Catahoula Parish Judges, 1805-1834

Lest We Forget

Catahoula Parish Judges, 1805-1834

Compliments of:

W. A. Book – Clerk of Court

Bruce A. Edmonds – Registrar of Voters

Sue Manning – Deputy Registrar of Voters

The judge of a parish court was also a justice of the peace and Recorder of deeds and mortgages.  His jurisdiction also covered probate matters such as estates of deceased persons, minors and interdicts.  The following is a list of the parish judges of Catahoula Parish:

Territory of Orleans

William Miller, 1805-1807

Born in PA, came to LA, and engaged in mercantile business with Alexander Fulton; appointed parish judge in June, 1805; resigned in 1807; died in Cincinnati OH, May 12, 1845.

Thomas Dawson, 1807-1808
Appointed parish judge, Rapides Parish LA; May 1807


Catahoula Parish created by Act approved March 23, 1808

Benjamin Tennille, 1808-1809

Born in Prince William County VA, son of Benjamin and Margaret Tennille; soldier in Revolutionary War (3rd VA Regt.); moved to Georgia in 1788; to LA 1807; appointed parish judge in 1808; resigned in 1809; died June 30, 1811, Monroe LA.

Robert Hall, 1809-1812

Married 20 July, 1806, Mira St. John Tennille, daughter of Benj. and Rachel (St. Clare) Tennille; Delegate from Rapides County, and Catahoula Parish to Constitutional Convention of 1811 in New Orleans that framed the constitution for Louisiana's admission to the Union.  He died in Monroe LA.

Under State Government (Louisiana)

Robert Hall, 1812-1813

Samuel Lightner, 1813-1834
Married Elizabeth Lovelace and died in 1834.