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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 1872 | Julia W. Capers v. Ben H. Capers | Shelby | Custody |
Julia W. Capers at age 21 in 1865 then named Spicer married the defendant. During their marriage they had two children. The defendant after a year of marriage became a drunkard. She says that it has become intolerable to live with him since he uses profanity and language toward her that would not be fit to address a slave with. In March or April 1871 he approached her with an open knife saying "I will cut your damned throat." Her brother prevented him from doing so. This is one of many violent acts. |
West | Range: 84 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 17 | 0 | 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 | 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 | 1861 | Susan Thomas v. William S. Thomas | Sullivan | Custody |
William married Susan Rolles in 1847. She left him several times, claiming he was committing adultery. They accused each other of trying to poison him. The night before Susan left she dropped her baby into the fireplace & it was burned on the fireplace plate. William sued for custody of the children. She accused Wm. fathering a child w/ an enslaved woman, offering her freedom if she testified. Her parents died leaving a big estate she was heir to. |
East | Range: 5 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 9 | 159 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1905 | State ex rel J. G. Siddons v. W. P. Denton | Smith | Custody |
Opinion only. Case relates to custody of May Siddons: SC orders that May remain in the custody of Defendant Denton but that her dad be allowed to visit her at any reasonable time (but at least once a month) & that she be allowed to visit him any place within court's jurisdiction, but May is not allowed to go out of court's jurisdiction unless her dad posts $1,000 bond, in which case he can take her for a visit to his home for 1 month each summer. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 824 | 2 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1918 | State, ex rel, Riley F. Gilliam v. Mrs. Ruthie Gilliam | Madison | Child Custody |
Riley Gilliam is looking to get custody of his son Leon whom Ruthie Gilliam took with her when she left him and has been keeping at the home of her mother. |
West | Range: 79 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1556 | 16 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1923 | State, et rel John F. Hall, etc. v. Ike B. Webb, et al. | Anderson | Custody |
Additional defendants: J.B. Webb and Lula Webb. Additional plaintiffs: Bessie Traywick. Custody case for Mary Lou Webb. Housed in 2 folders. |
West | Range: 78 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1756 | 269 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1940 | Thelma M. Short v. James Homer Short | Hamilton | Custody |
Plaintiff seeks to have earlier custody ruling thrown out due to a technicality, and to be awarded sole custody of the child, whose father is Defendant. |
East | Range: 6 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 443 | 33 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1883 | T. H. Lane v. Kate Connelly | Shelby | Child Custody |
Additional plaintiffs: Jimmie Donnelly, Marie Donnelly and Lilly Donnelly. T. H. Lane was a friend of Jimmie Donnelly. Kate Donnelly is Ed Donnelly's widow, and Jimmie, Marie, and Lilly are his children. Additional cause of action notes: the children wanted to be removed from the mother's custody. |
West | Range: 83 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 401 | 178 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1887 | Virgin Lyle v. Nicholas Lyle | Montgomery | Custody |
Plaintiff claims that she should have custody of the children because the defendant's behavior during the marriage was cruel. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 790 | 81 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1894 | W. L. Kilpatric & Co. v. M. J. Kilpatric | Lincoln | Custody |
Additional plaintiff Lillie A. Kilpatric. The plaintiff and defendant were married for a few years and had two children. The plaintiff was asking the court to grant him full custody of his daughter who was living with her mother. Plaintiff was also asking the court to place a restraint on the defendant from leaving the state with the girl. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1113 | 54 | Order A Copy |