Tennessee Research Search

A plea of trespass with force and arms in ejectment relative to incident of 1 Oct. 1853, Sarah Knott, owner of a tract of land in the 11th Civil Dist., Knox Co., comprised of 150 acres. Sarah Knott accuses defendant Emmitt Knott of unlawfully withholding the premises claimed by both plaintiffs, asking for damages of $500. Includes last will and testament of Henry Lones, Sr. of Knox. Also indenture between Henry Lones and Lewis F. Ragsdale, 1853.

Alphonse owned 3197 acres of land & Bazzell also claimed title to a portion of this land. Jury ruled in favor of Alphonse. Exhibit (1-page hand-drawn map of disputed property) included in transcript.

"a plea of trespass with force and arms to his damage one thousand dollars." Incident of 12 Aug. 1833, "with force & arms made an assault upon the person of said plaintiff .. In the county & state aforesaid and then with his fist, a rock & some other weapon, gave & struck the said plaintiff a very violent blow & stroke on the front part of the head thereby falling & knocking the said plaintiff down to & upon the floor .."

Larry & family left KY home to live with & care for Eskridge & wife (both old) & their large estate, which they did for 4 months until Eskridge dismissed & expelled them without compensation. Larry had relied on Eskridge's promise to leave $50,000 in his will to Larry's 2 daughters, which Eskridge failed to do. Testimony: Before moving to TN, Larry had gotten Eskridge to draft a will previous to this one leaving Larry's 2 daughters 1/2 of Eskridge's estate, which Eskridge destroyed after firing Larry.

Add. defs: Charles King, Lucinda Rowan, Jacob Varnal a Freeman of Colour. Bale (m. Mahala Bussel, daughter of Wm Bussel, dec) accused defs of going into Bale's wheat field & cutting, binding, carrying off, & converting wheat to their own use. Defs say wheat not on Bale's land, but land owned by Elizabeth, wife of Charles (now dec) & daughter of Wm Rowan who lived at mouth of Beech Creek & drowned in Holston River, & her claim is through her dad, who purchased from Michael Montgomery who had NC grant.

"Catlett G. Hurtt who has been accused on oath by me Eliza A. Buxton otherwise called Eliza A. Jenno, a single woman of having begotten the female bastard child called Sarah Ann, of which she was delivered in said County on or about the 21st day of November, 1852, to be dealt with as the law directs."

Fanny's husband James (dec) & John Wallen claimed title to 1 of 2 tracts of land (which they had divided between them), & James Lake was a tenant in possession on John's portion. After James Wallen died, Fanny held his portion for herself and children. See related cases in same box: Jon Den, lessee, of Daniel Huff v. James Lake et al.; Heirs of James Wallin by next friend John Wallin v. Daniel Huff & James Lake; Wallin et al. v. Huff; Wallin v. Daniel Huff et al.; Daniel Huff v. James Lake.

The plaintiff is sued for damages for the use of the Nashville and Chattanooga Rail Road over his lands. Also include: Nashville and Chattanooga Rail Road Company v. George Clouse

Hannah claims Lewis abandoned her & left the county with Leah Lay, a woman of "infamous character as far as chastity is concerned," with whom (perhaps among others) he committed adultery. Court granted divorce & custody of parties' 4 children (Elizabeth, Keziah, Martha Jane & Samantha) to Hannah, along with various items of property, including debt that James Ball & Samuel Broyles owed to Lewis.

Riseden sued McDonald over a debt related to powder & lead, & Riseden testified. In a later grocery store conversation, McDonald claimed Riseden "swore a lie" in that testimony, thereby committing perjury, leading Riseden to then file this suit against McDonald for slander. The jury ruled in Plaintiff's favor & Defendant appealed. Witnesses: Jesse Gibson (heard McDonald say Riseden had "sworn a lie"), Isaac N. Carlock (heard same)

Damages for $100.00 Related to case filed in Chancery Court asking that prosecution of this suit be enjoined: Thomas Littleton et al.v. Jesse Matlock, ET Box 1156.

