Luke Perdue was born ca 1797 in Franklin Co., VA to Meshack Perdue and Eleanor Dillon. The family farm located south of the Blackwater River consisted of a grist mill, a saw mill and two liquor stills. Meshack was blessed with eleven sons and one daughter to help with his various enterprises.

Luke married Susannah Bowsman the 7th of October 1816 in Franklin Co., VA. She was fourteen years old and the daughter of George Bowsman and Elizabeth Pool. Susannah's grandfather Lorentz Bowsman had come to America from Germany in 1746. Descendents describe Susannah as "Dutch" suggesting she could speak german. She was short, heavy-set with brown eyes. Her older sister Mary had married Luke's brother Mark.

Meshack Perdue had given each son their portion of his estate before leaving Virginia. Luke had died before his father wrote his Will in 1837 and his share was not included in the account. Meshack spoke of "the heirs of Luke Perdue, each one-nineth part of the monies that I may have in my possession at my death". Meshack disinherited three of his children ..."for reasons best known to myself ". Evidently, Luke was not one of these children.

Luke and Susannah Perdue were in Sumner Co., TN before the birth of their first child in 1818. Luke's brother Daniel was already in Sumner County coming in 1815. In 1820, Luke was taxed on 175 acres of land on Drakes Creek. The size of Luke's homestead is not known but it was located along the Dry Fork of Drakes Creek. He gave two acres of this land to Mount Moriah Church and cemetary. Mount Moriah Church is located north of present Hwy 52 and east of Portland, TN.

Luke says he is weak in body on the 5th of September 1831 when he wrote his Will. His brother Eli was one of the witnesses. Luke died the winter of 1831/32, he probably was not 35 years old. The Will was submitted for probate in February of 1832 with Eli the administrator. Susannah received the entire estate.."during her natural life or widowhood to have, hold possess and enjoy the same to raise and school her children". She had given birth to their eight child the same month the Will was probated. Susannah never remarried and raised the children alone. In the 1880 census of Sumner Co., TN, she was 78 years and could neither read nor write. The date of her death is not known but according to descendents, both Luke and Susannah were buried in unmarked graves in the Perdue Cemetary across from Mount Moriah Church.

1--Luke PERDUE (1797-1832) Franklin Co., VA
  sp-Susannah BOWSMAN (1802-1880) Franklin Co., VA
       2--Elizabeth PERDUE (1818-1904) Sumner Co., TN
          sp- Major Henderson ALLEY (1817-1884)
       2--Katherine PERDUE (1820-1856) Sumner Co., TN
          sp-Nathaniel MEADOR (1818-1862) Smith Co., TN
       2--Mark PERDUE (1823-1900) Sumner Co., TN
          sp-Dorcas PAUL (1822-1880) Sumner Co., TN
          sp-Margaret J. LEONARD 
       2--George PERDUE (1824-1905) Sumner Co., TN
          sp-Tabitha G. PRESCOTT (1822-1882) Sumner Co., TN
       2--John PERDUE (1927-1910) Sumner Co., TN
          sp-Louisa E. SARVER (1834-1879) Giles Co., VA
       2--Eli PERDUE (1829-1910) Sumner Co., VA
          sp-Matilda M. LLOYD (1826-1902) Wilson Co., TN
       2--Daniel Green PERDUE (1830-1915) Sumner Co., TN
          sp-Icy Catherine FROST (1838-1907)
       2--Mary Ann PERDUE (1832-1898) Sumner Co., TN
          sp-Jonathan L. BROWN (1827-1903) Sumner Co., TN