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 | 1833 | Amon L. Davis v. David L. Mitchell | White | Slaves, Selling of |
Slave Case. The slave boy named Deb was sold but never delivered to the buyer. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 192 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1852 | Agnes Shelton, et al. v. Jonathan M. Pope, et al. | Montgomery | Slaves, Selling of |
Additional plaintiffs: Ellen Shelton, Marietta Shelton, Minerva Shelton, Eliza Shelton Additional defendants: Edmund Bradshaw |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 236 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1874 | A. J. Carlass v. R. Farquharson et al. | Lincoln | Slaves, Selling of |
Additional Defendants: H. B. Morgan, Deputy Sheriff, Nathaniel Boone, Sheriff, William Tolly admr. of John H. Allen, deceased. Debt due on purchase of a slave. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 355 | 80 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1839 | Anthony Dibrill& Jesse Lincoln v. William Galt, et al. | Warren | Slaves, Selling of |
Additional defendants: B. F. Miller, John Pain |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 201 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1869 | Alexander A. Tally v. William Courtney | Jefferson | Slaves, Selling of |
Courtney advertised and held a public sale of slaves before the Emancipation Proclamation during the war when the Confederacy controlled East TN. Tally purchased a woman, Fanny, and her two children for $2050. Tally made the purchase with only currency available at time (Confederate money; both parties knowing its depreciated value) but then Courtney later sued Tally for debt in order to get amount in good bank notes. Tally argues Fanny free at date of sale, so note/money does not matter anymore. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1185 | 97 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1860 | Archibald Leger v. John Mayers, et al. | Claiborne | Slaves, Selling of |
Note: seems related to incomplete case John Myers, et al. v. Archibald Leger found in box ET 1174. Additional defendants: Hezekiah Mills, George S. Wolfe, Peter Ogan, William S. Rose, Mc H. Bray, Benjamin Bray and J.S.M. Walker and Nelson Retron, exe. of Beverly Mayer, dec. Leger had married Sally, daughter of Beverly and Polly Mayer; Beverly owned 6 slaves when Polly died to be divided among her children. The slaves were sold in previous suit but Mayers refused to divide proceeds with Leger. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1199 | 161 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1835 | Beverly Randolph v. Henry White et al. | Rutherford | Slaves, Selling of |
Additional Defendants: Lacy White, wife of Henry White. Selling of negro slaves who belonged to Lacy White's father, Lacy Anderson, deceased. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 195 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1855 | Benjamin Dechard v. Willis Blanton et al.. | Franklin | Slaves, Selling of |
Additional defendants - Samuel D. Margon, Robert W. Gardner, R. C. Gardner and H. J. Channing Dispute was over a slave named Tom for $100.00 |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 252 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1846 | Benjamin Webb & Gwynn Foster v. John Patterson | Rutherford | Slaves, Selling of | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 223 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1854 | Bolling& Stratton v. John W. Caster | Franklin | Slaves, Selling of |
Slaves sold: Mary, Margaret, Catherine, Nathan, Thomas, Ann. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 255 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1818 | Bernard McKiernan v. John Allen | Davidson | Slaves, Selling of |
sale of 4 slaves Tom about 12 years old, Riley about 7 years old, girl name Phillis about 12 years old and a girl named Raney about eight years old amount of sale $2060.00 |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 363 | 58 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1845 | Cornelius Maxwell et al. v. Walter Alley et al. | Overton | Slaves, Selling of |
Additional plaintiffs: William Puckett, Jane Puckett, Alfred Johnson, Cilia Johnson, Nancy Maxwell, Elizabeth Peak, Lolly Peak, George Peak, James Peak. Additional defendants: John A. Humble, Mariah Humble. Additional parties: Aaron Rawlings, Daniel McKinney, Negro girl Mary, Delpha and Eastin children of Mary. Slaves sold to Jefferson Williams and A. Gardinhire |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 220 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1871 | Charles P. Gamble v. Jesse C. Robinson | Hamilton | Slaves, Selling of |
Gamble sued to collect a note payable from Robinson. Robinson had land from Gamble who tried to pay the transaction in CSA money. Additionally, Robinson two enslaved individuals, George & Moses, were included in the terms of the sale. See earlier case in 1866 in ET 1200. |
