Jackson Co., TN Loose District/Chancery Court Papers
Reel #93, Lynn- Lyon, W.
Vol: 1839-1915

Cases indexed alpha by Plaintiff. Although there is a cross-index reel at TSLA by Defendant, there is no 'everyname index', so there is no hint of what reel actually contains. Genealogical extractions in order they appear on each case. Sometimes depositions not dated. The purpose is not to find who did what to whom, but how they were related. The quality of this microfilm varies widely. Sometimes the copy at Tennessee State Library & Archives is more legible. Microfilm reels may be ordered by mail. http://www.state.tn.us/sos/statelib/r&r/mfcounty.htm

REPORT OF LAND SALE.

12 Nov. 1892: the Hollow tract [sold] to Jno. W. Lynn for $126.00

2 Jan. 1893: the homestead and dower tract was sold to B. J. G. Lynn for $700.25.

2 Jan. 1893: the remainder of the land was sold to J. A. Loftis for $1401.50.

THE ANSWER OF THOMAS LYNN, JOHN W. LYNN, BEDFORD LYNN, JAMES R. LYNN & JOSEPH LYNN, who are children and heirs at law of James Lynn, dec'd.

No date.

DECREE CONFIRMING REPORT, ETC.

20 Sept. 1898.

. . . Barbara J. G. Lynn is the guardian of her three minor children, Bedford Lynn, James R. Lynn and Joseph Lynn . . .

ALLIE BLAKELY VS. ROLLIN BLAKELY.

22 March 1892.

. . . the parties were married in this County four or five years ago. It appeared also that, four years ago, defendant willfully and maliciously deserted complainant and has failed to provide for her since his said desertion.

Divorce granted.

It appearing also that the parties have a child. The care and custody of the child is decreed to the complainant . . . defendant pay all the costs [of this suit] . . .

COURT ORDER.

No date.

. . . Barbara J. G. Lynn, widow and relict of James Lynn, dec'd, and who is also his Administrator. Thomas Lynn and John Lynn, who are heirs at law of said James Lynn, dec'd, the said Thos. Lynn being also his Administrator . . .

ORDER TO THE SHERIFF.

26 Feb. 1891.

. . . James Lynn died intestate in Jackson Co. TN on the [blank] day of Jan. 1891 . . .

. . . Thos. Lynn, Jno. W. Lynn, Jane Lynn, who intermarried with Wm. Williams, Radford Lynn, Bradford Lynn and Joseph Lynn are his only heirs at law . . .

WILL OF JAMES L. LYNN.

In the name of God, Amen. I, James L. Lynn, being of Sound Mind and disposing memory, knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die and being very feeble and low in health do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all other and former wills by me at any time made.

1. I direct that my body be decently buried.

2. I direct my executrix to pay all the just debts and my funeral expenses out of anything I may die possessed of.

3. I give my beloved wife Mary Elizabeth Lynn all of my Real and personal estate of every description absolutely during her natural life or widowhood. It is my desire for her to sell my land and make deed or deeds to the purchasers if she thinks best and at the coming of age of my three children, Luverna, Albert and Louisa Jane Lynn, for it or the proceeds to be equally divided amongst said children. If my said wife should remain single, she can keep said property and dispose of it to the children before mentioned as she may think best.

4. I request my wife to send my three children to school and to pay for their tuition and expense out of any means that I may die seized and possessed of.

5. I appoint my wife Mary Elizabeth my executrix to this my last will and it is my wish and desire that she will not be required to give bond or make an inventory of my effects or to make settlement, etc.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand seal on this the 31st day of Aug. 1883 in the presence of attest: Wm. M. Pickett & Asa Johnson.

James L. Lynn (his mark)

SETTLEMENT.

27 June 1914.

By one paid check from J. B. Lynn to Bedford Lynn, date 6-2-1913 for burial expenses and transportation for the body of W. M. Whitaker from California to Tennessee. $352.00

SALLIE C. LYON & PATTIE G. LYON, a minor, who having no general guardian, sues by her mother and next friend Minnie J. Lyon of the County of Shelby in the State of TN, brings this Bill of Complaint against Mary F. Lyon, the widow of Wade W. Lyon, and Lillie Lyon, Jane Lyon and Corley Lyon, the children and heirs at law of Wade W. Lyon of the County of Madison in the State of TN, H. W. Williams of the County of Jackson in the same State, and thereupon they state and show unto your Honor this slate of facts.

8 Sept. 1881.

1st. That their great grandfather, William Woodfolk, departed this life testate in the County of Jackson in this State and in and by his last will and testament appointed his son, William W. Woodfolk, his Executor . . . W. W. Woodfolk . . . obtained . . . letters testamentary . . . probably in or about the month of May 1859.

11th. That their great grandfather, Wm. Woodfolk, devised to the then children of Martha D. Lyon, that is, to Samuel W. Lyon, Wade W. Lyon and Elizabeth Roull . . .

The eldest of the complainants is now in her 22nd year and the youngest is in her 16th year.

21st. That their father, Sam'l W. Lyon, departed this life intestate in the month of May, 1872, and left him surviving his widow, Minnie J. Lyon, and his only children and heirs at law the complainants Sallie C. and Pattie G. Lyon.

22nd. That Wade W. Lyon departed this life intestate in the month of [blank] 1881 and left him surviving his widow, the defendant Mary Lyon, and his children and heirs at law [blank] Lyon and [blank] Lyon.

THE BILL OF COMPLAINT OF BAXTER SMITH OF DAVIDSON CO. TN AGAINST WILLIAM WOODFORK [WOODFOLK] AND WIFE LIZZIE WOODFORK, WILLIAM WOODFORK [WOODFOLK], NOW OF JACKSON CO. TN AND LIZZIE WOODFORK [WOODFOLK] OF MURRAY CO. TN.

No date.

. . . the defendants William Woodfork [Woodfolk] and Lizzie Woodfork intermarried with each other in March 1883; prior to their marriage, to wit, on the 1st of March 1883, they made a marriage contract . . .

From said contract it appears that William Woodfork [Woodfolk] settles on defendant Lizzie Woodfork [Woodfolk] a large and valuable tract of land lying in Jackson Co. TN . . . shortly after that marriage they moved on said land and have held possession of it by themselves and tenants.

Summary: Wm. Woodfolk owes Baxter Smith and other creditors large sums of money. Complainant charges that the settlement made on Lizzie was fraudulent because it was made to defeat these creditors. -bp.

THE SEPARATE ANSWER OF WM. WOODFOLK TO THE BILL OF COMPLAINT.

No date.

It is true that he married Lizzie Porter, now Woodfolk, at the time stated in the Bill.

. . . said deed of marriage settlement was delivered to and accepted by the said Lizzie Porter at 11 o'clock in the morning of the day on which the marriage was afterwards solemnized at 3 o'clock in the evening.

. . . the following words were written, to wit "Lizzie Porter signed 11 o'clock March 1st 1883." These words were at the time of their date written by herself in her mother's house in the City of Nashville . . .

MARRIAGE CONTRACT AND SETTLEMENT.

William Woodfolk, Jr. to Lizzie Porter.

1 March 1883.

. . . convey unto her . . . the several tracts of land in the County of Jackson, in the State of Tennessee, conveyed to me by J. R. Buist & Laura Buist, his wife, and conveyed to him by Mary F. Lyon of Madison Co. in the State of TN . . .

. . . my sister Laura Buist and my brother Joe W. Woodfolk . . .

. . . convey unto my intended wife a certain other tract of land in the County of Jackson known as the "old Major William Woodfolk home place" on Salt Lick Creek and containing 194 acres or thereabout, being the tract or parcel of land allotted and set apart to Martha D. Lyon in the partition of the lands of Joe B. Woodfolk . . . also a 56 acre tract or parcel of land allotted to Lizzie C. Rozell by the Decree of the Chancery Court at Gainesboro and conveyed by her and her husband, B. L. Rozell, to me by deed . . .

Deposition taken: 16 Jan. 1886, evidently in Maury Co. TN.

DEPOSITION: J. R. BUIST.

I am his [Wm. Woodfolk's] brother-in-law.

In Nov. 1881 I purchased of Mrs. M. F. Lyon of Madison Co. TN all her land in Jackson Co. TN . . .

On the 28th day of Feb. 1883 I sold and conveyed the same land to my brother-in-law William Woodfolk for the sum of $3000.

I resided at Nashville TN [at the time he purchased this land].

I was very much engaged in the practice of medicine . . .

Summary: he says that he made this purchase at the request of, and for, William Woodfolk. -bp.

/s/ J. R. Buist

Deposition taken: 2 July 1874 at Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY.

