"The Long Way Home" Begin the Tennessee Depositions:

Phoebe had anticipated that the defendants would raise the matter of her time in Pendleton, South Carolina. She had lived through that difficult chapter of her life, however, and she would not allow the resurrection of old grievances to obstruct her mission. Reuben had abandoned her and their children without provision, and she had done what was necessary to keep them warm and fed. She would not be ashamed of that.

The initial shock of the defendants' response soon subsided. The judge was expected to rule on both the standing of the plaintiffs to file the claim and the allowance to fund the considerable expenses of the proceedings—his decision to come on the fourth Monday of September. They would not have long to wait before learning whether their efforts could move forward.

In the meantime, they wandered through Hendersonville, enjoying the pleasantness of the autumn season. Deciding they had sufficient time, they resolved to travel to the Asheville area in Buncombe County to see what had become of the home she and Reuben had once shared along the Swannanoa River. With favorable weather, they made their way to Buncombe County. Nearly everyone Phoebe had known from forty-five years prior had either moved away or passed on—with the possible exception of the King brothers.

Buncombe County was beautiful, and the road from Hendersonville to Asheville had been greatly improved, making for a comfortable journey. Upon their return to Hendersonville, a message awaited them at the lodge: Mr. Woodfin wished to see them as soon as possible. After a brief wash, they made their way to his office.

By this point, they were well acquainted with Mr. Woodfin's associates and felt quite at ease within the office. They took their seats, and Mr. Woodfin began to read the judge's order aloud. The court had granted them both standing to file a claim and an allowance to cover a year's worth of expenses. The judge had further ordered that the Jordans and Mr. Gash take possession of all of Reuben Johnson's property pending a final determination of rightful ownership—including the real estate Reuben had purportedly "sold" to the Jordan brothers. Everything had gone in their favor. Phoebe was elated, though thoroughly exhausted.

They spoke with Mr. Woodfin for a while longer regarding the shape the claims would take. Having reviewed the defendants' answer to Phoebe's allowance petition, he had gained some insight into the defense's intended strategy. After careful discussion, they agreed that considerable groundwork would need to be completed both before and after their return home. Since the defense had challenged whether the petitioner was truly "Phoebe Johnson"—or merely someone claiming to be—she would need to visit individuals who could be deposed and swear under oath that she was the same Phoebe Johnson who had been married to Reuben some forty-five years prior. They determined that she should call upon Robert and Elenor Orr and John Casada before departing. Upon returning to McMinn County, she would need to meet again with Reuben Casada and discuss matters that only the true Phoebe Johnson—as Reuben's lawful wife—could have known.

After a sound night's rest, they set out for Pendleton, South Carolina, approximately a day's journey from Hendersonville, to speak with the Orrs and any others who might recall her life with Reuben before they had relocated to Buncombe County.

In the meantime, Mr. Woodfin was attending to the necessary subpoenas for depositions. Upon reviewing the defense's witness list, he wondered whether the one year the court had allotted would prove sufficient. He required depositions from Reuben Casada and Nancy West in McMinn County, Tennessee; Samuel King in Buncombe County, North Carolina; and the Orrs in Pendleton, South Carolina. The defense, however, had listed witnesses in Blount County, Tennessee, and Lumpkin, Georgia—the significance of which was not yet clear, though he expected to learn more in due course.

After returning to McMinn County and meeting once more with Reuben Casada, William accompanied Phoebe back to her home in Blount County. All that remained now was to wait and hope that word would reach them periodically by post. She endeavored to attend to her daily affairs without allowing anxiety to take hold.

In early November, Nancy and William traveled to Big Gully to bring her news. Nancy's deposition and Reuben Casada's deposition had been scheduled for the end of November. Progress on the lawsuit was imminent. The Wests spent the night with Phoebe before departing the following morning down the Federal Road toward Athens and their home in McMinn County.

The end of November arrived, and it was time for the representatives of both the plaintiff and the defendant to begin compiling the official record for the court. First to be deposed was Reuben Casada.

Reuben Casada, aged sixty-three years, having been duly sworn upon the Holy Evangelists to speak the whole truth and nothing but the truth concerning the matter in dispute between the said parties, testified as follows:

Question 1 — by Mr. Humphries, agent for the plaintiff:

Are you acquainted with the parties in this controversy—the plaintiffs Phoebe Johnson and William West and wife Nancy, and the defendants Martin Gash and Sallie Jordan?

Answer: I have no acquaintance with Jordan, but Martin A. Gash has been at my house on at least two occasions. I am acquainted with the plaintiff, Phoebe Johnson, from the time when she and Reuben Johnson lived together as man and wife.

