The Tennessee State Library & Archives (TSLA) houses the surviving records of the Tennessee State Penitentiary.  

The following list is for individuals in the index of Shelby County inmates at the state penitentiary between 1831-1850. For information on how to get more information about these records, please contact TSLA.

The table below lists each individual names, crimes and age.

Last NameFirst NameCrimeCountyAge
AllenJohnpassing counterfeit moneyShelby42
AllenWileylarcenyShelby19
BaileyJohnlarcenyShelby28
BalduffHenrypetit larcenyShelby15
BallentireWilliamgrand larcenyShelby30
BennettJohnnegro stealingShelby31
BerryJohn A.grand larcenyShelby25
BlackwellJosephpetit & grand larcenyShelby36
BrewerJamesgrand larcenyShelby39
BrewerWesleypassing counterfeit moneyShelby20
BrownJameslarcenyShelby32
BrownWilliamhorse stealingShelby37
BruceNathanielgrand larcenyShelby24
BuchananEdwardgrand larcenyShelby48
BunchBasilhaving & pass[ing] 
c[ounterfeit] money
Shelby23
BurkeWilliamlarcenyShelby22
ButlerJameslarcenyShelby29
CaldwellWilliamlarcenyShelby30
CampbellWilliamgrand larcenyShelby33
CharlesDevitpetit larcenyShelby42
ClasureJohngrand larcenyShelby53
CorromanMichaellarcenyShelbyn/a
CovingtonWilliam C.slave stealingShelby23
DavisRichardpetit larcenyShelby36
DavisWilliamrobberyShelby33
DaytonJosiahgrand larcenyShelby24
DorseyCorneliuskeeping counterfeit coinShelby29
EddingtonAndrewgrand larcenyShelby29
Elloitt [sic, Elliott]Ransommalicious shootingShelby48
FallickIsaacpassing counterfeit moneyShelby28
FastingWilliamgrand larcenyShelbyn/a
FinneyAugustusarsonShelby16
FisherJacobgrand larcenyShelby33
ForbesSaml. H.murder in 2nd degreeShelby24
FrazierErmandohorse stealingShelby25
GordonRobertpetit larcenyShelby16
Gott [Jott?]Sterling M.negro stealingShelby28
GriffithOlivergrand larcenyShelby33
GroomsJamesgrand larcenyShelby70
HallJonathan A.obtaining goods by false 
pretence
Shelby23
HannaJohn Ezramalicious shootingShelby25
HarrellHenrygrand larcenyShelby33
HarrisonBenjamin R.stealing promissory 
notes
Shelby25
HarrisonJohnhorse stealingShelby24
HecockJohnlarcenyShelby21
HenryJameslarcenyShelby33
HerronJacklarcenyShelby28
HobbsA.forgeryShelby24
HoffmanDanl.larcenyShelby23
HooperNimrodnegro stealingShelby49
HoyHughgrand larcenyShelby35
HuskyBlakearsonShelby31
JacksonThos. P.petit larcenyShelby33
Jestice [Justice?]Roberthorse stealingShelby31
JonesCharles W.H.larcenyShelby30
JonesWm. G.horse stealingShelby24
KellyJamesgrand larcenyShelby45
KirkseyJesse B.grand larcenyShelby39
LarkeySaml.larcenyShelby30
LegerLewis D.H.assault to killShelby29
LicksteinDanielgrand larcenyShelby25
LittleJohngrand larcenyShelby31
McBrideJohncounterfeiterShelby39
McCoyJohn A.negro stealingShelby33
McKayRobt.petit larcenyShelby33
McKinleyR[?] R.harboring a slaveShelby31
McMahanJohnlarcenyShelbyn/a
MillsThomasreceiving stolen good[s]Shelby32
MitchelAbrahamlarcenyShelby26
MitchelJamesrobberyShelby23
NebasMatthewpetit larcenyShelby27
NorrisAmbrose A.petit larcenyShelby25
O'DonnellJohnlarcenyShelby30
OrrJohnpetit larcenyShelby31
Passashington G.horse stealingShelbyn/a
PopelaskiWilliamlarcenyShelby22
RandalThompson W.larcenyShelby38
RialJohnlarcenyShelby35
RodgersThomaslarcenyShelby40
RossWilliam W.robberyShelby19
SandersJamesReceiving stolen goodsShelby27
SeymourW.H.grand larcenyShelby17
SimpsonJohngrand larcenyShelby24
SmithWilliamobtaining goods under 
false pretence
Shelby29
SmolenskiStanislousp[etit] larcenyShelby49
SpearsAbrammurder 2d degreeShelby20
SpoonerSanlis[?]petit larcenyShelby43
St. JohnFranciscogrand larcenyShelby26
StantonGeorgelarcenyShelby20
TaggartJohnobtaining goods by 
false pretence
Shelby26
TaylorJamespetit larcenyShelby22
TaylorJamescirculating counterfeit coinShelby49
TaylorWilliamarsonShelby23
ThomasH.W.larcenyShelby47
ToddSamuel H.robberyShelby20
TomlinsonElijahmalicious stabbingShelby29
TurnerJohngrand larcenyShelby44
ValentineRatchfordmurder 2nd degreeShelby34
WalkerPetermanslaughterShelby45
WalterRobertlarcenyShelby26
WardJamesgrand larcenyShelby27
WebbJessep[etit] larcenyShelby28
WhitesidesSamuelp[etit] larcenyShelby39
WilliamsCaleblarcenyShelby23
WilliamsJohnpetit larcenyShelby36
WilsonSamuellarcenyShelby47
WiseGeorgeattempting to pass 
c[ounterfeit] money
Shelby33
WolfMosespassing counterfeit moneyShelby27
WoodruffJohn A.petit larcenyShelby22
--?--WilliamslarcenyShelby21

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Site last updated March 23, 2023 @ 9:41 pm; This content last updated April 16, 2021 @ 10:03 pm