DEPOSITION: WILLIAM W. WOODFOLK, a resident of Kentucky.

Aged 72 years.

I am a son of William Woodfolk who died in Jackson Co. TN in May 1859.

My father, William Woodfolk, on the 12th day of Oct. 1829 conveyed to his son, Joseph B. Woodfolk, 1500 acres of land, including his residence in Jackson Co. TN, reserving a life estate in the same. The consideration of said conveyance was 414 acres of land in Madison Co. TN.

. . . I wrote a deed from my father, Wm. Woodfolk, to James S. Lyon for the same 414 acres conveyed by my brother Joseph to my father . . .

My brother Joseph is dead.

My brother Joseph died in New Orleans in the winter of 1830.

J. B. Woodfolk was never married. Martha D. Lyon, Sarah K. Barr, Eliza A. Miller, Austin Woodfolk heirs & myself are his heirs; he died intestate.

. . . my father informed me that during my absence from home he had destroyed the deed from him to Joseph. He stated his reason for doing so was that he did not intend that his son Austin Woodfolk, or any of his heirs, should have any of Joseph's property, or any of his property.

/s/ Wm. W. Woodfolk

THE BILL OF COMPLAINT OF JOHN MARSHALL OF THE COUNTY OF DAVIDSON & JOHN B. MC EWEN & DAVID CAMPBELL, BOTH OF WILLIAMSON CO. TN against W. W. Woodfolk of the County of Davidson of the same State, Eliza A. Miller of the County of Madison, TN, Martha D. Lyon of Madison Co., Samuel W. Lyon of the County of Shelby, TN, Wade W. Lyon of the County of Madison, TN, B. L. Rozell & his wife Elizabeth Rozell of Coahoma Co., Mississippi, Benjamin Barr & his wife Sarah K. Barr, Austin Elrod & James Elrod of Madison Co. TN, John Oates & his wife Mary E. Oates of the State of Arkansas, Joseph & Austin Woodfolk & the other unknown heirs of Austin Woodfolk of Louisiana & Laura Buist & J. R. Buist, her husband, of Davidson Co. TN.

5 Nov. 1872 [unsure of last number. bp.]

Thereupon your Orators show unto your Honor that the late William Woodfolk, many years ago and on the 12th day of Oct. 1829, as is believed and charged, by his deed of that date conveyed to Joseph B. Woodfolk the following described piece or parcel of land in the County of Jackson TN, subject to his own life estate thereon, to wit, bounded as follows. Beginning at a stake in the North East corner of Lieutenant Nathaniel Williams 2560 acre tract, which I own . . . west bank of Salt Lick Creek . . . first branch that runs into said creek on the West side called the Pole Bridge Branch . . . crossing Holoman's Ferry Road . . . containing 1500 acres, more or less. That the consideration for this conveyance as stated therein was the natural love and affection borne by W. Woodfolk to J. B. Woodfolk and also the conveyances by J. B. Woodfolk to W. Woodfolk of the one fourth of a 2074 acre tract of land in the County of Madison in this State, the one third of the parcel of land of 1500 acres being, as stated in the deed, conveyed as consideration of this conveyance so made by J. B. Woodfolk and the two thirds of the same being conveyed by Wm. Woodfolk to Jo B. Woodfolk for and in consideration of natural love and affection, that on the same day on which this conveyance was made by W. Woodfolk to J. B. Woodfolk, the latter by his deed of that date for and in consideration that the said Wm. Woodfolk has this day conveyed to him 1500 acres in the County of Jackson conveyed to the said W. Woodfolk 414 acres of land, being his one fourth interest, after deducting the Locator's Share in the 2074 acres tract of land granted by the State of TN to Austin, Samuel M., W. W. and Jo B. Woodfolk on the 21st day of Dec. 1821 by Grant No. 16434 and that Wm. Woodfolk, by his deed of the 12 Oct. 1829, conveyed unto James S. Lyon and Martha D. Lyon, his wife, for and in consideration of natural love and affection, a certain undivided interest or part that J. B. Woodfolk had in and to a certain 2074 acre tract of land . . .

. . . J. B. Woodfolk was the youngest and as is believed and charged the favorite son of Wm. Woodfolk, who was anxious for his son Jo B. to abandon the business he was then engaged and in the course of which his health had become somewhat impaired and come and live with him in the County of Jackson . . .

The said conveyance was never, as is believed and charged, rescinded or cancelled in the lifetime of Jo B. Woodfolk . . . On his demise this estate in fee simple of Jo B. Woodfolk in and unto said tract of land descended to his heirs at law, to wit, W. W. Woodfolk, Martha D. Lyon, Sarah K. Barr, Austin Woodfolk, Eliza A. Miller & Samuel M. Woodfolk, who were his brothers and sisters, he having died unmarried and without issue and intestate.

Of the heirs at law of Jo B. Woodfolk, Samuel M. Woodfolk & Austin Woodfolk have since departed this life intestate. Samuel died unmarried and without issue, as his heirs, his surviving brothers and sisters who have just been named. Austin Woodfolk left him surviving as his heirs at law the following children, whose names are known, Jo Woodfolk and Austin Woodfolk and also some other children whose names are not known. These children and heirs of Austin Woodfolk reside, as is believed and charged, in the State of Louisiana . . .

And your Orators further show that W. Woodfolk departed this life testate in the County of Jackson in the State of Tennessee on the [blank] day of May 1859, that he in and by his last will and testament devised his lands, consisting of the Nathaniel Williams 2560 tract and perhaps some other small parcels, to W. W. Woodfolk, Eliza A. Miller, Sam Lyon, Wade Lyon & Elizabeth Lyon, now Elizabeth Rozell, children of Martha D. Lyon, Austin Elrod & James Elrod, Mary E. Elrod now Mary E. Oates, Letitia Barr now Letitia Linsly & Patsy E. Barr, children of Sarah R. Barr . . .

. . . W. W. Woodfolk by his deed of conveyance . . . conveyed unto your Orators John Marshall, J. B. McEwen and David Campbell all his right, title and interest, as one of the heirs of J. B. Woodfolk, in and unto the land in the County of Jackson of which J. B. Woodfolk died seized . . .

LAST WILL OF WILLIAM WOODFOLK.

I, William Woodfolk of the County of Jackson and State of Tennessee, make and publish this my last Will and testament. I wish all my just debts to be first paid. In consideration of the fact that my son Austin's family is rich and he in his lifetime was largely advanced in lands and promised to help his sisters, which he did not do, I desire that neither his widow nor children should have any share of my estate at my death. But that the same shall be divided among my children and grandchildren as follows. I desire and so direct that all my property, Real and personal, money and effects, be divided into four equal parts or shares, and that my son William W. Woodfolk have one share, my daughter Eliza Miller have one share and that my grandchildren Sam'l Lyon, Wade Lyon and Elizabeth, children of my daughter Patsy Lyon, have one share, and that my grandchildren Austin Elrod, Sam'l Elrod, James Elrod, Mary Jane and Sarah Jane, children of my daughter Sarah K. Barr, have one share and that no part of my estate is to go to my sons in law James Lyon and Benjamin Barr. But whatever share they would have been entitled to in case they had not been excluded is to go to such children of their respective wives as above mentioned. In the word children of my late son Austin's is excluded al his children as well as those born in wedlock and those not born in wedlock, and which he has caused to be made legatees. It is my will and I direct that my Executor have my body buried decently in the burying ground of my son William W. Woodfolk near Nashville and that he cause to be removed and buried in said burying ground the remains of my first wife Sarah and daughter Sylva, who were interred on my premises in Jackson Co. And that suitable monuments at the discretion of my Executor be placed on the remains of myself, my said wife and daughter.

I nominate and appoint my son, William W. Woodfolk, Executor of this my last will and testament and that he execute said will without giving Security and that I request the County Court not to require Security of him as my Executor, this the 28th day of Oct. 1857. As I am blind I request my friend James T. Quarles to sign my name to this, my last Will and testament, and to witness the same.

William Woodfolk (his mark)

Witness: James T. Quarles.

A. M. Ferguson

I, William Woodfolk, make the following codicil to my last Will above mentioned. It is my will and I do direct that Latitia Barr and Patsy L. Barr, children of my daughter Sarah, share equally with their half brothers and sisters, children of my said daughter Sarah K. in the bequests I made to them in my said Will, this the 22nd April 1858.

William Woodfolk, seal.

Witness: J. T. Quarles.

Richard P. Brooks.

DECREE.

BAXTER SMITH VS. WILLIAM WOODFOLK & WIFE LIZZIE WOODFOLK.

