The Lucketts of Portobacco - Author: Harry Wright NewmanA genealogical history of Samuel Luckett, Gent. Of Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland, and some of his descendants, with a sketch of the allied family of Offutt, of Prince Georges County, Maryland. Bibliographic Information: Newman, Harry W. The Lucketts of Portobacco. Washington, D.C.: Harry Wright Newman, 1938. Return to PREFACE SAMUEL LUCKETT2 AND HIS DESCENDANTSSamuel Luckett, the eldest son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Hussey) Luckett, was born October 10, 1685, at Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland, according to court records. Sometime before 1712 he married Ann (???), presumably a maiden of the neighborhood, but whose patrimony has yet to be established. On June 11, 1712, Samuel Luckett, described as the son and heir of Samuel Luckett late of Charles County, deceased, conveyed to Michael Martin, Planter, the land that "William Smoot in or about 2 August 1684 conveyed to Samuel Luckett Elder known as Johnson's Choice". The transfer was acknowledged in open court by Samuel Luckett and Anne his wife in due form of law. The witnesses to the conveyance were Thomas Orrell and Ben White. Children of Samuel and Anne Luckett 1. William Luckett married Charity Middleton. q.v. 2. Benjamin Luckett, d.s.p. 1750, naming brothers Thomas and Samuel, and mother. 3. Samuel Luckett. 4. Thomas Luckett married Mary Griffin. q.v. In 1714 Samuel Luckett and John Beale were witnesses at the will of Thomas Lilley, of Charles County, who died without issue. Little else is known regarding his public or private life. He probably lived quietly on his farm near Port Tobacco and died intestate sometime before 1725. He apparently sustained financial reverses, consequently at his death his estate was negligible. What existed was undoubtedly settled privately, inasmuch as no inventory was made of his personal estate nor were any administration papers issued to an administrator by the Perogative Court. His widow was living as late as 1750, when she was named in the will of her unmarried son Benjamin. The latter, who was styled carpenter, dated his will April 3, 1750, it being proved in court on July 6, 1750, by John Robey, Elizabeth Cooper, and Elizabeth Luckett. He devised his brother Thomas whom he named as executor 50 acres of "manner land" adjoining the tract "Quick Dispatch", and various personalty. Other articles of personal property were bequeathed his mother (unnamed) and brother Samuel. COLONEL WILLIAM LUCKETT, GENT.3 (1711 - 1783) William Luckett, son of Samuel and Anne Luckett, was born about the year 1711, according to the 1776 census of Frederick County, and all circumstances point to the fact that the event occurred in Port Tobacco Parish, Charles County. About 1725 as an orphan he was placed under the care of James Middleton, of Charles County, by court orders to learn a profitable trade or profession. It was the custom of that day in Maryland to apprentice children whose paternal parent was deceased and whose estate was either insolvent or negligible with planters or merchants in order that the orphans may not become public charges. Thus, from the fact that William Luckett was taken from his mother is evidence that his father had lost his patrimony. In 1728 James Middleton was summoned by the court and censured for "neglecting to teach William Luckett to read and write". He, however, later became quite proficient in letters, because many documents written by him and signed are still preserved at the court house of Frederick County. The wife of William Luckett was Charity, born 1717, the daughter of John and Mary (Wheeler) Middleton, of Prince Georges County. In 1740 she and her husband were deeded by them for natural love and affection the tracts "Thomas and Mary" and "Wilson's Enlargement", containing 195 acres in Prince Georges County. Children of William and Charity (Middleton) Luckett
The material inheritance of William Luckett at majority was small, and this probably accounted for the fact that at manhood he settled on the frontier, then the western portion of Prince Georges County which was soon to be organized into the new county of Frederick. Here on the lower slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, unsurpassed in rich soil and beauty, he became a force in the community and one of the most outstanding subjects of the Lord Proprietor. Before his death he had attained high military and civil honors and was the first of the Lucketts to gain any significant colonial importance. He was in Charles County as late as July 7, 1733, because on that day he witnessed the will of Robert Robertson who made William Middleton the principal legatee. By the year 1748 he was well established in Frederick County and was the operator of a ferry to the Virginia shore of the Potomac. It was later operated by his son-in-law Thomas Noland. It is interesting to note that many years later when the Maryland veterans of the Revolutionary War were making their