Smith Thompson (Jan. 17, 1768 - Dec.
18, 1843)
|
| Relationship to the Speculation Lands: |
| Thompson
served as a judge concerning the validity of certain signatures when
deeds of the Speculation Land Company were called into question. He was
also an advisor to the Coxe family. |
| Biography: |
| Born on January 17, 1768, died December
18, 1843. Smith Thompson served as a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
as well as a U.S. Secretary of the Navy. Thompson, born of Ezra Thompson
and Raches Smith in Amenia, Dutchess County, New York, was appointed to
the New York Supreme Court 1802. Two of Thompson's most significant
opinions were those concerning the Amistad Trial and the Cherokee
Nation v. Georgia, in which Thompson's voice was the dissenting one and he
declared that "despite their weakened status, the Cherokee constituted an
independent sovereign nation." Furthermore, Thompson was often known as a judge who
looked after minority interests. Justice Thompson asserted that the Cherokee
constituted an independent sovereign nation, a doctrine that later
became constitutional law in Worcester v. Georgia, (1832). |
| On-Site Links: |
| 0192
- True and
Perfect Copy of the Proceedings of the Superior Courts in Rutherford and
Lincoln Counties, signed by John Michael, Clerk of the Court, dated
April 12, 1841. The case began in April 1828 in Rutherford County and
was transferred to Lincoln County in 1832 as in the judge's opinion a
fair and impartial trial could not be held in Rutherford County due to
the number of interested parties. The case was not concluded until 1835,
in part due to the number of continuances. The case began as a Breach of
Contract against Richard Roe brought by John Doe over use of land for a
contract period of ten years, beginning January 1, 1828. The land in
question was located on the waters of the Broad River and Buffalo Creek,
1. John Doe was physically removed from his farm and the land and sued
for $1,200 for "mental anguish". 2. It evolved into a case of
who actually owned the land - Richard Roe or Bronson et al. 3.
Affidavits filed by Arthur Bronson, Joshua Forman, Agent, and
Samuel L. Gidney stated that Bronson, Hoyt, et al owned the land. 4. Two surveys
of the land are included in the Court records. 5. A jury trial was held
with twelve jurors seated. 6. The jury awarded $6.00 to the defendant
and ordered Peter Stephen Du Ponceau (One of two trustees of Tench
Coxe's land holdings) to pay court costs of $83.50. (It is unclear if Du
Ponceau or his agent was in fact Richard Roe.) Also see Item 77/294 in
this Section. |
| Bibliography: |
|
American National Biography,
New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. Pages 578-580. |