| Notes |
- "ANNE ARUNDEL GENTRY--DORSEY FAMILY" by Harry Wright Newman
"Edward Dorsey, first don of Edward Dorsey and wife Anne, was born in
Virginia and came up the Severn during the days of the Commonwealth in
Maryland. On Aug. 25, 1664, he with his two brothers received jointly
400 acres of 'Hockley-in-the-Hole'. Evidence is unmistakable that he
followed for a time the occupation of his father and was certainly
engaged in ship building as late as May 6, 1667." "Before Nov. 1670,
Edward Dorsey married Sarah, a daughter of Nicholas Wyatt, Gent., by
his first wife. Sarah, his wife, died about 1690. He took for a
second wife, Margaret. All indicators point to the fact that she was
one of the daughters of John Larkin, Innkeepers, by his wife
Katherine. It is quite evident that the children of the second
marriage did not have the advantages of those of the first wife. The
widow remarried soon after the death of Col. Dorsey, but did not
survive her second husband. Perhaps, the children were neglected by
their step-father. Anyhow they were not schooled in letters, and as a
consequence made their mark on official documents." "On Jan 4,
1700/1, Edward Dorsey....assigned...my oldest son Edward Dorsey four
plantations bordering his dwelling-plantation at Elk Ridge and one
south side of Patapsco a little beyond the Falls with negroes,
livestock, household furniture whereon in trust for his five sons,
that is Samuel, Joshua, John, Nicholas, and Benjami. (Provincial
Court, Liber TL no. 2, folios 169,279)
To son Samuel the Patapsco plantation with three negroes and
other personltry To son Joshua the plantation 'where Black
Dick lives' with 100 adjoining acres, negroes and other
personalty To son John plantation that negro Bacon 'now lives on'
with 100 acres, negroes To son Nicholas the plantation 'that
negro Tom lives on' with 100 acres To son Benjamin piece of land
between Dick and Bacon."
"It was not until 1679 that Edward Dorsey entered into public or
political live of the province. In that year he was made a Justice of
the Peace for Anne Arundel County and a Gentleman Justice of the Quoroum.
He continued to serve in that capacity for a number of years
thereafter and in 1686 when he was styled Captain Edward Dorsey of His
Lordship's army he was likewise a Gentleman Justice of the Quorum. He
rose in the provincial forced from Captain to Colonel, a grade he held
at the time of his death. He entered the General Assembly 1694 as a
delegate from Anne Arundel County and continued to serve in all
succeeding sessions of the Lower House until his death. When he
became a domicile of Baltimore County, at the time that Baltimore
embraced both banks of Patapsco, he was likewise elected to the Lower
House. In 1695 he was made the Keeper of the Great Seal of the
Province." "He however was outspoken in his political views...in
1692 'Major Edward Dorsey had made several mutinous and seditious
speeches on board "Capt. William Hill Ship.'" "...he was on
Commission to erect the courthouse and the free school for Anne
Arundel Towne. He was granted the contract for the erection of the
first church of St. Anne in 1696." "Edward Dorsey was a staunch and
loyal supporter of the Calverts,...In politics (he) was a supporter of
the House of Stuart and an acknowledged member of the Jacobean Party"
"After the death of Samuel Wyatt (brother to his wife Sarah) the only
son and heir of Nicholas, Edward claimed his estate by rights of his
wife, as sole heiress. A battle royal insued with Thomas Bland,
Gent., who had married Damaris, the Widow Wyatt, and step-mother to
his wife. Edward had Bland arrested and caused him to be kept
prisoner at the Public Ordinary for several days. Thomas Bland in his
petition to the Provincial Court swore that in July 1677 he delivered
to Mr. Edward Dorsey all the real and personal estate of the late
Nicholas Wyatt, but Dorsey entered upon it and with force carried away
three servants which were his (Bland's) property whom he had purchased
with his own resources. Furthermore, John Booth one of the servants
was so ill-treated by Dorsey that he ran away and that Alice another
servant was so misused that she was 'brought to a dangerous
sickness.'(Md. Archives, vol. 67, p. 420)" "His original will, dated
Oct. 26, 1704 is on file at Annapolis, ...probated in Baltimore County on
Dec. 27, 1705. (Wills, Liber 3, folio 725): To son Nicholas
100-acre portion of 'Long Reach' at Elk Ridge and personalty at
16. The inventory was taken at the 'seated plantation', and also the
Upper Plantation, Elk Ridge Quarters, the Round Bay Plantation, and
'in the store house', and in 'Little Flat House'. There were books,
one Gould Seal ring, one Silver Seale, Ivory headed cane, silver
tobacco box, silver hilted sword, silver plate and surveying chain.
His wearing apparel was appraised at L7.10.-. There were also
thirteen negro slaves and two white indentured servants. Samuel, the
eldest son approved the valuation of L 528.8.11. It was filed at
court on April 1, 1706."
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1645 - 1705 (60 years)
