AmericaGen Study Group
Chapter 22 Homework
Marceline Beem
Reference: Greenwood, Val D. “Court Records and Family History.” In The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy, 4th ed., 547-574. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 2017.
This chapter discusses the use of court records in genealogy research. I admit to not being well-versed in using court records (outside of land and probate files), and have only dug into court records in the last several years. Two years ago, I traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee to research and had the opportunity to spend some time at the Knox County Archives. The archives are the repository for Hamilton District Superior Court, which tried cases for East Tennessee counties from 1792-1809. The archives has an online index to these cases, making it easy to find and order records.
In 1798, Robert King wrote a $500 bond to purchase 200 acres
of land for Robert Burk.
Source:
Transcript:
Source: Burk v King, Docket #908/631,638 (1803), Hamilton
District Superior Court of Law and Equity.
Know all men by these presents that I Robert King of Hakins [sic] County
and State of Tennessee am held and firmly bound unto Robert Burk
Late of Jefferson County and State aforesaid in the penal sum of
five hundred dollars to be paid unto the said Robert Burk his Heirs
Execrs Adminirs or assigns - to the which payment will and Truly to
be made and done I bind myself my heirs Execrs Adminrs and assigns
jointly and severaly firmly by these presents sealed with my seal
and sealed this 18th
Day of April 179?
The condition of the above obligation is such that if the above
Bonded Robert King shall make or cause to be made a good
and suficient Title in fee simple to Two hundred acres of
Land of the first quallity of valley Land to be situate
on poplar Creek, powels valley or within fifteen miles of
Southwest Point - to be well timberd and sufficient spring
said Title to be made within six months after [date?]
then the above obligation to be void and of none effect otherwise
to be and remain in full force and value in Law
Signed Sealed this 18th Day of April 1798.
Test- Robert King (seal)
W. L. [Lovely?]
Alexander Brown
In 1801, Robert Burk filed a lawsuit against Robert King in
Knox County for not fulfilling the terms of the bond. Robert King
countersued, denying Burk's claim. In 1803, the suit
was filed in Hamilton District Court. Robert Burk was awarded $500 in damages,
but the case continued until 1815 as attempts were made to recover the money
King now owed Burk.
This case provided a migration trail for Robert Burk, who
lived in Jefferson County when the bond was signed in 1798. By 1801, he had
moved to Knox County, and a few years later, he was living in Roane County. Roane
County was formed in 1801 from Knox County. I haven't done the research yet to
determine if Robert Burk lived in that section of Knox County in 1801 or if he
physically moved. Images of Knox County deeds have recently been added to Family Search, so I can now do that research from home.
Robert Burk is an associate of my direct ancestor, Joseph
Horton, whom I've blogged about several times. Joseph Horton also lived in
Jefferson, Knox and Roane Counties at the same time as Robert Burk. Although the
case file never mentions any of the Horton clan, it can (and will be) used as
indirect evidence in establishing that Joseph Horton who died in Roane County
in 1813 is the same Joseph Horton who lived in Lincoln County, North Carolina
in 1790.