Summary: found the marriage settlement to Lizzie to be a fraudulent device to foil his creditors, and that Lizzie had connived with him. The marriage settlement is declared null and void. $9569.86 found owing to Baxter Smith. The lands of William Woodfolk are attached for this debt, also all rents from the lands and also any lands or funds recovered by Wm. Woodfolk from other suits are attached. -bp.

THE SEPARATE ANSWER OF WM. W. WOODFOLK.

31 Jan. 1870, Davidson Co. TN.

Summary: within this statement, he says that because of the Civil War, he was not able to move the bodies of the first wife of Wm. Woodfolk and their daughter Sylva, as directed in the Will of his father. He feels obligated to do this yet and wants the Court's permission to do so. -bp.

This respondent resides, and has resided for many years, in the City of Nashville.

TENNESSEE SUPREME COURT OF ERRORS AND APPEALS.

6 Dec. 1886.

Summary: in the case of W. W. Lyon et. als. vs. W. W. Woodfolk, et. als. no error was found. The deeds from Miller & Barr to Quarles and from Quarles to Buist & wife are declared void. -bp.

PETITON FOR ATTACHMENT ANCILLARY.

16 Oct. 1871.

. . . rented a portion of the lands belonging to the estate of William Woodfolk for the year 1871 to one Sanders Sisco [and his brother] Hubbard Sisco, the farm now occupied [by] them near Highland in Jackson Co.

Petitioner also rented a portion of said lands to one William Carter . . .

Summary: both parties have made only small crops on the land and are currently consuming them. He wants these crops attached before they are gone, and there is no way to obtain the rental money.

DECREE.

No date.

It further appeared that said Austin left the following children his heirs at law, to whom said one third interest descended as aforesaid, viz., Joseph Woodfolk, Austin Woodfolk, Louisiana L. Woodfolk wife of Henry B. Slack, and Sarah J. Woodfolk . . .

. . . John Marshall has died since the filing of the said Bill of Campbell, Marshall & McEwan, and that Eliza Marshall and John Marshall, minor children of the said John Marshall, dec'd, are his only heirs at law . . .

. . . William Woodfolk . . . departed this life about the 8th day of May 1859 . . .

The Court doth adjudge that by the said deed of 12 Oct. 1829 all right, title and interest of the said William Woodfolk in and to said 1500 acres of land passed to and vested in his said son Joseph B. Woodfolk . . .

And the death of the said Wade W. Lyon being at this present time suggested and admitted by consent, the said Original Bill is revived in the name of his children and heirs at law, viz., Lillie Lyon, Jane Lyon and Cosby Lyon and his widow Mary F. Lyon.

Orders that the lands be partitioned to the heirs. -bp.

DECREE.

No date.

The division of the William Woodfolk land. Summary:

Lot No. 1. 174 acres, valued at $1740 to Eliza A. Miller.

Lot No. 2. 187 acres, valued at $1309 to the children of Patsy Lyon, to wit, Wade W. Lyon and Elizabeth Rozell and B. L. Rozell, assignee of Samuel W. Lyon.

Lot No. 3. 141 acres, valued at $980 to William W. Woodfolk.

Lot No. 4. 158 acres, valued at $1264 to Austin W. Elrod, James Elrod, Mary E. Oats, Letitia A. Linsey & Martha L. Barr, children of Sarah K. Barr and to Isham S. Searcy. This share to Isham S. Searcy is not explained.

Eliza Miller is to pay the others in amounts to equalize their shares. -bp.

THE ANSWER OF M. B. YOUNG, GUARDIAN AD LITEM OF JOHN OATES, SAMUEL OATES, JAMES OATES AND DIXIE OATES.

2 Jan. 1877.

Note: this document has no further genealogical information, but the title is included as an abstraction because these people are presumably siblings, and, perhaps, children of the previously mentioned Oates? -bp.

Deposition taken: 20 March 1877.

DEPOSITION: SAMPSON W. MC CLELLAN.

Aged 33 years. One of the defendants in this suit.

At the time of Andrew McClellan's death, I was not old enough to know anything about the land . . .

/s/ S. W. McClellan

Depositions taken: 5 July 1876.

DEPOSITION: JAMES A. MORELAND.

. . . Henry Dyer and Abraham Dyer were sons of old man Abraham Dyer and as such inherited the whole tract from him. Abraham Dyer sold his interest to Wm. Woodfolk.

I lived with McClellan in 1849.

James A. Marlow (his mark)

DEPOSITION: W. N. DIXON.

Aged 50 years.

/s/ W. N. Dixon

DEPOSITION: R. P. BROOKS.

Aged 69 years.

They [Andrew McClelland and Wm. Woodfolk] are both dead. I don't know what time McClellan died, but he died before July 1852. Woodfolk died on 8 May 1859 or 1859.

I lived with Woodfolk a part of the year 1833, 1834, 1835 and 1836 . . .

/s/ R. P. Brooks

Deposition taken: 17 Feb. 1877 at Smith Co. TN.

DEPOSITION: THOMAS FISHER.

Aged 59 years.

I am a practical surveyor and have been for many years . . . I was Surveyor of Smith Co. about seven years, from 1849 to 1846 [sic].

/s/ Thos. Fisher

Depositions taken: 24, 25 & 26 July 1879.

DEPOSITION: J. C. SMITH.

Aged 64, one of the defendants.

I am one of the parties that purchased from S. W. McClelland. David Smith purchased with me. David Smith and myself made the purchase jointly. Said lands lie on the Cumberland River near the mouth of Salt Lick Creek in Jackson Co. . . 900 acres was the amount of land we purchased from McClelland.

Note: the nature of this dispute is that some of this supposed purchase is claimed by the Woodfolks. -bp.

DEPOSITION: M. L. GORE.

/s/ M. L. Gore

DEPOSITION: R. A. COX.

Aged 45 years.

I am a party to this suit because of my position as receiver in the cause . . .

/s/ R. A. Cox

DEPOSITION: CAPT. JOHN S. QUARLES.

/s/ John S. Quarles

DEED.

8 July 1835.

This indenture made this 8th day of July in the year of our Lord

1835 by and between Samuel M. Woodfolk of the County of Madison & State of Tennessee of the one part and Austin Woodfolk of the City of Baltimore in the State of Maryland of the other part, witnesseth that the said Samuel M. Woodfolk for and in consideration of the sum of $35,000 to him in hand well & truly paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained and by these presents doth bargain, grant & sell unto the said Austin Woodfolk, his heirs and assigns, the following described property both real and personal, to wit, his undivided interest in a tract of land of 287 acres, granted to said Samuel M., Joseph B., William W. and Austin Woodfolk, his interest being one fourth of said tract, the same lying in Madison County & State aforesaid, in the 10th district, first range and ninth section, including all improvements made or caused to be made by said Samuel M. upon said tract. Also 154 acres in the same district, range and section, conveyed to the said Samuel M. by William Brooks by his attorney in fact James Brown, including the tan yard situated upon said tract, all the leather, hides, & etc. which is now at said yard, together with all and every species and description of property attached to, belonging, or in any wise appertaining to the same; also his undivided interest, being one half in 640 acres of land granted to the said Samuel M. & said Austin Woodfolk; also 400 acres of land lying in the County of Madison & State of Tennessee in the 10th district, range one and section nine and bounded as follows, beginning at the northwest corner of Mathius Barrow's 640 acre tract and at the northeast corner of William Knight's 111 acre tract, thence west to his west boundary line of the original 640 acre tract granted to William Epsy by Grant No. 22644, the said 400 acres being a part, thence north to Thomas Campbell's southwest corner, on said line, being the locative part of said Epsy's 640 acres . . . Joshua Haskell's northwest corner . . . The said tract being the same conveyed by William Epsy to William B. Mills and by said William B. Mills to Samuel M. Woodfolk, also 258 7/100 acres in the 10th district, first range & ninth section, conveyed by Thomas J. Porter, executor of Joseph B. Porter, to said Samuel M. Woodfolk, also his undivided interest being one half in 350 acres granted by the State of Tennessee to Joseph B. Woodfolk by Grant No. 16436, dated 21st Dec. 1821, being in the 10th district in range two and three and section ten on the waters of Forked Deer river in Madison County, also all the interest which he and the said Samuel M. now has or may hereafter have as heir at law of Joseph B. Woodfolk, dec'd, to two tracts of land belonging to the estate of Joseph B. Woodfolk, one of which being the same conveyed by Jesse Kirby and the other conveyed by William Woodfolk, bearing date the 12th day of Oct. 1829, to take effect after the death of said William to the said Joseph B. Said two last mentioned tracts situated, lying and being on Salt Lick creek in Jackson Co. TN, with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise belonging or in any wise appertaining and all the right, estate, title and interest, claim & demurred whatever of him the said Samuel M. of and to the said land & premises, and every part and parcel thereof. To have and to hold the said land & premises above mentioned and every part and parcel thereof with the appurtenances unto the said Austin Woodfolk, his heirs and assigns to the only proper use and behoof of the said Austin, his heirs and assigns forever.