applications for pensions, many in certifying to the details of their service stated that on the way to York-town as well as other Southern points they crossed the Potomac at Noland's Ferry, while a few referred to it as Luckett's Ferry. It is believed that William Luckett was raised under the tenets of the Roman Catholic faith. It was the religion of the Middletons, and while no knowledge is existent of the belief of his parents, we do know that his brothers were members of the Romanish Church. Assuming that he were raised a Catholic, it is probable that the frontier was not conducive to the Church of Rome and being a liberal in thought, he adopted the Established Church--and it is also probable that no Catholic Chapel existed in Frederick County of his day and the acceptance of the English faith was through necessity. Then there is the expediency element. No Catholic could hold office, and as he was ambitious and undoubtedly possessed of acumen above many men of his day, he with reservations became a member of the Church of England. He was a vestryman of All Saint's Parish, the mother church of Frederick County, and was closely identified with its growth and development. He patented much land in western Maryland, his warrants being--"Conjuror's Disappointment" of 50 acres in 1764; "It May Be Good in Time", of 400 acres in 1767; "Luckett's Merry Midnight", of 595 acres in 1768; "Resurvey on Gleaming," of 108 acres in 1773; and "Hussey's Chance" of 484 acres in 1774. He maintained his seat, however, at "Meredith's His Hunting Quarter." On May 6, 1751, William Luckett, of Frederick County, was bondsman for William Nichnow, the administrator of Edward Marlowe. On February 5, 1765, he appeared as the administrator of the estate of William Galford, when Samuel Swearingen and William Luckett, Jr., were his sureties. William Luckett commanded a company of militia from Frederick County in the French and Indian Wars. One account shows his company in continuous active service for 30 days.1 In the company were his eldest sons, William and Samuel, the latter acting as clerk to the outfit. The following is a copy of a letter written during the French and Indian Wars, the original of which is now in the possession of a descendant. [2] "By His Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esquire Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the Province of Maryland. To Captain William Luckett Commander of a Company of the Militia of Frederick City: You are as soon as possible after you Recruit hereof to march hither with the Company whereof You have the Command. You are to bring with you Provisions enough to serve Your Company one Month and you are to Order every Man to bring a Blanket and as much Cloaths as he can have Occasion during that time. (signed) HORATIO SHARPE. Given at Fort Frederick the 8th Day of July 1758". Before the end of July Governor Sharpe in his correspondence referred to the "fine company" of Captain Luckett at Fort Frederick. In addition to his military campaigns, William Luckett was for a number of years one of the magistrates of Frederick County, and is known as one of the "Twelve Immortal Justices" who repudiated the Stamp Act of November 23, 1765. The Frederick Chapter of the D. A. R. in 1904 commemorated the event by the placing of a bronze tablet in the County Court House in order that the twelve patriots may not be forgotten. They were, besides William Luckett, Thomas Beatty, Peter Bainbridge, Charles Jones, David Lynn, Thomas Price, James Dickson, William Blair, Samuel Beall, Josiah Beall, Andrew Heugh, and Joseph Smith. From 1767 to 1771 William Luckett represented his hundred in the General Assembly of the Province which met at the State House in Annapolis. [3] During the trying days prior to the American Revolution, he was most active in the cause of the Patriots and served on numerous committees and councils. In 1775 he held the rank of lieutenant colonel and was one of the senior officers in his part of Maryland in age as well as in service. He had weathered many a military campaign and had attained at least his sixtieth year. On August 8, 1776, he passed eleven men who had been enrolled by Lieutenant Clement Holliday for service.4 During the fall of 1777 he was in active service and as lieutenant colonel of the militia regiment of Colonel Baker Johnson, he was in continuous service for three months. He was actively engaged at the battle of Germantown. At the creation of Montgomery County in 1777 out of the lower district of Frederick County, the dwelling-plantation of Colonel Luckett lay in the new county. On April 10, 1778, he conveyed to John Max Nesbit, of Manheim, Pennsylvania, "It May Be Good in Time". Charity Luckett, his wife, waived all right of dower. The following appears on the deed books of Montgomery County, as of June 27, 1781, and proves several connections. William Luckett and Charity his wife of Montgomery County, Middleton Marlowe and John Hawkins of Prince Georges County, conveyed to William Davis of Montgomery County . . . "whereas John Middleton, late of Frederick County, deceased, was possessed of 'Maiden Bower', of 100 acres, whereas he willed it to his three daughters, Charity Luckett wife of William Luckett, Anne wife of Raphael Marlow, and Sarah wife of Thomas Hawkins, and whereas Anne Marlowe, now deceased, was grandmother to Middleton Marlow and the said Sarah Hawkins, now deceased, was grandmother to John Hawkins and coheirs of John Middleton, deceased . . ." The will of William Luckett was dated October 23, 1782, and probated in Montgomery County on January 17, 1783. He devised his son William "Wheeler's Hope" in Prince Georges County, John an island in the Potomac, and Thomas Hussey "Beall's Good Will". His dwelling-plantation "Meredith's Hunting Quarters" he devised to his son Levin. Various personalty was bequeathed to his daughters Verlinda, Susannah, Anne, Elizabeth, and Eleanor. His wife Charity and son Levin were named as executors. According to the tax list of 1783, his widow Charity Luckett was seized of "Allison's Addition" of 144 acres in Sugarland Hundred of Montgomery County, with one frame dwelling house, one tobacco house, one log quarter, the estate being described as 35 miles from Georgetown. She was also seized of "Chance" of 145 acres and "Madaris His Hunting Quarter" of 498 acres, 250 of which were cleared, with one dwelling house, one stone house, one meat house, three tobacco houses, being 40 miles from Georgetown. Their spinster daughter, Verlinda Luckett, joined her brothers in Loudon County, Virginia, where she died testate during 1799. She named her brother and sister David and Susannah Luckett; nephews William and Francis, sons of Levin Luckett; nephew Samuel Noland, son of John; and the following nieces and nephews all children of her sister Susannah Luckett--Juliet, Kitty, William Gassan, David Lawson, and Luther. THOMAS LUCKETT3 (1720 - 1797) Thomas Luckett, son of Samuel and Anne Luckett, was born about 1720, in Port Tobacco Parish, Charles County, Maryland. His wife was Mary, who shared in the will of her mother Sarah Griffin, of Charles County, during 1796. From the ages and marriages of his children, it can be concluded that Thomas wedded somewhat late in life. Children of Thomas and Mary (Griffin) Luckett 1. Benjamin Luckett married Elizabeth Semmes. q.v. 2. Priscilla Luckett married Barton Robey, settled in Nelson Co., Ky. 3. Sarah Luckett married John Semmes, settled in Nelson Co., Ky. 4. Elizabeth Luckett married James Oldham. 5. Thomas Luckett married Mary (???). q.v. 6. Anne Luckett. 7. Verlinda Luckett married Joseph Osborn Robey, according to rites of Catholic Church, Feb. 22, 1797. 8. Hezekiah Luckett married Elizabeth (???). q.v. 9. Henry Luckett married Elizabeth Beaven. q.v. Thomas Luckett maintained his seat in Upper Port Tobacco Hundred, where he was a tax payer in 1783, with the following tracts--"Quick Dispatch" of 15 acres with one good dwelling; "Semmes' Support" of 40 acres; "No Dispute" of 48 acres with one good dwelling; and "Luckett's Outlet" of 24 acres. These tracts were acquired during the Revolutionary War, inasmuch as up to the year 1774 Thomas Luckett paid no quit rents to the Lord Proprietor. On May 16, 1770, Thomas Luckett and Benjamin Jameson were sureties for Elizabeth Kerrick, of Charles County, the administratrix of Hugh Kerrick. And on January 16, 1775, he and Philip Murray filed bond in the amount of œ200 for Walter Gherrick, the administrator of Elizabeth Kerrick. In 1778 Thomas Luckett took the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity to the State of Maryland in Charles County, his signature appearing on the list of "His Worshipful Robert Young Returns". [5] According to the census of 1790, Thomas Luckett was the head of a family, he and another man being over the age of 16, 1 boy under 16, 6 females, and 11 slaves. He died intestate in Charles County. His widow Mary was issued letters of administration, while the inventory of his personal estate, taken in April 1797, showed property given to his five children at the time of marriage, but since returned to the estate. The final account was rendered April 15, 1797, by his widow, and distributed to her and nine unnamed children. John Griffin and Thomas Luckett were the bondsmen. On April 10, 1797, an indenture made in Charles County showed that Benjamin Luckett and Elizabeth his wife, Barton Robey and Priscilla his wife, John Semmes and Sarah his wife all of Nelson County, Kentucky, James Oldham and Elizabeth his wife, Thomas Luckett and Mary his wife, Anne Luckett, Joseph Osborne Robey and Valinda his wife, Hezekiah Luckett, and Henry Luckett, all of Charles County, Maryland, deeded to Elizabeth Keith, of Alexandria, Virginia, a tract of land in Charles County called "All Dispute", being a portion of Zachaiah Manor which by patent of November 30, 1797, had been granted to Benjamin Luckett, Elizabeth Oldham, Priscilla Robey, Thomas Luckett, Sarah Semmes, Anne Luckett, Valinda Luckett, Hezekiah Luckett, and Henry Luckett, heirs of Thomas