William Dent

Notes:

1687, State's Attorney for St Marys Co., MD
1694, Member: House of Burgess
April 26, 1704, Speaker of the House
October 20, 1698, Attorney General

HELD RANK OF MAJOR
Served in the early Indian Wars and earned his rank.
Eventually reached Colonel

ATTORNEY GENERAL
For Colony of Maryland

DOCTOR FOR ST. MARY'S, CHARLES AND CALVERT COUNTIES

Subscriber for the foundation of the old King William School at Annapolis [now St. John's College] and also one of its first visitors and trustees. This was the first free school in the province.
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William Dent born c 1652, was States Attorney for St Mary's Co, Charles Co, Calvert Co, Maryland. He was a member of the House of Bergers, Speaker of the House. The house of Berges ws an assembly of colonial Virginia and was the first elected assembly in America. In 1775 Patrick Henry delivered his famous words, "Give me Liberty or give me death" before the House of Berges. He was a desc of King Edward I of England.
William inherited the Hull's Neck plantation on Westbury manor in St Mary's Co, and a port of the large plantation on the Najemoy in Charles Co, where he established his dwelling-plantation. Few colonial squires lived in more style and elee than William Dent, with his numerous slaves and white indentured servents on his several plantations. Besides his country seat on the Najemoy, he maintained a town house in Annapolis, the capital and social center of the province, and well-stocked plantations on the Mattawoman in Prince Georges Co, and another stock farm at Portobacco Clifts. His library was considerable for that day and the value of his silver and plate at his death was increditable.
On March 20, 1682/83, at the age of 22 he was sworn before His Lordship's Justices of Charles Co, as an attorney. At the age of 26 he began his public service as clerk of the Lower House of the Assembly.
Ref: Maryland Marriages 1634-1777 p 50.
Colonial Families of the United States, Whos Who in America, p 201, 202, 152-153.
The Maryland Dents pg 15
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Colonel William Dent was born in St. Mary's County, Maryland in 1652, according to a deposition he made in 1697 at the age of 37. He was the eldest son of Judge Thomas Dent and his wife Rebecca Wilkinson Dent. He carried on the tradition ovices and Loyality to the Crown as did his father . At the time of his death in 1704-4, William Dent was one of the most outstanding and respected Statesman in the Colonies, as well as one of the most affluent.
On February 8, 1684, Col William Dent and Elizabeth Fowke were married at the home of Elizabeth's mother, Anne Thoroughgood Fowke (wife of deceased Gerard Fowke.
Father Col. Gerard Fowke was a gentleman of the bedchamber of King Charles I of England and a direct descendent of Henry II, King of Eng) in Port Tabacco, Charles County, Maryland. Attending the wedding was Elizabeth Fowke's half-brother, Col William Chandler and his wife Madam Mary Chandler, her brother Mr. Garard Fowke and his wife Mary Fowke, and many other guests. The license was received by Rev. John Furling, Presbit. Anglianae. Eclesiae.
Col. William Dent and his wife, Elizabeth Fowke Dent had a large family but only four children lived to maturity, Capt.Thomas Dent 3rd., Col George Dent, Judge Peter Dent, and Elizabeth Dent, who married Richard Tarvin. Thomas Dent was bn 1687. There were five other children who died very young. William, b. Dec. 13, 1688, Gerard Dent b.1688, Elizabeth b. 1688, d.1699, Anne Dent b.1692, Phillip Dent. (Source: Lillian Tarvin Williams September 1983)

Descendents of William DENT and Elizabeth FOWKE:
1. Peter DENT m Mary BROOKE in 1726 in Prince George Co, Maryland. Peter Dent, born 1693 in Charles County, Maryland; died October 20, 1757 in Prince George Co. Mary Brooke, born October 08, 1709 in Prince George Co died Jan 10, 1779 in Prince George Co. She was the daughter of Thomas Brooke and Lucy Smith. Peter Dent was a judge and collector of customs in Somerset Co, Md. He was baptized January 13, 1694/95; and his will was probated November 23, 1757.
2. Peter DENT, Jr, m Mary Eleanor (..)
3. Geoge DENT m Susannah Dawson
4. Frederick Fayette DENT m Ellen Bray Wrenshall
5. Julia Boggs DENT m ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT (1822-1855), 18th Pres of US
(source: The Royal Descents of 500 Immigrants to the American Colonies or the United States, by Gary Boyd Roberts)

