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Jesse Speight

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Jesse Speight

Birth
Speights Bridge, Greene County, North Carolina, USA
Death
1 May 1847 (aged 51)
Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi, USA
Burial
Aberdeen, Monroe County, Mississippi, USA Add to Map
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US Congressman. He was born Jesse Vines Speight in 1795 or 1798 (sources differ) to Capt Seth Speight Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Vines Speight in Greene County, North Carolina, and was educated in local country schools. His mother died in December, 1798 and his father ca June, 1800. He was raised by his eldest brother, William Vines Speight (1778-1836) after the deaths of his uncles, William Speight, Esq. ((1802) and Samuel Speight (1803) to become a farmer and politician. After his education, he ran for public office and was elected to the North Carolina State Legislature (or House of Commons) and served in that position in 1822 with his eldest brother as a state senator. He also served as a Member of the North Carolina State Senate from 1823 to 1827, and also as Speaker of the North Carolina State Senate from 1823 to 1827. He was elected a brigadier general in the state militia in 1823. He then ran for a seat in the United States Congress and was elected. A Democrat, he then served North Carolina's 4th District (Twenty-First and three succeeding Congresses) in the United States House of Representatives from 1829 to 1837. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1836. After his term in the United States Congress had expired on March 3, 1837, he relocated to Plymouth, Mississippi. He then ran for a seat in the Mississippi State Senate and was elected as a Democrat and served in that position from 1841 to 1844. He also served as the President of the Mississippi State Senate from 1842 to 1843. He lastly served as a United States Senator from the State of Mississippi serving in that position from 1845 to 1847. While serving as a United States Senator, he was Chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills for the Twenty-Ninth Congress and Chairman of the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses for the Twenty-Ninth Congress. He passed away following a long illness while still serving in public office on May 1, 1847, in Columbus, Mississippi, at the age of 51, and he was buried in the Friendship Cemetery. He was married to Mary Grimes May with whom he had a daughter named Maria Grimes Speight on December 23, 1817. His wife Mary predeceased him on September 5, 1826, at the age of 31. His daughter Maria passed away on June 22, 1896, at the age of 78.
US Congressman. He was born Jesse Vines Speight in 1795 or 1798 (sources differ) to Capt Seth Speight Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Vines Speight in Greene County, North Carolina, and was educated in local country schools. His mother died in December, 1798 and his father ca June, 1800. He was raised by his eldest brother, William Vines Speight (1778-1836) after the deaths of his uncles, William Speight, Esq. ((1802) and Samuel Speight (1803) to become a farmer and politician. After his education, he ran for public office and was elected to the North Carolina State Legislature (or House of Commons) and served in that position in 1822 with his eldest brother as a state senator. He also served as a Member of the North Carolina State Senate from 1823 to 1827, and also as Speaker of the North Carolina State Senate from 1823 to 1827. He was elected a brigadier general in the state militia in 1823. He then ran for a seat in the United States Congress and was elected. A Democrat, he then served North Carolina's 4th District (Twenty-First and three succeeding Congresses) in the United States House of Representatives from 1829 to 1837. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1836. After his term in the United States Congress had expired on March 3, 1837, he relocated to Plymouth, Mississippi. He then ran for a seat in the Mississippi State Senate and was elected as a Democrat and served in that position from 1841 to 1844. He also served as the President of the Mississippi State Senate from 1842 to 1843. He lastly served as a United States Senator from the State of Mississippi serving in that position from 1845 to 1847. While serving as a United States Senator, he was Chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills for the Twenty-Ninth Congress and Chairman of the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses for the Twenty-Ninth Congress. He passed away following a long illness while still serving in public office on May 1, 1847, in Columbus, Mississippi, at the age of 51, and he was buried in the Friendship Cemetery. He was married to Mary Grimes May with whom he had a daughter named Maria Grimes Speight on December 23, 1817. His wife Mary predeceased him on September 5, 1826, at the age of 31. His daughter Maria passed away on June 22, 1896, at the age of 78.

Bio by: The Silent Forgotten

Inscription

"Gen. Jesse Speight who was born in Green County, North Carolina, on the 22nd of September 1798, and died at his residence in this beautiful grove on the 1st day of May 1847 in the 49th Year of his age."

"Be it known that beneath this simple monument rests the mortal remains of as pure a Patriot, as firm a Republican and as honest a Man, as the Sun ever shone upon. In the various relations of husband, father, master and friend his superior was not to be found."

"At an early age he was a Representative and soon after a Senator in the Council of his native state and successively the presiding official in each body. In 1829 he was a Representative in Congress in which capacity he served for eight years."

"In 1835 he was honored with a seat in the Convention to revise the state constitution where he was alike distinguished. In 1839 he was elected a Representative in the Mississippi Legislature and chosen its Speaker. In 1844 he was elected State Senator over which body he was also called to preside. And in 1844 he was elected Senator in Congress, where he faithfully represented his adopted State to the day of his death."

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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Michelle Woodham
  • Added: Mar 23, 2007
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18560268/jesse-speight: accessed ), memorial page for Jesse Speight (22 Sep 1795–1 May 1847), Find a Grave Memorial ID 18560268, citing Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery, Aberdeen, Monroe County, Mississippi, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.