Tennessee Supreme Court Cases

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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 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 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 1822 John Mayfield, et al. v. Benjamin Seawell, et al. Davidson Land and Title Dispute

Additional plaintiff: Miarrias Seawell. Additional defendant: George Mayfield. Seawell sued over the ownership and boundaries of a tract of land originally purchased by Southerland Mayfield in 1784. Benjamin Sewell died during the trial.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 3 159 Order A Copy
View Entry 1815 John Gwin v. Richard Cook Davidson Land and Title Dispute

In 1797, Richard Cook of Granville County, North Carolina conveyed land to William Gwin of Sumner County, TN. The two made multiple agreements concerning multiple parcels of land over the years. John Gwin was William's heir & sued to settle the land matter so that his bequest might be finalized, and the estate settled.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 2a 34 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 1808 John Overton v. John Allison, et al. Davidson Land and Title Dispute

In 1800, Overton obtained a judgment against the heirs of David Allison of $920.14. In his lifetime Allison purchased many plots of land from many people including Landon Carter & Andrew Jackson, but failed to obtain the deeds or register the conveyances. Overton sued: Jane, John, William, & Peggy Allison, and Andrew Jackson to recover the judgment, even if it were to be paid in land.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1a 39 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 1818 John Gale v. Thomas K. Harris Sumner Land and Title Dispute

During a Sheriff's sale Harris purchased property that had formerly belonged to Robert King. Following the sale, Gale and Harris entered a partnership of ownership of the property legalized with a written contract. Gale went to New Orleans, & Harris sold part of the land without his knowledge.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 3 100 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 1809 Joel Lewis v. William Terrill Lewis, John Nauls, John Donelson, Rachel & Andrew Jackson, Jane & Robert Hayes, John & Andrew Jackson Donelson, Daniel, William, Alexander,& Severn, Donelson, John & Mary Caffery, Catherine Huchens, heirs of Stokley Donelson Davidson Land and Title Dispute

In 1787 Joel Lewis purchased acreage land from Mr. Gordon of Georgia. Wm. T. Lewis then claimed ownership to some of this land, being given a grant by the state of NC then conveyed it to Stokely Donelson, who agreed to convey other land to Joel Lewis. The conveyance was not made before Stokely died. The suit was filed to finalize land ownership.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 3 124 Order A Copy
View Entry 1809 Lawrence Smith v. James Black Williamson Land and Title Dispute

In 1806, Lawrence Smith owned land in Williamson County on Murphy's Fork of the West Harpeth River. When he took possession, he cleared 20 acres, and purchased a house on the land built by Robert Brown. James Black then claimed that he was the true owner of the house and land, and it had been granted to him by John Armstrong. Suit sought to settle true ownership of the property.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1 17 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 1935 Preston H. Buquo v. Title Guaranty & Trust Co. Hamilton Land and Title Dispute East Range: 8 Section: E Shelf: Box Number: 902 28 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 1915 Robert Phipps v. Lewis W. Church, et. al. Grundy Land and Title Dispute Middle Range: 21 Section: A Shelf: Box Number: 79 0 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 1905 Southwestern Presbyterian University, et al. v. Presbyterian Synod of Tennessee, et al. Montgomery Land and Title Dispute Middle Range: 21 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 144 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 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 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 1894 W. C. Burton et al. v. George F. Long et al. Decatur Land and Title Dispute

Additional plaintiffs: E. Burton. Additional defendants: Johnston Bussell

 West Range: 82 Section: F Shelf: Box Number: 606 16 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
View Entry 1802 William T. Lewis v. Joel Rice Smith Land and Title Dispute

Edwin Hickman signed a bond binding himself to his heir John Hughes, for 500 pounds, for a tract of land in Davidson County on the Cumberland. This land was claimed & promised to different parties, resulting in this suit. Wm. Lewis sued Joel & Eliza Rice, Thomas & John P. Hickman, by Thomas his guardian, all on account of the dealings of Edwin Hickman, dec'd. The suit sought to settle lawful ownership of the land.

 Middle Range: 20 Section: D Shelf: Box Number: 1 56 Order A Copy