William married Elizabeth Fowke on 8 Feb 1684 in Port Tobacco, Charles Co, Maryland. Elizabeth (daughter of Gerald Fowke and Anne Thoroughgood (Thorowgood)) was born in 1668 in Charles Co, Maryland; died in 1703 in Charles Co, Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Thomas Dent was born on 15 Nov 1685 in Charles Co, Maryland; died in 1725 in Charles Co, Maryland.
2. William Dent was born on 13 Dec 1687; died on 18 Nov 1695.
3. Gerard Dent was born in 1688; died about 1700.
4. Elizabeth Dent was born in 1688; died in 1699.
5. George Dent was born on 27 Sep 1690 in Charles Co, Maryland; died in 1754.
6. Anne Dent was born in 1692; died after 1692.
7. Peter Dent was born on 13 Jan 1694 in Port Tobacco, Charles Co, Maryland; was christened on Yes, date unknown; died on 23 Nov 1757 in Prince George Co, Maryland.
8. Philip Dent was born in 1695; died after 1695.
9. Elizabeth Dent was born in 1697; died after 1717.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Emigration: 1658, Guisborough, Yorkshire, England
• Immigration: 1658, Charles Co, Maryland

Notes:

Occupation: Sheriff/Judge
1661, Magistrate of St. Marys County Court
Justice of Peace and Quorum
1669, Delegate for St. Marys Co. Lower House
1664, Served as Surveyor General of MD colony
1671, St Marys Councilman
1667, High Sheriff of St Marys Co., MD

The Dent Family
Perhaps no family of Southern Maryland is better known than the Dent Family, which in the formative years of the Province produced some of the most prominent and outstanding colonial subjects of Lord Baltimore and the Crown. They were conss for thier public services, and high military offices.
Thomas Dent, Gentleman (1630-1676)
Thomas Dent was born about 1630 in the Parish of Guisbough, Yorkshire, England, making him less than 30 years old when he arrived in America. Not long afterwards he married Rebecca Wilkinson, the Virginia born daughter of Rev. William Wiln, and his wife Naomi. He arrived in Maryland in 1658. In 1659 he was Justice of St. Mary's Court, St. Mary's Co, Maryland. And on March 26, 1663, Thomas Dent, Gent. entered his rights for transporting John Dent, John Winnie, Constant Stephensen, George Athley, John Venable and himself to be layed out for him by September 30, 1663. In 1664 he was High Sheriff St. Mary's County, Maryland. He was also delegate for St. Mary's County, Maryland.
On May 26, 1673 he applied at the land office in St. Mary's City for additional 600 acres for transporting Jerman Shyn, John Moderman, John Akers, John James, William Rutter, Charles Wheeler, Edward Crouch, Mary Evans, Sarah Caes, Ann Flethn, Elizabeth Danset, and John Dent into the Province to inhabit.
Thomas Dent's English background seems to have been from a market town on River Dee in West Riding of Yorkshire, called Dent, and the family derived its name from this town. About 1318 Willielmus filius de Dent deeded land in the village otheny for use of Knights Templars, which revereted back to the Dent family - and according to Historical and Archaeological Journal of Yorkshire in 1889 was still held by descendants. A list of freeman records of Yorkshire in 1365 records is name of Willielmus de Dente, parchemener.
The fact that Judge Thomas Dent came from Gisborough in Yorkshire is authenticated by his land patents given the name of "Guisborough", it being characteristic of the Maryland gentry to name their plantations after ancestral estate in old Ed. "Gisbourough" is a town and parish situated in North Riding - about six miles northwest of Ormsby, the more ancient estates of the forebearers of Thomas Dent. His parentage has been proven by Peter Dent, naturalist and professor of Cambridge University, and is in the Hereld's College, London under Cambridgeshire pedigrees, in 1684.
Thomas Dent established residence in St. Mary's County where most of his children were born and spent their childhood. He was the first alderman of St. Mary's City and a acre of land was patented to honor him called "The Lawyer's Lodginge was also engaged in mercantile pursuits as well as cultivation of the soil. Thomas Dent lived in Aldermansbury Street (now extinct) and his next door neighbor was Governor Thomas Notley.
On September 4, 1663, Thomas Dent was issued a warrant for 850 acres patented under the name of "Gisborough" lying on the east side of the Anacostia River, a branch of the river called Eastern Branch in Charles County standing by a little blled Gisborough Bay.
In March 20, 1671 a warrant from the Secretary office ordered a tract of land called "Brothers Joint Interest" layed out in Charles Co. in woods above Piscataway, for William Hatton and Thomas Dent.
Thomas Dent was appointed High Sheriff of St. Mary's and Deputy Surveyor in 1664 and in August 19, 1668 - as a Gentleman of Quorum, he was appointed Commissioner of Peace and represented the County of St. Mary's at the General Assembly in 1674-1675 and perhaps other years. He was engaged with some conflicts with the Indians- and was comissioned to secure 28 barrels of corn and 4,000 weight of meat for the Colonial forces in the Indian campaign against the Susquehanna Indians.
Source: One page hand out from the 1995 Tarvin Reunion.

