Tennessee Supreme Court Cases
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].
Tennessee Supreme Court Cases
Use quotes for an exact search. ex. "J. W."
| View Entry | Year | Case Name | County | Cause/Crime | Case Description | Division | Location | # Pages | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Entry | 1814 | Asa Shute et al. v. Richard Hightower et al. | Lincoln | Land and Title Dispute |
Additional parties: James Vaulx, Armstead Stubblefield, Stephen Alexander, Gideon Pillow, David McGavock, Thomas Boaz, John Swaine, Green Woods. This case involves a dispute of ownership for a piece of land on the Elk River in Lincoln County. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 81 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1820 | Andrew Anderson, et al. v. Samuel Stalcup, et al., R. P. Currin, Abraham Maury, et al. | Sumner | Estate Dispute |
Estate of Robert Clark, who died intestate. Andrew Anderson and his wife, Dorcas; Samuel Anderson and his wife, Anna (Clark); Andrew Clark. Samuel Stalcup and his wife, Rachel (Clark)- former wife of Robert Clark, dec. Mentions property: Lot No. 54, town of Franklin. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 366 | 36 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1819 | Andrew Greer v. Sampson Williams | Smith | Land and Title Dispute |
In a previous suit, Frederic Uhl successfully sued Peter Turney and was awarded a judgment of about $300. Greer was his bonded surety. Turney did not pay the judgment, and then died. Greer sued Turney's estate, of which Williams was the executor, in order to settle the debt. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 3a | 46 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1817 | Abraham Maury v. Thomas Hickman | Davidson | Land and Title Dispute |
Hickman sold Maury a tract of land from North Carolina land grant #586. Several of these plots of land were sold to Hickman by James Hoggatt. The titles on the land were not perfect, and this suit was filed in order to legally sort out the chain of title filing proper ownership in the court. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 3a | 50 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1809 | Benjamin Johns v. Sarah Payne | Davidson | Land and Title Dispute |
Additional Defendants: George Payne. Before he died Josiah Payne allegedly agreed to sell over 600 acres of land to Johns. Following his death, Johns sued for the right to purchase the land. 1809 land grant #1695 signed by Willie Blount, Governor of Tennessee. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1 | 170 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1814 | Charles Morgan v. Maryellen Morgan | Sumner | Land and Title Dispute |
Incomplete case file. Only consists of one page. Maryellen Morgan- executrix of Morgan, Armistead & Susannah. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 2 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1813 | Charles Morgan v. Mary Morgan, et al. | Sumner | Land and Title Dispute |
Charles Morgan ran a plantation in Kentucky. Jeremiah Morgan, dec. executed a contract to sell half of a plot of land to Charles Morgan. Jerimiah then died leaving a wife, Mary, and heirs Armistead & Susannah. The issue with the land was not settled when Jeremiah died, so this suit was filed to settle the rightful land ownership. See also MT 4. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1a | 52 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1812 | Christopher Robertson v. Samuel Tennison | Land and Title Dispute |
Additional Parties: Robert Evans, John Curry. Includes a land warrant given to Chritopher Robertson signed by Governor Willie Blount for his service to the state of North Carolina (for Revolutionary War service) |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 81 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1817 | Edward Sanders v. John Camp | Davidson | Contract Dispute and Damages |
Edward Sanders hired an enslaved man, Abraham, from John Camp, paying with a note for $100. Shortly after Abraham became sick and was not able to work. Abraham went to the house of Miss Hope, where his wife lived. Sanders sued to recover the value of his note. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 2 | 29 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | Heirs of Albert Mims v. Heirs of Alfred Mims | Cocke | Land and Title Dispute |
Incomplete file; includes only 1-page decree. Decree shows court to be Supreme Court of Errors & Appeals (rather than Superior). Decree directs that title to the 2 tracts of land at issue be taken out of both sets of heirs & title be vested in John Allen. |
East | Range: 9 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1144 | 2 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1815 | Howell Tatum v. John B. Evans | Davidson | Debt Dispute |
