Tennessee Supreme Court Cases

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View Entry Year Case Name County Cause/Crime Case Description Division Location # Pages Order
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 1845 Albert M. Fleming v. Joseph McCracken Rutherford Slaves, Ownership of Middle Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 236 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1859 Allen Brown v. Hugh Brown Maury Slaves, Ownership of

Plaintiff is appealing the charge that he unlawfully possesses slaves that belong to the Defendant.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 271 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 1811 Abel Morgan& Mary Morgan v. Adam Meek Jefferson Slaves, Ownership of

Case involves a dispute over a slave named Sam.

 East Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 52 14 Order A Copy
View Entry 1853 Agnes Shelton, et al. v. John M. Pope, et al Montgomery Slaves, Ownership of

Additional plaintiffs: Ellen J. Shelton, Marietta Minerva Shelton, Eliza Lucas Shelton Additional defendants: Rebecca Pope, John L. Pope, James S. Pope

 Middle Range: 33 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 422 110 Order A Copy
View Entry 1861 Anamias Clevenger, admr. of A. Clevenger, dec. v. Allen Clevenger Slaves, Ownership of

Used Confederate notes as payment.

 East Range: 9 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 1066 5 Order A Copy
View Entry 1843 Allen Goodwin, admr. of Vaught Heaton, dec. v. Calvin J. Moore, admr. of James B. Morely, dec., et al. Washington Slaves, Ownership of

Edward Smith died, leaving wife Catharine, to whom he left his plantation & negro woman Agnes (& daughter Nelly & issue) for Catharine's life, then to Edward's youngest daughter Nancy. Other issue of Agnes: Abigail, Alfred, James, Isaac. Nancy married Vaught Heaton; they had 5 children: Esther, John, Edmund, Mary, & Catharine (who married Allen Goodwin). When Vaught died, Nancy married James B. Morely, who then died. Dispute arose over ownership of negroes. Add. Def.: Nancy Morely, Steve McQueen.

 East Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1144 100 Order A Copy
View Entry 1814 Allen Groves, et al. v. Isham Uzzell Sumner Slaves, Ownership of

Additional Plaintiffs: Nathaniel & Anne Rue, formerly Anne Uzzell, Ann& Nathaniel Reese. See additional information in ET box 11a: Allen Groves & wife v. Isham Uzzell.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 2 22 Order A Copy
View Entry 1812 Allen Groves v. Isham Uzzell Sumner Slaves, Ownership of

See additional documents in ET 11a: Allen Groves & wife v. Isham Uzzell

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 2 0 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 1860 A. C. W. White, et al. v. Emily White, et al. Giles Slaves, Ownership of

Additional Plaintiffs: Rufus White, John White, Newton White, John Boyd and wife Malvina, M. M. Johnson and wife Elizabeth, and Caleb Thomas and wife Benty. Additional Defendants: Nancy White, Mary White, Grace White, and James White. Case involves a contested will, in which the freedom of more than 70 slaves is determined.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 313 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1866 Ammon T. Quarles et al. v. Samuel Sullivan Giles Slaves, Ownership of

Additional Plaintiffs: Mildred Patton and John Vaughn.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 280 20 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 1854 Bob Reynolds & Jacob v. James Chambers et al. Stewart Slaves, Ownership of

A group of slaves who belonged to a William Crouse were deeded over to a William Chambers with the understanding that Crouse wished his slaves to be freed upon his death. After his death, however, Chambers sold the slaves to a William Bowling Some slaves involved in the case were named Bob, Jacob, Lizzy, Lucky and Violet

 Middle Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 246 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 1858 Benjamin Bell v. Silas Fulgum Sumner Slaves, Ownership of

See possibly related case in MT 260.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 283 20 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 1866 Benjamin Kendig v. Alex W. Hale, et al. Franklin Slaves, Ownership of

Additional Defendants: James Seaton and Thomas Chilton.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 315 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 1862 Barthena Emily Seay, et al. v. William F. Jackson Roane Slaves, Ownership of

Additional Plaintiffs: Hulda A. Lewous, Silas B. Seay, Littleton P. Seay, Hezekiah R. Seay, Lawrence Frances Seay, Elizabeth Jane Seay, children of Jane R. Seay. Slave's name is Dinah.