Bolinger sold 5/13 of land tract (the Henry Hunter tracts) to Rogers, who was to pay him $962 plus interest. Dispute over what Rogers paid & whether Bolinger had clear title to deliver, as there was charge on the land for dower for Henry's widow Barbara. Hunter heirs: Joseph, John, Henry, Jesse, Elizabeth (m. Cain), Belinda (m. Lynch), Frederick B., Abraham, Barbara, Christine, Catherine, Rachel.

Plaintiff sued for $1000 damages, alleging that on 1 Nov. 1841 his valuable slave girl named Elsey (alias Alice) came out of his possession & into the possession of the defendants, who knew that she belonged to him but refused to return her, despite his numerous requests to do so, and have since "disposed" of her. A recovery action may be involved as Elsey once belonged to a James O'Brian who had many executions against him & no property that authorities could find.

"to answer John Den, lessee of James Cooper of a plea wherefore with force and arms he broke and entered the close of the plaintiff and ejected him to his damage five hundred dollars." Small plat map included in case file.

Lawsuit to recover damages for value of Plaintiffs' land railroad was appropriating for purpose of building rail across the land. Add. Plaintiffs: heirs of John Graham, dec.

Moody & Rymer had a mare which they represented to Beddingfield as "a good sound mare" that was not injured or diseased & proposed to convey it to Beddingfield in exchange for Beddingfield's gelding. Both mare & gelding were valued equally at $100. After delivery, Moody & Rymer discovered mare had broken skull & the blind staggers & filed this lawsuit. Jury ruled in defendants' favor & Beddingfield appealed. Case questions if Beddingfield was aware of horse's injuries before he made the swap.

Smith sued Ward for $35 debt due by note; Ward claimed setoff for $50 claim of Samuel H. Howell against Smith (for a watch Howell allegedly sold Smith--who says he never bought a watch from Howell "since the world was made"). Court allowed setoff, leaving $15 balance owed to Ward.

Cause of action is forfeiture as a witness. Collins sued James Smith in action of assumpsit and, in prosecuting suit, subpoenaed Rogers as witness, but he failed to show, leading court to rule Collins should recover from Rogers $125 for failing to attend as witness, unless he appeared at next term of court & showed cause why that should not be done. Rogers failed to show up at next term, but Reuben Rogers testified his brother Jefferson didn't get notice; Jefferson then did show; court set aside judgment.

King Peck Hansford & Co. is a partnership made up of John G. King, William G. Peck, Samuel W. Hansford and George C. Laughorne. N. B. Brice, acting as agent for King Peck Hansford & Co., purchased hogs from James T. Brice. The hogs were never delivered.

Margaret said Lewis treated her badly in myriad ways. Margaret requested divorce & custody of the parties' infant daughter, Sarah Alice. Lewis disputed claim of ill treatment & suggested impetus of complaint was Margaret's disappointment that his estate was more limited than she anticipated before she married him. Witnesses: Henderson Clapp (Lewis' brother-in-law), Margery Campbell & Mary Franklin (Margaret's sisters) & others. Transcript includes copy of letter to Margaret from her brother R. Blain Jr.

Winston owned 65 acres on Big Poplar Creek & Big Indian Creek, to which both Winston & defs claimed title. Add. defs: Charles M. McGhee, Barclay McGhee, J.W.J. Niles & wife Margaret W. Niles (added selves as defs claiming title to land in dispute). Jury ruled in favor of defendants.

Dillon obtained a judgment against Rutherford for damages for killing a milk cow. Rutherford claims magistrate was swayed by testimony that Rutherford threatened to kill the cow if Dillon did not keep the cow out of Rutherford's field. Rutherford tried to appeal the judgment but failed to sign the bond, claiming his illiteracy kept him from realizing he needed to do so, so he is asking for a new trial.

Plea of debt due by note for $5.69.

Bridges owned 80 acres of land in Hiwassee District & claimed Guinn ejected them from it. As the court put it, Bridges had a "younger grant [to the land] founded upon the elder entry" & Guinn had the reverse, "the elder grant but the younger entry." The Bridges' claim was through Caroline's dad Dennis C. Murphy. Guinn's claim was through a man named Reynolds said to be the first settler of the land, & Guinn was in possession of the land when Murphy died.