And also for the consideration aforesaid, the said Samuel M. Woodfolk hath bargained, sold, transferred and conveyed, and by these presents doth bargain, sell, transfer and convey unto the said Austin Woodfolk the following property, goods and chattels, viz., one negro man named John about 50 years of age, one negro woman named Mary about 50 years of age, one negro girl named Sophia about 16 years old, one negro boy named Henry about 12 years old, one negro woman named Betty about 26 years old, one negro girl named Catherine about 9 years old, one negro girl named Ellen about 5 years old, one negro boy named Ellick about 2 years old, one negro man named Fred about 27 years old, one negro woman named Prudy about 25 years old, one negro boy named Charles about 9 years old, one negro boy named Joe about 4 years old, one negro boy named David about 2 years old, one negro boy named Henry about 3 years old, one negro man named Jessee about 45 years old, one negro woman named Hanah about 35 years old, one negro boy named Allen about 15 years old, one negro girl named Diley about 14 years old, one negro boy named Jack about 11 years old, one negro girl named Adaline about 4 years old, one negro boy named Larkin about 18 months old, one negro man named Jerry about 35 years old, one negro woman named Jane about 30 years old, one negro girl named Harriet about 15 years old, one negro girl named Betsy about 14 years old, one negro girl named Minty about 2 years old, one negro girl named Margaret about 11 years old, one negro boy named Tom about 8 years old, one negro girl named Mary about 6 years old, one negro boy named Pus about 5 years old, one negro boy named Bob about 3 years old, one negro man named Tom about 30 years old, one negro woman named Hannah about 25 years old, one negro girl named Emaline about 9 years old, one negro boy named Frank about 6 years old, one negro boy named Nat about 4 years old, one negro man named Jim about 35 years old, one negro woman named Viny about 30 years old, one negro boy named Jim about 9 years old, one negro boy named John about 5 years old, one negro girl named Rosetta about 2 years old, one negro woman named Nelly about 27 years old, one negro girl named Ellen about 8 years old, one negro boy named Bill about 5 years old, one negro boy named Lewis about 7 months old, one negro woman named Edy about 50 years old, one negro man named Sam about 29 years old, one negro man named Elbin about 20 years old, one negro man named Harry about 31 years old, and one negro boy named Ned, about 12 years old. Also all the horses, cows, hogs and stock of every description, bacon, lard, corn, wheat, together with the crop of every description now growing upon the farm occupied by the said Samuel M. Woodfolk, all the household and kitchen furniture, including beds, bedsteads and furniture, china, silver spoons, & etc., farming utensils and all every kind and species of property attached to, belonging or in any wise appertaining to the dwelling house or farm, occupied by the said Samuel M. Woodfolk as aforesaid, which are hereby bonyfied delivered to the said Austin Woodfolk at and before the signing, sealing and delivering of this indenture. To have and to hold the before recited personal property from him, the said Samuel M., his heirs, executors, Administrators and assigns unto the said Austin, his heirs and etc. And the said Samuel M. for himself and his heirs the said property both real and personal and every part and parcel thereof against himself and his heirs and all and every other person whatever will warrant and forever defend to the end Austin, his heirs and assigns. In witness whereof the said Samuel M. Woodfolk has hereunto set his hand and seal the date above written, having signed the same after the interlineation of the words "to Samuel M." and also the words "bearing date the 12th day of October 1829." Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of:

James L. Lyon

Elisha Guton

Sam'l Kirby

s/s S. M. Woodfolk

Depositions taken: 18 March 1879.

DEPOSITION: JOHN S. QUARLES.

Aged 39 years.

/s/ John S. Quarles

DEPOSITION: J. B. ANDERSON.

Aged 47 years.

/s/ J. B. Anderson

THE SEPARATE ANSWER OF MARY F. LYON, WIDOW OF WADE W. LYON, dec'd, to a Bill of Complaint filed by Eliza H. Lyon, James Lyon and Mai Dytte Lyon by next friend William Anderson against her and William Woodfolk and Lizzie Woodfolk.

16 March 1885, Madison Co. TN

. . . it is true that complainants are minors and the only children and heirs at law of Wade W. Lyon, deceased. It is true that Wade W. Lyon died in Madison Co. in 1880.

Depositions taken: 18 July 1881.

DEPOSITION: GEORGE H. MORGAN.

Age 39.

/s/ Geo. H. Morgan

DEPOSITION: M. L. GORE.

/s/ M. L. Gore

DEPOSITION: R. A. COX.

/s/ R. A. Cox

RULES.

March Term 1880.

. . . James T. Quarles was the guardian ad litem and solr. of John Marshall & Eliza Marshall, minor heirs of John Marshall . . . since the last Term of this Court, said Quarles has died.

DEED.

30 Jan. 1843.

Summary: Abraham Dyer of Jackson Co. TN sells to Andrew McClellan of Jackson Co. TN, for $800, "a certain tract of land that I purchased of James W. Smith & others, on the north bank of Cumberland River on both sides of Salt Lick creek" in Jackson Co. TN. Bounded . . . Lieutenant Nathaniel Williams corner . . . 132 1/2 acres.

Abraham Dyer (his mark)

Deposition taken: 26 Jan. 1886.

DEPOSITION: JAMES T. ANDERSON.

/s/ J. T. Anderson

Deposition taken.

DEPOSITION: G. W. VEATCH.

75 years old.

I have lived in that District [where the Wm. Woodfolk land is] since 1840.

/s/ G. W. Veatch

DEED.

15 Nov. 1869.

Summary: S. W. McClellan and Oval Pirkey and wife Sallie J. Pirkey sell to John C. Smith and David Smith, for $9000, 900 acres of land in District No. 3 of Jackson Co. TN, on Cumberland River and Salt Lick Creek.

Sallie J. Pirkey privately examined in Lewis Co. MO as to whether she agreed to this sale.

Note: new folder, but a continuation of the multiple Woodfolk suits. -bp.

Deposition taken: 6 & 7 Feb. 1879.

DEPOSITION: S. A. SMITH.

/s/ S. A. Smith

DEPOSITION: A. M. FURGERSON.

/s/ A. M. Ferguson

DEPOSITION: J. A. PRUETT.

Aged 54 years.

I live in the same district and part of the tract adjoins the tract that I purchased and now own. I purchased about 500 acres. In 1877 I owned about 300 acres. My own 300 acres lay up the river from the said land with Foxes and Myers tract between on the river. My land joins Smith's in the hills.

/s/ J. A. Pruett

DEPOSITION: WILLIAM S. JOHNSON.

48 years old.

I live in the 11th Civil District of Jackson Co. TN.

I have about 200 acres of river land and about 80 acres of hill lands.

I think I purchased my land in the year 1869. The 280 acres that I now own . . .

/s/ W. S. Johnson

Deposition taken: 5 July 1876.

DEPOSITION: JONATHAN C. HALEY.

/s/ J. C. Haley

Deposition taken: 25 June 1884.

DEPOSITION: S. A. SMITH.

Cam Smith's portion lies next to Myers' and Pruitt's and David Smith's next to Woodfolk's. I now own the David Smith portion and occupy it myself.

Cam Smith has been dealing some in land. He has bought and sold land several times since I can remember. I am 48 years old.

Quest. Are you the executor of the will of your father, David Smith?

Ans. I am.

/s/ S. A. Smith

RENTS OF THE WILLIAM WOODFOLK LANDS.

1869.

Rented the homeplace of 55 acres to J. T. Buchhannon.

Rented 45 acres to W. N. Dixon.

Rented to Alexander Flatt, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented a cabin and 4 acres to Carolina Dixon.

Rented 15 acres to James P. Howell.

Rented 20 acres to John Lottery.

Rented to John G. Howell, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented 45 acres and the cabins known as the Negro Quarter to Joe Woodfolk & two others of the Woodfolk colored men.

Rented 30 acres to J. H. White.

Rented 35 acres to Thomas Brown.

Rented a cabin and a small place to Solomon Nelson.

Rented a small portion of land to Laton Wheeler.

Rented a cabin and a small portion of land to Don D. Pate.

Rented to B. G. Moreland, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to J. A. Moreland, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented a cabin and a small portion of land to William Thomas and Lon Thomas.

Rented a cabin and a small portion of land to George Kemp.

Rented the water privilege of the mill and the mill house and a small piece of land to Guss Woodfolk.

Rented a cabin and a small portion of land to France Morgan.

Rented the Lee place on Wartrace creek to Jessie Night.

