Thomas Dent, Sr.

Col. Thomas Dent, Sr., Gent. (1630-1676), Justice, Sheriff, and member of the Lower House of the Maryland General Assembly.

Thomas was born about 1630 in the Parish of Guisborough, Yorkshire, England making him slightly less than thirty years of age upon his arrival in America around 1658. He resided in Saint Mary's County, Maryland.

Political career

Thomas was a justice of St. Mary’s county beginning in 1661, and became sheriff there in 1665, became coroner in 1669, and alderman in 1673. Thomas was a member of the Lower House, St. Mary’s County from 1669-1675.

Marriage

Thomas wedded Rebecca Wilkinson (1633-1726) in 1659. Rebecca was the Virginia born daughter of the Rev. William Wilkinson (1612-1676) who emigrated from England and his first wife, Naomi Hughes (1616-1634) his wife. After Thomas died, Rebecca married in 1677 Col. John Addison (d. 1705), a bachelor who then returned to England and died there intestate. Col. Addison profited from this marriage, and this alienated the Dent children from their mother.

Property

Thomas received a patent of land lying in Charles County called "Gisbrough" on May 5, 1663. Thomas accumulated over 1,000 acres (4 km²) of land, plus 3 plantations of unspecified area. His estate was valued at 596.8.0 pounds sterling, including 6 slaves, 8 servants, and books.

Death

Thomas died April 22, 1676 in St. Mary’s Co., Maryland. Thomas was the older brother of Capt. John Dent, Sr., Gent. (ca. 1645-1712), who married Mary Shercliff (1647-1712).

Children

1. Col. William Dent, Sr., Gent. (1660-1705), who married 1) Elizabeth Fowke (1668-1703), daughter of Col. Gerard Fowke, Sr. (1625-1669) and Anne (Thoroughgood) Chandler (1630). 2) Sarah Brooke (1683-1724), daughter of Col. Thomas Brooke, Jr., Hon. (1660-1730) and second wife, Barbara Dent (1676-1754). Sarah married secondly, Capt. Philip Lee, Sr., Hon., Esq. (1681-1744) of "Blenheim".

2. Margaret Dent (1662-1712), who married Edmond Howard (1659-1712), a Justice and clerk of Charles Co., Maryland.

3. Thomas Dent, Jr. (ca. 1663), no further information.

4. Peter Dent (ca. 1665-1711), who married 1) Elizabeth (Ballard) King Wilson, widow of John King and Thomas Wilson, and daughter of Charles Ballard (d. 1682). 2) Jane Pittman Gray, daughter of Joseph Gray (d. 1724).

5. George Dent (1666-ca. 1702), no further information.

6. Barbara Dent (1676-1754), who married Col. Thomas Brooke, Jr., Hon. (1660-1730), son of Maj. Thomas Brooke, Sr., Esq. (1632-1676) and his second wife Eleanor Hatton (1642-1725).

Ancestry

Thomas was the son of Peter Dent II, Gent. (ca. 1600-1647) and Margaret Nicholson (1602-1647). Peter was born at “Ormesby”, West Riding, Yorkshire, England. He resided at “Guisborough”, North Riding, Yorkshire, England. Peter died in August of 1647 at “Guisborough”. Margaret was born at “Hutton”, Yorkshire, England.

Margaret was the daughter of Rev. John Nicholson (1576-1655).

Peter II, was the son of Peter Dent I, Gent., of “Ormesby” (d.ca. 1642), a Parish in North Riding of York near Middlesbrough, and not for from the County of Durham.

Peter was the son of James Dent (1575), Gent. of “Ormesby”.

James was the son of William Dent (1520).

William was in turn the son of Robert Dent (1500) and Anne Fenwycke.

Other info

Thomas Dent's son William had a son, Peter, who had a son, Peter Jr. Peter Jr. had a son, George, who had a son Frederick, who married Ellen Bray Wrenshall. Their daughter, Julia, was the wife of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States.

References