 East Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 79 32 Order A Copy
View Entry 1853 Billy Kelly, a slave v. Thomas C. Smart Warren Slaves, Ownership of Middle Range: 33 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 421 68 Order A Copy
View Entry 1854 Benjamin Perry v. C. W. Black Marshall Slaves, Ownership of

Perry sued Black for entitled possession of a negro woman named Lucy and her infant child named, Oscar.

 Middle Range: 34 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: Oversize 4 30 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 1857 Claiborne Vaughn v. John Johnson, et al. DeKalb Slaves, Ownership of

Additional defendant: Joseph Johnson.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 285 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1857 Claiborne Vaughn v. John Johnson et al. DeKalb Slaves, Ownership of

Additional defendant: Joseph Johnson.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 285 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1860 Clem R. Waters & wife Elizabeth v. William Barton, et al. Slaves, Ownership of

Additional Defendant: James Taylor. Case involves a contested will.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 313 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1832 Calvin J. Moore v. Nancy Morely & Samuel E. McQueen Washington Slaves, Ownership of

Moore was admr. of James B. Morely, dec. Included Carter, Johnson & Sullivan Counties. Slaves in dispute: Alfred, Abigail, James, Isaac, John.

 East Range: 7 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 755 128 Order A Copy
View Entry 1847 Clement H. Saffell, admr. of Margaret McClure, dec. v. James K. Cox, admr. of John Cox, dec., et al. Knox Slaves, Ownership of

Additional Defendants: Susannah Cox (widow), Madison Cox, Nancy Singleton, David Chandler as guardian of John & Madison Singleton, Samuel Saffell. Dispute over 5 negro slaves Margaret Madison owned before she married James McClure, who abandoned her. The 5 slaves were: Cynthia & her 2 daughters (Anna & Nither) & 2 sons (Palmer & Samuel). Also mentioned are Nither's children: Gilbert, then age 15, Elbert, age 13, Eliza, age 11, Violet, age 9, Josephine, age 4. Margaret died while this suit was ongoing.

 East Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1121 53 Order A Copy
View Entry 1846 Cynthia Kennedy v. John Williams, admr. of John Kennedy, dec. Knox Slaves, Ownership of

Cynthia's mom died at her residence & Joseph L. Williams was appointed admr. of her estate, which included several negroes, which Joseph distributed among the heirs, including Cynthia (who had married John Kennedy, who took possession of said negroes). John Kennedy then died & John Williams was appointed his admr. & treated the negroes as belonging to John Kennedy, a point disputed by Cynthia who then sued.

 East Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1126 22 Order A Copy
View Entry 1851 Charlotte, Ellen & George, persons of color v. William Cain Knox Slaves, Ownership of

Ellen & George (minors) were Charlotte's daughter & grandson. About 10-15 yrs. ago, Charlotte & Ellen were emancipated by will of Charlotte's former master William Townsend (dec) of AL, yet Cain held them in servitude as his wife was Townsend's daughter. Cain often threatened to sell Pla. to slave traders. George born after Townsend died. Pla. asking court to enjoin Cain from selling them & to declare them free. Per Townsend's will (in transcript), Charlotte previously belonged to Holbert family.

