luke pryor was a slave owner. on the 1840 census 6 free blacks under the age of 10 were recorded in his father's household, as well as 1 male slave child under 10 and an older female between the ages of 55 and 100. by 1850, luke pryor was recorded with 39 slaves between the ages of 70 years old and as young as 4 months; however in 1860 only two slaves were recorded in his household. the american civil war did not begin until april 12, 1861 and slavery was not completely abolished until 1865 after the ratification of the thirteenth amendment.