For many years before she died in 1984, my mother collected information about her Boswell ancestors of Stewart County, the earliest of which were Walter Boswell and his wife Susannah Gardner Boswell. Some of the information she collected was oral legend for which no source is now known to exist. My mother communicated with many older family members who furnished her information as well as searched Stewart County records. Among the papers she left is the following information: “State of Tennessee VS James Ford Walter Boswell, Prosecutor, Pleads not guilty “Be it remembered that James Ford and Daniel Ford and Rhadferd Rutland came into Court and acknowledged themselves indebted to the State in the sum of Five Hundred Dollars Severally to be levied of their goods and chattels, lands, and tenements for the use of the state, But to be void on condition that the same James Ford do make his personal appearance here at the Next Term of this Court to answer the state of Such Charges as shall be exhibited against him by Susannah Boswell, and not depart without leave of said court.” “Walter Boswell was the prosecutor in the case. On May 2, 1814, the grand jurors appeared in a body and returned a bill of indictment against James Ford for an assault on Susannah Boswell; and James Ford, though pleading not guilty, was found guilty, fined ten dollars, and sentenced to fifteen days in the Stewart County jail. “Though the nature of the assault is not known, legend has it that James Ford, insulted Susannah while Walter was away.” The only source given for any of this information is: Stewart Co., Tenn. Court Minute Book, 1813-1814, pages 143-144. Walter Boswell is not known to have held any official position and may have been illiterate. Apparently he filed charges as any citizen might rather than in some official capacity. Part of the legend is that a fist fight between Walter Boswell and James Ford occurred at some point. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who might have more information about this incident. George Holder Long Beach, MS