POLK'S EARLIEST AVAILABLE COURT RECORDS

 

 

John Shields, Chairman
S(olomon). Summy J.P.
Ransom Thompson
Josiah Childers, J.P

April Session A.D. 1845

Pg. 182

Be it remembered that a court opened and held for County of Polk  at the court house in the county of Benton on the First Monday in April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty five. It being the seventh day of said month April.  Present the worshipful - to wit. John Shields, R. H. McConnell, William Shamblin, James Denton, S(olomon). Summy, A. R. Stephenson, R. Thompson, William W. Henry, A(braham). McKissick, James H. Witt, John Davis.

Ordered by the Court, that Josiah Daugherty be released from the payment of a poll Tax of fifty cents for the year 1844.  (Moved from Monroe Co in 1838)

Ordered by the Court, that Noah Fouts be released from the payment of a poll Tax of fifty cents for the year 1844.

Ordered by the Court, that the following Stock Mark of Caswell Lea  be recorded, a split in each Ear and a double dewlap in cattle. (Relative of Luke Lea land agent for Ocoee dist.)

Ordered by the Court,  that James Hawkins Trustee of Polk County be instructed to pay, Nicholas P. Dodds on his claim of $16.80 cents;  a witness:  ___ in the case of the State vs A. J. Blanton according to its number.

State vs. Russell McConnell:  Jeremiah Jenkins witness
Ticket allo(w)ed for 5 day at 75cents per day, $3.75 and ordered to be certified to the County Trustee, to be paid out of an money  in his hands not otherwise appropriated.

Isaac Davis pauper aged about eighty years, was this day let to the lowest bidder for nine months and Moses Hammons bided twenty one dollars that being the lowest bid.  It is ordered by the Court that the said Isaac Davis pauper, remain with the said Moses Hammons, for the next ensuing nine months and that certificates issue quarterly.

Ordered by the Court that Samuel McConnell be acquitted of four dollars-eighty-eight cents a part of his land tax for the year 1844.

Ordered by the Court that the following Revenue Commissioners, for the year 1845, viz. William Shamblin, A. R. Stephenson, Wm. W. Henry, A(braham). McKissick and James H. Witt, be allowed the sum of five Dollars each, for testing the property in their respective districts, to be paid out of any monies in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
 

p. 183

Ordered by the Court that James Denton Revenue Commission in the 2nd. Dist. be allowed six dollars, for testing the property for the year 1845, and John Davis and L. L. Threewitt Revenue commissioners in the 7 and 8 District be allowed the sum of four dollars each to be paid out of any monies in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

Upon application of Moses N. Lenning it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that the said Lenning has lived in the County of Polk one whole year immediately preceding his commencement of the study of the law that he has attained the age of twenty-one years and it also appearing to the Court that he is a young man of good moral character. It is therefore ordered by the court that the clerk of this Court make out and certify a copy of this order to the said Lenning upon his application therefore--
 

State of Tennessee:  Polk County: This Indenture made this 7th day of April 1845 between John Shields, Chairman of the County Court of Polk County on behalf of the Justices of our Said County Court of the one part and their successors in office and Sevier McMahan of the other part;  witnessed:  that the said John Shields, Chairman as aforesaid in pursuance of an order of Court made this day proceeded to bind out unto Sevier McMahan, one boy child an orphan named John McLemore aged twelve year until he attains the age of twenty one years  during which time the said John McLemore shall obey the lawful commands and faithfully serve the said Sevier McMahan and be in all respects subject to his authority and control according to Law and the said Sevier McMahan on his part Covenants that he will teach and instruct the said John McLemore in the following manner to wit that he will give the said John McLemore twelve months schooling and will also constantly find for the said John McLemore sufficient diet and lodging washing and apparel and other necessaries both in sickness and in health and also take care of his morals and treat him with humanity and at the end of his time give him a horse saddle and bridle worth fifty Dollars and two good freedom suits of Janes (clothing) April 7, 1845.