Rented the Henry Jones place to Milton Lee.

Rented a small portion of land to Thomas Dixon.

Rented a cabin to Nancy Johnson.

1870.

Note: most of these say, "the place formerly occupied by him." -bp.

Rented the Woodfolk home place to J. T. Buckhanon.

Rented the Negro Quarter place to Joe Woodfolk and two other colored men.

Rented to Thomas Brown, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to J. H. White, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to W. N. Dixon, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to W. G. Dixon, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to A. S. Woodfolk, colored, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented the Lee place to Sanders Sisco.

Rented to T. B. Dixon, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to John Lottery, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to Francis Morgan, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to James P. Howell, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to Don D. Pate, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to James A. Moreland, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to Carolina Dixon, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to Laton Wheeler, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to Alex Flatt, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to B. G. Moreland, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented a cabin to Nancy Johnson.

Rented to Joe Nelson, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to Jessie Kemp, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented the Henry Jones place to Geo. McCarter and Lee.

Rented the George Kemp place to James Sercey.

Rented to William Thomas and Lon Thomas, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to John G. Howell, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to Solomon Nelson, doesn't say how many acres.

1871.

Rented the Woodfolk homeplace to J. T. Buckhannon.

Rented to W. N. Dixon, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to W. G. Dixon, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to L. S. Dixon, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented the Negro Quarter to Wm. Carter and Geo. Floyd.

Rented to J. H. White, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to Thomas Brown, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to Solomon Nelson, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented a small place to Jessie Sloan.

Rented to John G. Howell, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to James P. Howell, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to Warren Haley, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to Charles Ramsey, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to Benjamin Witcher, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to John Lottery, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to Jessie Kemp, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to William Thomas and brother, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to James Sercey, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to Thomas Dixon, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to B. G. Moreland, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to John W. Carter, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to Sanders Sisco, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to James Moreland, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to Don D. Pate, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented a small place to Thomas Martin.

Rented to Alex Flatt, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented to Carolina Dixon, doesn't say how many acres.

Rented a cabin to Nancy Johnson.

Rented a cabin to Geo. McCarter.

Rented a cabin to Wm. Fox and sons.

Rented a cabin and a small place to Samuel C. Harris.

Note: George Floyd before gathering time ran off from the country after having fed away and made away with his crop.

1872.

Rented 25 acres to Sanders Sisco.

Rented 20 acres to Jessie Kemp.

Rented 18 acres to W. R. Thomas.

Rented 15 acres to James Sersey.

Rented 15 acres to J. P. Howell.

Rented 3 acres to R. B. Hearing.

Rented 15 acres to Jessie Sloan.

Rented 30 acres to Wm. Hearing.

Rented 25 acres to L. S. Dixon.

Rented 20 acres to John Lottery.

Rented 20 acres to J. G. Howell.

Rented 10 acres to Don D. Pate.

Rented 15 acres to W. W. Haley.

Rented 15 acres to W. G. Dixon.

Rented 14 acres to Wesley Carter.

Rented 37 acres to J. H. White

Rented 10 acres to Charles Ramsey.

Rented 5 acres to R. H. Hearing.

Rented 35 acres to Thomas Brown.

Rented 8 acres to Taylor Nelson.

Rented 15 acres to B. G. Moreland.

Rented 14 acres to Thos. Dixon.

Rented 18 acres to W. N. Dixon.

Rented 4 acres to W. N. Dixon.

Rented 10 acres to Geo. McCarter.

Rented 3 acres to Polk Roberts.

Rented 18 acres to M. G. Scarlett.

Rented 65 acres to Wm. Fox, Dyarnett & Dossan.

Rented 15 acres to B. F. Witcher.

Rented 60 acres to J. T. Buckhanon.

Rented 18 acres to William Collins.

Rented 3 acres to S. C. Harris.

Rented 3 acres to W. N. Dixon.

Rented 13 acres to Francis Morgan.

Rented 1 acres to Thos. Martin.

Rented 1 cabin to Nancy Johnson.

Deposition taken: 23 Feb. 1880.

DEPOSITION: JESSIE WOODFOLK.

Aged about 80 years.

I was acquainted with Wm. Woodfolk, deceased, in his lifetime. I was his body servant. He raised me almost from infancy. I lived with him and served him until his death.

I was raised with Joseph B. Woodfolk and knew him until his death.

I traveled with Wm. Woodfolk a great deal and waited on him.

Jessee Woodfolk (his mark)

ANSWER OF SAMPSON W. MC CLELLAN, OVAL PERKEY & HIS WIFE SALLIE PERKEY.

No date.

Respondents admit it to be true that said Andrew McClellan died several years ago and that respondents Sampson W. McClellan and Sally Perkey, wife of said Oval Perkey, are his only children and heirs at law.

. . . they have lately sold a tract of said lands to their co-defendants David Smith and John C., alias Cam, Smith . . .

THE BILL OF COMPLAINT OF C. T. BATES and his wife Pattie L. Bates, Mary L. Stephens, Eliza Blount Stephens, who sues by her regular Guardian Mary L. Stephens, all citizens of Madison Co. TN, Letitia Lindsley and her husband L. T. Lindsley of the State of Colorado and James Elrod of Madison Co. TN against Edmond W. Wilkins, a citizen of the State of North Carolina, Ellen E. Lewis and her husband Benjamin Lewis, Henry L. Wilkins, Louisa G. Wilkins, Wm. W. Wilkins, all citizens of the State of Virginia, Jno. L. Wilkins of the State of Ohio, Lela G. Vanwyck and her husband Aug Vanwyck of the State of New York, James Oates, Sallie Oates and Mary Eliza Oates, minors and have no regular Guardian, of the Holly Grove, Arkansas residence, William Woodfolk of Jackson Co. TN, M. J. Lyon, widow of Samuel Lyon, deceased, Sallie C. Lyon and Pattie G. Lyon, minors without general Guardian, M. F. Lyon, widow of Wade W. Lyon, deceased, and Lillie Lyon, Jane Lyon and Cosby Lyon, his children and minors without general Guardian of Madison Co. TN.

27 Dec. 1883.

Note: this document contains a good, concise, legible summary of the Woodfolk suits, for those that are interested. -bp.

Complainants will further show that Eliza A. Miller has died since said partition [of the Wm. Woodfolk lands], having first made and published her last will and testament, by which she bequeathed the entire boundary of land partitioned to her aforesaid, to complainants Mary L. Stephens and Eliza Blount Stephens . . .

C. T. Bates is the absolute owner by purchase of three undivided fifths of that portion of said tract of land partitioned to the Barr & Elrod heirs as aforesaid and that complainant Pattie L. Bates, wife of the said C. T. Bates, is the owner of one fifth thereof, being one of the original devisees under the will of Wm. Woodfolk, deceased, and that defendants James Oates, Sallie Oates, and Mary E. Oates are the owners of the other one fifth thereof, being heirs of one of the original devisees of Wm. Woodfolk, deceased.

Complainants Bates and wife and said Oates children are therefore the owners in fee of all that portion of said boundary of land partitioned to the Barr & Elrod heirs as aforesaid . . .

. . . James A. Sedden and others filed in the Chancery Court of Davidson Co. TN some kind of Bill or Attachment proceeding . . . against the said W. W. Woodfolk and others and attached the above described boundary of land . . .

. . . a final determination in the Supreme Court of Tennessee . . . a Decree rendered ordering the sale of the said lands to satisfy the debts of said W. W. Woodfolk.

. . . sold said land to the highest bidder where Benjamin Lewis became the purchaser for and on behalf of himself and the other defendants herein mentioned except the Oates, Wm. Woodfolk and the Lyon's defendants . . .

Simpson's Island, a certain island in the Cumberland River, was also sold to these same buyers. This island was also deemed not to be the property of W. W. Woodfolk. -bp.

Deposition taken: 14 July 1888 at Nashville.

DEPOSITION: JESSE ELY.

I am and have been for twenty years past engaged in merchandising in Nashville TN.

[Wm] Woodfolk lives on the Hampkins (?) Rd. south of Columbia.

/s/ Jesse Ely

DEPOSITION: JNO. G. HOUSTON.

I have been in the Queen's Ware business about 35 years in the City of Nashville.

/s/ John G. Houston

DEPOSITION: JOHN M. GANT.

I am a lawyer. Have been practicing twenty years.

. . . W. W. Woodfolk and his son Wm. Woodfolk . . .

/s/ John M. Gant

DEPOSITION: JAS. L. RICE.

I am an attorney at law and have practiced in Nashville over 20 years.

