WILSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE
CHANCERY COURT LOOSE RECORDS
Lawsuit brought by slaves against heirs of deceased owner for their freedom
#5674 - 1844 Jan. - (Bill) John, Andrew, Charity and child Cina and Isaac by their next friend Jo C. GUILD Against John G. GRAVES, Zedekiah TATE, Sally WARD, John WEAVER, John ROACH, James WALDEN and Isaac BAKER.
Complt. shows that their former master Ignatius JONES died in
1824 and in consideration of the services of the complts. who
were capable of doing services and in consequence of his above
named slaves - he made and executed his will which he signed and
sealed on 4 July 1824 ... subscribing witnesses Hugh TILFORD and
William MURRY. Probated Sept. Term 1824.
He gave complt. John to serve Elenor TATE 30 years from the date
of said will which expired on 4 July. John was to be free from
bondage as a slave and set at liberty. Complt. Andrew by said
will was deeded to serve Rachel JONES 20 years from date of will
and set a liberty. Complt. Isaac by will was deeded to serve
Rachel JONES 21 years from date of will and then set free.
Complt. Charity by will deeded 15 years his wife Winiford JONES
if she should so long live if not the 15 years to serve said
Eleanor TATE and then set free at the period of 31 years. Complt.
Cina is a child of Charity. John G. GRAVES and Zedekiah TATE by
will was appointed exors. of testator. Zedekiah married Eleanor
JONES Zedekiah sold him to one Albert WARD and after his death
Mrs. Sally WARD of Davidson Co., TN. Complt. Zedekiah gave
Charity to his daughter Rachael WALDEN who married James WALDEN
who holds her in the county of Rutherford and she has served over
5 years over the time she was to serve. She asks for $50. per
year. Complt. Isaac shows Zedekiah sold and now resides in
Henderson Co. in W. TN and John BAKER of Wilson Co., TN became
purchaser. Complt. Andrew shows that Zedekiah TATE had two
children James TATE and Rachel WALDEN and James died and his
admr. sold Andrew to John ROACH of Wilson Co., TN....
1824 July 4 - Will of Ignotiscius JONES of Wilson Co., TN.
"To wife the land, to Charity and Isaac, stock. To Eleanor
TATE the part of land she lives on.... Boy John to serve her 20
years from this date and then free. I give her Boston to serve
her until he is 30 years of age and then free.... To Rachel JONES
horse, saddle, bed, cow, calf, profits of 40a where MORGAN now
lives ... one boy Andrew to serve her 20 years from this date and
then set free. Also boy Isaac to serve her 21 years from this
date and set free though she is not to have him until her
mother's death and land after wife's death. Negro woman Charity
to serve 15 years from this date and then free.... If any
children they will serve to age 31. Negro Sarah I set free.
Grandson Richard TATE...." [Decree not in this file.]
1845 Jan. 7 - Answer of Orron D. WEAVER of Shelby Co., W. TN says
John was given to Eleanor and Zed near time of their marriage and
perhaps before. -
Answer of Zedekiah TATE of Henderson Co., TN. Eleanor was the only living heir when division took place. He married Eleanor in Jan. 1818. Rachael TATE having died, Andrew became property of Rachel, wife of James WALDEN and James TATE and was sold by their gdn. Lewis WRIGHT to John ROACH. Cina is 19 years old and in her 20th year since March last ... has been vested in Yada W. TATE for her life, remainder to Y.Z. Ann TATE, Florida D. TATE, Martha W. TATE, Calpurnia Cicus TATE, Jerome Bonaparte TATE (5 last minors). -
Answer of John BAKER of Wilson Co., TN and James WALDEN of
Rutherford Co.
James WALDEN says he has held Charity since 1839 in right of his
wife Rachel, late Rachel TATE to whom she was divised by Winiford
JONES, widow of Ignatius JONES, dec'd. and grandmother of
respdts. said wife. -
1845: Dep. of Lewis WRIGHT, 52. Samuel WRIGHT, 35. Bryan B. MCDEARMAN, 38. Polly JONES, 51. Taken at home of John E. BAKER. ...
Allen JAMES not credible....
Milberry RUTLAND and Parthena CAWTHON are said to be sisters-in-law of John G. GRAVES. -
Dep. of Sarah JAMERSON, 58, Shelby Co., TN.
James JAMERSON, 62, of Shelby Co. -
Dep. of Cherry O'NEAL says some of the slaves were put in jail because of TATE'S debts. -
Dep. of Milberry RUTLAND says she was at house when the will was signed. She was about 25 at the time.
1845 Feb. - Dep. of William MURRY, about 83, and Permelia MURRY
about 70. MURRY supposes JONES to have been 60 years old at his
death. -
Dep. of Elizabeth ROACH, Samuel C. MCWHERTER and Margaret C. CURRY. Wade BAKER agent takes deps. for his father John E. BAKER. -
Dep. of Elizabeth ROACH, about 37. Margaret C. CURRY, about 53. Samuel C. MCWHER, M.D., about 50.
1845 Mar. - Dep. of Thomas KIRKPATRICK, about 50. John G. GRAVES, about 65 wrote the will of Ignatius JONES. Lewis WRIGHT apt'd. gdn. of children. -
Question by pltf.: How was my mother Sarah, managed after the death of Ignatious JONES? Answer: She was set at liberty as being free.... Will written 4 July 1824.
1845 June - Dep. of Peggy HAMILTON, 65. William HARDY, 60. -
Dep. of Thomas TILFORD, 50 says JONES brought the negroes from Virginia. Z. TATE lived the first year after he married in Oct. -
Dep. of John ROACH, Sr., about 70 [not the John ROACH who bough Andrew]. -
Dep. of Wiley MCDEERMON, about 60, known JONES and TATE about 30 years. -
Dep. of James TATE about 22. -
Dep. of Polly JONES, about 55, says, "The oldest came with me from VA. Charity, John, and Andrew, who is dead was born in VA, the balance born in TN. I have known the negroes John and others ever since they were born. My husband worked with Ignatious the week before I was sent to see him. He did not live but a very few days. I stayed until he died."
- Dep. of Elizabeth JONES, about 55. -
Dep. of Rutherford RUTLAND, about 55, says JONES was a blacksmith, the oldest negroe woman, Aunt Salley, had the management of the farm. -
Dep. of Parthenia COTHORN, about 56.
1845 Sept. 25 - Dep. of Benjamin GRAVES knew Ignatious JONES from
year 1815 up to his death and were neighbors. TATE was a
blacksmith and the boy John was engaged at the shop as a
stricker. - Deps. of Brittain DRAKE, Robert MCFARLAND, Archibald
CLAY, Dr. Thomas NORMAN knows character of Cherry O'NEAL.
#5693 - 1844 Sept. 23 - (O.B.) James W. WALDEN of Rutherford
Co. and Charles JOHNSON VS James J. TATE. WALDEN shows he is 2/3
owner of 250a in Wilson Co., TN known as the JONES tract. He sold
it 16 July 1842 to James J. TATE. TATE gave a deed of trust to
Charles JOHNSON of Davidson Co., TN. James J. TATE brother of
Rachel J.
This file should be credited to someone, but I don't know who- BB