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 | 1891 | Berry Arnold& Amanda Cresley v. State | Madison | Lewd Behavior | West | Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 328 | 27 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1891 | Bill Frank, in error v. State | McMinn | Lewd Behavior |
The State charged Bill Frank with engaging in "lewd and sexual intercourse" in public with Mandy Emerson. They also charged that Frank and Emerson committed adultery and lewd acts because they lived together as man and wife but were unmarried. Majority of case (48 of 60 pages) is in box ET 1792. |
East | Range: 5 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 18a | 60 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1878 | Charley Hawkins, alias Charley Evans v. State | Jefferson | Lewd Behavior |
Hawkins, alias Evans, a laborer, and Eliza Holt, a spinster, "being evil and slanderous disposed persons and contriving and intending the public morals to corrupt" were sentenced to 12 months for "unlawfully, openly, notoriously and lewdly…. [on November 10, 1876] bed together as man and wife without being legally married." They were further accused of openly and publicly having carnal knowledge; they were evil examples corrupting the public morals. |
East | Range: 20 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1641 | 26 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1868 | H. P. Gault& Jane Fraken v. State | Knox | Lewd Behavior |
Gault and Fraken are accused of having an intimate relationship outside of marriage. There are accusations that Fraken's child, referred to as a bastard in the documents, belongs to Gault. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1191 | 40 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1872 | Henry Mathes v. State | Greene | Lewd Behavior |
Plaintiff in error and Rebecca Rhea were charged with living together as man and wife without being legally married. According to witnesses the home in which Rhea lived, located in Greenville and known as the Mason house, was frequented by various men. |
East | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1583 | 39 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1866 | Jacob Buttram & Lucinda Price v. State | Scott | Lewd Behavior |
Price, a white woman & Buttram, an African American man were accused of living together as if married. The State offered neighborhood rumor as proof, & the charge was later dropped. The couple had a two year old child together. One witness testified to finding Price & the baby sharing a bed, Buttram's mother & sister in a bed, & an empty bed on the floor. The court pointed out that this proves nothing of their "lewd" behavior, that no one saw them behaving intimately together. |
East | Range: 5 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 5 | 22 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1895 | John Morris, G. T. Duke, et al. v. State | Weakley | Lewd Behavior |
Plaintiffs: Jess Regan, Dixon Cottrell, John Morris and G. T. Duke. Indicted for "unlawfully scandalously, openly publicly and notoriously committed lewdness by him and there-in indecently handling a lewd and base woman in an improper and lascivious manner .." Case and judgment appealed the TN Supreme Court at Jackson. |
West | Range: 82 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 616 | 38 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1901 | J. T. McDonald & Annie Thomas v. Board of Mayor, Alderman of Trenton | Gibson | Lewd Behavior | West | Range: 81 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 820 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1877 | John Price v. State | Lewd Behavior |
County: Unknown. |
East | Range: 5 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 28 | 2 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1886 | John Henry Morris& Mrs. Fannie Goodwin v. State | Sumner | Lewd Behavior | Middle | Range: 34 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 682 | 50 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1870 | John Saddler v. State | Knox | Lewd Behavior |
Plaintiff in error, a man of color, is accused of cohabitating and marrying a white woman named Sally Madison. Madison's race is in question and several witness testified regarding it. Some believed she was of mixed blood and others that she was white. |
East | Range: 9 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1238 | 17 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1880 | James Pickett and Sarah Tollett v. State | Sequatchie | Lewd Behavior |
Plaintiffs in error were accused of carrying on a sexual relationship outside of marriage. Plaintiffs lived together on Tollett's farm where Pickett also worked. Tollett was a widow and had three girls from a prior relationship. Several witnesses testified that Tollett received a government pension. Tollett could also be Lollett. |
East | Range: 19 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 1667 | 26 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1932 | John Scarlett& Bertha Moore v. State | Jefferson | Lewd Behavior |
Plaintiffs in error are accused of cohabitating together as man and wife without being married. Both plaintiffs are married to other people. Scarlett's wife lives in Georgia. Moore is married to Henry Moore, the owner of a store, but they are living separately. Moore also has four children who live with her father, Clarence Nance. |
East | Range: 10 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1393 | 23 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1877 | J. C. Allen v. State | Polk | Lewd Behavior |
