JOHN DENT III
Quite a bit is written about the Dent family in
Charles County Gentry by Harry Wright Newman.
It even includes the family coat of arms. Much of the
Dent family information written on this website
comes from this volume. It is supported with source
documentation where that has been found.
John Dent III was born about 1705 in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. His parents were John II and Catherine Dent.
The Dent family has connections to Newport, in Charles County and Chaptico Hundred in St. Mary’s County. The two sites are near each other at the county line.
John Dent II died intestate in 1733. His eldest son, John III inherited the estate "Dent’s Inheritance. On March 10, 1732/3 "for the consideration of natural love" he gave to his brother Hatch Dent 144 acres. Charles County Deeds Book M, No 2, page 322. He also made other conveyances to brothers, made some sales and kept 250 for his home. Another place in the same history said that John III had to petition the court on June 11, 1734 to be granted the estate. Most likely there are court records showing multiple activities in the process of settling the estate. John III divided the estate of 1169 acres amongst all the brothers.
The Charles County MD 1733 Tax List has John Dent (III) as 1 taxable individual in Newport West side Lower Port. That area also contains Katherine Dent with 2 taxable individuals. This is probably his widowed mother.
John III married Mary Blackman probably in Charles County about 1735.
Their children were:
1. John Dent IV born about 1736
2. Mary Dent born about 1738
3. Hatch Dent born1751, died 1819
there was a Hatch Dent son of Hatch Dent who
this may be confused with
4. Sarah Dent born about 1742 married John
Clark
5 Tabitha Dent born
1743, wed Walter Moreland
died after 1790
6. Anne Dent born about 1745 wed Charles Davis
7. Bennett Dent born about 1747
John III made various conveyances of land from 1757 to 1777. Each time his wife, Mary waived her dower rights. The properties were on the north side of Piles’ Fresh.
John Dent III took the oath of allegiance to the State of Maryland in Charles County in 1778. Found in the DAR library Unpublished Maryland Records Vol. 5.
John Dent III made a will dated December 21, 1788 and proved August 22, 1791. Charles County Will book AK No 11, page 28. His son John IV received 200 acres of Dent’s Inheritance and some of Dent’s Addition. Mary received 100 acres of Dent’s Inheritance, slaves and the water and hand mill. Hatch received the residue of land. He had been conveyed Dent’s Place in 1766. His daughters, Sarah Clark, Tabitha Moreland and Anne Davis were bequeathed slaves.
John’s wife Mary is not mentioned so we assume she had died sometime between 1777 and 1788.
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Date Last Edited: 8/24/2000
Date edited 10/13/2024