An unexpected find

 

FamilySearch. Sevier County, TN Court Records. 1867.

While searching for records on the Thornhill family using FamilySearch Labs, I stumbled on a surprise record of court costs for a case filed in Sevier County, Tennessee from 1867. The case is called State vs P. C. Rutherford, and is related to the Grainger County case from 1866 that I found in mid-December. The page shows that the defendants were acquitted of murder, and this case is part of the larger set of actions involving the men who killed Captain John Thornhill in June 1865.

The bottom portion of the page shows how far the witnesses had to travel to the court in Sevier County. Richard Thornhill was an uncle of John, and brother to my 4th-great-grandmother Elizabeth Thornhill. Sarah J. Ryan was also Richard's sister. Emily Bowers was John Thornhill's sister (Margaret Emily Thornhill).

FamilySearch. Sevier County, TN. 1867.