J. C. Allen and Nancy Heady are accused of openly, and publicly engaging in acts of sexual intercourse without being lawfully married to each other. J. C. Allen was previously married to Anna Allen but the two divorced after J. C. had an affair with the said Nancy Heady. J. C. and Anna Allen had 6 children together. J. C. had at least two other illegitimate children. |
East | Range: 20 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1651 | 19 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1919 | Maxi Perry & Rosa B. Gregory v. State | Rutherford | Lewd Behavior | Middle | Range: 21 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 128 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1892 | M. V. Huddleston and Rachel Conatser v. State | Fentress | Lewd Behavior |
For "unlawfully, openly, publicly, notoriously, recklessly amd scandalously did dwell, live and cohabit together as man and wife..." |
East | Range: 19 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1750 | 22 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1894 | Reece Lawson et al. v. State | Campbell | Lewd Behavior |
Add plf: Mat Elliott. Elliott’s husband left her and Lawson and others helped move her into a new house close by Lawson. There were rumors that Elliott and Lawson were intimate. |
East | Range: 18 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 2038 | 20 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1881 | State v. Henry Trull | Perry | Lewd Behavior | Middle | Range: 20 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 61 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1880 | State v. Julia Cross et al. | Clay | Lewd Behavior |
Additional Defendant: Catharine Newman. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 67 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1880 | State v. Fanning Harris | Putnam | Lewd Behavior | Middle | Range: 20 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 70 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1874 | State v. L. F. Douglap et al. | Henderson | Lewd Behavior |
additional defendant - Louisa Jones |
West | Range: 84 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 38 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1915 | State v. Erwin Wooten & Pearl Stone | Macon | Lewd Behavior | Middle | Range: 21 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 159 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1858 | State v. Charles C. Price & Elizabeth Young | Jackson | Lewd Behavior |
Defendants are charged with living together out of wedlock and committing "adultery." |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 279 | 11 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1898 | State v. Isaac Davis & Samantha Neisler | Henderson | Lewd Behavior |
Isaac Davis and Samantha Neisler are charged with lewd behavior. They lived together and participated in "acts of fornication and adultery they not being lawfully married to each other against the peace and dignity of the state" |
West | Range: 82 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 701 | 52 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1903 | State v. John Conklin | Dyer | Lewd Behavior | West | Range: 82 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 714 | 27 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1891 | State v. Clint Winninger and Wesley Cox | Union | Lewd Behavior |
Defendants were charged with lewdness for "unlawfully and scandously committ[ing] the offense of lewdness" by "exposing to the public view nakedness and private parts to the common nuisance against the peace and dignity of the state." |
East | Range: 19 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1741 | 6 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1873 | State v. John P. Cole & S. A. Ault | Campbell | Lewd Behavior |
Defendants were also charged with lewdness. Cole and Sarah Ann Ault charged with having sexual intercourse without being lawfully married. Jury found defendants guilty, fined them $50 and sentenced them to 3 months in the county jail. |
East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 740 | 30 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1845 | State v. Leonard Bowen & Jane Justus | Hamilton | Lewd Behavior |
Defendants accused of unlawfully & lewdly bedding together as husband & wife & having "illicit sexual intercourse" without being legally married. Some testimony that Jane was married to another man (Justus) & Leonard married to another woman in Georgia. Jane Justus aka Jane Pool. Witnesses: Joseph G. Smith (defendants lived on his land), Valentine Abernathy, Madison Varner, Abel A. Pearson, Thomas C. Hawley. Testimony indicated Jane had 1 or more children. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1130 | 8 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1888 | State v. W. J. Neely & Loniza Gregory (aka Loniza Roberts) | Trousdale | Lewd Behavior |
Also described as "Keeping house of ill fame". |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 751 | 40 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | State v. David Burge | Campbell | Lewd Behavior |
For having "bed together as man and wife without being legally married" with one Thursa Dority, "spinster." |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1162 | 14 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1866 | State v. Thomas W. Thomasson & Malissa Richie | Hamilton | Lewd Behavior |
Cause of action: open and notorious lewdness. Thomasson an Richie charged with unlawfully and lewdly having illicit sexual intercourse together without being legally married. Defendants found guilty and Thomasson fined $5 and Richie $2.50. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1201 | 8 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1872 | State v. Richard H. Bradley | Jefferson | Lewd Behavior |
