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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 |
View Entry | 1839 | Elizabeth Elder et al. v. William H. Rainbolt et al. | Giles | Slaves, Ownership of |
Case docs never clearly state who other plaintiffs are, usually just "Elizabeth Elder & others." Other plaintiffs possibly her children: Mary H. Elder; Martha Elder Coldwell; Nancy R. Elder; R[illeg.] Elder; James S. Elder; David A. Elder Other possible plaintiffs, cont.: Hartwell T. Elder |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 201 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1866 | Emily White et al. v. Rufus White et al. | Giles | Slaves, Ownership of |
Additional Plaintiffs: James Serter and R. Richardson. Additional Defendants: Nelson White, John White, Elizabeth Johnson and husband M. M. Johnson, Malvina Boyd and husband John, and Berty Thomas and husband Cobb. Case involves deliberation over whether emancipated slaves can still be sold and whether former owners should be compensated for losing their "property." |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 280 | 271 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1823 | Elizabeth Elan by next friend Orval Neeves v. Samuel Elan, et al. | Slaves, Ownership of |
Additional Defendants: William B. Hawkin and Thomas Contcher. Case mentions previous rulings in Virgina. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 76 | 8 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1854 | Fletcher Taylor et al. v. James P. Allison et al. | Bedford | Slaves, Ownership of |
The rightful ownership of a slave named Geoffrey is in question |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 246 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1849 | Garrett& Henry Sadler, et al. v. David Apple | Jackson | Slaves, Ownership of |
Sadlers trustees of Sally Cannon. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 228 | 0 | 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 | 1856 | Granville H. Frazer v. Preston Frazer, et al. | Bedford | Slaves, Ownership of |
Additional Defendants: Samuel H. Whitthouse (admin of John S. Frazier dec..). Slaves of Preston Frazier: Jefferson and a woman and her child. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: C Shelf: Box Number: 255 | 112 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1861 | George Porter, et al. v. J. A. Blakemore, et al. | Marshall | Slaves, Ownership of |
Additional Plaintiffs: Martha Porter and Jane Bell Porter. Additional Defendants: Case involves African Americans who had purchased their own freedom being sold back into slavery to settle their debts. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 305 | 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 | 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 | 1823 | Harriet Hackett by her next friend William Hackett v. Samuel Geron& Solomon Geron | Rhea | Slaves, Ownership of |
Case files includes references and petitions of relative cases. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 59 | 250 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1815 | Henderson's exe. v. Anderson Henderson | Jefferson | Slaves, Ownership of |
Executors: Mary Henderson, James Henderson. Estate of William Henderson. Deposition and summons only. The dispute seems to revolve around "keeping" a "negro girl." |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 57 | 9 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1858 | Hugh Brown v. Hamilton & Allen Brown | Maury | Slaves, Ownership of |
Dispute over the ownership of 9 slaves in which the plaintiff has owned for 6 years and has never meant to convey the ownership of these slaves to anyone else. Hamilton Brown of North Carolina had a bill of sale for these slaves. |
Middle | Range: 34 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: Oversize 3 | 87 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1831 | Isham Beasley v. John E. Baker | Wilson | Slaves, Ownership of |
The slaves in question were a twenty-eight-year old woman named Mary and her child Louisa. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 193 | 32 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1859 | Isaac (col.) by his next friend George Harrison v. Henry Farnsworth, John McCampbell, Frederick Devitt, Sarah Howard, John Russell& his wife, William& Francis Gilbert | Greene | Slaves, Ownership of |
Isaac was the slave of Francis Devitt. She told Isaac if he served her faithfully for a few years that she would emancipate him. After several years, she told him that she was going to sell him but with the promise of freedom after eight years. After six years, Henry showed up with a bill of sale for Isaac. His current owner was afraid of a lawsuit thus he sold Isaac to Henry. Isaac charges that they cheated and defrauded him out of his freedom. Note: Slavery |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1141 | 116 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1832 | John Faris v. Thomas L. Gray | Franklin | Slaves, Ownership of |
Plaintiff sued to regain slaves from Gray. Slaves' names given in the case. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 192 | 0 | 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 | James W. Hoggatt v. Edward B. Bigley, et. al. | Davidson | Slaves, Ownership of |
Additional defendants: William P. Maddox, Josiah Ferriss |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 218 | 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 | 1854 | John Jamison, exe. of Joseph Middleton, dec. v. George R. Long | Maury | Slaves, Ownership of | Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 212 | 0 | 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 | 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 | 1812 | John Brown v. Woody Lacky | Roane | Slaves, Ownership of | East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 54 | 22 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1820 | John Jinkins et al. v. James Carmon et al. | Sevier | Slaves, Ownership of |
Additional Plaintiffs: Elizabeth Jenkins, James Wilson, Sally Wilson. Additional Defendants: Patsey Carmon, Mary Weir, Peggy Montgomery, Ann Marlin. Slaves named Naomi, Betty, Alice and Sarah. Additional Cause of Action: Estate Settlement. |
East | Range: 5 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 61 | 41 | 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 | 1852 | James Smith, et al. v. Jacob Sharpe, et al. | Campbell | Slaves, Ownership of |
Additional Defendant: John Kincaid. Case file is incomplete; brief only. |
East | Range: 5 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 93 | 18 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1831 | J. J. Morrow et al.v. D. Wright et al | Monroe | Slaves, Ownership of |
Add. Plaintiffs: John Mize, George Edgar. Add. Defendant: Samuel Boyles. |
East | Range: 7 Section: H Shelf: Box Number: 737 | 25 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1842 | John L. McCarty, exe. of John Walker Jr., dec. v. Gideon Morgan, admr. of Betty Walker, dec. | Bradley | Slaves, Ownership of |
Dispute over ownership of 2 slaves: Molly (age 27) & Isaac (age 23). Note: Walker is usually referred to as Betty Walker in this case, but is also called Betsy Walker at least once. Appears to be same case as Gideon Morgan, admr. of Betsey Walker, dec. v. John L. McCarty, exor. of John Walker, Jr., dec. (1844, chancery court, Monroe County) in ET 1129. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1169 | 32 | 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 | 1819 | John Partin, et al. v. Hardy Hightower, et al. | Davidson | Slaves, Ownership of |
Defendants: Hardy Hightower, Richard Hightower, Aldhaim Hightower, Sarah Hightower, Alfred Hightower, Delia Hightower. Plaintiffs John Partin, Elisha Partin, Richmond Partin, Sally Partin, George Twitty, and Ginsey Twitty. Case regarding a slave property dispute. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: J Shelf: Box Number: 178 | 0 | Order A Copy |