Skelton Tig Priest (1866 - 1944)

Born 1866 in Texas, USA

Ancestors

Descendants

Died Nov 1944 at about age 78 in Howell, Missouri, United States

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Biography

Skelton was born about 1865. He is the son of William Priest and Missouri Shields.

Father's Family

• In the 1870 Census, the spelling of Skelton's name is "Skilton". It's plainly written, but may have been misunderstood by the census taker doing the writing. Father is William Priest (25), mother is Missouri (25), others listed are George (5), Skilton (4), Joseph (2), and Louis (1) all male. All children born in Texas. Missouri born in Alabama, and William born in Mississippi.^[1][2]

• In the 1880 Census, the spelling of Skelton's name is "Shelton". Father is Wm R Preast (38), mother Missourie (38), Siblings George F (15), Joseph (12), Lonn D (10), Eliza (8), Abigail (4), James (2), and Amanda (1). This census lists George F as born in Mexico, and the other children born in Texas.^[3]

Skelton's Family

• In the 1900 Census, the census taker's writing of "Skelton" separated the "S" from the "k", and other marks near the name make the "S" look somewhat like a "G". Compare this example of "S" with the "S" in San Antonio at the top of the page, and with the "S" in "Shields" the next family down the page. Also note this census takers "G" from family "George Cox" above and "Ervin McGraw" above. The "G's" are much more curly than than this letter at the beginning of "Skelton". For other examples of the large "K" where normal handwriting would make it small, see sheet B 10 for two more examples of this with the "K" in "Frank" in family 187(173), and the "K" in Hancock of family 188(174). Given these handwriting anomalies, this could easily be interpreted "Skelton" instead of "G Kelton". Other evidences that this is Skelton: Father William Priest and brother Alonzo Priest are on the previous page of this Census. It will also be worth investigating if the Ervin McGraw family (3 families above Skelton's) is the family of Mary, wife of Skelton. ^[4]

• In the 1910 Census, the family name is spelled "Prest" with the husband S. T. Prest (45), wife Mary A (48), children Theo(17), Fred P (14), Andy P (12), Dorothy G (10), and Ned R (8). Everyone's birthplace is listed as Texas. ^[5]

• In the 1930 Census, the family name is spelled "Priest" with the husband Skelton T. (64) and wife Mina P (48). All the children are gone. Note that in this census record "age at first marriage" is listed as 25 for Skelton, and 39 for Mina. Mina's birth state is Arkansas. ^[6]

• In the 1940 Census, the family name is spelled "Priest" with the husband Skelton T. (64) and wife Nina P (48). The handwriting of this census taker is the clearest and most accurate of any listed above. This spelling should be used in the record.^[7]

Skelton's Marriages

• Social Security Records show a claim against Skelton T Priest's social security account by Skelton and spouse Mary McGraw with child Fred Priest. ^[8]

• County Marriage Records for Oklahoma between the years 1890-1995 lists S T Priest male age 53 with birth date about 1868 and spouse Nina Thurman, marriage date 13 Nov 1921. Note that this is several years after the death of Skelton's wife Mary Ann. ^[9]

Birth and Death

• Find A Grave lists birth date as 1866 Death date as Nov 1944. The Find A Grave website also has a photograph of the headstone, and confirms the spelling of the first name.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ 1870 United States Federal Census; Census Place: District 4, Atascosa, Texas; Roll: M593_1573; Page: 195B; Image: 328554; Family History Library Film: 553072.
2. ↑ United States Census, 1870 Texas Atascosa Precinct 1 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DZ73-KKQ?i=7&cc=1438024
3. ↑ 1880 United States Federal Census; Year: 1880; Census Place: Bexar, Texas; Roll: 1291; Page: 305D; Enumeration District: 022.
4. ↑ 1900 United States Federal Census; Census Place: Justice Precinct 6, Bexar, Texas; Page: 12; Enumeration District: 0118; FHL microfilm: 1241612.
5. ↑ 1910 United States Federal Census; Census Place: Clayton, Fisher, Texas; Roll: T624_1552; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 0097; FHL microfilm: 1375565.
6. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census; Census Place: Ball, Benton, Arkansas; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0003; FHL microfilm: 2339800.
7. ↑ 1940 United States Federal Census; Census Place: Moore, Oregon, Missouri; Roll: T627_2134; Page: 61A; Enumeration District: 75-16.
8. ↑ U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007.
9. ↑ Oklahoma, County Marriage Records, 1890-1995, S T Priest and Nina Thurman, Film Number 002180179.
10. ↑ Find A Grave web site: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15639751.