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 | 1850 | Anthony Dibrell v. L. W. Tussell | Davidson | Failure to Return Execution | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 239 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1850 | Alfred B. Jackson et al.v. Benjamin Sewell, exe. | Claiborne | Debt |
Additional plaintiffs: Alfred's wife, Archibald Cooper & wife, Andrew Buchanan & Mathew Buchanan. Additional defendant: Joseph Jones. Sewell acted as security for Jones in Circuit Court, and was liable for debt Jones incurred. Sewell then died in 1848. Plaintiffs pursued suit against Sewell's appointed exec.'s H. Houston & J. Hooper. |
East | Range: 9 Section: R Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 4 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Andrew Delozier & Gromwell Delozier v. Samuel Pickens | Sevier | Trespass with Force of Arms |
Plaintiffs were leasing a property to a John Den when the defendant forcefully trespassed on the property and ejected John Den from his residence. sued for $500. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1151 | 121 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Archibald L. White v. Terry H. Cahal | Giles | Libel |
Additional cause of action: Slander. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 388 | 33 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | A. N. Montgomery v. Travis Gibson | Campbell | Debt, Execution on |
Anthony Montgomery brought this suit to collect on an earlier judgment (1847) for the sum of $48.75 debt and damages and $1.25 costs, for total of $50. The plaintiffs death in 1849, resulted in appointment of admr. Hugh M. Montgomery. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 4 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Andrew Sellars by his next friend Nathan Sellars v. Archibald Austin | Grainger | Damages |
Sellars recovered a judgment against Austin for the sum of $4.74 with $3.25 cost of suit, resulting from a dispute over a pair of boots. Sellars stated that Austin was a family member & employee who sometimes lived with Sellars. Austin was said to have borrowed the boots to wear to town, & they were never returned. Sellars sought the value of the boots in damages. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 11 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Alfred Bowling v. Ezekiel Anderson | Hawkins | Trover |
Trespass on the Case, $300 damages. Bowling claimed Anderson converted Bowling's horse for Anderson's own use. Peter Lawson testified that Bowling & Elam Lawson came to Peter's house with the horse & said Bowling was buying the mare from Elam for $25. Peter (whose niece Bowling married) agreed to keep the horse for Bowling (who had no stable). Elam owed debt to Anderson, who levied upon & sold the horse to satisfy that debt, leading to this lawsuit. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1136 | 17 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Burrell Wall v. E. A. White | Wilson | Debt | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 231 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1850 | Claiborn Stubbs et al.v. Elleaner Stubbs | Roane | Estate Settlement |
Other plaintiffs: James Stubbs, Jesse Stubbs, Jason Stubbs, Wm. Rogers & wife, James Elben & wife, Rufus Peckel & wife, Morton Billingsly & wife, and Milly Mounger - all relatives of George Stubbs dec. In this estate settlement dispute, the plaintiffs (children) of George Stubbs dec. sought equitable distribution of land, while Elleaner sought dower rights. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 18 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | David C. Gillespie v. John B. Winn | Maury | Fraud |
Gillespie claims Winn bought a slave at a reduced price on the agreement that he would remove her from the state. Winn, after purchasing the slave did not remove her from the state as agreed, and therefore purchased the slave under fraudulent pretext. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 231 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Daniel F. Huddliton v. Samuel B. Samden | Grainger | Trespass and Damages |
Damages in the sum of $5,000 |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1151 | 28 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Daniel Linean v. George R. Smart | Warren | Breach of Trust |
Concerns the ownership and opening of tavern houses. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 230 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | David Gautley & Elizabeth Gautley v. William Scott | Overton | Land and Title Dispute |
Dispute between friends over an agreement about a tract of land |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 238 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Edward Jones v. Samuel Marrs | Wilson | Debt | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 238 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1850 | Elijah Noland v. William Mainard | Overton | Fraud | Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 388 | 76 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1850 | Elijah D. Robbins, et al. v. David C. Lewis | Franklin | Wills, Contested |
other plaintiffs: Mary E. B. Robbins |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 388 | 88 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Eli Spaulding v. John Kincaid | Claiborne | Covenant Broken |