East | Range: 5 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 13 | 8 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1858 | Charles Hill v. Enoch George | DeKalb | Unlawful Selling of Goods |
Cause of Action: Trespass on the case. Def. took and sold 20 barrels of corn that were the property of the Plaintiff. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 267 | 12 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1910 | Crocket Harmon v. City of Henderson | Chester | Selling Merchandise without License | West | Range: 80 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1219 | 62 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1820 | Daniel Newman & Jesse Bledsoe v. David B. Ayers | Knox | Slaves, Selling of |
A woman slave was sold to the Plaintiffs by the Defendant and shortly died. The Plaintiff's are refusing the sale price. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 63 | 30 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1815 | Elizabeth Washington, admr. v. Thomas Washington | Davidson | Slaves, Selling of |
Elizabeth was admr. of the estate of Gray Washington. Thomas had "unjustly detained" four enslaved people belonging to the estate named Winney Patsey, Mary, and Sally. Elizabeth sued to either recover the enslaved people, or their value. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 3 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1870 | Enoch Marshall v. William E. Dodson | Jefferson | Slaves, Selling of |
Case listed in: "Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Tennessee, for the Eastern Division, for the year 1870," Volume 1, p. 95-97. Plaintiff sued for the recovery of damages in the sum of $500, the balance of a slave he had purchased. |
East | Range: 9 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1068 | 25 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1867 | Elizabeth Bratcher v. John Kincaid admr. of Amos Bratcher dec. | Campbell | Slaves, Selling of |
This is a petition by the plaintiff to sell a slave named John who was left to her by her late husband Amos Bratcher. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1197 | 35 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1861 | Eliza E. Weir v. Charles W. & Henry Rice, admrs. Of John Rice, dec., et al. | McMinn | Slaves, Selling of |
Additional defendants: Thomas A. Owen & wife Nancy, Isaac Rice, Letha Rice, Isaac R. Rice, James Rice, William J. Rice, George G. Gardner & wife Sarah. Weir sued defendants for fraudulently concealing sickness and venereal disease of a slave woman, Mary, when defendants sold her and her son, Austin (who had belonged to John Rice, dec.). |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1206 | 110 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1859 | E. L. Williams et al. v. John Bowman et al. | Montgomery | Slaves, Selling of |
Dispute about the purchase agreement for the sale of slaves |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 262 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1844 | Frances Brimson v. Wright W. Outlaw | Montgomery | Slaves, Selling of |
Concerns slaves once owned by Drury D. Brimson, dec., husband of the complainant. They were the only property of real value left to his family. They were being sold in attempt to settle his estate. Listed as "Recorded in Book No. 2, 701-9." |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 176 | 68 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1847 | Francis Lyon [Lyons?] v. William P. & Thomas M. Jones | Claiborne | Slaves, Selling of |
Also Grainger County. Others mentioned: Epaphroditus Hightower (Lyon's neighbor). Slaves: Martha (12 yrs. old), Lizzy (10 yrs. old). 1/20/15 (Thompson): added 4-pg deed of trust for these slaves from Hightower & Lyon to Chesley Jarnagin, Trustee, for the benefit of W. P. Jones, partner of R.M. Scruggs & Co, for various judgments in said Jones' favor. |
East | Range: 7 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 755 | 52 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1874 | F. H. Gregory v. J. C. Vaughn & Company | Monroe | Slaves, Selling of |
Additional Cause of Action: slaves used to pay debt, plaintiff argues he was the actual owner of the slaves, not the person who was in debt - John Stanfield. |
East | Range: 5 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 35 | 8 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1891 | Frank L. Bario v. the Taxing District of Shelby County | Shelby | Selling Merchandise without License |
The appellant was a traveling salesman, or agent, of the Kendall Manufacturing Company of Rhode Island, selling merchandise- "Soapine." Offense charged was peddling without a license. Fined $25. |
West | Range: 83 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 329 | 24 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1828 | George Nixon v. Parry & West Humphreys | Davidson | Slaves, Selling of |
