George & Kate Solifelt's Divorce-Dauphin Co. Penn.(1869)

I found a Proclamation in Divorce to George T Solifelt several years back but I've finally found a newspaper personal that shows it was granted to his wife listed as Catherine A Solifelt. The Proclamation was published in the newspaper on December 9th  of 1868.  

Information from the proclamation

"Whereas Catharine A Solifelt, by her next friend David Pruner, plaintiff, did on the 23d day of June 1868, prefer  her petition to the Judges of our Court of Common Pleas of the County of Dauphin, praying for the causes therein set forth, that she might be divorced from the bonds of matrimony entered into with Gorge T. Solifelt:"

This was before the Honorable John J Pearson, President of our said Court at Harrisburg on the 27th of November, A.D. 1868

Below is my transcription of the newspaper personal which tells about the outcome of the case.

Image created using ChatGPT

Personal

Catharine A Solifelt vs. George T. Solifelt.--No. 223, August Term, 1868--Divorce--February 4, 1868--On motion of F.K. Boas, attorney for libellant, Court decree a Divorce in the above stated case, and order George T. Solifelt to pay the costs. Feb61t*

[Note: I believe there is an error in the February 4, 1868 date(above) and that it should be 1869.]

You can find out more about the lives of George Solifelt & Kate by searching on the name, SOLIFELT on the blog's search function in the upper left corner.

Sources:
"Personal Catharine A Solifelt vs George T. Solifelt," Harrisburg Telegraph(PA), 6 Feb 1869, p 2, c 7; digital images, Newspapers.com(https://www.newspapers.com/article/harrisburg-telegraph-divorce-catharine-a/189501437/: accessed 21 Jan 2026).

"Proclamation in Divorce to George T Solifelt," Harrisburg Telegraph, December 9, 1868, p 3, c 7; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/harrisburg-telegraph-proclamation-in-div/96980881/ : accessed January 21, 2026).

Wm C Cook's Receipt From Robert Mathews' Store

Robert Mathews was a Merchant in Shelbyville.  He was enumerated in District 7  of Bedford County, Tennessee during the 1850 & the 1860 censuses.  

1850 US Federal Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, 

District 7, Shelbyville, p 140(stamped), Dwelling 6 Family 6

Robert Mathews 36 M Merchant $10,000(Real Estate) Ireland

Mary Ann Mathews 30 F Tennessee

William V? Mathews 9 M Tennessee

Martha Mathews 7 F Tennessee

Virginia B. Mathews 5 F Tennessee

Margaret A. Mathews 3 F Tennessee

Robert Mathews Jr. 7/12 M Tennessee

1860 US Federal Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, 

District 7 Shelbyville p 185 (stamped), Dwelling 555 Family 555

Robert Mathews 45 M W Merchant  Ireland $10,000(real estate)  $5,000(personal estate)

Wm Mathews 19 M W Tennessee

Martha Mathews 17 F W Tennessee

Virginia Mathews 14 F W Tennessee

Robert Mathews 10 M W Tennessee

Margaret Mathews 12 F W Tennessee

Erwen Mathews 9 M W Tennessee

Robert is mentioned in  U.S., Freedmen's Bureau Records, 1865-1878 at Ancestry,  

• A letter signed by C M Kingman 1st Lt 152 Illinois Vol Infantry and dated  25th of July 1865(Tullahoma TN) mentions that a mill that was thought to be owned by "Robert Mathews of Shelbyville an intense rebel" had been abandoned and not used by the government since October of 1864 and confiscation proceedings have been commenced."
•  "Proceedings are filed against the estate of Robert Mathews of Bedford Co, his land condemned & ordered to be sold." according to the note of Horace H. Harrison US District Attorney.

It stands to reason that his store didn't fair very well and given that the claim was against his estate that would make me think that Robert Mathews didn't either. He is listed in several Ancestry trees(though no source is mentioned) as dying in Shelbyville TN on the 18th April 1862. I have not been able to locate him in the 1870 Census, so it is possible given that and everything that was going on at that time that his death occurred prior to 1870.