I, with my [unreadable] Judge Wm. F. Cooper and my late partner Mayor J. C. Thompson, instituted the suits of B. A. Servis, Administrator of W. W. Wilkins vs. W. W. Woodfolk, Jas. M. Morson vs. W. W. Woodfolk and James A. Seddon vs. W. W. Woodfolk in 1866 for very large amounts, aggregating over one hundred thousand dollars as I remember, with interest since 1860 at eight or ten per cent--under a [unreadable] contract. In 1873 we obtained Judgements in these suits in the Supreme Court for debts, interest and costs. During the process and perhaps before the institution of these suits, W. W. Woodfolk had conveyed in one way and another all of his visible property to his son William Woodfolk. Under that condition of affairs we filed a bill in Chancery to remove clouds from the title, etc. in order to subject the property conveyed to his son William Woodfolk . . .

The suit was vigorously contested over every inch of the ground for ten years. We finally succeeded in March 1883 and subjected all or nearly all of the property in controversy to sale thereafter.

/s/ J. L. Rice

Deposition taken: 15 June 1888 at Nashville TN.

DEPOSITION: J. A. HITCHCOCK.

Age 27. Residence 852 [?] High at Nashville. For the last two years I have been connected with my father in the hardware business, agricultural implements and seeds, etc. and before that I was with Pierce [?] & Hitchcock--same kind of business.

/s/ J. A. Hitchcock

REPORT OF SALE.

4 April 1876.

Summary: sold, as the property of Eliza Miller, a 640 acre tract of land in Smith Co. TN of which Wm. Woodfolk died seized and possessed, known as the Glover tract. Purchased by James T. Quarles for $1.00.

Deposition taken: 24 & 25 May 1888.

DEPOSITION: JOHN S. QUARLES.

I reside in Jackson Co. TN.

/s/ Jno. S. Quarles

DEPOSITION: JO WEST.

I live in Jackson Co. TN. I have known defendant Wm. Woodfolk since the year 1870, about 18 years. I used to be a partner with him in getting out logs.

/s/ J. T. West

Deposition taken: 29 Dec. 1888 at Franklin TN.

DEPOSITION: DAVID CAMPBELL.

Was Counsel for Wm. Woodfolk in several lawsuits.

Note: he is called Judge Campbell by some other witnesses. -bp.

/s/ D. Campbell

Note: this is really a continuation of the previous folders and cases. -bp.

Depositions taken: no date.

DEPOSITION: T. B. DIXON.

/s/ T. B. Dixon

DEPOSITION: WM. N. DIXON.

/s/ W. N. Dixon

Depositions taken: 1 March 1887 at Columbia, Maury Co. TN.

DEPOSITION: WM. WOODFOLK.

[I] am brother-in-law to Dr. J. R. Buist. His wife is my sister. Am temporarily residing in Maury Co. TN. I reside in Jackson Co.

After the war, between the years 1866 and 1867, the Glover tract of land situated in Smith County was partitioned among the heirs and devisees of Maj. Wm. Woodfolk, deceased, of Jackson Co., under his will. My father, W. W. Woodfolk, was one of his heirs.

Judge Quarles . . .

/s/ W. Woodfolk

DEPOSITION: MRS. LAURA BUIST.

[I reside] near Columbia TN. I am a daughter of W. W. Woodfolk, who is now dead.

/s/ Laura W. Buist

DEPOSITION: J. R. BUIST.

I reside in Maury Co.

. . . Gen. W. W. Woodfolk . . .

/s/ J. R. Buist

Deposition taken: 14 & 15 May 1888.

DEPOSITION: JOHN S. QUARLES.

Quest. Are you or not a son of J. T. Quarles, and his executor?

Ans. I am.

Quest. When did your father die?

Ans. In year 1879, July.

/s/ Jno. S. Quarles

Deposition taken: 21 through 25 Feb. 1887.

DEPOSITION: M. G. BUTLER.

/s/ M. G. Butler

Depositions taken: March 1887.

DEPOSITION: GID. H. LOWE.

/s/ Gid. H. Lowe

DEPOSITION: JOHN S. QUARLES.

/s/ Jno. S. Quarles

Depositions taken: 11 & 12 March 1880.

DEPOSITION: R. P. BROOKS.

I am 74 years old, live in Jackson Co. near Gainesboro, have resided here ever since the year 1828 if I am not mistaken, except about six years. I was acquainted with Wm. Woodfolk . . . he was mother's brother.

I was present when he [Wm. Woodfolk] made his will. I am a witness to the same.

I asked him [Maj. Wm. Woodfolk] how it was that he had made the deed to Joe. He told me that he had married the widow Mumferd and that she had two daughters. Those daughters married and brought suit against him and recovered a large Judgement and compromised at about $15,000 (appealed afterwards) and that he was afraid he would be sold out and made this conveyance of the home place to save it and that he afterwards compromised this debt.

Quest. How many children did old man William Woodfolk have and give their names.

Ans. He had seven children, four boys and three girls. Austin, Sam, William W. and Joe B. and the girls Martha D., Sallie and Eliza A. Joe was the youngest and Austin the oldest. He [Wm. Woodfolk] give his children $5000 each when they left him, he said, in money and property.

Quest. How old is Wm. Wade Woodfolk . . . ?

Ans. The Bible says he was born in 1796.

/s/ R. P. Brooks

Deposition taken: 3 June 1887.

DEPOSITION: M. L. GORE.

/s/ M. L. Gore

Deposition taken: no date, probably Jan. or Feb. 1889.

DEPOSITION: M. G. BUTLER.

I am a practicing solicitor.

It will appear from the records of the Court in that litigation that Wm. Woodfolk owned the land involved, and made a will by which he conveyed his entire landed estate to Mrs. Miller, the children of Mrs. Barr, the children of Mrs. Lyon and W. W. Woodfolk, thereby disinheriting Mrs. Barr, Mrs. Lyon and Austin Woodfolk.

William Woodfolk in his lifetime had two other sons, to wit, Jo B. and Samuel, who died before he did. It was contended that Wm. Woodfolk, before making his will, conveyed 1500 acres of his land to his son J. B., who died without issue or will, therefore his said 1500 acres descended to his brothers and sisters. Sam in his lifetime sold his interest in his brother's estate to Austin Woodfolk and his heirs sold their father's and Sam's interest to Quarles and Wm. Woodfolk. W. W. Woodfolk sold to Campbell McEwing & Marshal. Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Barr sold their interest to Quarles and he to Buist & wife.

DEED.

23 Oct. 1828.

This indenture made this 23rd day of Oct. in the year of our Lord 1828 between David Dickenson, Frank N. W. Burton, Isaac Hilliard and Mary Moore, his wife, James Maney and Sally H., his wife, William Maney and Martha A., his wife, Matthias B. Murfree, James Maney, William Maney, Thomas Maney, trustees, guardians to the heirs of William H. Murfree, deceased, being the heirs at law and legal representatives of Hardy Murfree, deceased, all of the State of Tennessee of the one part and William Woodfolk of the County of Jackson and State aforesaid of the other part, Witnesseth that whereas the said Hardy Murfree, deceased, entered into an agreement on the 10th day of Oct. 1808 with William Woodfolk in the words and figures (to wit) Received of Maj. William Woodfolk $250 which is to be on account of a tract of land I hold a deed from Selby Harney, the said Woodfolk and myself is to look at the land and if we don't agree on the price of the land then and in that case we choose two respectable disinterested men to value the land and should they not agree on the price then they choose the third man to value with them and say what the land is worth say the land. [sic.] Harney's deed to H. Murfree joins Pleasant Kirby and includes Eph. Thos.' improvement. Oct. 10th 1808. We have interchangeably set our hands and seal.

s/s Wm. Woodfolk

s/s H. Murfree

Now we, the said heirs of the first part, etc. for and in consideration of the premises aforesaid hath and by these presents doth bargain, sell and convey unto the said William Woodfolk a certain tract or parcel of land situate, being and lying on Salt lick on Wartrace Creek on the North side of Cumberland river in the County of Jackson and State of Tennessee, containing by estimation 500 acres, be the same more or less, being the residue of said tract 1440 acres deeded to Hardy Murfree which will more fully appear by reference to said deed after deducting the 640 acres of Pleasant Kirby and other pieces which is lost by older and better claims and not here intended to be conveyed, which said deed from Selby Harney to Hardy Murfree is dated the 13th day of Oct. 1791 and bounded, to wit, Beginning at a large Sugartree a corner of said Harney's tract 7200 acres, running along the said line a North course 792 poles then East 291 poles, thence West 792 poles to the said Harney's line, thence West with his line 291 poles to the beginning.

s/s David Dickenson, Fr. N. W. Barton, James Maney, Sally H. Maney, M. B. Murfree, M. B. Murfree executor of Wm. H. Murfree, deceased, James Maney executor of W. H. Murfree, deceased, Isaac Hilliard, Mary H. Hilliard, W. Maney, Martha A. Maney, Th. Maney executor of W. H. Maney, & W. Maney, executor of W. H. Maney, deceased.

