Mijamin Priest

Full Name: Mijamin Priest
Date of birth: December 23, 1808
Date of death: March 15, 1884

Terms of Service top

Chamber District Dates of Service Legislatures Party City/County Note Counties in District
S 3 Feb 8, 1870 - Jan 10, 1871 12th (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)   Radical Republican Rusk / Cherokee    

(1) M. Priest of the Senate and L.W. Cooper and James R. Burnett of the House appointed to judgeships, 8/25/1870, p. 2. Galveston Daily News.
(2) James Dillard ran second to Priest in District 3 election for Provisional Session and was putative successor to Priest when the latter was declared ineligible by the military government 2/17/1870, but the resolution granting the seat to Dillard was tabled 2/22. Priest, qualified and sworn in Called Session, resigned 8/15, succeeded in special election 11/28 to 12/1 by Dillard, sworn 1/10/1871, but declared ineligible and the seat declared vacant 4/10. In special election 10/3 through 10/6, Dillard won again and was sworn 10/31. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(3) 12th Legislature, 1st C.S. - Drawing for Terms of Office, 5/2/1870, pp. 51-52. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal.
(4) 12th Legislature, 1st C.S. - M. Priest present and voting throughout the 1st C.S. Senate Journal.
(5) 12th Legislature, Provisional Session - M. Priest declined qualifying, 2/8/1870, p. 4. Communication from General J.J. Reynolds declaring the Hon. M. Priest ineligible to serve in the Senate under the reconstruction laws, 2/12/1870, p. 12. J.E. Dillard entitled to seat in Senate; M. Priest disqualified, 2/22/1870, p. 36. Copy of resolution transmitted to J. Dillard with request that he appear and qualify at the opening of the next regular session. Senate Journal. February 12, 1870 February 22, 1870 February 8, 1870
(6) Party affiliation, Radical. Roster of members, 12th Legislature, 1870. Texas Almanac for . . . and Emigrant's Guide to Texas.

Terms of Service top

Senate District 3
Feb 8, 1870 - Jan 10, 1871
Legislatures: 12th (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)  
Party: Radical Republican
Home City/County: Rusk / Cherokee

(1) M. Priest of the Senate and L.W. Cooper and James R. Burnett of the House appointed to judgeships, 8/25/1870, p. 2. Galveston Daily News.
(2) James Dillard ran second to Priest in District 3 election for Provisional Session and was putative successor to Priest when the latter was declared ineligible by the military government 2/17/1870, but the resolution granting the seat to Dillard was tabled 2/22. Priest, qualified and sworn in Called Session, resigned 8/15, succeeded in special election 11/28 to 12/1 by Dillard, sworn 1/10/1871, but declared ineligible and the seat declared vacant 4/10. In special election 10/3 through 10/6, Dillard won again and was sworn 10/31. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(3) 12th Legislature, 1st C.S. - Drawing for Terms of Office, 5/2/1870, pp. 51-52. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal.
(4) 12th Legislature, 1st C.S. - M. Priest present and voting throughout the 1st C.S. Senate Journal.
(5) 12th Legislature, Provisional Session - M. Priest declined qualifying, 2/8/1870, p. 4. Communication from General J.J. Reynolds declaring the Hon. M. Priest ineligible to serve in the Senate under the reconstruction laws, 2/12/1870, p. 12. J.E. Dillard entitled to seat in Senate; M. Priest disqualified, 2/22/1870, p. 36. Copy of resolution transmitted to J. Dillard with request that he appear and qualify at the opening of the next regular session. Senate Journal. February 12, 1870 February 22, 1870 February 8, 1870
(6) Party affiliation, Radical. Roster of members, 12th Legislature, 1870. Texas Almanac for . . . and Emigrant's Guide to Texas.

Biographical Information top

Resolutions and Journal entries

  • Removal of Judge M. Priest, 4th Judicial District, 14th Legislature, Regular Session: Message from the House of Representatives concerning the removal of Judges M. Priest, L.W. Cooper, and M.W. Wheeler, 2/2/1874, p. 55. Address concerning the removal of Judge M. Priest, 2/4/1874, pp. 62-63. Amended address presenting causes for removal of Judge M. Priest and exhibits, 2/25/1874, pp. 125-128. Petition of Judge M. Priest, 2/27/1874, p. 131 and pp. 406-407 of typescript journal. Report of Joint Committee concerning the trial of Judge M. Priest, adopted, 3/13/1874, p. 166. Vote on House resolution, joint session convened for trial of Judge M. Priest, 3/16/1874, pp. 175-176. Case taken up, cause against Judge M. Priest sustained, 3/17/1874, pp. 177, 180. Letter from Governor Richard Coke announcing the removal of Judge M. Priest, 3/18/1874, printed in journal 3/19/1874, p. 185. Senate Journal.

Other Resources

  • Migration steps and additional notes. Migrations.org, 2004.
  • Photos and family group sheet. Mijamin Priest and His Descendants, A Pictorial History, 2001.
  • Mijamin Priest Bible record, Priest, Smryl, Bell and David Bible Records. Cherokee County, TXGenWeb Project.

Committee Information top

12th Adjourned - 1871
Claims and Accounts (Chair) 
Contingent Expenses  
Enrolled Bills  
Judiciary (Chair) 
State Affairs  
12th R.S. - 1871
Claims and Accounts (Chair) 
Contingent Expenses  
Enrolled Bills  
Judiciary (Chair) 
State Affairs  
12th 1st C.S. - 1870
Claims and Accounts (Chair) 
Contingent Expenses  
Enrolled Bills  
Judiciary (Chair) 
State Affairs  

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