The image below is a photocopy of a receipt that was tucked in the Cook family Bible.  I received the photocopy from Hoyte Cook in May of 1997. The Cook Bible was passed to Cass B Cook from Wm C Cook and to the youngest son of Cass,  Thomas Clifford Cook. From Thomas Clifford Cook, the bible passed to his youngest son who is currently in possession. Copies of some of the pages and papers inside it were distributed to some descendants.

Bedford County Tennessee, July 27th 1859

Wm C Cook bought of Robt Mathews, List of goods purchased, 

Looks like he purchased fabric, lace, sugar and rope?

Robert Mathews ran an ad in the Bedford Weekly Vol  No 16 (May 3 1854).  I had Gemini clean up this snippet of the ad.  I wonder if Wm C Cook saw this ad.  Wm C. Cook likely had a store tab given that the date of purchase and the date of payment were abt 6 months apart.  

Sources: 

"United States, Census, 1850", Bedford County, Tennessee, District 7, Shelbyville, p 140(stamped), Dwelling 6 Family 6, Robert Mathews Household; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DC6Q-L37 : 6 Jan 2026), IGN 4191095(Item 2), Image 117 of 391.

"United States, Census, 1860", Bedford County, Tennessee, District 7, Shelbyville, p 185(stamped), Dwelling 555 Family 555, Robert Mathews Household; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9BSF-YV1 : 6 Jan 2026), IGN 5171418, Image 374 of 565.

Thos. Primrose to Wm H Harrison(Bedford Co TN-1830)

I started pulling together a Deeds listing for William Harrison (1750-1833) and, once I'd finished with the known deeds, I searched using the FamilySearch Full Text Search and found an interesting deed from Thomas Primrose (of Bedford Co, TN) to William H. Harrison (of Rutherford Co, TN).

There are many William Harrisons in this time period in the Bedford, Rutherford, and Williamson County, TN area. This isn't Wm Harrison(b. 1750), even though the land appears to be in the same area where he lived.. Is this Wm H Harrison related to my Harrison line, and if so, how? It will take some digging.

Source:
Bedford County TN, Deed Book BB, p 389, Thos Primrose to Wm H Harrison(97 1/4 acres West of Alexander Creek); Image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKX-QSCM-V : accessed 4 Jan 2026), IGN 8150802, Image 495 of 591. [Thos Primrose is likely the same Thos who marries Nancy Harrison Hight(a late in life marriage for both.  ]

Below is my attempt at transcribing(rough as it may be).

(15 Oct 1830)

This Indenture made this fifteenth day of October in the year of Our
Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty by and between Thomas Primrose of the
County of Bedford and State of Tennessee, of the one part, and William
H Harrison of the County of Rutherford and State aforesaid of the other
part Witnesseth that the said Thomas Primose for and in consider-
ation of the sum of Eight hundred and Seventy five dollars Twenty five
cent to him in hand paid by the Said William H Harrison the receipt where
of is hereby acknowledged hath given granted Bargained sold Conveyed
and Confirmed unto the said William H Harrison his heirs and assigns
forever a certain tract or parcel of land situated lying and being
in the County of Bedford on the West side of Alexander Creek it being
the place whereon the Said Thos Primrose now lives Begining at a stake in
the Center of said Creek near a ceder Elm ash and white oak marked as
pointers in the North boundary line of the Brandon family tract during
west with said line ninty four poles to a redbud, post oak, and two Cedars
thence South forty poles to a small ash and Witness? thence West
Twenty Nine poles to a walnut and Elm thence South passing a forked
Hickory at Seventy four poles same corner, ten poles in all eighty four poles
to a stake at the corner of a Division fence near a cedar thence North
Eighty six degrees East, thirty poles to a rock, Stake thence South four
degrees East thirty three poles to a rock stake, thence East passing
An ash and Elm at 44 poles, some Course? in all being ninety three poles to a
Stake in the center of said Creek, thence up the meander of the
Center of said Creek to the beginning, containing by Estimation
ninty seven and one-quarter acres it being the same more or less to
have and to hold with all & singular in right or whils
herediments and appertances of in and to the same beloning[sic]
or in anywise appertaining to the only proper use of him, the said
William H Harrison his heirs and assigns forever, and the said
Thomas Primrose for himself, his heirs, Executors and administrators
doth Covenant and agree to and with the said William H
Harrison his heirs and assigns, to Warrant and forever defend
the aforesaid land and bargained premises against the lawful
claim or claims of all and every person or persons whatever
in Witness whereof, the said Thomas Primrose that Exarience see
his hand and affixed his seal the day and date above written
Signed, sealed and acknowledged in presence of us

