The Dent Family File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Harriet Moore. USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations.
_________________________________________________________________________ The search for the elusive missing link - how often do we genealogists, professional or amateur, come up against this stumbling block? The family is traced quite well, back to a certain point; somewhere beyond there, we pick up a strain, and continue with it into the early days of the country, perhaps back into Europe - or from whatever country we may have come. But there is that one little area where the connection is dubious; it remains shadowy, not quite certain. It `appears' that it `might' be thus - or perhaps, another... It can seem so logical; the pertinent parties are from the same area of a state; the children's names are similar; the time periods match. It's all there, but you can't quite put your finger on it. Such was the case as I embarked upon the connection for different factions of the Dent family of Maryland. I stumbled upon this family in the search of another branch of our family. The Dents are connected with the Davises, and it was these folks that I was researching, hunting a possible connection to our own family tree. Although I found this to be a misconception, I became intrigued with the Dent family, as it related to this particular area. I began looking a bit deeper, and became hooked; the puzzle must be solved! It's fairly common knowledge that George Dent was the surveyor of the town of Cumberland, and that his firstborn son, Frederick Fayette Dent, was the first white child born in the incorporated town of Cumberland, on 06 October, 1786. It's also pretty common knowledge that this Frederick Dent was the father of Julia Boggs Dent, who became the wife of Hiram Ulysses Grant, aka Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States. About the same time as George Dent was becoming a personage in Cumberland, a Joseph Davis married a Rebecca Dent, and took up residence along New Creek in (West) Virginia. With all of these folks coming from St. Mary's and Charles Counties in Maryland, it just seemed a bit too coincidental not to be connected. Those are the bare facts. It's a much more interesting story when filled in a bit. It seems that the Dent family came from Ormsby Parish, North Riding of York, in England. A James Dent, born about 1575, was the father of Peter Dent, who was born about 1600 and died in 1647 in Yorkshire, England. Peter married Margaret Nicholson, the daughter of Rev. William Nicholson, in 1625 in Yorkshire. Peter and Margaret are the parents of the sons who left England, searching for a new life in America. This generation is just a bit shadowy... Son Peter, born about 1640, remained in England, becoming a member of Trinity College in Cambridge University. He practiced as a physician and apothecary, and died 05 October 1689 at St. Seplucher's, Cambridge, England. Judge Thomas Dent was born in 1630 in Yorkshire, and died 22 April 1676 in St. Mary's Co., Maryland. He married Rebecca Wilkinson, the daughter of Rev. Wilkinson and his wife Naomie in 1659 in St. Mary's Co. Judge Thomas was active in the political scene in St. Mary's Co. throughout the remainder of his life. In 1664 he served as the Surveyor General of the Maryland Colony. He and Rebecca were the parents of six children: William, Thomas, Margaret, Peter, George and Barbara. A third son is given as (George) Dent, born in 1635 in Yorkshire. Given as the only child of the (George) is Capt. John Dent, born in 1645, also in Yorkshire. Thus, a question. Could (George) actually be Capt. John? Or is Capt. John a fourth son? It seems likely that Capt. John Dent is also the son of Peter Dent, of England. In any event, Capt. John Dent came to Maryland in 1661, and quickly became a part of Maryland society. He first settled in Charles Co., near Cool Springs, becoming well established as a planter by September 1666. He eventually resided in the northern portion of St. Mary's Co., near Charlotte Hall. In 1681, he was involved with Josiah Fendall, former Governor of the Province, and Capt. John Coode in their attempt to overthrow the rule of Lord Baltimore. Capt. John Dent married Mary Hatch, daughter of John Hatch and Anne Spinke in St. Mary's Co., and they were the parents of nine children: Peter, Michal, John, Mary, Lydia, Anne, Abigail, Christiana, and George. Most of the Dents remained - at least for that time - in St. Mary's and Charles Counties. William, son of Judge Thomas, was born 1660 and died in 1704, still in Charles Co.. He married Elizabeth Brooks, and then Elizabeth Fowke, the daughter of Col. Fowke and Ann Thorowgood, on 08 February 1683/84 in Charles Co.. William became an attorney, and began a life of public service. He served in the early Indian wars, and was known as Col. William Dent. He amassed quite a lot of property, and his worth was considerable. His properties included a plantation on the Nanjemoy in Charles Co, a town house in Annapolis, well-stocked plantations on the Mattawoman in Prince Georges Co, and another farm at Portobacco Clifts. The children of Col. William Dent and his wife, Elizabeth Fowke are: Capt. Thomas, William, Elizabeth, Gerard, Col. George, Anne, Peter, Philip, and Elizabeth. Col. William Dent's son Peter, born 1693 in Charles Co., died 20 October 1757 in Prince Georges Co.. He married Mary Brooke, the daughter of Robert Brooke, in 1726 in Pr. Georges Co. Their children included: Elizabeth, Peter, Capt. William Dent, Mary, Lucy, Ann, Capt. Thomas, Elenor, Walter, Barbara and Richard. Peter's son Peter was born 