Bradley and Cassy Hickey charged with having sexual intercourse together without being legally married. Jury found both guilty and fined Bradley $25 and Hickey $5. |
East | Range: 9 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1242 | 23 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | State v. Cleo Ward & William R. (Bill) Johnson | Carter | Lewd Behavior |
Hettie [Hattie] Johnson accused husband Def. Johnson & widow Cleo (her husband's cousin, fellow church member, neighbor) of adultery/lewdness. Bill & Cleo would meet at Gerny Campbell's vacant house (Campbell's wife was Cleo's sister-in-law). Parties & witnesses lived in Hampton, TN. Lots of testimony about the gossip in Hampton about the Defendants. Despite no actual evidence of inappropriate behavior, Cleo found guilty, fined $10, sentenced to 90 dys in workhouse; def Johnson never arrested. |
East | Range: 10 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1322 | 43 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1931 | State v. Dewey Hall & Leath Matherley | Washington | Lewd Behavior |
D. Hall, a married man, was indicted for lewdness with the defendant, a married woman. |
East | Range: 10 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 1324 | 110 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1860 | State v. John White | Marshall | Lewd Behavior | Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 264 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1860 | State v. George W. Puckett | DeKalb | Lewd Behavior | Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 264 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1876 | State v. W. J. Neely | Sumner | Lewd Behavior | Middle | Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 17 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1876 | State v. William Phifer & Rebecca Jackson | Putnam | Lewd Behavior |
Defendants found guilty on charge of lewdness based on living together unmarried and openly engaging in acts of fornication. Defendants were fined $25, all court costs, and were placed in the Putnam Co. Jail for 4 months serving their time in separate cells. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 25a | 12 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1875 | State v. Young Moore | DeKalb | Lewd Behavior | Middle | Range: 20 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 30 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1915 | State v. Lusk Kemp& Neicy Burton | Macon | Lewd Behavior | Middle | Range: 21 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 160 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1882 | State v. Robert Smith | Bedford | Lewd Behavior |
The defendant was accused of having sexual intercourse "on the side of the road" with a woman named Heskey Jane Muse. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 174 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1888 | State v. A. H. Boyd | Campbell | Lewd Behavior |
The State charged the defendant with "Obscenity" for using vulgar language in public. |
East | Range: 19 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1853 | 6 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1890 | Sam Doggett & Emma Ellis, in error v. State | Knox | Lewd Behavior |
The state charged that Doggett and Ellis were "being evil and scandelous displeased persons" and intending to corrupt the public morals by "unlawfully, openly…cohabit and bed together as man and wife, without being married" |
East | Range: 19 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1810 | 40 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1942 | State v. J. H. Stephens | Hamilton | Lewd Behavior |
Defendant accused of exposing himself in public. Verdict: Guilty, affirmed on appeal to Supreme Court. |
East | Range: 6 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 355 | 18 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1889 | State v. Bill R. Davidson & Asa Albea | Gibson | Lewd Behavior | West | Range: 83 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 448 | 8 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1898 | State v. S G. Flowers | Henderson | Lewd Behavior |
Other involved party: Martha Thomas |
West | Range: 82 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 648 | 16 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1932 | State v. Jerry MacDonald& Zenobia Brown | Hamilton | Lewd Behavior |
Correspondence included. |
East | Range: 8 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 793 | 174 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1911 | State v. Jess Hill, et al. | Decatur | Lewd Behavior |
Additional defendants: Tom Oakley, Pen Bawcum, Ross Doherty. Cause of action: Acts of indecency and lewdness by publicly having carnal intercourse with a girl of color, Ida Mays, in a church house known as the Cedar Grove Church. |
West | Range: 80 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1257 | 98 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | State v. Bayless Moore | Washington | Lewd Behavior |
Bayless Moore accused of adultery & fornication. On 1 May 1850 & on other days he and Abigail Wills, a "spinster", lived together as man & wife although not married to each other. |
East | Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1100 | 10 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1839 | State v. Samuel Cloud & Peggy Cupp | Claiborne | Lewd Behavior |
Samuel Cloud accused of living together with Peggy Cupp, also known as Peggy Boyers, although the two were not legally married to each other. Mentioned: Ransom Cupp, son of Peggy Cupp; Charles L. Cupp; Abner Cloud, son of Samuel Cloud. |
East | Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1100 | 10 | Order A Copy |