Ten Slaves: Ruth, Lavina, Flora, Charles, Sam, Bill, Lucretio, Fred, Stephen, Jack, Sally & Bobo sold for $4922, another slave: Gaston-$480. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 189 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1847 | George W. Martin v. Ralph Martin | Davidson | Slaves, Selling of |
Case involves 2 slaves, a man and wife named Apollo and Hannah. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 386 | 20 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1860 | George W. Moore, et al. v. F. W. Taylor& Joseph Eckel, trustees in the case of Hardy & Larkin Johnson v. George R. Stubblefield, et al. | Hawkins | Slaves, Selling of |
Other plaintiffs: B. F. Yoe; William M. McFarland; Guy Ellis. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1175 | 64 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1868 | George W. & James R. Henley v. James & R. K. Cliborne | Monroe | Slaves, Selling of |
In 1862, plaintiffs bought a slave from James Cliborne for $1500 to be paid in Confederate treasury notes. Plaintiffs paid him $750 and gave a promissory note for the other $750 in Confederate currency. Defendants brought assignment suit against plaintiffs for said note (which plaintiffs claimed to have paid). According to plaintiffs, said suit was meant to defraud and hinder them from collecting $3000 due them from Cliborne. Add. documents located in ET 1651. |
East | Range: 9 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1230 | 156 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1838 | Henry Runnels v. Henry Tlliggin | Franklin | Slaves, Selling of |
Concerning an enslaved boy, 18 years old. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 207 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1873 | Henry T. Jones, admr. of W. C. Harrison v. The Memphis& Charleston Railroad | Shelby | Slaves, Selling of | West | Range: 84 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 15 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1872 | Henry Hipsher v. John P. Bowen (in his own right & as admr of Hugh Jones, dec, & guardian of James F. Jones & others) & wife M. V. Bowen et al | Claiborne | Slaves, Selling of |
Hugh Jones died; admr Josiah Wyatt granted petition under authority of Confederate states to sell slaves belonging to estate, & Hipsher gave note to buy 1 slave, but sale occurred after Lincoln issued Emancipation proclamation & army already advancing to enforce it. Case asks whether Hipsher or heirs should bear monetary loss resulting from emancipation. Includes testimony of slaves who were sold. Add. Def.: Sarah F. Jones, Rachel J. Wyatt, James F. Jones, County Court Clerk David Cardwell. |
East | Range: 9 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 1240 | 40 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1849 | Isaac Vanbebber, guardian of minor heirs of Pleasant Goins v. Thomas S. W. Sawyers, et al. | Claiborne | Slaves, Selling of |
Dispute re. Sawyers' failure to pay for purchase of negro slave, Huldah, who he purchased at court-ordered sale of slaves belonging to Pleasant's estate. Defendants: Samuel Moon, William Marcum (securities for Sawyers). Case in which sale was ordered: Wm. Hamilton & wife v. Levi Goins, admr. of Pleasant Goins, dec. Also mentioned in this case: William Kincaid (Vanbebber's security). Court ruled in favor of VanBebber against Sawyers. Pssbly related case: Levi Goin v. Samuel Moon et al.(1854) in ET Box 1165. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1142 | 18 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1838 | Jacob Scott v. William Cowden, et. al. | Maury | Slaves, Selling of |
Additional defendants: James Bizzle, Lewis Garrett. This case concerns slavery. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 209 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1838 | John L. Wood v. Benjamin M. Jones | Maury | Slaves, Selling of |
Handwriting faded. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 207 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1845 | John Martin, admr., of Richard Butcher, dec. v. Joseph Ramsey et al. | Cannon | Slaves, Selling of |
Additional Defendants: James H. Store and Goolsberry Means. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 217 | 55 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1858 | John Malone& James Lott admr., for Richard Malone, dec., widow Lucy, et al. v. James Malone & Anderson Malone | Union | Slaves, Selling of |
Plaintiffs: Rebecca Lott, Valentine Turner, Lucinda Turner, Rebecca Malone, Sarah Malone, petition to be allowed to sell three of Richard Malone's enslaved workers. They include Betty (75), Hannah (44), Jesse (39). However, because the number of slaves is odd, they argue they cannot be divided among the heirs evenly. Tells the chain of sale of the enslaved people to their new slaveholders. Second cause at back of case is petition to sell land from same estate. |
