In the name of God, Amen. I, Benjamin Mackall of Calvert County, Md. being sick and weak in body but of sound mind, memory, and understanding do make and publish this my last Will and Testamony in manner and form following to wit.

First: I give and bequeath to my loving wife one Negro Girl named Bess Exclusive of her Right and Dower
Also I give unto my Granddaughter Ann Perry one Negro Girl named Page.
Also I give unto my Granddaughter Susannah Wilkinson one Negro Girl named Ollie.
Also I give unto my Granddaughter Sarah Wilkinson one Negro Girl named Fanny.
Also I give unto my Granddaughter Mary Wilkinson one Negro Girl named Nell.
Also I give unto my Grandson William Mackall Wilkinson one Negro Boy named Nonny Boy.
Also I give unto my Grandson Benjamin Mackall one Negro Boy named Jemin.
Also I give unto my Granddaughter Barbara Mackall one Negro Girl named Rachael.
Also I give my Grandson Levin Mackall one Negro Boy named Nick.

I give and bequeath to my loving son Benjamin Mackall, Jr all the rest and remaining Part Of My Estate and I hereby nominate and appoint my Son Benjamin Mackall, Jr. Executor of this my last Will and Testamony hereby revoking all former Will and Wills by me heretofore made.

In witness heretofore I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 5th day of December Anno Domini 1761.

Benjamin Mackall (seal)

Dec. Anno Domini 1761
signed, sealed, and declared
in the presence of:

John Gray
Thomas Gostin Hutchins

Calvert County, Dec. the 29th 1761 came John Gray and Gostin Hutchins subscribing Witnesses to the within Will and being duly Sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God depose and say that they saw the Testator, Benjamin Mackall, sign the within Will and heard him Publish and declare the same to be his last Will and Testamony and at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehension of Sound disposing mind and memory and understanding and that they signed their respective names as Evidences to the said Will in the presence of the Testator and at his request.

Sworn before-Clement Smith
Deputy Commissary of Calvert County

Vide Page 507 Widows Election:

Honored Sir:

This is to acquaint you that Mrs. Benjamin Mackall, Widow of Benjamin Mackall late of Calvert County, did approve (appear) before me on the 20th day of January 1762 and declared to me that she would not stand to her Deceased Husbands Will and desires your will to make her Election endorsed on the Perogative Records and the Back of Mr. Benjamin Mackall's Will which is sent to Perogative Office by January 25th 1762

Your very humble Servant
Clement Smith
Deputy Commissary of Calvert County

In the name of God, Amen. I, Barbara Mackall of Christ Church Parish in Calvert County, being in good health and of sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed be to God for the same do make and publish this my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following, that is to say:

First: I give and devise to my grandson, Thomas Bond, Son of my daughter Ann Bond all that Tract or parcel of land called "Brooks Partition" laying in the County aforesaid on the branches of Fishing Creek and Hunting Creek which was devised to me by my father, Mr. Richard Smith, be the quanity more or less to be Equally Divided between them immediately after my decease to have and to hold the Same to each of them, their Heirs and assignes forever and it is my further Will and desire that the profits arrising on the part then, belonging to my grandson Benjamin be laid by, Kept,and paid to the said Benjamin when he attains the age twenty-one years and it is my further Will and Desire if the aforesaid Benjamin Bond should die before he attains the age Twenty-one years or without issue of his Body, lawfully begotten, to inherit the same, that the aforesaid Thomas Bond shall, hold, possession enjoyed forever after the whole of the aforesaid Tract or parcel of Land, but I hereby declare that it is my intent or design by mentioning the Issue of Benjamin Bond to entail his part, but if he attains the age of Twenty-one years he shall ever after hold his part in fee simple General.

I give and bequeath my son Benjamin Mackall,Jr. one Mourning Ring of Twenty-one Shillings Sterling cost.

I give and devise to each of my daughter Barbara Wilkinson's children one Mourning Ring of Twentyone Shillings Sterling each.

