Submitted by Bruce Price
This case involves the Calfee and Carter families of Wythe Co, Va, and Cocke Co., Tn. John Calfee of Cocke County and Elizabeth Calfee (widow of Charles Calfee) and her 3 children Betsey, John, and _____ (the last 2 being minors); Martha Harl; Jude Hurst; Theophilus Padget, Reuben Padget, John Padget, & Edmund Padget; John Gibson, Robert Gibson, George Gibson, Francis Gibson, Elizabeth Gibson, Hanna Gibson, Sally Gibson, & Jane Gibson all of whom are next of kin and heirs and heiresses of William Calfee dec?d Versus Francis Jackson Carter of Cocke Co; James Calfee heir of Wm. Calfee dec?d, James Calfee Jr. of Wythe Co, Va; Wm. Carter of Wayne Co, Ky; George Carter and Mary Carter heirs of Robert Carter dec?d, and John Grayson of Wythe Co, Va.
According to the case:
- William Calfee (elder) of Wythe Co,Va, died without issue in 1801 leaving a considerable estate. John Calfee is a nephew of the elder William and his father and mother are dead. The others are of the same level relationship or descendants there of.
- William Calfee made a will on 08/10/1796 but shortly before his death in 1801 he revoked the will. [Copy of will included in case file.] The revocation fell into the hands of Mary Calfee [widow of William], James Calfee one of the defendants, and another William Calfee now also dead; all 3 are named as executors in the will of 1796. They suppressed the revocation and had the will of 1796 proven in court.
- In 1803, Mary, widow of the elder William was about to marry George Carter. George and Mary burned the revocation then married. Shortly afterward they moved to Cocke County.
- George Carter made his will 12/04/1809. [copy in case file]
- Francis Jackson Carter managed the property (including slaves) and profited from it. He later gave up the landed estate in Wythe Co to defendants James Calfee and James Calfee Jr. The slaves were given away to George Carter's heirs. William Calfee (elder) left his estate to wife Mary during her lifetime, then it was to go to his nephews William (younger) Calfee and James Calfee, sons of his brother John. Since William (younger) died before the court case, the plaintiffs may be his children and grandchildren.
- 1830 - Box 241 Padgett vs Gilliland; John C. Nunally vs Howell, Jennings, Green
- 1828 - Box 239 Hugh Brown, clerk, vs James Jennings, sheriff
- 1840 - Box 1849 James Wilson, Wm. Evans vs Thomas & Isaac Rodgers
- 1838 - Box 250 Thomas Rodgers, guard, Samuel Smith vs John Ellason
- 1812 - Box 225 John Shields & James W. Lackey vs John Cowan [dispute over land grant]
- 1816 - Box 229 Padget & Gibson vs Francis Jackson Carter et al. [This file has great info on the Calfee and Carter families.]
- 1821 - Box 233 Elizabeth Gilliland vs Augustine Jenkins [I looked through part of it; it has quite a few names; references back to 1813]
- 1821 - Box 233 Haskin Jones vs State, [deals with the stabbing of Anthan Davis]
- 1830 - Box 241 Joseph Huff heirs vs Ellington Smith & Padgett & Gilliland
- 1837 - Box 247 Rachel Williams Vs John & Wm. Wood; John Ricker vs State; Archibald Sawyer vs State
- 1861 - Box 1836 Solomon Williams vs Lewis A. Hopkins