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.

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.

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.

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.

Thomas died April 22, 1676 in St. Mary’s Co., Maryland.

Certainly related and using the same coat of arms, Thomas was the uncle or perhaps older brother of Capt. John Dent, Gent. (ca. 1645-1712), who married Mary Hatch.

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.

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