I give my daughter Mary Bond the five Negro Servants named, viz: Isaac; David; Bess; Haney; and Tanor.

I give to my daughter Betty Heighe the four Negroes hereafter named, viz: Abraham; Bobb; Nell; and little Bobb.

I give to my daughter Rebecca Young the four Negroes hereafter named, viz: Daniel; Lucy; -Roger; and Moll.

I give to my Daughter Ann Bond the following Negroes, viz: Moses; Dinah; Yellow Moll; and the remaining part of my personal Estate after myjust debts and funeral expenses are justly paid I give and devise to my four Daughters, viz: Mary; Betty; Rebecca; and Anna to be divided equally between them.

Lastly, I hereby name and appoint my Daughter Mary Bond my sole Executrix

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 22nd day of April Anno Domini 1762.

Barbara Mackall (seal)

Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the Testator Barbara Mackall as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto set our names as Witnesses in the presence of and at the request of the Testator in the presence of each other.

John Gray
James Gray

Elizabeth Hanes

Calvert County to wit:

It is to be remembered that on the 14th day of November in the year of our Lord Christ 1764 John Gray and James Gray two of the subscribing Witnesses to the aforegoing last Will and Testament of Barbara Mackall, late of the County aforesaid, now deceased, came and made oath on the Holy Evangeis Of Almighty God that they were present and did see the aforesaid Barbara Mackail the Testatrix sign and publish and declare the same to be her last Will and Testament and that she was then to the very best of their several apprehensions of a sound and perfect disposing Mind and Memory and that they were present and did see Elizabeth Hanes the other Subscribing Witness to the aforesaid Will subscribe her name as a Witness to the Same and that they the aforesaid John Gray and James Gray and Elizabeth Hanes did all of them severally Subscribe their names as Witnesses to the same Will in the presence of each other.

lurat Commo Die and Anno Supra Diect
Ellis Slater
Deputy Commissary of Calvert County

Benjamin Mackall I, youngest son of the Pioneer James and his wife, Mary Grahame Mackall, (l675 - 1761). Married Barbara Smith Holdsworth in 1719. She was a daughter of Capt. Richard Smith of St Leonards, Calvert Co., Md, and widow of Thomas Holdsworth, she was born in 1695 and died 1764. By this union there were three children...

Benjamin Mackall I was a member of the House of Burgess 1719 to 1738. He was Chief Justice of Calvert Co., 1726 to 1731, he was also a member of the committee of Public Instructions. He was buried on his Hallowing Point Plantation and the stone marking his grave was standing as late as 1870.

The third branch of the Mackall family is descended from Benjamin Mackall, the youngest son of James Mackall. He settled at Hallowing Point on the Patuxent, and became a member of the Maryland Assembly and later Chief Justice of Calvert County. His wife was Barbara, a daughter of Richard Smith, Jr, of St. Leonard's. His descendents distinquised themselves in law and medicine. His son Col. Benjamin Mackall of Hallowing Point (so called to distinquish him from his cousin, Benjamin Mackall of Godsgrace), served in the Assembly, was a Justice of Calvert County, and during the American Revolution, was a member of the Committee of Safety.

MACKALL, BENJAMIN (1675-1761). BORN: in 1675 in Calvert County; youngest son. NATIVE: second generation. RESIDED: in Calvert County.

FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER: James Mackall (1630-1693), who immigrated from Scotland as an indentured servant, and was free by 1668; illiterate. MOTHER: Mary Grahame (by 1649-1718). BROTHERS: John Mackall (1669-1739); James Mackall (1671-1717). SISTERS: Ann (ca. 1661-?), who married first, Andrew Tannehill (?-1694), second, John Taney, third, Robert Skinner (?ca.1712/l3) and fourth, (first name unknown) Bruse; Elizabeth (1665-?), who married William Skinner. NEPHEW: James John Mackall (1717-1772).