10 January 1727/28 and died 26 March 1785 on "Whitehaven", Prince Georges Co - named for the Dent home in England. Peter married Mary Eleanor Hawkins before 1757 in Pr. Georges Co, and Anne ?, about 1760. Peter served as a Private under Capt. Thomas H. Marshall, 26th Bat., Charles Co, MD Militia. Peter and Mary Eleanor had only two children: George and William (who died young). Peter and Ann were the parents of eight children: Theodore, Mary Eleanor, Joseph, Martha, William, Thomas, Henrietta, and Frances. It is George, the surviving son of Peter's first marriage, who came to Allegany Co., MD. George was born about 1755 on "Whitehaven", and died in 1812 in Cumberland. He served in the Maryland Line with Smallwood, and at Stony Point under Gen. Anthony Wayne. He was a representative to Congress from Maryland from 1793-1801, and was temporary speaker during the illness of Speaker Dayton. He married Susannah Marbury Dawson Cromwell, widow of Joseph Cromwell, and daughter of John (son of Nicholas) Dawson and Martha Ann Marbury (but that's another story, altogether!) George was responsible for surveying and laying out the town of Cumberland. He and his wife lived in a log house at 118 Green Street - it was here that Frederick Fayette Dent was born on 06 October 1786. They later moved to another home, built of bricks, on the same property, but up on the hill; this is the house beside the Courthouse on Washington Street, currently a bank. Susannah died at the tavern of Dickerson Simpkins on Mechanic St. George and Susannah Dent are buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, in unmarked graves. Their other children were: Lewis, Frances, Joseph Cromwell, Ellen, and Priscilla, and Susannah's son by her first marriage, Thomas Cromwell. Frederick Dent left Cumberland at the age of 21 as the assistant to David Shriver, who located the National Road from Cumberland to Wheeling. After spending some time as a merchant in Pittsburgh and Louisville, KY, he settled in St. Louis, MO. He married Ellen Bray Wrenshall in Pittsburgh on 22 December 1814. They were the parents of eight children: John Cromwell, George Wrenshall, Frederick Tracy, Lewis, Julia Boggs, Ellen "Nellie" Wrenshall, Mary, and Emily Marbury. The summer residence he established, ten miles south of St. Louis, was called "White Haven", after the family home - both in Maryland and in England. It was here that Frederick Tracy Dent, a graduate of West Point, brought his classmate Ulysses Grant to visit. Grant ultimately married Julia Boggs Dent, born 26 January 1826, on 22 August 1848 in St. Louis. Frederick Dent died in the White House, during Grant's presidency, in October 1873. Julia died 04 December 1902 in Washington, D. C., seventeen years after her husband. Now, back to Capt. John Dent (b. 1645, Yorkshire) and his son George - George was born after 1696 in Charles Co., MD, and died in May 1750, in St. Mary's Co.. He married Elizabeth Short, the daughter of George Short, before 1718 in Charles Co. and Ann ? about 1724. His plantations were Haphazzard and Freestone Point. George and Elizabeth had only one child, John. George and Ann were the parents of eight children: John, George, Peter, Thomas, William, Mary, Lidia, and Charity. Son Thomas was born 1730 and died in 1790 at Charlotte Hall, St. Mary's Co., MD. He married Elizabeth Edwards and Mary Ann Hancock. The children of Thomas and Elizabeth are: Capt. George, William, Thomas, Henry, Rebecca, Cloe, Elizabeth, and Mary Ann. Rebecca Dent, born 15 June 1770 in St. Mary's Co., married Joseph Davis, of Charles Co., on 22 November 1791. Joseph was a lieutenant in Co. 2 of Col. Daniel Morgan's 11th & 15th Virginia Regiments. He received a land grant in Loudoun Co., VA, where they resided until 1799 when they moved to Hampshire Co., VA. He had been a resident of Hampshire Co. during the period of service in the Revolutionary War. Joseph purchased land from Aquila Wheeler on 12 August 1799, located along New Creek, south of what is now Keyser, WV, and had a cabin built by John Bussey for ten dollars. Joseph and Rebecca were the parents of eleven children: Reuben, Hepzibah, Noble, Thomas, Jesse, Samuel, Rebecca, Notley, Elias, Mary Ann, and Joseph Dent. Rebecca died 3 May 1848 at the home of her son Reuben. Reuben became a Justice of the Peace in Hampshire Co., VA. Reuben married Eleanor Dean, daughter of Thomas Dean and Jane Gilmore on 1 April 1813; they moved from along New Creek to Piedmont, WV in 1860. Reuben died 17 November 1868; he was the first person buried in Philos Cemetery, in Westernport, MD; he had surveyed and laid out Philos Cemetery. Reuben and Eleanor were the parents of twelve children: Joseph, Jane, Thomas Dean, John Edmond, David, Dennis, Susan Rebecca, William Henry, Elizabeth Ann, Mary Eleanor, Reuben Samuel, and Sarah Virginia "Sallie". The Davis family is reputed to be related to the Henry Gassaway Davis family - but that is a puzzle for another day and time. This covers only the barest of the details, following a few of the lines that have had an impact upon this area. Needless to say, it's open to additions and corrections. My notes contain a great deal information, but entirely too much for inclusion - and perhaps, not of interest to this particular area. By Harriet Moore (Harriet promises more, as she untangles more of this web.) References include: The Maryland Dents by Harry Wright Newman; The Personal Memoirs of Julia Dent Grant; Colonial Records of Southern Maryland; History of Allegany County by Thomas & Williams; World Family Tree; The J. C. Saunders Papers; T. Don Odwalt; Papers of Sarah Virginia Davis Odwalt; State of MD Archives