East | Range: 5 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 2a | 14 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1879 | J. N. McDearmon v. J. C. McDearmon | Gibson | Slaves, Selling of |
Sale was to pay the debts of George McDearmon deceased. This occurred ca. 1864 during Union occupation. Question as to the legality of the sale under these circumstances. J. N. & Mollie McDearmon, children of George McDearmon. James A. McDearmon brother of George. |
West | Range: 84 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 102 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1812 | James Miller v. John McNeil | Knox | Slaves, Selling of |
Cause of Action: Seeking an injunction. Debt for purchase of a slave named Henry. |
East | Range: 5 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 49 | 20 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1829 | James D. Johnson v. William B. Drake et al. | Wilson | Slaves, Selling of |
Additional defendants: Marty Drake, John Drake, and Edmund B. Drake |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 370 | 10 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1851 | Johannah Houston v. Woodoff Parks | Lincoln | Slaves, Selling of | Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 389 | 11 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1922 | J. W. Smith v. City of Memphis | Shelby | Selling Merchandise without License |
Exhibit material pamphlet: "The License of Plumbing and the Regulations of Plumbers." The merchandise in the cause of action is actually the service of plumbing. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 435 | 25 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1858 | John Cameron v. Jacob Ottinger | Cocke | Slaves, Selling of |
Ottinger sold Cameron a negro slave Eliza, for $525. Cameron claimed that, before the sale, Ottinger falsely misrepresented the slave as being healthy when in fact he knew she was not, as evidenced by her death from consumption soon after the sale. Cameron sued Ottinger for $1,000 in damages. 1st jury couldn't agree on verdict (mistrial). 2nd jury ruled in Ottinger's favor, Cameron appealed. Witnesses: Peggy Oneal (lived with Cameron), James M. Yett (knew Eliza's family), Catherine Ottinger, others. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1177 | 67 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1860 | James C. Witt v. G. S. Ellis, et al. | Jefferson | Slaves, Selling of |
Witt charges that Guy Ellis, Benjamin F. Yoe, and William McFarland "took off Some negroes to the Southern market, probably to Alabama…." and sold them. One slave woman, Chancy, was found to be diseased, so they brought her back. The men gave her medical attention, "patched her up so as to get her to public sale at Russellville…and sold her as sound." Her little son John, who was also weak, was sold at the same time. |
East | Range: 9 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 1204 | 44 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1866 | J. C. Queener et al. v. William Drew et al. | McMinn | Slaves, Selling of |
Thomas Drew died in 1862 leaving a large estate consisting of a large tract of land and horses, mules, cattle, sheep, slaves and furniture. He claimed that he had full power to sell the slaves and the plaintiff bid on a slave and placed two notes notes for consideration for the purchase of the slave. The plaintiff claims that the sale was illegal and wishes to file an injunction against the defendant from collecting the notes. |
East | Range: 9 Section: G Shelf: Box Number: 1237 | 153 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1830 | John P. Rushing, et al. v. Patsey Leroy Gibson | Stewart | Slaves, Selling of |
Docs list defendant as: "Patsey Leroy Gibson by her next friend James Hogan." Other plaintiffs: William Rushing. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 191 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1835 | Joseph Hinkle v. James Fulton et al. | Lincoln | Slaves, Selling of |
Case states that Thomas Thurman should recover from Booker Lawson the sum of $1600 or Lawson would need to return five negroes. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 201 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1844 | Joseph A. Irwin v. John J. Burnett | Davidson | Slaves, Selling of |
Slave sold was named Peter Amount of sale $705.00 |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 213 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1844 | Joel O. Thacker v. James C. Chambers et al. | Warren | Slaves, Selling of |
Additional Plaintiffs: Joseph Hickerton, William Watson, John G. Waeker, Jesse Worton, and John A. Johnston, dec. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 215 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1846 | Joseph Franklin v. Robinson Turner | Franklin | Slaves, Selling of |
Franklin was unaware that the slave he purchased was sick with "medicine diabetes." |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 222 | 0 | Order A Copy |