MARRIED by April 1720 Barbara (1693-1764), widow of Thomas Holdsworth (ca. 1692-1718), daughter of Capt. Richard Smith (?-1714) and his wife Barbara, who was the widow of John Rousby (?- 1685/86). Her paternal grandfather was Richard Smith (?-ca. 1690). Her maternal grandfather was Henry Morgan (ca. 1616-1663). Her stepmother was Maria Johanna Somerset, widow of Colonel Lowther. Her uncle was Walter Smith (?-1711). Her brother was Walter Smith (ca. 1693- 1748). Her half brothers were Richard Smith, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Hutchins (?-1698); Charles Somerset Smith (1698- 1713); and John Rousby (1685-1744). Her sisters were Francis (by 1698-by 1714); Susanna (by 1698- by 1714). Her half sisters were Ann Smith, who married William Dawkins; Elizabeth Smith, who married William Tom; Gertrude Rousby; and Elizabeth Rousby (1682-1740), who married Richard Bennett (1667-1749). Her first cousins were Lucy Smith (1688-1770), who married Thomas Brook, (1683-1744); Eleanor Smith (1690- 1761), who married Thomas Addison (1679-1727); Anne Smith (ca. 1694-1759), who married Thomas Trueman Greenfleld (1682-1733); and Rebecca Smith (1696-1737), who married Daniel Dulany (1685-1753).

CHILDREN. SON: Benjamin Mackall, Jr. (ca. 1723-1795). DAUGHTERS: Sarah (1721- ?), who married (first name unknown) Perry; Barbara (1722-1757), who married William Wilkinson (?-1755). STEPDAUGHTERS: Mary Holdsworth (1713-?), who married Benson Bond (1710- 1750); Betty Holdsworth (1715-?), who married James Heighe (?-1757); Rebecca Holdsworth (1716-?), who married Richard Young, son of Samuel Young (1662-1736); and Ann Holdsworth (1719-?), who married John Bond.

PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCATION: literate. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Anglican. SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Gent., by 1715. OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: planter; merchant, with store containing new goods valued at ca. £212.0.0 at time of death.

PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Lower House, Calvert County, 1719-1721/22, 1722-1724, 1725-1727 (Elections 1-4), 1728-1731 (Elections 1-5), 1732- 1734 (Elections 1-Cv), 1734/35-1737, 1738. LOCAL OFFICES: justice, Calvert County, 1722-1731 (quorum, at least 1727-1731); commissioner for new courthouse, Calvert County, 1749.

WEALTH DURING LIFETIME. PERSONAL PROPERTY: wife received £712. 15.6 current money when her first husband's estate settled in 1742. LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: 146 acres, Calvert County (100 acres inherited from father, 46 acres from personal acquisition).

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND BETWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH: acquired control of his wife's 2,200 acres in Calvert and Kent counties upon his marriage; acquired at least 909 acres in Calvert County during the 1720s, 344 acres of which were by patent; acquired an additional 1,295 acres in Calvert County before 1751, 150 acres of which were by patent; with his wife, gave her 2,000 acres in Kent County to their son in 1748, and sold at least 46 acres by 1751; acquired 71 acres in Calvert County between 1753 and death.

WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: will proven on December 29, 1761, in Calvert County. PERSONAL PROPERTY: TEV £769.17.3 sterling, £3,194.0.0 current money (including plate at £8.19.9 current money, 56 slaves, and books); FB, £769.17.3 sterling, £3,133.75 current money. LAND: 2,545 acres in Calvert County.

George Norbury MacKenzie states in his "Colonial Families" that James Duke (3) of Brooke Manor Place married Martha Mackall, daughter of Benjamin Mackall (1) and his wife Barbara Smith Holdsworth Mackall and had by her several children and that after her death he married the widow Esther Parran and had other children He goes on to state that James Duke (3) died prior to 1751, "he died in 1750". Now this marriage to Martha Mackall just could not have happened for the following reasons: first, Benjamin Mackall (1) had but two daughters, neither named Martha, both of his daughters and their descendents are known to this day, secondly, Barbara Holdsworth did not marry Benjamin Mackall until 1719, hence no daughter of theirs could have been or ten years old at the time of James Dukes death in 1750. The name Martha is not a name that was used by the early Mackall families. The James Duke who died in 1750 was really James Duke (2) and as such he is referred to in the Duke records, James Duke (5) b-1690, D-173k, James Duke (14) 3-1728, D-17914, James Duke (3) married twice, first, Martha sur-name unknown, and had issue, After her death he married the widow Esther Parran and had other issue. James Duke (14) married Mary (Broome) Wilson, daughter of John Broome (4) and Ann Gantt and widow of Nathaniel Wilson.

