Luke Beall (abt. 1798)

Born about 1798 in Maryland, United States

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Biography

Luke Beall is a part of US Black heritage.

This Profile for Luke (?Beall) was created using the 1806 Will of Mary Dent Beall. ^[1]

For a complete copy of the Transcribed Will, see Space: Mary Dent Beall 1806 Will Transcribed

For an analysis of the Will, see Space: Tracking of Enslaved Family in Mary Dent Beall 1806 Will

Name

His first name was Luke, as documented in the Will. ^[1]

His LNAB (last name at birth) is not known. Since he was the property of the Beall family after the 1806 Will of Mary Dent Beall, he has been given the placeholder LNAB of Beall.

Birth Year and Parents

Luke's age was not mentioned in the Will. The eldest of the other 4 children was 7 years old. It is presumed that Luke was the oldest, perhaps 8 years old, born around 1798. His term of slavery was to continue for another 18 years, while the other four children were all committed to slavery until the age of 25. ^[1]

His parent's may have been the two people identified as "adult Negro" in the Will, Simon and his wife Ally.

Siblings

Luke was likely one of 5 siblings. See detail below in Research Notes.

Slaveowners

After the Will was executed, Luke's owner became William Dent Beall, son of John Beall and Mary Dent Beall. ^[1]

Note: Luke was the property of Mary Dent Beall between 1800, when her husband died, and 1806, when her Will was executed. Prior to 1800, he could have been the property of either John Beall or Mary Dent Beall. His ancestors more likely were the property of the Dent family, who owned the large plantation Whitehaven. The Beall family in general did not have a significant slaveholder tradition.

Freedom

Luke was to be set free after 18 more years as a slave. ^[1] This would place his emancipation from slavery at around 1826.

Research Notes

Names Listed in Will

This Will lists 9 slaves with first names included, potentially all members of a 3-generation enslaved family.

Enslaved Children ^[1]

• Luke, age not mentioned, was bequeathed to son William Dent Beall (b. abt. 1757); Luke was to be set free after 18 more years as a slave;
• Suckey, age seven in March 1806 when the Will was created, was bequeathed to Eleanor Beall (1801-1883), granddaughter of Mary Dent Beall and daughter of Ariana and Basil Beall; Eleanor was only five years old at the time; Suckey was to be set free at age 25;
• Anna, age four in March 1806, was bequeathed to Mary Dent Beall (1796-1850), granddaughter of her namesake and daughter of Theodore Beall (b. abt. 1760) and Susanna Greenfield (b. abt. 1780); Mary was around 10 years old at the time; Anna was to be set free at age 25;
• Kitty, one year old in March 1806, was bequeathed to Sarah Ann Beall (1790-1809), granddaughter, and daughter of Nancy Dent Beall (b. abt. 1768) and Thomas Hewitt (b. abt. 1768); Sarah Ann was around 16 years old at the time; Kitty was to be set free at age 25;
• Sarah, one month old in March 1806, was bequeathed to Mary Ann Beall (1788-1877), granddaughter, and daughter of Ariana and Basil Beall; Mary Ann was around 18 years old at the time; Sarah was to be set free at age 25.

Possible Parents ^[1]

• Simon, referred to as a "Negro man"; to remain a slave for 5 more years, then to be set free;
• Ally, wife of Simon, referred to as a "Negro woman"; to remain a slave for 5 more years, then to be set free.

Possible Grandparents ^[1]

• Tom, referred to as “the old Negro man”, was already under the ownership of, and being maintained by William Dent Beall, son of Mary Dent Beall; no provision for freedom;
• Sarah, wife of Tom, was also mentioned in the Will; no provision for freedom.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9083/images/007652817_00264?pid=87179&backurl=https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/105027422/person/380043911294/gallery&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Vbu649&usePUBJs=true Ancestry.com; Wills, Boxes 0001-0004, Duncanson, W M, 1801-1812; Original Probate Records, District of Columbia, 1801-1930 by District of Columbia Register of Wills, Washington D.C.