W.J. Scott

William Thomas Scott

Full Name: William Thomas Scott, Sr.
Date of birth: December 14, 1811
Date of death: November 1, 1887

Terms of Service top

Chamber District Dates of Service Legislatures Party City/County Note Counties in District
H 10 Jan 11, 1881 - Jan 9, 1883 17th (1) (2) (3)   Democrat Scottsville / Harrison   Harrison
H 10 Jan 14, 1879 - Jan 11, 1881 16th (4) (5)   Democrat Marshall / Harrison   Harrison
S 8 Nov 8, 1853 - Nov 2, 1857 5th (8) (9) (10)   6th (6) (7)     Marshall / Harrison   Harrison
S 9 Nov 3, 1851 - Nov 7, 1853 4th (11) (12) (13)     Marshall / Harrison   Harrison, Upshur
S 3 Elected but never sworn 1st (14) (15) (16) (17)     Marshall / Harrison   Harrison

(1) Democrat, 11/17/1880, p. 2. Galveston Daily News.
(2) Scott elected as a democrat, p. 1, 11/17/1880. Galveston Daily News.
(3) Democrat. Pocket Directory of the Seventeenth Legislature of Texas, 1881.
(4) Democrat, 1/14/1879, p. 1. Galveston Daily News.
(5) Committee on credentials reported two claimants for the 10th district, W.T. Scott and John Hudson, and found W.T. Scott "prima facie entitled to be seated," 1/14/1879, pp. 5-6. House Journal.
(6) 6th Legislature, Regular Session - Roll of Senators (holdover Senator), 11/5/1855, p. 4. Senate Journal.
(7) 6th Legislature - Listed in the "19 members of the Senate [who] retained their seats from the 5th Legislature," p. 258. The Texas Senate: Volume I, Republic to Civil War, 1836-1861, 1990.
(8) Roster of members elect of the 5th Legislature, state elections, 1853. Texas State Gazette (Austin, Texas), 8/20/1853, p. 3, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
(9) 5th Legislature - Senators elect M.M. Potter, Isaac L. Hill, William T. Scott, and James H. Durst "came forward, presented their credentials, were qualified and took their seats," 11/8/1853, p. 6. Senate Journal.
(10) 5th Legislature - "In part due to the redistricting and the increase in the number of members, the returning senators found themselves a minority of six: James H. Armstrong, Joseph H. Burks, Rufus Doane, Hardin Hart, William T. Scott, and M.D.K. Taylor," pp. 241, 243. The Texas Senate: Volume I, Republic to Civil War, 1836-1861, 1990.
(11) Entire Senate went up for reelection due to Senatorial redistricting. Act passed Feb. 2, 1853, 4th Legislature, 1st C.S., ch. 4, Apportionment Laws of Texas, 1836-1950, 1950.
(12) 4th Legislature, Regular Session - Roll of Senators elect presented their credentials, qualified, and took their seats, 11/3/1851, pp. 3-4. Senate Journal.
(13) Election of 1851 - Democratic candidates William T. Scott, Dr. Joseph Taylor, and L.D. Camp of Upshur County (possibly L.B. Camp), pp. 162, 164. A Southern Community in Crisis: Harrison County, Texas, 1850-1880, 1983.
(14) Edward Clark, in special election 11/1/1847, sworn in 2nd Legislature, succeeded unexpired term of William T. Scott, resigned 6/5/1847. Clark elected but never sworn in 1st Legislature. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(15) 1st Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office and Classification of Senators, 3/3/1846, p. 60. Drew "second class" (4-year term). Senate Journal.
(16) 1st Legislature - Roll of Senators, oath of office administered, 2/16/1846, p. 4. Senate Journal.
(17) Description of drawing of terms for Senators, first-class two-year terms and second-class four-year terms, 3/3/1846, p. 180. The Texas Senate: Volume I, Republic to Civil War, 1836-1861, 1990.

Terms of Service top

House District 10
Jan 11, 1881 - Jan 9, 1883
Legislatures: 17th (1) (2) (3)  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Scottsville / Harrison
Counties in district: Harrison
House District 10
Jan 14, 1879 - Jan 11, 1881
Legislatures: 16th (4) (5)  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Marshall / Harrison
Counties in district: Harrison
Senate District 8
Nov 8, 1853 - Nov 2, 1857
Legislatures: 5th (8) (9) (10)   6th (6) (7)  
Home City/County: Marshall / Harrison
Counties in district: Harrison
Senate District 9
Nov 3, 1851 - Nov 7, 1853
Legislatures: 4th (11) (12) (13)  
Home City/County: Marshall / Harrison
Counties in district: Harrison, Upshur
Senate District 3
Elected but never sworn
Legislatures: 1st (14) (15) (16) (17)  
Home City/County: Marshall / Harrison
Counties in district: Harrison