Benjamin Mackall the first, married the widow of Thomas Holdsworth, nee Barbara Smith (daughter of Richard); when she visited England her intelligence and beauty made such an impression upon the Queen that she presented her with a "housewife" as a mark of her esteem; it was made of the richest silk and is still in existence. Richard Smith was Attorney-General in 1655-166O, and greatly distinguished himself in the early settlement of Maryland. He received his appointment to office from Oliver Cromwell. His wife, Barbara Mackall, nee Morgan, a great grand-aunt of the eight sisters, was the daughter of Henry Morgan, and her letters published in Maryland history remain a witness to her ability.

William Mackall WILKINSON

William Mackall Wilkinson, only son of Barbara Mackall Wilkinson and her husband, the Honorable William Wilkinson, was born 2/l2/l752, died 5/12/1799. He married 2/11/1774 Ann Herbert Dent of Saint Marys Co,, Md. by whom he had ten children, In 1811 Ann Herbert Dent Wilkinson moved with all of her younger children to Mississippi, where she is supposed to have married again. Her youngest daughter Jane Herbert Wilkinson, born 7/25/1798, died 12/30/1880, married Dr. James Long, she was known and honored as the Mother of Texas. Recently the Government named a Liberty Ship in her honor.

BENJAMIN MACKALL, JR.

MACKALL, BENJAMIN, JR. (ca. 1723-1795). BORN: on February, 16. Ca. 1723, in Christ Church Parish, Calvert County; only son. NATIVE: third generation. RESIDED: at "Hallowing Point," Second District, Calvert County.

FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER: Bejamin Mackall (1675-1761). MOTHER: Barbara (1693-1764), widow of Thomas Holdsworth (ca. 1692 -1718), daughter of Capt. Richard Smith (?- 1714). UNCLES: John Mackall (1669-1739); James Mackall (1671-1717); and Walter Smith (ca. 1693-1748). HALF UNCLE: John Rousby (1685-1744) AUNT: Ann Mackall (1661- ?), who married third, Robert Skinner (?-ca. 1712/13). SISTERS: Sarah (1721- ?), who married (first name unknown) Perry; Barbara (1722-1757), who married William Wllkinson (?-1755). HALF SISTERS: Mary Holdsworth (1713- ?), who married Benson Bond (1710-1750); Betty Holdsworth (1715-?), who married James Heighe (?-1757); Rebecca Holdsworth (1716-?); and Ann Holdsworth (1719- ?) NEPHEW: William Mackall Wilkinson (1751-1799). FIRST COUSIN: James John Mackall (1717-l772)

MARRIED on April 24, 1756, Rebecca, daughter of Leonard Covington (?-ca. 1742) of Prince George's County and wife Priscilla. Rebecca was the stepdaughter of both John Hawkins, Jr. (1713- 1757) and Benjamin Fendall, Esq. (?-1764). Rebecca's grandmother, Margery Hollyday Covington, married second, Thomas Gantt (?-1765). Rebecca's brother was Levin. Her stepbrothers were Giles Blizzard Hawkins (1732-?); John Stone Hawkins (1734- ca. 1764); George Fraser Hawkins (ca. 1741-1785); Alexander Thomas Hawkins; Philip Richard Fendall; (?-?); John Fendall; Benjamin Fendall; Henry Fendall; and Samuel Fendall. Her stepsisters were Ann Fraser Hawkins (1736-1738); Elizabeth Lawrence Hawkins; Susanna Fraser Hawkins, who who married William Bayly (ca. 1742-1824); and Sarah Fendall (ca. 1732-1793), who married Thomas Contee (ca. 1729-1811).