Tatum was the surviving partner of the mercantile company Tatum & (Henry) Wiggins. The partners had purchased a large shipment of goods from Evans & David Allison, in Philadelphia to open a store in Washington, KY. Suit was filed to settle the debt owed to Evans, and to finally dissolve the partnership in accordance to their articles of formation. See additional documents in MT 1 & MT 75. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1a | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1805 | Howell Tatum v. John B. Evans | Davidson | Debt Dispute | Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1815 | Joseph Carson v. Oliver Williams, Adam Miller, John, & William Wilson | Williamson | Land and Title Dispute |
The Sheriff of Williamson county held a sale of real estate in 1808. The defendants purchased land as a group, each agreeing that the purchase would be for the benefit of each. They also agreed that whatever portion of land was not redeemed by the original owner in twelve months should become the property of the group. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 3a | 24 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1824 | John Dougherty v. William Patterson | Franklin | Land and Title Dispute |
Judges: John Haywood, Jacob Peck |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 2 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1817 | James Mulhearn v. Washington L. Hannum & John Dickinson | Smith | Land and Title Dispute |
Washington Hannum lived on a 1,500 acre plot of land which he sold to Mulhearn. There was a dispute concerning the boundaries and value of the land and this suit was filed to settle the dispute. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 4a | 126 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1802 | John Burnley v. Jacob Philips | Robertson | Land and Title Dispute |
Jacob Philips entered a contract with John Burnley that would convey Burnley a lot of land. After making several payments, Philips told Burnley that he could not sell the land, until a grant could be procured from the State of Tennessee. In the mean time, John Haynes offered to buy the land from Philips, paying back Burnley his payment. Suit sought to settle rightful ownership to the land. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1 | 43 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1817 | John W. Gibbs v. Jane Hogan & Joseph Sevier | Overton | Land and Title Dispute |
Ewing Hogan |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 81 | 9 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1817 | John Overton, et al. v. David Shelby, et al. | Davidson | Land and Title Dispute |
Additional defendants: Samuel Fitzpatrick, Robert Lawyers, Robert McKnight, Samuel Kirkpatrick, David Shannon, John Crockett Involving Major Pinkham (Pinketham?) Eaton's military warrant of land in 1784. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 82 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1819 | Jacob Robinson v. Ezekial England, exe. of Robert King | White | Land and Title Dispute |
Jacob Robinson purchased the land of Robert King, deceased, that the Sherriff sold to satisfy debts that King owed. Later, Robinson became worried as to how valid his title to the land was. Land Grant #361 is mentioned in this case. |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 366 | 85 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1815 | James Winchester v. Samuel Jackson, exe. of John B. Evans, dec. | Davidson | Debt Dispute |
Winchester owed a debt to Jackson & Evans, & went to Philadelphia to pay it in full. After this, he traded US militia claims for more merchandise. The claims were examined by David Allison, who acted as Jackson & Evans' middle man, but who was later found questionable in his dealings. The suit sought to settle business between the two parties, determining if a debt was owed. Winchester & Additional defendants: Anne Evans, Henry Hawkins, admin. of John B. Evans, dec. See also box MT 4a. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1a | 168 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1817 | James & Stephen Owen, et al. v. Armistead Stubblefield, et al. | Warren | Land and Title Dispute |
Several land grant numbers are mentioned in this case: North Carolina Warrant No. 2813, No. 1438, No. 3813; Land Grants #1231 and #2437. S.Owen was conveyed land, then died intestate. Suit was filed to settle land ownership. See additional suits in boxes MT 332 & MT 366. Add'l pl's: Caron & Sarah Gibbs. Add'l defs: David Carter, John A. Wilson, John Cain, Walter Gild, Eahn Hall, |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 3a | 70 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1823 | John Davidson v. John Sturdevant, Malinda Sturdevant, & James Forgey | Maury | Land and Title Dispute |
Initial grants made in the NC land office for Tennessee lands allowed John Davidson to register 5000 acres in his own name, then additional land in the names of his children. He paid for & registered land in the names of his in-laws, Samuel & James Forgey w/ the idea they would transfer the land back to him later. Davidson sued to settle the proper ownership of the land. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 5 | 124 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1812 | John White v. John Fisher | Bedford | Debt Dispute |