(1) Democrat, 11/17/1880, p. 2. Galveston Daily News.
(2) Scott elected as a democrat, p. 1, 11/17/1880. Galveston Daily News.
(3) Democrat. Pocket Directory of the Seventeenth Legislature of Texas, 1881.
(4) Democrat, 1/14/1879, p. 1. Galveston Daily News.
(5) Committee on credentials reported two claimants for the 10th district, W.T. Scott and John Hudson, and found W.T. Scott "prima facie entitled to be seated," 1/14/1879, pp. 5-6. House Journal.
(6) 6th Legislature, Regular Session - Roll of Senators (holdover Senator), 11/5/1855, p. 4. Senate Journal.
(7) 6th Legislature - Listed in the "19 members of the Senate [who] retained their seats from the 5th Legislature," p. 258. The Texas Senate: Volume I, Republic to Civil War, 1836-1861, 1990.
(8) Roster of members elect of the 5th Legislature, state elections, 1853. Texas State Gazette (Austin, Texas), 8/20/1853, p. 3, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
(9) 5th Legislature - Senators elect M.M. Potter, Isaac L. Hill, William T. Scott, and James H. Durst "came forward, presented their credentials, were qualified and took their seats," 11/8/1853, p. 6. Senate Journal.
(10) 5th Legislature - "In part due to the redistricting and the increase in the number of members, the returning senators found themselves a minority of six: James H. Armstrong, Joseph H. Burks, Rufus Doane, Hardin Hart, William T. Scott, and M.D.K. Taylor," pp. 241, 243. The Texas Senate: Volume I, Republic to Civil War, 1836-1861, 1990.
(11) Entire Senate went up for reelection due to Senatorial redistricting. Act passed Feb. 2, 1853, 4th Legislature, 1st C.S., ch. 4, Apportionment Laws of Texas, 1836-1950, 1950.
(12) 4th Legislature, Regular Session - Roll of Senators elect presented their credentials, qualified, and took their seats, 11/3/1851, pp. 3-4. Senate Journal.
(13) Election of 1851 - Democratic candidates William T. Scott, Dr. Joseph Taylor, and L.D. Camp of Upshur County (possibly L.B. Camp), pp. 162, 164. A Southern Community in Crisis: Harrison County, Texas, 1850-1880, 1983.
(14) Edward Clark, in special election 11/1/1847, sworn in 2nd Legislature, succeeded unexpired term of William T. Scott, resigned 6/5/1847. Clark elected but never sworn in 1st Legislature. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(15) 1st Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office and Classification of Senators, 3/3/1846, p. 60. Drew "second class" (4-year term). Senate Journal.
(16) 1st Legislature - Roll of Senators, oath of office administered, 2/16/1846, p. 4. Senate Journal.
(17) Description of drawing of terms for Senators, first-class two-year terms and second-class four-year terms, 3/3/1846, p. 180. The Texas Senate: Volume I, Republic to Civil War, 1836-1861, 1990.

Biographical Information top

Resolutions and Journal entries

  • 5th Legislature - Roll of Members, William T. Scott, age 41, native state Mississippi, emigrated from Mississippi in 1840, farmer, postoffice Marshall, Harrison County. House Journal.

Biographical Sketches

Other Resources

  • William T. Scott, Sr., birth date 12/14/1811 in Wilkinson County, Mississippi; death date 11/1/1887 in Scottsville, Texas; burial in Scottsville Cemetery, Scottsville, Harrison County. Includes photos and "The Roses of Scottsville" article. Find a Grave.
  • Mentioned as Citizens Party candidate in CITIZEN'S PARTY OF HARRISON COUNTY. Handbook of Texas Online.
  • Mentioned in discussion of Harrison County religious life and denominations, pp. 102-103. A Southern Community in Crisis: Harrison County, Texas, 1850-1880, 1983.
  • Railroad promoter and State Senator, pp. 90-93; role in secession and state sovereignty, pp. 185-193; participation in Citizens Party meeting, 10/12/1878, p. 339; state representative, pp. 349, 353-361. A Southern Community in Crisis: Harrison County, Texas, 1850-1880, 1983.
  • Delegate to Secession Convention of Texas, 1861. Journal of the Secession Convention of Texas 1861. Edited from the original in the department of state by Ernest William Winkler, State Librarian. Texas Library and Historical Commission, the State Library. Austin: Austin Print. Co., 1912, pp. 20-22. Originally published serially in newspapers. Texas Constitutions Digitization Project (Tarlton Law Library, The University of Texas at Austin), 2009.
  • Biographical notes, p. 170. The Texas Senate: Volume I, Republic to Civil War, 1836-1861, 1990.

Photographs

  • Photograph. W.J. Scott, 17th Legislature, Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

Committee Information top

17th R.S. - 1881
Constitutional Amendments  
Finance  
Public Debt (Chair) 
Rules (Chair) 
16th R.S. - 1879
Constitutional Amendments  
Counties and County Boundaries  
Finance  
Public Debt  
Roads, Bridges and Ferries  
Sale of University Lands, Select  
6th R.S. - 1855
Finance  
Internal Improvements  
Public Debt  
Public Lands (Chair) 
5th R.S. - 1853
Counties and County Boundaries  
Finance (Chair) 
Private Land Claims  
Public Debt (Chair) 
Public Lands  
State Affairs  
Treasury Department, Select (Co-Chair) 
4th R.S. - 1851
Education  
Engrossed Bills  
Finance  
Internal Improvements  
Land Titles West of the Nueces, Select  
Privileges and Elections (Chair) 
1st R.S. - 1846
Affairs of State (Chair) 
Engrossed and Enrolled Bills (Chair) 
Finance  

This website is a work in progress. Information on this website is provided as a public service by the Legislative Reference Library. The Legislative Reference Library makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy and makes no warranty in regard to its use. Users assume all risk of reliance on the information included on this site.

Party information is not available for the 1st-11th Legislatures.

Have a question, comment or contribution? Email the Library or call 512-463-1252.

Many photos in Texas Legislators: Past and Present are used with permission of the Texas State Preservation Board. For permission to reproduce these photos, please contact the Texas State Preservation Board graphics coordinator at 512-475-3060.