Witnesses: Russel Dance, J. C. Mitchell, Wm. D. Baine, Jas. C. Hill, Ezekial Baxter & J. Siscomb.

DEED.

12 Oct. 1829.

Summary: William Woodfolk of Jackson Co. TN gives to James S. Lyon and Martha D. Lyon, his wife, of Madison Co. TN, because of the natural love and affection that he has for his daughter, Martha D. Lyon, etc., a certain undivided interest or part that Joseph B. Woodfolk had in and to a 2074 acre tract of land granted to Austin, Samuel, William and J. B. Woodfolk by Grant No. 16434, in Madison County on the South fork of Fork Deer River, which part will amount to about 414 acres, and which part J. B. Woodfolk conveyed to Wm. Woodfolk. -bp

Deposition taken: 16 July 1877.

DEPOSITION: M. L. GORE.

About 37 years old.

/s/ M. L. Gore

Depositions taken: 18 July 1877.

DEPOSITION: WM. N. DIXON.

Quest. State whether or not you lived on the Wm. Woodfolk estate during all the time R. A. Cox rented out and attended to the same . . .

Ans. I did live there all the time that Cox rented said land.

The land was in bad condition. A part of it had been run in corn[?] until it would make but little. A portion of it would hardly make the rent. The fencing was very poor. Nearly all bad except the farm on which I live. Much of the old land had been turned out. He had a heap of the land fenced up and the parties fencing the same were to have it rent free the first year. I regarded that some advantage to the estate. This done from year to year in the time Cox controlled said land. I heard some contracts made for improvements. It was part of the contract that certain repairs were to be made and then give so much. Generally there was about one third of the rents off for the repairs. There was several such contracts made. It was necessary that this should be done. While Cox was renting it, one place fenced up was the Ramsey place, about twelve acres, Witcher place fifteen acres, Ruff Herring about six acres, Warren Haily about seventeen acres, Jim Mooreland six or seven acres, Don Pate five or six acres, Thomas Martin four acres, John Howell ten acres, Pleas Howell twenty acres, William Dixon nine acres, Thom Dixon seven acres, Beverly Mooreland four acres, Laton McCormack (or Wheeler) four acres; Jerry Brown built a cabin and took in about four acres of land. The Foxes and Dyarnett took in about forty acres, Tom Brown about seven acres cleared and fenced, Huse White, two acres cleared and fenced. There was a great deal of grubbing and fence cutting that had to be done on the land that was taken in by all the parties named. I think all the parties I have mentioned, except Esq. Herring, built cabins and stables and some of them tobacco barns on said lands while Capt. R. A. Cox was managing said business.

Dixon is then asked to explain the rents that were uncollected. -bp.

Gus Wood did not pay anything. Nothing could be made out of him for the mill. Thomas Brown's rent was about $125. His tobacco paid, as I recollect, $76.50. The remainder could not be made. I do not think J. H. White made any crop worth anything. I think Capt. Cox took of said White a horse at $125.00 which was worth about $75.00. I think this was the best arrangement that Capt. Cox could have made with White, as he had no means of forcing him to pay his rent. Capt. Cox rented to the Woodfolk negroes for $180.00. He took their tobacco on the rent debt. It turned out about $142.00. This is all that could be collected on that debt. As to the rent due from J. H. Mooreland, Francis Morgan, Geo. Kemp & Thomas Dixon & John G. Howell, there was a loss on each one for the year 1869 and a total on some of them. They made nothing out of which to make the rent. Capt. Cox got their tobacco but none of them made enough to pay their own rent. I think the Jim Mooreland rent was all lost. Same as to Geo. Kemp. I cannot state amount of loss on the others.

I think it was March of 1869 that the land was rented. I do not think he could at that time of the year get any better renters than these on the lands. The places were so small that good renters would not want them. The places were scattered and could not be arranged to suit good renters.

The Woodfolk negroes were ran off by the ["Ku Klux" lined through and "disguised men" written over -bp.] in Sept. 1870-left their crops of tobacco in the field. Gus left nothing. The stock ate up their little patches of corn and Cox had the tobacco taken care of as best he could. I do not think it was worth as much as $80.00. The balance of the rent was a clear loss and could not be made at all. W. G. Dixon made a very poor crop. He was sick in crop time. He put in pledge a mare and colt to pay the rent and the colt died and Dixon disposed of the mare and I think nothing at all was paid that year. Nancy Johnson made no crop and nothing could be made off of her. B. G. Mooreland paid $16.00 and nothing more could be collected out of him. J. A. Mooreland made nothing and paid nothing. He occupied a place that no other person would rent and nothing could be collected off of him. Thomas Brown's tobacco paid about $65.00 or $66.00 and nothing more could be made out of him. Of Alex Flatt's rent, $15.00 was left off to be settled on a land claim that he had bid on against the Woodfolk heirs. Buchanan made 3000 rails or more and they were needed and worth two [?] per hundred. The Floyd rent was lost [1871] all but about three and a half barrels of corn. He ran away from the country and drove his stock off and had disposed of his corn in some way, leaving a little around the outside of the field . . . I know nothing about the Alex Flatt rent for the year 1871. John G. Howell made a poor crop. I do not know how much was collected. I don't know about Solomon Nelson. Wm. G. Dixon was sick and did not make much that year. We got a little tobacco. I don't recollect how much. F. M. Morgan made a poor crop. We got 200 pounds of tobacco from him, or about that, and nothing more could be got from him.

Sam Harris never made a crop out of which the rent could be collected.

/s/ W. N. Dixon

DEPOSITION: WM. S. JOHNSON.

/s/ W. S. Johnson

DEPOSITION: J. W. SMALLWOOD.

I was sheriff of Jackson Co. during the years mentioned [1869, 1870, 1871 & 1872].

/s/ J. W. Smallwood

DEPOSITION: M. G. BUTLER.

I am the surviving co-partner of the late firm of Butler & Dewitt. My partner A. W. Dewitt died, as I now remember, 17th Jan. 1876.

. . . my relationship with said Dewitt, being a son-in-law . . .

/s/ M. G. Butler

Deposition taken: 4 March 1880.

DEPOSITION: JAMES KIRBY.

Maj. Woodfolk lived at that time on Salt Lick creek at the same place he afterwards died and I lived there on the creek where I had been raised.

. . . my brother Jesse . . .

. . . the old man [Wm. Woodfolk] remarked to my brother "poor Jo is dead. He was coming back to this country to settle himself. I told him if he would come back here and quit his negro trading I would give him my home place." . . . he [Joe] had gone back to Baltimore to settle up his business . . .

I heard him say to my mother as he started on his way to Baltimore, "Aunt Betsy, I am coming back to live with you again . . ."

/s/ J. G. Kirby

DEED.

5 Feb. 1843.

Summary: William Woodfolk of Jackson Co. TN bought from Henry Dyer, for $180, 18 acres, "all the interest I have in a tract of land formerly owned by Abraham Dyer, my father, deceased, also all the right I have in my sister Manersea Dyer, deceased. . .". Henry Dyer is heir at law of these two people. -bp.

s/s Henry Dyer

LAND GRANT NO. 9629.

21 June 1848.

Know ye, that in consideration of Entry No. 2544 . . . entered on the 6th day of Nov. 1837 . . . There is Granted by the said State of Tennessee unto William Woodfolk a certain tract or parcel of land containing 100 acres by survey bearing date the fourth day of June 1847, lying in Jackson County on the North side of Cumberland River on the waters of Finn's branch in District No. 3 . . . corner of Nathan Kent's 100 acre tract . . . to or on the Smith County line . . . including 130 acres of land & including 30 acres of prior legal rights.

[Actually a continuation of the previous folders. -bp.]

Depositions taken: 28 Sept. 1881.

DEPOSITION: H. H. DILLARD.

I am a practicing attorney of this Court and have been for about twenty years.

/s/ H. H. Dillard

DEPOSITION: J. M. MORGAN.

Age 49 years.

/s/ J. M. Morgan

DEPOSITION: WM. B. RODDY.

I am a practicing attorney and have been practicing at this Bar for some eight years.

/s/ W. B. Roddy

DEPOSITION: JOHN B. JORDAN.

I have been practicing law about seven years.

/s/ John B. Jordan

Deposition taken: 25 Sept. 1885 in Madison Co. TN.

DEPOSITION: MARY F. LYON.

I am one of the defendants [in this case].

I was the wife of W. W. Lyon.