Plaintiff claimed defendant owed him $400 for labor and work performed. Plaintiff was a skilled stone worker who supplied the stone foundation and lintels for the defendants brick house completed 1844. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1134 | 18 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Edward Daugherty v. Able B. Beesan | Hamilton | Trespass and Damages |
Plaintiff stated that he owned a wagon of great value, $200, & that on May 29th, 1849 this wagon went missing. Later that day, plaintiff came upon the defendant in possession of said wagon. Daugherty sought damages of $200. Defendant denied knowing the wagon's owner & refused to relinquish it. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1134 | 20 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Ford v. Ford | Johnson | Wills, Contested |
Landmark case describing basic civil rights of slaves. The significant decision by the Tennessee Supreme Court concerning the legal right of slaves to bring suit. The Supreme Court remanded the case for retrial and Justice Nathan Green wrote the court's opinion declaring slaves possessed "many rights which are inherent in man." |
East | Range: 6 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 258 | 216 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Frederick Bolinger v. William B. Gordon | Rhea | Debt |
The plaintiff brought suit to collect $50 owed, when the evidence showed he actually was indebted to defendant for a wagon delivered. Circuit court found for defense, with $362.65 in court costs accrued over 5 yrs. of litigation |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 22 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | George C. Harris v. H. Peck & Andrew McClelland | Monroe | Land |
Incomplete. Boundary dispute. Drawn map of land plots and boundaries. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1166 | 15 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | G. E. Bowden v. Patrick Williams | Coffee | Debt |
This is a debt relating to nine mules |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 230 | 18 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Henry, a slave v. State | Williamson | Murder |
Plaintiff owned by John D. Bennett. File contains hand-drawn map of crime scene on Main St. in Franklin. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 387 | 46 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Henry A. Farnsworth v. Joseph E. Bell | Greene | Trespass and Damages |
William Johnson also listed as plaintiff in bond. Bell allegedly trespassed on the property of Fransworth and he is sued for $2,000 in damages. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1140 | 49 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Isaac Adcock v. State | DeKalb | Property Damage | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 231 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1850 | Isaac & others, slaves of Robert Brown, dec. v. John McMahon, et al. | Warren | Estate Dispute |
Additional defendants: Other slaves belonging to Robert Brown. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 230 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Isaac, a slave, et al. of Robert Brown, dec. v. John McMahon, et al. | Warren | Estate Dispute |
Additional defendants: Ester, Jacob, Bart, Lea, Auslen, Riley, Henry, Hulda, Nelly, Baca, Alsey, Sylva and Jane. Additional plaintiffs: Rebecca, wife of John McMahon, Stephen Banks and wife Jane, and John H. Hopkins Some testimony related that Robert Brown had wanted his slaves freed after his death. They had been hired out to various individuals in the neighborhood and some gave reports of work agreements with Brown. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 230 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | John Hendrickson v. State | Cannon | Assault and Battery | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 230 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1850 | James Wills v. State | DeKalb | Motion for Appeal | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 230 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1850 | James W. Foster v. John C. Lash | Wilson | Damages | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 230 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1850 | James M. Higginbotham v. John D. Lusk et al. | Warren | Debt |
Additional defendant - John H. Higginbotham Amount of debt $65.00 |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 231 | 8 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | James Woods et al. v. Elizabeth Ridley et al. | Rutherford | Debt |
Additional Defendants, William A. Ridley, James A Ridley, and Moses Ridley Amount owed $8560.00 |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 238 | 10 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | John Kirkman v. Edward S. Handy | Davidson | Public Nuisance |
Residents of Cherry Street in Nashville object to the building of a stable in a residential area as they feel it would be a public nuisance |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 238 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | John W. Bright v. William McKnight | Lawrence | Debt |
John Bright wrote a book and entered into an agreement with others to sale his books. He says he is owed money for his books. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 243 | 0 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | James, a person of color v. Enoch H. Jones | Rutherford | Trespass with Force of Arms |
