sued for financial assistance to raise Elwanda. |
West | Range: 77 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 2133 | 33 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1922 | Robert Thomas v. State | Giles | Child Support |
Robert Thomas is charged with unlawfully and willfully failing and refusing to provide for the support and maintenance of his two minor children. He claims he is not their father. Inez Gordon Thomas is the wife of the defendant and the mother of his two children. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 400 | 83 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1870 | Robert R. Church v. Lou Church | Shelby | Child Custody | West | Range: 84 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 13 | 44 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1931 | Ruby C. Mason v. C. R. Mason | Shelby | Child Support |
Opinion only. Shelby County case found in East TN boxes. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 83 | 6 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1948 | Ressie Reece, et a. v. Robert Bull, et al. | Claiborne | Child Support |
Additional Complainant: Frank Reece. Additional Defendant: Citizens Bank. |
East | Range: 7 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 580 | 125 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1827 | State v. Jesse A. Bounds | White | Child Support |
The charge as stated is bastardy. Bounds is named by Nancy Bidwell to be the father of her female bastard child, and she is asking him to pay $90 for support and maintenance. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 184 | 24 | Order A Copy |