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 | 1880 | A. J. Allen v. Jane Elliot | Montgomery | Marriage, Breach of Promise | Middle | Range: 20 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 54 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | A. T. Buren& Maggie Buren v. Henry Buren | Marriage, Breach of Promise |
Case involves charges of mistreatment and abandonment. Case file is incomplete; opinion only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 91 | 21 | Order A Copy | ||
View Entry | 1935 | Bessie Perrin v. R. C. Perrin | Shelby | Marriage, Breach of Promise |
These two were married for 18 years. R.C. Perrin said he stopped loving Bessie and wanted a divorce--they separated and he stopped supporting her. He charged that living with her and all of her complaining and quarreling was unsafe and he deemed it "improper to cohabit with her." Chancellor--John E. Swepston |
West | Range: 84 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 20 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1873 | Cecilla Huber v. John Huber, et al. | Shelby | Marriage, Breach of Promise | West | Range: 84 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 18 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1868 | Charles Jacobs v. State | Knox | Marriage, Unlawful |
Charles Jacobs (col.), a minister and also known as Charles Smith, is accused of unlawfully marrying a white woman, Rebecca Burrus to Dock Loues (col.) |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1191 | 11 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1873 | Daniel Galloway v. State | Davidson | Marriage, Breach of Promise |
Case involves the intermarriage of a "negro" and white person, Malinda Vine alias Malinda Brandon. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 340 | 83 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1922 | Eula Maie Carroll v. Henry H. Carroll | Shelby | Marriage, Breach of Promise |
Henry and Eula were married 11 years before Henry decided he didn't want to be married any longer. He doesn't want to support Eula, but she doesn't want a divorce. She says she is at least entitled to $100/month compensation. |
West | Range: 84 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 23 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1857 | Elizabeth Eaton v. William Moore Sr. | McMinn | Marriage, Breach of Promise |
Eaton & Moore entered into marriage contract & set a date but, before that day, Moore asked to postpone because his son was sick. Again day was set & marriage license procured, but on set day, Moore failed to show & Eaton hasn't seen him since. She filed suits against him in Circuit (debt suit on $1250 marriage license bond & breach of promise suit); filed this suit to keep him from disposing of property: negro women Rose & Caty & negro men Jack & Daniel, 341 acres Hiwassee District land. |
East | Range: 9 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: Oversize Box 16 | 9 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1947 | Elizabeth Lewellyn v. Clarence Ladd | Sullivan | Marriage, Breach of Promise | East | Range: 6 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 273 | 25 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1890 | Julia M. Johnson v. A. J. Johnson | Decatur | Marriage, Breach of Promise | West | Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 325 | 127 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1898 | John Graham, in error v. Lucretia McReynolds, in error | Marion | Marriage, Breach of Promise |
The defendant in error, Lucretia McReynolds, sued the plaintiff in error, John Graham for $50,000 in damages for "intending her ruin," debauching, and knowing her "carnally," which resulted n the birth of a child. McReynolds and Graham had entered a contract for marriage that the plaintiff in error had refused to honor. Majority of case in ET 1785 (644 of 661 pages) |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 90 | 661 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1887 | James Nolly& Eleanor Nolly v. Robert F. Laurien | Giles | Marriage, Breach of Promise |
The defendant promised to marry Eleanor (Hawlett) who was single at the time. The defendant seduced Eleanor and refused to marry her. Eleanor is sued the defendant for breach of promise and seduction. Exhibits include correspondence between Eleanor and Robert. |
Middle | Range: 34 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 717 | 77 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1890 | Lillie W. Mincey v. Andrew J. Kirk | Knox | Marriage, Breach of Promise |
The plaintiff sued the defendant for $10,000 in damages for breach of their contract/promise to marry. |
East | Range: 19 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1818 | 98 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1905 | Mrs. Sallie Johnson v. John Iss | Davidson | Marriage, Breach of Promise |
Opinion only. Judge dismissed the suit because plaintiff as still a married woman according to law when she engaged herself to Iss. |
Middle | Range: 35 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 827 | 2 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1910 | Mrs. Clara Roths v. W. N. Roths | Dyer | Marriage, Breach of Promise |
Ex B: letter from brother Robert Roths; Ex C: second letter from brother; Ex D: statement from Christian Brothers College President; Ex A: letter from Robert to Shannon Transcript, warrant and statements in WT Box 1299 |
West | Range: 80 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1252 | 98 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1857 | Mahulda Warwick v. Nicholas Cooper | Union | Marriage, Breach of Promise |
Mahulda says Nicholas promised to marry her, and they had a child together, but he failed to keep his promise & married another (Polly Keller), leading Mahulda to file this suit for damages. Nicholas claims he was a minor (age 17) when he made the promise |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1159 | 36 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1893 | Nellie Reed by next friend Dink Reed v. Horace Fugett | Cannon | Marriage, Breach of Promise |
Dink Reed was the father of Nellie Reed. Plaintiff brings suit seeking damages for seduction and breach of promise of marriage. Plaintiff states that she was seduced by the defendant's promise to marry her but complains that since she became pregnant he has refused, causing damage to her reputation. Pla. is 16 years old and the def. is 36. During the trial the def. questioned the character of the plaintiff's family and accused several members of having "bastard," children. |
Middle | Range: 36 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 956 | 45 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1927 | Paul Oscar Defur, by next friend, Oscar Wells Defur v. Calvin Wells Defur | Shelby | Marriage of Minor |
seeking to annul marriage between Paul Oscar Defur and Calvin Wells Defur; at time of marriage Paul Oscar was 16 and Calvin Wells was also 16; kept marriage secret from parents |
West | Range: 77 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1913 | 215 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1876 | State v. Alex Caldwell | Lauderdale | Marriage, Unlawful |
Additional parties: Cindra Stone Green, Jim Daniels, Isham Coleman, Ben Mullins, Tom Wilson. |
West | Range: 84 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 86 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1873 | State v. J. P. Bell & W. A. Bell col. | Davidson | Marriage, Unlawful |
cohabitation of a white man and an African American woman; legally married in Mississippi; marriage validity across state lines |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 339 | 19 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1886 | State v. James Roberson and Nancy Roberson | Hamilton | Marriage, Unlawful |
Charged with an illegal marriage. It was noted that James Roberson was a "negro" and Nancy Roberson was white. |
East | Range: 19 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1888 | 48 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | State v. Isaac Ward | Marriage, Unlawful |
Opinion. |
East | Range: 8 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 815 | 4 | Order A Copy | ||
View Entry | 1944 | Victor H. Statzer v. D. Loraine Statzer | Sullivan | Marriage, Breach of Promise | East | Range: 6 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 271 | 121 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1932 | Wm. H. Slaughter, Jr., etc. v. Mary Louise Cullum | Shelby | Marriage, Unlawful |
Slaughter Jr., sued by next friend Wm. H. Slaughter Sr. who brought the suit to have a Hernando, MS marriage between Slaughter Jr. and Cullum to be ruled invalid for many reasons: Slaughter Jr. is a minor of 17 and Cullum 19 years old - neither secured parental approval before wedding, the marriage has not been consummated, Slaughter Jr. has no plans to live with dfnt., and Slaughter Jr. (a high school student) has no means to support a family. |
West | Range: 77 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 2117 | 57 | Order A Copy |