Incomplete case. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 81 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1814 | Jones Kendrick v. Frances Gholson | Macon | Debt Dispute | Middle | Range: 21 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 81 | 0 | Order A Copy | |
| View Entry | 1818 | John C. Blaydes & Polly Blaydes v. Strother Key, et al. | White | Property Dispute |
Additional defendants: John Key, Jesse Key. Involving slaves - Tom, Ann, Charlotte, Fleming Winney, Anderson Jim, Caroline, Jack - between owners. Blaydes also spelled Blades. Dispute over ownership of a slave. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 81 | 246 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1812 | Jacob Baker v. George Poyser | Davidson | Contract Dispute and Damages |
Baker gave Poyser goods to sell as a commission merchant, totaling about $1700. Poyser failed to sell the items, and also refused to return them or pay for them. Baker sued to have some sort of compensation given. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 2a | 8 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1814 | Lee Oldham v. William Anderson | Davidson | Land and Title Dispute |
Additional parties: Washington Oldham, Polly Oldham, John R. Doherty, Nancy Lewis Doherty, James Doherty, Thomas Talbot. This case involves the sale of land with partial payment being a negro valued at $500. Additional parties: George Bell |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 81 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1820 | Oliver B. Hayes v. Armstreat Stubblefield, et al. | Lincoln | Land and Title Dispute |
Armstreat Stubblefield owned 640 acres of land on Norris Creek off the Elk River that he was supposedly authorized to sell. He contracted to sell a portion to Oliver Hayes, of whom paid almost the full amount due. However, once the amount was paid in full Stubblefield neglected to discharge the debt. Additional defendants: Gideon Pillow, John Ingram; John Bright, surveyor. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 2a | 84 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1822 | Patrick Darby & George Elliott v. Michael Green, et al. | Sumner | Land and Title Dispute |
Dispute over land in Sumner County |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 334 | 96 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1819 | Polly Patterson, et al. v. John Peyton | Bedford | Land and Title Dispute |
Peyton offered to sell acreage to Thomas Patterson, the plot of land belonging to a plot granted to Jacob Fisher in 1792. Thomas Patterson supposedly agreed to purchase the land, but Polly and the other descendants claim this was not so. Additional plaintiffs: Lucinda, Elizabeth & John (minors). |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 3a | 60 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1812 | Reuben Searcy v. Alexander Kirkpatrick | Wilson | Land and Title Dispute |
Case concerns a tract of land on the Cumberland River in Wilson County obtained by an original land grant. Part of the land was later sold to Kirkpatrick by Searcy. Documents related to land ownership and chain of title disagreements. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1 | 69 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1823 | Roger B. Sappington v. John M. Drake & John White | Williamson | Land and Title Dispute |
Cornelius Drake entered a land grant to the surveyor general for land granted him for military service. After registration, Drake failed to pay taxes on the land. Sappington purchased 150 acres of this land. Cornelius died, leaving the remainder of the land to John M. Drake. White lived on the property, & claimed Cornelius sold him the land before he died. Sappington sued to get him to give up the claim and move off the land. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 4 | 80 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1807 | Randal McGavock v. Luke Bernard | Davidson | Land and Title Dispute |
John Bernard died after settling on the Cumberland, leaving his son Luke as an heir to over 600 acres of land. Walter attempted to sell land from this tract to Bernard, although he was not the heir. The suit sought to settle the land dispute. Add'l def Walter Barnard. Randal McGavock was an early Mayor of Nashville and he built Carnton Plantation in 1815. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1 | 64 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1814 | Roger B. Sappington v. Peter Edwards, et al. | Williamson | Land and Title Dispute |
Additional parties: James Dabney, John Witherspoon, William Smith, Oliver Williams,Daniel Wilburn, David Gee. This case involves a dispute of ownership of land granted from a Military Land Warrant. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 81 | 154 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1818 | Samuel Cummins v. George Fisher, et al. | Williamson | Estate Dispute/ Settlement |
Hon. Nathaniel W. Williams, Judge, Court of Law & Equity, 3rd Circuit, Randal W. McGavock, Clerk of the Supreme Court of Errors and Appeals, 4th Circuit. Richard Trotter (dec.) resided in Rowan Co., NC. George Fisher is from Alabama Territory. Moses A. Locke, David Cummins, Richard Trotter, Jean Trotter, Silas Dinsmore |