CHlLDREN. SONS: Benjamin, who died in infancy; Levin Covington Mackall (1760-?); Benjamin (1763-1822), who married Christiana Beall; Leonard (1768-1843), who married Catherine Beall; Walter (?-ca. 1803), who married Rebecca Bailey, daughter of William Bayly (ca. 1742-1824); and Richard (?-1831), who married Frances Reynolds. DAUGHTERS: Barbara (ca. 1758-by 1795), who married Capt. Thomas Horrell; Rebecca Covington (ca. 1770- ?), who married Gen. Leonard Covington.

PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCATION: literate. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Anglican. SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Mr., by 1749; Gent., by 1768; Esq. by 1793. OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: planter; merchant in 1759.

PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Lower House, Calvert County, 1749-1751 (Bills of Credit 1; Arms and Ammunition 1), 1751- 1754, 1754-1757 (Arms and Ammunition 4-6), 1757-1758 (Arms and Ammunition 1, Cv, 2), 1758-1761,1762-1763 (Arms and Ammunition 1,2), 1765-1766 9th Convention, Calvert County, 1776. LOCAL OFFICES: Commissioner to plan new courthouse, Calvert County, 1749; justice, Calvert County, 1766, 1769, 1773 (quorum).

WEALTH DURING LIFETIME. PERSONAL PROPERTY: assessed value £2,287.11.8, including 70 slaves and 140 oz. plate, 1783. House and outbuildings on home plantation were burned by the British, February 1783. Administered personal property devised to William Mackall Wilkinson (1751-1799) from 1757 until 1770. In 1771, Mackall paid Wilkinson's guardian ca. £200.0.0 sterling as Wilkinson's share of the estate of his father, William Wilkinson (?- 1755). Wilkinson brought the case into Chancery Court in 1786, complaining that he was due a greater amount from Mackall. Although Mackall testified that he had paid a £300.0.0 sterling debt owed by Wilkinson's father and had maintained, clothed, and paid for the schooling of Wilkinson at Ca. £20.0.0 sterling per year, Wilkinson was awarded £1 ,624.4.9 in 1793. LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: probably at least 2,214 acres in Kent and Calvert counties (2,000 acres in Kent County given to him by his parents in 1748, the rest probably by personal acquisition).

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND BETWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH: patented 94 acres in Calvert County, 1754; acquired 500 acres in Prince George's County through his marriage to Rebecca, 1756. From 1757 until 1770, controlled 390 acres in Charles County devised to William Mackall Wilkinson (1751 - 1799) by his father William Wilkinson (?-1755). Sold 2,000 acres in Kent County and purchased 921 acres in Prince George's County in 1759. By 1761 had sold 94 acres and acquired 107 acres, all ill Calvert County. Inherited 2,099 acres in Calvert County from his father in 1761 and 321 acres in Calvert County from his mother in 1764. By 1767 he had divested himself of 149 acres in Calvert County, and in 1768 he sold, with Rebecca, her 500 acres in Prince George's County. By 1771 he had sold 396 acres in Calvert County; purchased 381 acres in Calvert County in 1772; sold ca. 46 acres in Calvert County by 1774. In 1783, Mackall was charged with 2,003 acres in Calvert County, having given at least 346 acres to his son Benjamin and 419 acres to his son Levin Covington Mackall (1760-?) before that date; gave 382 acres to his son Leonard a few months before his death in 1795.

WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: in April 1795 in Calvert County. LAND: probably ca. 1,621 acres in Calvert County and ca. 930 acres in Prince George's County, although he may have given some or all of this land to his sons before his death.