 East Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1158 20 Order A Copy
View Entry 1851 Clement H. Saffell, admr. of Margaret McElwee, dec. v. James K. Cox Blount Slaves, Ownership of

Margaret McElwee married James McElwee, 1811. Separation not long after marriage. Margaret gained possession of slaves. Nephew, John Cox and Samuel Saffell (husband of her niece) acted as consultants on her estate. Dispute over ownership of slaves. Slaves: Cynthia, aged fl. 30 yrs.; Anna, aged fl. 9 yrs.; Ritter, aged fl. 6 yrs.; Palmer, aged fl. 1.5 years. Other slaves mentioned: "Samuel, Gilbert, Ellbert, Eliza, Violet, and Josephine." Slaves to be emancipated at McElwee's death.

 East Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1158 62 Order A Copy
View Entry 1841 Daniel Martin v. Thomas F. Fancher Overton Slaves, Ownership of

Case concerns a slave boy named Jacob.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 206 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1855 David Price & wife v. Jasper Smith Lincoln Slaves, Ownership of

The name of the Plaintiff's wife is not listed.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 263 0 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 Daniel Jones, admr. of James Harrison v. Benjamin Harrison & Abner Harrison Jefferson Slaves, Ownership of

Complicated case originated in Virginia with death of William Harrison, 1765. Wife Mary & sons were heirs to the estate which included a family of negroes. Documents identify slaves & their issue: Mill [?], Valentine, Isbel, Peggy, Jesse, Nancy, Lucy, Mariah & Cambridge. Includes documentation of their values.

 East Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1100 137 Order A Copy
View Entry 1849 David A. Bell, et al. v. Frederick D. Hamer et al. Williamson Slaves, Ownership of Middle Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 229 0 Order A Copy
View Entry 1861 Daniel Irvin, et al. v. Daniel Smith DeKalb Slaves, Ownership of

Additional plaintiffs: Mary Irvin, Louisa Irvin, C. Constance sued by their next friend, L. B. Richardson. Slave girl named "Lucy."

 Middle Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 303 195 Order A Copy
View Entry 1826 David Kigler, Isabella A. Kigler, & William Kigler v. Thomas Miles Wilson Slaves, Ownership of

Dispute over the ownership of a negro girl named Esther.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 362 42 Order A Copy
View Entry 1847 Delilah Buster, et al. v. John Walker & Anderson W. Walker Greene Slaves, Ownership of

In her will, ca. 1839, Isabella Buster freed the slave Delilah. Isabella requested that son-in-law Anderson Walker and daughter Jane see that Delilah was not abused and that she received good wages. Later Delilah applied to county court clerk for a record of the emancipation she could use as free papers. She was told that the grant of freedom had never been perfected and that she her children Thomas and Violet were "in jeopardy."

 East Range: 9 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 1124 31 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 1860 Elvira M. Campbell v. L. P. Fields et al. Bedford Slaves, Ownership of

Additional Defendants: William Campbell, Joseph Thompson, Martha Myers, and unnamed heirs of Abram Myers, dec. Case involves a contested will.

 Middle Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 313 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 1845 Eli King, William Gallion & wife, Jane Gallion,& others v. Elisha Sharpe Bradley Slaves, Ownership of

Complicated argument over the disposition of the slaves of John King whose will was dated 1798. Some involved: Robert and Margaret King Burk,William and Mary Ann King Campbell, Patrick and Jennett King Burns, William King, Adam Meek, Elisha Sharpe, Abel Morgan, and numerous others. It was said Sharpe concealed the negroes and refused to disclose their location. Slaves: Nan, her daughter Amy, and Amy children Phillip, Betsey and Nancy; Peate, Abb, and Sam.

 East Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1128 26 Order A Copy
View Entry 1846 Elias Anderson next friend to Gideon& others v. William Jones Sullivan Slaves, Ownership of

The plaintiff claims that in the will of Charles Jones dec. he freed his slaves when they reached a certain age. The defendant inherited Charles Jones' estate and did not free the slaves. Additional Plaintiffs: Gideon Malinda, Peter Abrahnd, James, Rebecca, Roannah, Jude, Eliza, Andrew, Linda, Jonathan and persons of color claiming their freedom.

 East Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1154 25 Order A Copy

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