                                                   Thomas Primrose
John Thompson Jurat
Jas H Lile
L Puckett

August Term 1831
I certify that the Execution of the foregoing Deed of Conveyance
from Thomas Primrose to Wm H Harrison was proven in open
Court by the Oaths of John Thompson and James H Lile two
of the subscribing witnesses thereto & ordered to be so Certified for
registration given under my hand at office.  9th August
1831
Registered November 11th, 1831
Thos Davis R.B.C. & Jas. McKissick Clk

Sorting Out Same-Name Individuals: Adaline Hale

From Bledsoe Co., Tennessee, Deed Book O, p 473, J H Griffith to Adaline Hale

(see source note below)

Received in 

Office for 

Registration

At 11 a.m.

Oct 10/70

To Adaline Hale and her heirs, a certain tract of land

containing by estimation fifty acres, be the same more or less, lying in Bledsoe County, Tennessee Dist No. 1, for and in consideration of fifty dollars to me paid.

Beginning at a Stake on the north east line of the

Hasker tract running with the meanders of Annons

Creek near a cave ford to a stake then across to the

South East line of the same to the same survey above

the old ford on the Flat Rock Branch, thence with said

land to the corner near the top of the round knob

Then, with said land to the beginning of the spring and 

one-half acre around it. known as the Sam Turner Spring 

is not included nor conveyed in this deed, but she is to 

have access to the water by taking care

of the springs

When I found this deed for the transfer of land in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, that mentioned Adaline Hale, I thought this might be my 3rd Great-Grandmother, Adaline Elzie Hale, who was the widow of William Taylor Hale. Her family lived in Civil District 6 & at times Civil District 8 of Van Buren Co, TN. I have never been able to find the family enumerated in the 1860 or 1870 US Federal Census, despite records such as the marriages of the children suggesting they were still in the area. The land in the deed is in District 1 of Bledsoe Co, TN, which is just east of Van Buren County. Several of Adaline's children are married and living in District 1 of Bledsoe County at the time of the 1880 US Federal Census.

There is no one mentioned in the deed with Adaline that connects this document to my Van Buren Co, TN, Adaline Hale. Further research finds more deeds concerning the land in Adaline's deed.  These records offer insight into the relationships, none of which are part of my Adaline Elzie Hale's FAN.  I was able to find Richard Hale's 1880 Census, which showed that he and his wife Adaline were enumerated in Bledsoe County, TN, when my Adaline Hale was in Van Buren County, TN, District 8. (Info from the two census records below) 

1880 Bledsoe Co., Tennessee District 7, Page 48B
Richard Hale Self M M W 65 TN Laborer TN / TN
Adaline Hale Wife F M W 52 TN Keeping House TN / TN
William Hale Son M S W 16 TN TN / TN
John Hale Son M S W 13 TN TN / TN
Thunsy Hale Dau F S W 6 TN TN / TN