Benjamin Mackall (2) (of the line of Benjamin) known as Col. Benjamin Mackall, of Hallowing Point, was born 2/16/1723, died 1795 He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 6/4/1774, a member of the House of Burgess 1766 to 1775, Lt. Commander of CalvertCo., and Chairman of Committee of Safety of 1776. He settled on the Hallowing Point plantation about l745, it being willed to him by his father at the time of his death. In the war of 1812 the British destroyed by fire every building on the property, all stored crops, all paintings, furniture and silverware, with the exception of three pieces of a coffee service, which are now in the possession of Mr. Charles O. D. Mackall of Baltimore.

Benjamin Mackall the second owned large estates in Calvert and Prince George's Counties, Maryland; his products being shipped to Georgetown market. Thus it happened that two of his sons, Benjamin and Leonard, met, fell in love with, and wedded two of Brooke Beall's daughters. Their father was an important shipping merchant of Georgetown, sending great quantities of grain and tobacco to England.

Leonard chose Catherine, and Benjamin the third, Christiana Beall. To each of his daughters Mr. Beall gave a doube square on Georgetown Heights; to Benjamin Mackall's wife, part of the Rock of Dumbarton, known as Mackall Square, where quite a large frame house was built, where the family resided in winter. One hundred years ago this building was removed to another portion of the Beall estate on Congress Street, where it still stands in better condition than most modern houses. In its place on Mackall Square was built a handsome brick house of Colonial architecture, with large halls, and great square rooms on either side, lighted by four windows, situated on a high eminence overlooking the city of Washington, which spreads like a broad panorama to view. The Potomac flows just below and in the sunlight appears like a great silver sheet, bordered on either side by the blue hills. In the distance the evening sun rests upon the dome of the new Congressional Library, and the many windows reflecting their golden light give the appearance of a city enveloped in flame. To the west the tall gray spires of the College stand out in hold relief against the clear sweep of the many-hued sky.

This lovely old place is still in possession of the family, and among the many pieces of old historic furniture is a handsome Chippendale desk that belonged to the renowned Major General and Polish statesman, Kosciusko. Mr. Mackall never gave up "Mattaponi," the country seat of his forefathers in Prince George's, Maryland, and the family still own this old place, on which tremendous crops were raised. Many recollect the great droves of turkeys, three or four hundred in number,which passed through Georgetown, driven all the way from the plantation, a distance of twenty miles or more; one of these droves made a great impression upon the writer; it had been raining, and their plumage was hanging in wet strings.

The MackaIls were of a very retiring disposition, loving their homes and satisfied to stay quietly there. They were noted for their delightfull entertainments, and there still live those who delight to tell of the good old-fashioned times, delicious suppers, and the famous Maryland biscuits. The guests gathered from miles around, and after being refreshed, the belles and beaux would dance the stately minuet for the German was unheard of in those days and Uncle Sam would fiddle on till morn.

Walter MACKALL

Very little is known about Walter Mackall. He resided in Calvert County, Maryland and was a wealthy land holder in Maryland and Washington, DC. He is said to be from a "family of builders". He was a friend of Benjamin Stoddert, and after Stoddert's death lived for a short time at Halcyon House, managing Stoddert's affairs.

According to tradition, it was Stoddert who built the Columbia Mills on the site of land called Pretty Prospect, some time between 1793-1800. In hope of profit, Stoddert on December 1, 1800 divided up his land tracts into various parcels, selling to different buyers. Pretty Prospect, including the Columbia Mills, was reduced to 42 1/2 acres and sold to Walter Mackall.

Jonathan Shoemaker purchased the 42 1/2 acre lot, Pretty Prospect, from Walter Mackall on January 2, 1804. He paid $5,800 upon transfer of deed but maintained a mortgage until 1809, then paying an additional $3,800 on 7/6/1809 to the estate of Walter Mackall.

compiled and abridged from various National Park Service and National Zoo sources

Archives of Maryland General Assembly
House of Delegates: Calvert County
Session of November 4, 1799 - January 3, 1800

William D. Brome
William M. Carcaud
Walter Mackall
Roger Brooke Taney

Walter Mackall was a vestryman of Christ Church from 4 /14/l796 to 6/10/1799.