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Held Rank of Colonel in Colonial Militia
Emigrated to Maryland in 1656/1658
Younger son of Peter Dent.
Received several large land grants from Lord Baltimore in parts of what is now Virginia and Maryland, including the land opposite the city of Washington, across the eastern branch of the Potomac [known as Gisboro Point after Thomas' home tosborogh, England on the river Tees]. Thomas built his house, "Westbury" manor, near the current town of Dentsville, Maryland, and old Fort Tobacco.

Justice of St. Mary's County, Maryland 1659
High Sheriff of St. Mary's County, 1664

Will probated 21 April 1676
1. Son William received Westbury
2. Sons Peter and George received the Gisboro Point grant.
3. Son Thomas, daughter Margaret and wife Rebecca - other land grants.

One of the witnesses was his brother-in-law William Hatton [brother of Thomas Hatton, Lord Baltimore's secretary of the colony]

REF:
"Ancesctors of Phyllis Anna Krieg," FTW Online
"Ancestors of Dee Ann Carey," FTW Online
Vol. 2, #1497

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Charles County Maryland Land Records, Liber Z, Page 116
Deed and declaration of trust entered by Edmund Howard, Clerk of this County:
20 Nov 1676; Indenture from Rebekah Dent of St. Mary's County, widow and ex. of will of Thomas Dent of St. Mary's County, merchant; by his will Thomas gave his children parts of his estate; Rebekah then being with child at death of Thomas had a dau. named Barbarah; the will settled land lately purchase in Charles Co. in tenure of Richard Watson to Rebekah who conveys to William Hatton for 15 years the tract [Wattfieldl on the north side of the Potomac River; bounded by land granted Francis Posey; containing 200 acres; and after to Barbarah Dent, youngest d/o of Rebecah and Thomas Dent; /s/ Rebekah Dent (mark); wit. Robert Ridgely, Jno. Wynn; recorded by Edmund Howard, Clerk of the county
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Thomas* married Rebecca* Wilkinson in 1651 in Saint Mary Co, Maryland. Rebecca* (daughter of Rev. William* Wilkinson, (Immigrant to MD) and Naomi* Shercliffe Hughes) was born in 1633 in Yorkshire, England; died in Aug 1726 in Prince George Co, Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Emigration: 1635, Yorkshire, England
• Immigration: 1635, Virginia
• Property: 6 Jun 1704, Charles Co, Maryland; title trust deed entered by Edmund Howard

Notes:

Charles County Maryland Land Records, Liber Z, Page 116
Deed and declaration of trust entered by Edmund Howard, Clerk of this County:
20 Nov 1676; Indenture from Rebekah Dent of St. Mary's County, widow and ex. of will of Thomas Dent of St. Mary's County, merchant; by his will Thomas gave his children parts of his estate; Rebekah then being with child at death of Thomas had a dau. named Barbarah; the will settled land lately purchase in Charles Co. in tenure of Richard Watson to Rebekah who conveys to William Hatton for 15 years the tract [Wattfieldl on the north side of the Potomac River; bounded by land granted Francis Posey; containing 200 acres; and after to Barbarah Dent, youngest d/o of Rebecah and Thomas Dent; /s/ Rebekah Dent (mark); wit. Robert Ridgely, Jno. Wynn; recorded by Edmund Howard, Clerk of the county
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Sometime after Thomas Dent died in 1646 she remarried Capt John Addison in 1646. He held rank of Colonel, Judge of the Provincial Court and Privy Councillor and died in England. They had a son, Thomas Addison.

06 Jun 1704 Grantor: Rebecca WILKINSON and John ADDISON Esq.; "Wattfield", Charles Co., MD, USA; trust for Barbara, sold to Edmund Howard. Entered by Edmund Howard, Clerk of this County. 6 Jun 1704 confirmation of title reguarding above trueed John Addison of Prince George's Co. Esq and Rebekah his wife, the widow & relict of Thomas Dent of St George's in St Mary's Co.,MD, merchant, 20 Nov 1676 Rebekah, by the will of Thomas Dent, was seized of 200 acres called "Wattfield" for the use of the children, a deed of trust 20 Nov 1676 between Rebekah Dent Widow & William Hatton, Gent for Barbara Dent, infant child Barbara, now 16 years of age who m. Hon Thomas Brooke, Esq.they have sold the land to Edmond Howard, Gent.
/s/ John Addison, Rebekah Addison (mark); Wit. Wilm. Dent,Tho Addison, Eliz Addison
20 Jun 1704 John Addison & Rebekah his wife ack 200 acres of above to Edmund Howard who paid alienation 18 Jun 1704.)

November 05, 1724, Will dated
August 20, 1726, Will probated (Prince George Co., MD)


Property:
6 June 1704: Entered by Edmund Howard Clerk, of this County confirmation of title reguarding above trust deed John Addison of Prince George's Co. Exq and Rebekah (Wilkinson) his wife, the widow & relict of Thomas Dent of St George's in St Mary's Co.,MD, merchant 20 Jun 1704 John Addison & Rebekah his wife ack 200 acres of above to Edmund Howard who paid alienation 18 Jun 1704.)

Peter* married Margaret* Nicholson in 1625 in Yorkshire, England. Margaret* (daughter of William* Nicholson) was born in 1602 in Hutton, Yorkshire, England; died after 1641. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Emigration: 1635, Yorkshire, England
• Immigration: 1635, Virginia

Notes:

Occupation: Clergy
Religion: Anglican Church
1632, Magdalen College, Oxford (M.A.)
1635, Settled: Virginia
May 29, 1663, Drew up Last Will & Testament
September 21, 1663, Will probated
First Anglican clergy accedited to Maryland


In 1630, he graduted from Magdelan College and earned his master's degree in 1632. He emigrated in 1650 with his daughters Rebecca, Mary and Elizabeth, and step-daughter, Margaret Budden from Yorkshire, England. Margaret died in 1673. Its not been determined who her father was.
He was surety on the bond of John Hatche in 1661 to answer for his participation in the Fendall rebellion. He was appointed doorkeeper of the upper house of assembly 1663 and was the first Episcopal minister in the colony of Maryland.

William* married Naomi* Shercliffe Hughes about 1632 in York, England. Naomi* was born in 1616 in York, England; died about 1645 in Linhaven, Norfolk Co, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 1635, Virginia

Notes:

Address given as Yorkshire, England, 1580

Notes:

He was vicar of Woodburn Bucks and educated at Merton College, Oxford.

Gabriel* married Marjorie* Baker about 1610 in Yorkshire, England. Marjorie* (daughter of Robert (Richard)* Baker) was born about 1576 in Uxbridge, Middlesex, England; died after 1613 in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]