My husband died the 3rd of April 1880.

Wm. Woodfolk was an own cousin of W. W. Lyon.

/s/ M. F. Lyon

Depositions taken: 25 Sept. 1885.

DEPOSITION: JAMES ELROD.

Quest. What relation, if any, are you to defendant Wm. Woodfolk?

Ans. First cousin.

. . . her [M. F. Lyon's] mother-in-law, Martha Lyon . . .

/s/ Jas. Elrod

DEPOSITION: C. T. BATES.

[I] am in the general Hardware business at Jackson TN.

/s/ C. T. Bates

LANDS OF WM. WOODFOLK.

Note: this is the original document. It is a list, as written. I did not summarize it. -bp.

Exhibit D.

Copy of Grant to Wm. Woodfolk No. 5124 dated 4 Nov. 1813--240 acres.

Exhibit E.

Deed from Joel Holliday dated Jan. 6, 1827 for 138 acres, the northern part of 274 tract granted to James & George Winchester & convey[ed] by Jas. Winchester to Sampson Williams and by Williams to said Holliday & relinquishment [?] by Philip Myers.

Exhibit G.

Grant to Wm. Woodfolk No. 6958 dated 27 July 1839 for 100 acres, Sarah Keach tract, waters of Salt Lick.

Exhibit I.

Deed from R. P. Brooks, special warranty dated April 20, 1858-two tracts, District No. 3.

Exhibit J.

Grant from Wm. Woodfolk No. 13646, dated 5 July 1819 for 19 38/160 acres.

Exhibit K.

Granted to Wm. Woodfolk by Grant No. 9629 dated 21 June 1848 on Finn branch for 600 acres.

Exhibit H.

Grant No. 6960 to Wm. Woodfolk, 170 [acres], the Burton tract, dated 28 July 1839.

Exhibit F.

Grant to William Woodfolk No. 1183 dated 5 May 1829 for 650 acres, Finn's branch.

Exhibit L.

Deed from Reuben Graves to Rice Graves, 185 acres (convey by Rice Graves to Wm. Woodfolk).

Exhibit M.

Deed from John & Jubah Burton to Wm. Woodfolk, 7 Oct. 1836, for 197 1/2 acres.

Exhibit O.

Deed from Pleasant Kirby's heirs to Wm. Woodfolk dated 15 Nov. 1838 for 49 acres.

Exhibit Q.

Murfree to Woodfolk for 1440 acres.

Exhibit R.

Grant No. 1985 dated 13 Aug. 1825 for 75 acres.

Exhibit N.

Deed from Sarah Many, W. Many & Martha Many to Wm. Woodfolk dated 25 Feb. 1829 for 1536 acres.

Exhibit S.

Grant No. 1984 to Wm. Woodfolk for 50 acres dated 13 Aug. 1825.

Exhibit P.

Copy of Grant No. 44 to Lt. Nathaniel Williams for 2560 acres from North Carolina.

DEED.

20 June 1828.

Summary: Rice Graves sells to Wm. Woodfolk, for $400, 185 acres.

THE BILL OF COMPLAINT OF R. A. COX, RECEIVER, AGAINST BENTON KEMP & GEORGE KEMP.

9 Dec. 1871.

Summary: R. A. Cox, acting as Receiver, rented a portion of the land of Wm. Woodfolk, deceased, to the defendants for the years 1869, 1870 & 1871. These rents have not been paid and Cox asks for attachment of their crops. -bp.

DEED.

6 Aug. 1830.

Summary: Rice Graves of the County of Wilson sells for $200, to William Woodfolk of Jackson Co., a parcel of land in Jackson Co. on the North side of Cumberland River on the waters of Wartrace creek . . . bounded . . . Reuben Graves 250 acre tract on which said Rice Graves formerly lived . . . containing about 185 acres.

/s/ Rice Graves

Witnesses: Charles Graves & W. W. Woodfolk

THE BILL OF COMPLAINT OF WILLIAM WOODFOLK of Jackson Co. TN against Elzy Lee, also of Jackson Co. TN & Jesse Lee of Macon Co. TN & William L. Parrott of Baltimore, Maryland.

No date.

. . . Elzy Lee, a sister of said Parrott . . .

. . . said Elzy . . . her husband, Jesse Lee . . .

. . . said Jesse was an improvident and dissipated man, that he and his said wife Elzy have been for many years separated and now live apart but have not been divorced.

Depositions taken: no date. Probably 1858.

DEPOSITION: ALEXANDER FLAT.

Age 31 years.

I have known Mrs. Lee about eleven years.

She has lived on this land all the time during my acquaintance with her.

I lived on said land near three years and cultivated the land under her. I made a crop with Mrs. Lee's boys three years.

I don't know, only as I heard her sons John Lee and Alexander Lee speak about their mother [Eliza Lee].

/s/ Alexander Flatt

DEPOSITION: JOEL RICHARDSON.

41 years old.

I have know Elzy Lee 18 or 20 years.

She has lived on the place where she now lives ever since I have known her except a part of one year. She moved off of this place and lived on Salt Lick creek a part of one year.

I am her [Elza Lee's] son-in-law . . .

/s/ Joel Richardson

DEPOSITION: JOSEPH LOWE [?]

52 years old.

I was living at Maj. Woodfolk's . . . [about 1828].

DEED.

12 Oct. 1829.

Summary: Joseph B. Woodfolk conveys to William Woodfolk 414 acres, his interest in a 2074 acre tract in Madison Co. TN, in exchange for 1500 acres of Wm. Woodfolk's in Jackson Co. TN, subject to a life estate of Wm. Woodfolk.

Deposition taken: 28 May 1892.

DEPOSITION: E. G. GARDENHIRE.

/s/ E. G. Gardenhire

DECREE.

Tennessee Supreme Court of Errors and Appeals.

2 Dec. 1889.

Summary: finds that there is manifest error in the decree of the Chancery Court and the same is set aside and reversed. Finds that the land in question belonged to the children of W. W. Lyon and M. F. Lyon had no right to convey it. The title of the land was divested out of Lizzie Woodfolk and returned to complainants Eliza H. Lyons, James R. Lyons and Mai Dytle Lyons. This land is in Jackson Co. TN, being all of what is known as the First Tract (except 58 acres next to the mouth of Salt Lick creek laid off to Elizabeth Rozell), Beginning at the mouth of the Poll Bridge Branch . . . corner of Farris branch tract . . . up the river passing Holman's Ferry . . . Poterfield's spring . . . containing 593 acres. The document also contains a discussion about what should be done about rents, profits, purchase money, court costs and legal fees. -bp.

REPORT.

Feb. Term 1891.

Summary:

In Sept. - Oct. 1890, the Woodfolk lands were rented out as follows.

Rented the Butler place, including the house, to W. H. Butler.

Rented the home place to L. D. Wheeler.

Rented the Ford place, 580 acres, to W. H. Butler.

Rented the Tom Brown contract of the 58 acres tract to Isaac Kent.

Rented part of the home place known as the Butler contract to D. H. Butler.

Rented the lands known as the Squire Ford contract to S. J. Ford.

Rented the place Wm. Hardcastle had on a previous year to W. J. Hardcastle.

Rented the Keith house and creek bottom & the Isaac Kent place to Josh Harris.

Rented the Mark Butler place to R. L. Butler.

Rented the place Thos. Holliman contracted for last year to T. K. Holliman.

Rented the Givens tract to James Givens.

Rented the place where Bind Harris and others rented last year to H. P. Harris.

Rented the Tom Brown tract and house to Thomas Brown.

Rented the place known as the W. R. Thomas contract to W. R. Thomas.

Rented a place, including the house Ike Richardson now lives in, to J. M. Richardson.

[New folder, but a continuation of the previous cases. -bp.]

THE SEVERAL ANSWERS OF LIZZIE WOODFOLK TO THE BILL OF COMPLAINT OF E. H. LYON, J. R. LYON & M. A. LYON.

No date.

6th. That she was at the time and before her marriage and still is the owner of a valuable tract of land in the County of Maury . . .

AFFIDAVIT.

29 July 1887.

Summary: inquiries were made as to the residence of Eliza and John Marshall, the children of John Marshall, deceased. He has learned that they went to Europe with their mother some months ago, to remain an indefinite period for the purpose of education. -bp.

/s/ Atha Thomas

Deposition taken: 9 Sept. 1875 at Jefferson Co. TN.

DEPOSITION: WM. W. WOODFOLK.

I am about 73 years old. I reside in the State of Kentucky.

I am a son of William Woodfolk, who died in Jackson Co. TN in May, 1859.

Contains essentially the same information as in his deposition of 2 July 1874. -bp.

END OF REEL.