Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Thomas Dent (c. 1630-1676)
MSA SC 3520-337

Biography:

BORN: ca. 1630 in Yorkshire, England; younger son.
IMMIGRATED: by 1658 as a free adult from England.
RESIDED: in St. Mary's County. 

FAMILY BACKGROUND.
FATHER: Peter Dent, of Gisborough, Yorkshire, England.
MARRIED Rebecca (?-1726), daughter of Rev. William Wilkinson. She subsequently married by February 1676/77 John Addison (?-ca. 1705/6). Her sister was Elizabeth, who married William Hatton (?-1712).
CHILDREN. SONS: William Dent (ca. 1660-1704), who married first, Elizabeth (?-1698/99), daughter of Gerard Fowke (1625-1669), and second, Sarah, daughter of Thomas Brooke (ca. 1659-1730/31); Thomas; Peter Dent (ca. 1665-1710/11), who married first, Elizabeth, widow of both John King and Thomas Wilson, and daughter of Charles Ballard (?-1682), and second, Jane Pittman, daughter of Joseph Gray (?-1724); and George (?-by 1702). DAUGHTERS: Margaret, who married in 1681 Edmund Howard (?-1713); Barbara (1676-1754), who married Thomas Brooke (ca. 1659-1730/31). 

PRIVATE CAREER. 
EDUCATION: literate.
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Anglican.
SOCIAL STATUS AND ACTIVITIES: Gent, on arrival; entered rights for transporting at least seventy-five persons, 1658-1676.
OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE: merchant; planter.

PUBLIC CAREER.
LEGISLATIVE SERVICE: Lower House, St. Mary's County, 1669, 1674-1674/75 (elected to the 3rd session; Laws 3; Accounts 3).
LOCAL OFFICES: justice, St. Mary's County, by 1661-1664, ca. 1665-1676 (quorum); sheriff, St. Mary's County, 1664-1665; coroner, St. Mary's County, 1669; alderman, St. Mary's City, 1673.

WEALTH DURING LIFETIME.
LAND AT FIRST ELECTION at least 850 acres. 

WEALTH AT DEATH.
DIED: between March 28 and April 21, 1676.
PERSONAL PROPERTY: TEV, £596.8.0 sterling (including 6 slaves, 8 servants, and books).
LAND: 1,083 acres, plus 3 plantations of unspecified acreage.

 
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