1880 Van Buren Co., Tennessee District 8, Page 273A

Adaline Hale W F 65 W TN Keeping House  

Lucinda Davis W F 35 Daughter M  TN At Home TN TN

John Hale W M 20 Son S  TN Works on Farm  TN TN

Monroe Bishop W M 14 Grandson S  TN At Home  TN TN

Luther Davis W M 3 Grandson S TN  TN TN

The listing of names(shown below in my abstract and in the image) seems to suggest that the Hale wives and the wife of Jesse Brock were Griffiths before their marriages.  I find it odd that Richard Hale is not mentioned in the Book O pg 473 deed, but that may be because it was only necessary to mention him when the land was passing from her ownership. 

Abstract of Names:  Bledsoe Co, TN Minute Book, Sept 1867-Sept 1872, p 12

Susan Griffith, widow of Wm M Griffith, dec

Thos J Griffith

Richard Hale & wife Adaline

Burrell Hale & wife Sarah

John Hale & wife Jane

S P Griffith

Martha Griffith

Jesse Brock & wife Nancy

Conclusion:   Given all that evidence, I feel confident in saying that the Adaline Hale mentioned in the original deed is NOT the same person as my Adaline Elzie Hale.

Sources:

Bledsoe County, Tennessee Deeds, Deed Book O, p 473, J H Griffith to Adaline Hale (50 Acres); image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C39J-4L15 : accessed 20 Dec 2025), IGN 8478560, Image 268 of 719.

Bledsoe Co TN Minute Book, (Sept 1872 - Sept 1881) p 193, T.J. Griffith & others vs. Gabrilla Griffith & others --18 March 1875; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C39J-896W-D : accessed 2 Jan 2026), IGN 8478559,  Image 129 of 611.

Bledsoe Co TN Deed Book O, p 474, R & A Hale to Isaac Roberson (registered Oct 10, 1870); image, Familysearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C39J-4L11 : accessed 2 Jan 2026), 

IGN 8478560, Image 269 of 719. [This one says "Adaline Hale WIFE OF Richard Hale"]

Bledsoe Co TN Minute Book Sept 1867-Sept 1872, p 12; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS5W-1SSH-L : accessed 2 Jan 2026),

IGN 8264061, Image 497 of 714.[This lists the Hales and Griffiths but not the exact relationships other than the "wife of." The information given here seems to suggest that the wives of the Hale men were Griffiths]

1880 US Federal Census, Van Buren County, TN, District 8 page 273A(stamped), Dwelling 203 Family 206, Adaline Hale(head); image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBL-9MTN : accessed 2 Jan 2026), IGN 5162517, Image 553 of 810.

1880 US Federal Census, Bledsoe County, TN, District 7, page 48B(stamped), Dwelling 212, Family 213, Richard Hale (Head); image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBH-R6M : accessed 2 January 2026), IGN 5162348, Image 101 of 732.

Documenting an Ancestor Through Land Deeds

In December of this past year,  I began crafting full reference notes for each of the deeds involving my ancestors, regardless of their role in the deed.  I arranged all the deeds for each ancestor in chronological order and also wrote notes of importance with the Reference Note.  The listing can be saved as a PDF and attached to that person's profile at Ancestry.  It really makes it easy when you start writing about your ancestors as well, because you already have these citations and can copy and paste them to source your work.  I use Google Docs and then save/download a copy of the PDF, but you could create the PDF on-site at Ancestry.  I do that sometimes.

I completed this process for the profile of my 2nd Great Grandfather, Wm Clifford Cook as well as the profile of his maternal 1st cousin, William Green Hight.  While researching Wm G. Hight's deeds, I also found additional information on his marriages and divorces that occurred after his first wife's death and his move to Arkansas.  He lived in Washington County, Arkansas, before moving to Franklin County, Arkansas(the location he was living at when he passed). Sometimes, I also create a PDF with information about my research that I want to preserve (e.g., notes on Census entries, conflicting evidence, proof statements, or proof arguments, etc.)