Luckett. Hezekiah Luckett was given the power of attorney for the residents of Nelson County. CAPTAIN WILLIAM LUCKETT4 (1743 - 1820) William Luckett, son of William and Charity (Middleton) Luckett, was born about the year 1743 in that part of Frederick County which later became Montgomery County. Before the Revolution he married Sarah, the daughter of Arthur and Lucy Nelson, of the same county. His father-in-law died in 1792, and by his will proved in Frederick County on January 24, of that year, he bequeathed property to his daughter Sarah Luckett and his grandson William Arthur Nelson Luckett. The will of Lucy Nelson, his mother-in-law, was admitted to probate on May 10, 1796, and among her heirs was her daughter Sarah Luckett. Children of William and Sarah (Nelson) Luckett 1. Samuel Luckett married Rebecca Clapman. License Fred. Co., Dec. 22, 1806. 2. Nelson Luckett.(*) Major U. S. Light Dragoons, Jan. 20, 1813; Lieut.-Col., Aug. 1, 1813. 3. Lloyd Luckett married Henrietta Brengle. License Fred. Co., July 17, 1812. 4. Clarissa Harlow Luckett, spinster. 5. Serena Luckett, spinster. 6. Lucy Luckett married Ignatius Jamieson. License Fred. Co., Mar. 28, 1796. 7. Mountjoy Bayley Luckett, born 1789, died Baton Rouge, Feb. 26, 1812. 8. William Arthur Nelson Luckett.(*) Note: John Roger Nelson Luckett was Captain, 2d U. S. Inf., War of 1812. (*) It is not known whether they were the one or the same. In young manhood William Luckett served under his father at Fort Frederick during the French and Indian Wars. [6] At the beginning of the American Revolution he was captain of the militia in the Lower District of Frederick County. For two months during 1777 he commanded a company of drafted militia from Frederick County and marched to New Jersey where he and his company were encamped most of the period. His services were certified by William Sargeant, formerly a private in his company, when the latter applied for a Revolutionary pension from Kentucky in 1834. He served upon a number of committees during the conflict, one of which was the important Committee of Observation for Frederick County at the beginning of the war. [7] Another committee was for the solicitation of arms and ammunition for the militia. On August 19, 1779, he was appointed to receive subscriptions for the defense of the State. [8] And on November 7, 1779, he was commissioned a Judge of the Orphan's Court for Frederick County. [9] On June 23, 1770, his father conveyed him the tract called "Luckett's Merry Midnight", at which time Charity his mother waived dower. In 1786 he instituted a resurvey on this tract and along with some waste land a new warrant was issued to him calling for 982 acres. The will of William Luckett was dated October 1, 1817, and proved in Frederick County, Maryland, on May 26, 1820, by Thomas Hawkins, Henry Gross, and Charles Gross. He named his five surviving children--Samuel, Nelson, Lloyd, Clarissa Harlow, and Serena; grandchildren--Kitty, Joseph, William, and Benedict Jamieson; and his friend Peter Mantz. On August 5, 1823, a bill of complaint was filed in the circuit court of Frederick County by Clarissa Luckett and Serena Luckett regarding the land which their brother Lloyd had mortgaged to John Nelson and which had been devised by their father William Luckett. CAPTAIN JOHN LUCKETT4 (1751 - 1793) John Luckett, son of William and Charity (Middleton) Luckett, was born about 1751 in the Lower District of Frederick County. Sometime before the Revolution he married Molly Anne (???), born about 1755. Children of John and Molly Anne Luckett 1. Philip Hussey Luckett, born 1775. 2. Samuel Noland Luckett married twice. q.v. 3. William Meroney Luckett. 4. John Middleton Luckett, M. D., born 1782, killed in duel at Louisville by George F. Strother. 5. Sarah Luckett. At majority John Luckett removed to Loudon County, Virginia, where during the Revolution he commanded a militia company of that county and participated at the seige of Yorktown. [10] According to the tax list of Sugar Land Hundred, Frederick County, Maryland, in 1783, John Luckett was seized of "Congor" and "Disappointment", 40 miles from Georgetown on which were located three log houses and two tobacco houses. On March 9, 1785, as a resident of Loudon County, Virginia, he deeded these tracts to Thomas Hussey Luckett. Molly Anne Luckett, his wife, waived her right of dower. On October 17, 1787, he conveyed to Stephen Newton Chiswell, of Montgomery County, land known as "Accord", originally patented by William Cumming and James Edmondson, of Prince Georges County, and by them deeded to John Willcoxen who by will devised it to John Wilcoxen, alias Windsor, and by him conveyed to William Luckett. The will of John Luckett was dated November 24, 1783, and admitted to probate in Loudon County, Virginia, on November 25, 1793. He named his wife Molly Anne; his four sons Phil Hussey, Samuel Noland, William Merony, and John Middleton; and his daughter Sally Luckett. His widow and brother Levin Luckett were appointed executors. | HOME | |