Beal Behoe

In the row behind Lucy and Sally stands another African American gravestone. This

one is for Beal, probably Beal Behoe, the brother-in-law of Lucy Behoe. The simple

inscription reads, “Beal, a faithful slave, his resting place marked by one who loved

him.” According to the census records, there were a number of free and enslaved

blacks living in Westminster before Maryland emancipated all its slaves in November

1864.

According to the inscription on his gravestone, Beal Behoe was an enslaved black man. But his early story is murky. It is not known when or to whom he was enslaved. Nor is it known when he was manumitted. It is likely that he was the brother-in-law of Lucy Behoe, an enslaved black woman in the household of Jacob and Elizabeth Sherman.

Beal appears in the 1840 census as a free man, living in Westminster, who is employed in agriculture. There were two free black women (one between 24 and 35 years old, and the other between 36 and 54 years old) but their names are unknown. (Until 1850, the census listed only the name of the head of household, not all persons living in the household.)

The 1850 census shows Beal living in Westminster. The census gives Beal’s age as 51 which means he was born around 1800. No occupation is listed for Beal but he owns real estate valued at $650. Living with Beal are Mary, probably his wife, and Francina. Neither he nor Mary can read and write.

The date of Beal’s death is not known. However, he does not appear in the 1860 census so presumably he died in the 1850s.