Testator:
James Parks, Clerk

John Shields
Sevier  McMahan
John Williams
 


Ordered by the Court that John Shields Chairman. of the County Court of Polk County proceed to bind out John McLeman an orphan boy of the age of twelve years unto John McMahan until he attains the age of twenty one years.

 p. 184

State of Tennessee:   Polk County: Know all men by these presents that we John Shamblin, William Shamblin, John F. Hannah, James Denton, James H. Witt are held and firmly bound unto James C. Jones Esq. Governor of the State of Tennessee and his successors in office in the sum of one thousand Dollars for the payment of which well and truly to be made and done we bind ourselves and heirs Executors and Administrators jointly, severely and firmly by these presents signed with our names and sealed with our seals this 7th day of April 1845.

The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above bound en John Shamblin was on the 2nd. day of March 1844 duly and constitutionally elected Sheriff of the County of Polk for the next ensuring two years and has thereby become bound to collect the public Taxes for the said County of Polk. Now if the said John Shambin shall well and truly collect and faithfully pay over to the Treasurer of the State of Tennessee on or before the 31st. day of December next the State Tax, of the County of Polk for the year 1845 then this obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.

Test.
James Parks, Clerk

.
John Shamblin  (Seal)
William Shamblin (Seal)
John F. Hannah (Seal)
James Denton (Seal)
James H. Witt (Seal)

State of Tennessee:  Polk County:   Know all men b these presents that we John Shamblin, William Shamblin, John F. Hannah, James Denton, James H. Witt are held and firmly bound unto John Shields Chairman of the County Court of Polk County and his successor in office in the sum of Two Thousand Dollars for the payment of which well and truly to be made and done we bind ourselves our heirs executors and Administrators jointly, severely and  firmly by these presents signed and sealed with our names and seals this 7th day of April 1845.

The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the said John Shamblin was on the 2nd. day of March 1844 was duly and Constitutionally elected Sheriff of said County of Polk for the next ensuing two years and as such has become bound to collect the County Taxes, now if the said John Shamblin Sheriff as aforesaid shall well and truly collect and faithfully pay over to the County Trustee on or before the 1st. day of January next all the County Taxes which may or might have been collected by him as Sheriff of said County for the year 1845 then this obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and virtue

Test
James Parks, Clerk

John Shamblin (Seal)
William Shambin (Seal)
John F. Hannah (Seal)
James Denton (Seal)
James H. Witt (Seal)

p. 185

Court adjourned until tomorrow morning 10 o'clock

Tuesday morning 10 o'clock Court met, no further business Court adjourned until court in course:

John Shields, Chairman
James Denton, J.P.
James H. Witt
S(olomon). Summy J.P

May Session 1845

p.185

Be it remembered that that at a Court opened and held for the County of Polk at at the Courthouse in the Town of Benton on the first Monday in May in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and forty five. It being the fifth day of said month May Present the worshipful justices to wit.

Soloman Summy, Ransom Thompson, James Denton, A. R. Stephenson, Josiah Childers, A. D. Meroney, Abraham McKissick, Gabriel Deavers.

John Shields Esquire. Chairman of the County Court of Polk County, being absent the Court proceeded to appoint A. R. Stephenson Chairman pro-tem.

The execution of the last will and testament of George Pettitt, deceased, was this day duly proven in open Court by the oaths of Thomas J. Park and Thomas W. Davis; two Subscribing witnesses thereto, who after being duly sworn say they heard the said George Pettitt deceased, published the same as his last will and testament and that he was at the time in his sound and disposing mind and memory and that they witnesses the same at his request.

Samuel H. Johnston wishes to have his stock mark recorded as follows, under bit out of the right ear and a smooth crop off the left ear this 5 day of May 1845.
Samuel. H. Johnston (Samuel is son of William from Monroe Co., TN)

Received. of James McKamy fourteen Dollars and twenty five cents in full, of two draws for Nancy Moses a pauper in the County of Polk, April 17th. 1845
Betsy Moses

The Commissioners, of revenue for the year 1845 returned Settlement by them made with James Hawkins to wit State of Tennessee:

Polk County: We Abraham Lillard and James H. Stuart Commissioners of the revenue for Polk County for the year 1845.

p. 186
On Settlement with James Hawkins Trustee for said County have minutely examined said Trustees account and vouchers and submits the following report, James Hawkins Trustee to balance of taxes due, and unpaid for the year 1843. $236.33½