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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 |
View Entry | 1839 | State v. Abraham B. Young | Robertson | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Child's mother was Judith Kirby. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 201 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1874 | State v. Linsley Arnold | White | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Linsley Arnold was charged with bastardy, having fathered a child with Mahala Cope of White County in 1874. He was charged to provide support for Mahala and their child. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 13a | 28 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1873 | State v. W. L. Blankenship | Van Buren | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
In 1869, Eliza Sparkman, unmarried at the time, gave birth to a baby girl. She alleged that Wayman L. Blankenship was the father. Testimony revealed she had relationships with many boys in the area, but she claimed that Blankenship was the only person she was intimate with. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 13a | 40 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1877 | State v. Henry Bugg (col.) | Sumner | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Rachel Mitchell claimed that she gave birth to a child on June 18, 1875, and claimed that the father was Henry Bugg, who she was not married too. Bugg pleaded guilty to the charge, but the judge in the case decreed there was not enough proof. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 25 | 68 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1921 | State ex Rel. Jack Barnes et al. v. Tennessee Children's Home Society et al. | Davidson | Child Custody |
Co-complainant Mary Barnes is the mother of a 2-year-old illegitimate child, William Thomas, who was taken from her and given to adoptive parents. Mary Barnes is now legally married to Jack Barnes, and they are asking that the child be returned to them. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 169 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | State v. John Oneal | Bedford | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Mother of the "illegitimate child" is not named. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 247 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1881 | State v. Vit Pursley | Jackson | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
The State charged Pursley with "begetting an illegitimate child upon the body of his wife's sister. His wife was Fannie (Carter) Pursley and his wife's sister was named Dorthula (Carter) Stout. The circuit court jury sentenced his to 2 years hard labor in the state penitentiary. |
Middle | Range: 37 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1115 | 40 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1817 | State v. Aaron Ingram | Knox | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy | East | Range: 5 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 55 | 13 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1834 | State v. William Smith | Montgomery | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Mother of the children is Lethy Crockett |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 374 | 7 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1880 | State v. James Henry | Knox | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Case also involves a taxation dispute. Case incomplete; account records only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 102 | 1 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1944 | State ex Rel. Claude Chambers v. Mollie Chambers | Hamilton | Child Custody |
Child is Mattie Jean Chambers. |
East | Range: 5 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 136 | 148 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | State v. Robert Carpenter | Haywood | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Defendant accused of having an illegitimate child with his wife's sister, Maria Belle Reed. Carpenter's wife was Nannie Carpenter. |
West | Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 328 | 33 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1948 | State ex Rel. Mack Whitson, Mr. & Mrs. Jessie A. Whitson & Floyd Whitson v. Mrs. Lillian S. Goddard & Children's Welfare Bureau, Inc. of Knox County TN | Knox | Child Custody | East | Range: 6 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 266 | 44 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1897 | State v. S. O. Wilson | Obion | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy | West | Range: 82 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 473 | 75 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1945 | State, ex rel. Hazel Ferguson v. Simeon Breeden | Knox | Child Support |
Plaintiff seeks to be released from child support due to bankruptcy. |
East | Range: 7 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 535 | 41 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1936 | State, Upon Relation of Anna Christine Dyer v. Ella F. Smith Admr. | Knox | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy | East | Range: 8 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 982 | 27 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1844 | State v. Jack Edmonds | Jefferson | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Edmonds charged with having a child out of wedlock with a single woman, Cassander Sheen. Sued by the state for $500, levied out of goods, cattle, and land. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1135 | 25 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | State v. Thomas P. Reed | Sullivan | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Elizabeth (Betsy) Ann Williams, single woman, testified that Reed was the father of her illegitmate child, leading to prosecution of Reed for bastardy. Williams lived at Reed's house in the fall before the child was born. Lots of witnesses, including some who testified that, on one day, Reed's wife went to her brother-in-law's, Reed & Williams stayed at home, & Reed's children were seen playing in the yard & barn. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1165 | 43 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1847 | State v. Jonathan Hartman | Washington | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
State prosecuting on the behalf of Elizabeth Good, a single woman who came to the court voluntarily with the illegitimate child of the defendant. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1167 | 6 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1938 | State, ex rel. Ruth Cupp v. Clayton Maples | Blount | Child Support |
Cupp, a single woman, accused Maples with bastardy and asked the court to recognize him as the father. He admitted to having relations with her, but denied the child was his. Ruth asked for the maintenance of the child until he/she was 12. The child was born January 30, 1935. Ruth filed a pauper oath, which could result in the child becoming a county charge. Hon. Sue K. Hicks (prosecutor at the 1925 John T. Scopes trial) presided. Precedent cited was William Goddard v. State. |
East | Range: 9 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1252 | 59 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1919 | State v. H. C. Swayne | Carroll | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Katie Sneed was the child's mother and the one who brought the situation to the state's attention. |
West | Range: 78 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1636 | 73 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1869 | State v. Charles Burton | White | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Charles Burton is accused of fathering the illegitimate child of Jennie Jones. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 274 | 49 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1876 | State v. Jake Carter | Henry | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy |
Geraldine Porter mother of the child who was born 8 December 1876. |
West | Range: 84 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 85 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1876 | State v. Jordan Jones | Benton | Illegitimate Child/Bastardy | West | Range: 84 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 86 | 0 | Order A Copy |