Plaintiff's last name not given. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 388 | 46 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | James S. Holland v. Robert Donaldson, et al. | Smith | Estate Dispute |
Additional defendants: Susan Donaldson, Mathias D. Manley, Hannah Manley, William Gaston, Hugh Gaston, Susan Gaston. |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 388 | 8 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Joseph Allison v. James Knox et al | Monroe | Trespass and Damages |
Additional defendants: William Hampton, Robert Selridge, Reuben Russell & William Knox. On Sept. 1, 1847, defendants were said to have entered plaintiffs property and stolen the following: one horse, one mare, one gelding, one saddle, and other tools. Plaintiff sought $250 damages. Defendant were actually executing a warrant, the result of a Feb. 1847 judgment against Allison (William Knox v. Joseph Allison). |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 33 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | John Easley, Chairman of Claiborne County v. T. L. W. Sawyors, Tax Collector & securities | Claiborne | Tax Collection |
Additional defendants: William Houston, Benjamin Sewell, Thomas J. Johnson, securities. Defendant, the tax collector for Claiborne Co. in 1846, was said to have collected funds and not turned them over. Defendants were sued for amount collected $3,723.28 |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 20 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | James C. Jones Gov. v. Masten Henderen | Monroe | Debt, Execution on |
12 Jan 1844, Jones, then Governor of Tennessee, obtained a judgment against defendant as sheriff of Monroe Co. for the failure to turn over state revenue for the year 1842. Judgment was in the amount of $801.18. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 9 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Justices of Cocke County v. George Gray& George Gray v. Justices of Cocke County | Cocke | Other |
This case revolves around the building of a public road, which George Gray asserted had been falsely petitioned for, proposed with no notice, and approved by biased jurors. Further, Gray stated that the road was not laid out to the advantage of landowners Circuit court found for Justices of Cocke County. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 15 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Joseph Byrd v. Samuel Marney | Roane | Trespass and Damages |
Plaintiff sought to recover $500 damages for trespass. This stems from an agreement that plaintiff would rent a farm to defendant, with 250 bushels of good 'merchandisable' corn due as rent. Non-payment of this obligation resulted in suit. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 20 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | John Den, Lessee of Jesse & D. F. Rogers v. Stephen Cawood | Claiborne | Ejectment |
This is an appeal. Original bill saw the Rogers accused of trespass with damages of $500, and ejectment. Disputed tract of land contains approx. 800 acres. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1145 | 50 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | John S. Stanley v. State | Knox | Child Support |
Official cause of action: Bastardy, although child support was a result of court decision. Widow Polly Ault gave birth to a male child on Sept. 9, 1849, in Knox Co. John S. Stanley was reputed to be the father. The court adjudicated the paternal relationship and decreed support to be given Polly for child's upkeep. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1136 | 12 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | Jesse& D. F. Rogers v. Stephen Cawood | Claiborne | Ejectment |
Cause of action in this case is listed as ejectment. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1159 | 86 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | John Bradon v. David Ridinerer | Union | Slander |
The plaintiff brings this case against the defendant for slander. The defendant spoke and published that the plaintiff had been guilty of stealing hogs greatly damaging the plaintiff's reputation with his neighbors and friends. |
East | Range: 9 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 1177 | 15 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | John Tate, et al. v. Elizabeth Tate, et al. | Grundy | Wills, Contested | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 230 | 51 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1850 | John Davidson v. Lucy A. Nevils | Maury | Debt |
John Davidson and Lucy A. Nevils are brother and sister. John claims Lucy owes him money to help settle their late father's debt |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 238 | 2 | Order A Copy |
View Entry | 1850 | James K. Eason v. Warren Cummings | Cannon | Replevin | Middle | Range: 32 Section: B Shelf: Box Number: 238 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1850 | John Doe, lessee of Theodore Schultz& Thomas Hord v. John Elliott | Rutherford | Trespass with Force of Arms | Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 388 | 62 | Order A Copy | |
View Entry | 1850 | John Den, lessee of Althena Scott v. Samuel S. Buchanan, et al. | Lincoln | Trespass with Force of Arms |
Other defendants: Josiah Norwood; John Rivers; Howel Harris; |
Middle | Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 388 | 33 | Order A Copy |