Question 2 — by the same:

Where did Reuben Johnson and Phoebe Johnson reside when you first knew them to be living together as man and wife?

Answer: In Buncombe County, North Carolina, approximately five miles from Asheville.

Question 3 — by the same:

What is your relationship to Reuben Johnson?

Answer: He was my uncle.

Question 4 — by the same:

Were you not frequently at Reuben Johnson's house during the time he lived there, and were you well acquainted with him and his wife?

Answer: I was there frequently and was well acquainted with both Johnson and his wife.

Question 5 — by the same:

Were Reuben Johnson and his wife Phoebe separated before he came to Buncombe County, North Carolina, to live?

Answer: It was said that they had been parted, and he lived in Buncombe County for a year or two before she came to that county.

Question 6 — by the same:

Do you know who influenced him to bring her from South Carolina to where he lived in Buncombe County, North Carolina, and whether his mother did not give him a house and other property as an inducement to do so?

Answer: My understanding was that his mother encouraged him to bring her to that county and gave him a good house for doing so.

Question 7 — by the same:

Did you ever hear Reuben Johnson or his mother say anything about giving him the house in order that he might live with her again?

Answer: I cannot say with certainty whether I ever heard either of them say so, but the general understanding among family and friends was that she did, and he always regarded the house as his property thereafter.

Question 8 — by the same:

Did Reuben Johnson and his wife live peaceably and quietly together during the time they resided together?

Answer: I believe they did. I never heard anything to the contrary while I lived in that county.

Question 9 — by the same:

Do you recollect whether a girl or woman by the name of Quien lived with Reuben Johnson during the time you knew him in North Carolina?

Answer: I recollect nothing of such a woman.

Question 10 — by the same:

When did you last see Phoebe Johnson, and where was she?

Answer: At William West's home, both in September and October, just before and after their return from North Carolina. William West resides approximately two miles from Athens, in McMinn County, State of Tennessee.

Question 1 — by Mr. Gash, agent for the defendant:

How long did you live near Phoebe Johnson in North Carolina?

Answer: I suppose I knew her for approximately three years in North Carolina.

Question 2 — by the same:

How long has it been since you knew her there?

Answer: I lived in North Carolina approximately forty-eight years ago. I had not seen Phoebe Johnson from that time until sometime in September last, when I saw her at William West's home in this county.

Question 3 — by the same:

Are you certain that this is the same woman—the same Phoebe who lived with Reuben Johnson and whom you knew when you resided in North Carolina—and that she is the same person you met earlier this year?

Answer: I believe she is the same woman. Upon first meeting her at the Wests' home, I found that her conversation, her recollections, and her features left me in no doubt that this was the same woman—though, given the length of time that had passed, I am not certain I would have recognized her had I not been informed of the fact beforehand.

Question 4 — by the same:

Do you know whether Reuben Johnson ever lived with the said Phoebe Johnson prior to the time it was said his mother gave him the house and property to go and bring her home?

Answer: I do not know this of my own knowledge—only from reports to that effect.

Question 5 — by the same:

What was Johnson's character as a husband and citizen when you knew him, and did he treat her well?

Answer: As far as I knew, he did.

Question 1 — by the plaintiff's agent, on re-examination:

Was not Phoebe Johnson always considered Reuben Johnson's wife, and was she not called as such by Reuben Johnson's mother and by your own mother—Reuben Johnson's sister—and did they not live together as such?

Answer: They were so considered.

Question 2 — by the same:

When you saw the elderly Mrs. Phoebe Johnson at the Wests' home some months past, did she demonstrate knowledge of circumstances that had taken place in North Carolina during your boyhood—during the time you knew her in North Carolina and in your father's household—circumstances that no one else could have known?

Answer: We conversed at Mr. West's home about circumstances that took place in North Carolina, and I am fully certain she could not have known of those matters without being the same woman.

Question 3 — by the same:

How many children did Reuben Johnson and Phoebe Johnson have when you left North Carolina, what were their names, and were they cross-eyed?

Answer: Two children came with them to North Carolina—a boy and a girl, named Isaac and Nancy. Both were very cross-eyed. That was all the children they had when I left that county.

And further this deponent sayeth not.

I hope to post again soon. The story continues to grow more compelling—or, at the very least, more intriguing. Thank you for your patience. The depositions will be presented in due course; however, as I have noted previously, transcribing nineteenth-century cursive handwriting is a time-consuming endeavor. Please take care and stay safe. I hope you are enjoying the story.