Texas Legislators: Past & Present

Mijamin Priest

Full Name: Mijamin Priest
Birth date: December 23, 1808
Death date: March 15, 1884

Terms of Service

Senate, 12th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾ ⁽⁵⁾ ⁽⁶⁾ Legislature
2/8/1870 - 1/10/1871

(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, 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 8, 1870
February 12, 1870
February 22, 1870
(4) 12th Legislature, 1st C.S. - M. Priest present and voting throughout the 1st C.S. Senate Journal .
(5) 12th Legislature, 1st C.S. - Drawing for Terms of Office, 5/2/1870, pp. 51-52. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal .
(6) Party affiliation, Radical. Roster of members, 12th Legislature, 1870. Texas Almanac for . . . and Emigrant's Guide to Texas .

Biographical Notes and Resources

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 .