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OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: planter; attorney, admit-
ted to the following courts: Somerset County in
August 1749; Worcester County by June 1769. He
was also engaged in mercantile activity and di-
rected his executors to sell and dispose "of every
matter I have in Trade"; in partnership with Jo-
siah Polk (?-1784) and Gillis Polk (?-1793) in the
building of a sawmill and gristmill at the head of
the Wicomico River. PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLA-
TIVE SERVICE: Lower House, Somerset County,
1771 (Grievances), 1773-1774 (elected, but did
not attend). ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Littleton
Dennis had extensive landholdings in both Somer-
set and Worcester counties, and although his ac-
tual residence was probably in Worcester County,
his acreage in Somerset County was sufficient to
qualify him for election from that county. LOCAL
OFFICES: prosecutor of his lordship's pleas, Somer-
set County, appointed 1753; deputy commissary,
Somerset County, sworn 1763; Coventry Parish
Vestry, Somerset and Worcester counties, in office
1763, 1767, 1774. WEALTH DURING LIFETIME.
LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: 4,925 acres in Somer-
set and Worcester counties, plus 232 acres in Som-
erset and Worcester counties held jointly with
other people (at least 1,190 acres obtained from
his father and at least 3,445 acres by patent or
purchase). SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND BE-
TWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH: purchased
550 acres in 1772 and sold 600 acres in 1773, all in
Worcester County. WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: on
May 6, 1774, in Worcester County. PERSONAL
PROPERTY: TEV, at least £10,270.19.7 current
money (including 51 slaves, 171 oz. 8 dwt. 8 gr.
plate, law books, other books, two-thirds interest
in a schooner, and 2 sloops). LAND: 4,875 acres in
Somerset and Worcester counties, plus 232 acres
in Somerset and Worcester counties owned jointly
with other people.
DENT, GEORGE (1690-1754). BORN: on Septem-
ber 27, 1690, at "Nanjemoy," Charles County;
second surviving son. NATIVE: third generation.
RESIDED in Charles County. FAMILY BACK-
GROUND. FATHER: William Dent (ca. 1660-1704),
son of Thomas Dent (ca. 1630-1676). MOTHER:
Elizabeth (?-1698/99), daughter of Gerard Fowke
(1625-1669). STEPMOTHER Sarah, daughter of
Thomas Brooke (ca. 1659-1730/31). She subse-
quently married Philip Lee (ca. 1681-1744), son of
Richard Lee II, of Virginia. BROTHERS: Thomas
Dent (1685-1725); William (1687-1695); Gerard
(?-died young); Peter (1694-?); and Philip (?-died
young). SISTERS: Elizabeth (1688-1699); Anne
(1692-?); and Elizabeth (1699-?). MARRIED in
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1713 Anne (?-1764), daughter of William Harbert
(?-1718). CHILDREN. SONS: George Dent (?-1785);
John Dent, of George (ca. 1733-1809). DAUGH-
TERS: Elizabeth, who married first, William Penn,
and second, Richard Harrison (?-1780); Ann, who
married first, Gilbert Ireland, and second, Maj.
(first name unknown) Sweeney; Sarah; Rebecca
(1714-died young); Letty (Letitia), who married
first, Kenelm Truman Stoddert, and second, Peter
DeJean; Mary, who married Gerard Alexander;
Eleanor, who married first, John Blakiston, sec-
ond, Alexander McFarland (McParling), and
third, Dr. James Bayard; Margaret, who married
Kenelm Truman Greenfield; and Rebecca (1735-
1770), who married Thomas Hanson Marshall
(1731-1801). PRIVATE CAREER. EDUCATION: liter-
ate. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Anglican, member
of Christ Church, Nanjemoy, Charles County.
SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Gent., 1719;
Esq., 1730; Hon., 1730; OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE:
planter. PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE SERVICE:
Lower House, Charles County, 1719-1721/22,
1722-1724 (Laws 1-3), 1725-1727 (Laws 1-4).
OTHER PROVINCIAL OFFICES: justice, Provincial
Court, 1728-1735, 1738-1754 (quorum, 1732-
1735, 1738-1754; chief justice, 1754); judge, As-
size Court, Western Shore, 1733-1735, 1738- at
least 1740, 1747-at least 1749. LOCAL OFFICES:
justice, Charles County, 1715-at least 1728 (quo-
rum, 1728); justice, Court of Oyer and Terminer
and Gaol Delivery, Charles County, commis-
sioned 1718, 1720, 1731, 1733, 1734, 1743, 1744,
1745, and 1750; sheriff, Charles County, 1735-
1738; school visitor, Charles County, dates of ser-
vice unknown; William and Mary Parish Vestry,
St. Mary's County, dates of service unknown. MIL-
ITARY SERVICE: captain, militia, 1726; called "col-
onel," by 1737. WEALTH DURING LIFETIME. LAND
AT FIRST ELECTION at least 1,566 acres in
Charles County (1,066 acres inherited from his
father, at least 500 acres from his wife's dower).
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN LAND BETWEEN FIRST
ELECTION AND DEATH: acquired 843 acres in
Charles and Prince George's counties, 1724-1737.
WEALTH AT DEATH. DIED: On May 12, 1754, in
Charles County. PERSONAL PROPERTY: TEV, at
least £714.7.9 (including 23 slaves). LAND: 2,955
acres in Charles and Prince George's counties.
DENT, GEORGE (?-1785). BORN: on his father's
plantation near Pope's Creek, Charles County, of
age by 1750. NATIVE: fourth generation. RESIDED.
on a plantation on Pope's Creek, Charles County.
FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER. George Dent
(1690-1754), son of William Dent (ca. 1660-
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