Middle | Range: 32 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 212A | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1817 | Tulan Dixon et al. v. William Mitchell et al. | Rutherford | Land and Title Dispute |
Additional Plaintiffs: Redmon D. Barry. Additional Defendants: Mark Mitchell. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1820 | Tilghman, George, Woodruff, Garrison, Kelly, & Armstead Stubblefield, Edward & Fanny Bradley, William & Elizabeth Bradshaw, Meredith & Nancy Watson v. Selby Haney, John A. Debow, & Benjamin Hardy | Sumner | Land and Title Dispute |
Sally Harney was in possession of a large plot of land. Following her death, the land was disputed among many heirs. This suit was filed to clarify the chain of title and to disperse the land among the appropriate heirs. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 4 | 72 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1814 | Thomas Molloy v. Sterling Brewer | Williamson | Deed Dispute |
Dispute over land warrants. |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 81 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1817 | Thomas Roundtree v. George Tubb | Franklin | Debt Dispute |
William Tubb and Jeremiah Smith |
Middle | Range: 21 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 81 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1815 | William T. Lewis v. David P. Monroe & William Beaty | Davidson | Land and Title Dispute |
In 1810, a judgment was rendered against William T. Lewis in a suit brought by David P. Munro & William Beaty. Lewis was to buy 600 acres of land from them, for $1,500, but he was unhappy with the price, & it was changed to $1,713. Through additional legal action the total was raised to $2,191.66. The suit was filed to settle the matter. Mentions Thomas Crutcher and Andrew Jackson. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 4 | 8 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1818 | William Moore & James G. Roulston v. George White, admr. of Polly Cook | Jackson | Land and Title Dispute |
In 1811, William Moore executed two notes to James Cook for $570. Cook in return sold Moore a plot of land in Carthage. Later Moore discovered that this lot was not legally registered for taxation with the city. Cook then died intestate. The suit was filed to satisfy the terms of the original agreement. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 3a | 54 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1820 | William P. Anderson v. David Love et al. | Franklin | Land and Title Dispute |
Additional Defendants: William Russell Case only one page. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 2 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1817 | William King, et al. v. Charles S. Carson, et al. | Davidson | Estate Dispute |
Plaintiffs: Thomas, Rachel, Mary, & Elizabeth King. Defendants: James, Margaret, Charles, Sarah, Jane, & John Bekam. John King, a partner in King, Carson & King mercantile, purchased land with his own money, then died. There were many descendants to bene- fit from the sale of this land. The estate was ordered to divide the lot into thirds, the descendants receiving a 3rd, Carson & Wm. King each a 3rd. Carson's family sued to be conveyed that 3rd. See related case in box MT 4. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 3a | 47 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1808 | William L. Lewis v. Robert Demonbreun, et al. | Davidson | Land and Title Dispute |
Additional Defendants: James M. Lewis, admr. of William L. Lewis, dec. Possibly related to Demonbreun family? |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 2 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1814 | Wilson Cage v. James Turney, et als. | Smith | Land and Title Dispute |
Additional defendants: Elizabeth Turney, Samuel Turney, Hopkins Turney & Patty Dixon Turney. Case only one page. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 2 | 0 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1814 | Wallis Estill v. William Slade, James T. Worthington, Schyler Barnett | Franklin | Land and Title Dispute |
Suit filed after multiple land sales between the plaintiffs and defendants. The land sold was located in Franklin and consisted of over two thousand acres. The land was surveyed, then resurveyed in a hopes to accurately record its boundaries. However, the boundaries were still in dispute. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 2a | 28 | Order A Copy |
| View Entry | 1809 | William Billings, et al. v. Thomas Brown, et al. | Davidson | Land and Title Dispute |
Moses Brown, father of Josiah, Thomas & Jacob Brown, purchased 110 acres from Thomas Brown in 1792. Thomas Brown then died intestate before he settled the conveyance to Moses. Suit was filed to settle the land ownership and estate. Plaintiffs: Nancy Billings, Josiah Brown, Jacob Brown, Thomas Brown (William Billings is the guardian for Josiah, Thomas and Jacob). Defendants: Daniel Brown, his guardian James Mulherin. |
Middle | Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1a | 41 | Order A Copy |