Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson

Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson

$625.00
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Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson
  • Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson
  • Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson
  • Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson
  • Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson
  • Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson
  • Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson
  • Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson
  • Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson
  • Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson
  • Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson
  • Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson
  • Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson
  • Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson
  • Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson
Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson

Rare 1802 Tennessee Court Manuscript – Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson

$625.00

An exceptional original frontier Tennessee court manuscript dating to 1802, documenting the civil case of Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson before the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Montgomery County, Tennessee.

Comprising approximately seven handwritten folio pages, the file preserves nearly every stage of the litigation, including the original writ, declaration, bond, sheriff's return, endorsements, jury proceedings, verdict, motion for a new trial, cost bill, and the clerk's certified transcript. The case concerns the recovery of a $230 promissory obligation, with the jury ultimately finding in favor of the plaintiff and awarding both the debt and damages.

The concluding certification is signed by Joseph B. Porter, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, affirming that the manuscript is a true transcript of the case. Written only six years after Tennessee entered the Union, the document provides a fascinating glimpse into the administration of justice on the early American frontier and preserves the names of numerous jurors, attorneys, court officials, and litigants.

The manuscript remains in very good condition with strong, legible script throughout, expected folds, light edge wear, and minor paper loss at one corner that does not affect the principal text.

An outstanding early Tennessee legal archive and an important artifact of frontier jurisprudence, ideal for collectors of early American manuscripts, Tennessee history, genealogy, and judicial records.


Identification

Early Tennessee Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions Case File
Case: Joseph H. Miller v. Robert J. Nelson
Court: Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Montgomery County, Tennessee
Date: 1802 [primarily April–October 1802]
Length: Approximately 7 manuscript folio pages, handwritten on laid paper

This is an original territorial/early statehood Tennessee court case file documenting a civil action brought by Joseph H. Miller against Robert J. Nelson over the collection of a promissory note.

The final page contains a clerk's certification:

"...a true transcript of the suit of Joseph H. Miller vs Robert J. Nelson..."

signed by Joseph B. Porter, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Montgomery County.

Contents

The file includes:

  • Original writ issued April 29, 1802.
  • Sheriff's return.
  • Declaration filed by the plaintiff.
  • Obligation [bond] and endorsement.
  • Defendant's pleadings.
  • Jury trial proceedings.
  • Jury verdict.
  • Motion for a new trial.
  • Clerk's certification of the transcript.
  • Cost bill and filing notations.

Historical Background

The lawsuit concerns an unpaid $230 obligation.

According to the pleadings:

  • George Campbell executed an obligation.
  • Robert J. Nelson endorsed or guaranteed payment.
  • Joseph H. Miller sought to recover the debt after payment was not made.
  • The jury ultimately found for the plaintiff and assessed damages.

The court awarded:

  • $230 debt
  • approximately $50 damages
  • court costs

The reverse endorsements show the suit progressed from spring through October 1802.

Historical Importance

This is a remarkably early Tennessee legal manuscript.

Important features include:

  • Only six years after Tennessee achieved statehood [1796].
  • Montgomery County was among Tennessee's earliest frontier counties.
  • Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions records from this era are considerably scarcer than later nineteenth-century court papers.
  • Complete multi-page case files survive far less frequently than isolated writs or summonses.
  • Excellent example of frontier legal procedure.

The numerous endorsements, signatures, and jury panel make it especially useful for genealogical and legal historians.

Condition

Overall Very Good for an 1802 Tennessee manuscript.

  • Complete case file.
  • Strong dark iron-gall ink.
  • Good legibility throughout.
  • Typical fold wear.
  • Minor edge losses.
  • Small loss at lower corner of certification leaf.
  • No significant text loss affecting the body of the case.