Untitled

Carl & Elaine (Grove) Rhodes' Genealogy Pages

This Site is Dedicated to Our Forebears, and their Descendants

Edward Dorsey, Colonel

Male 1645 - 1705  (60 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Edward Dorsey 
    Suffix Colonel 
    Birth 1645  VA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Death 1705  Major's Choice, Baltimore County, MD Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I1620  Carl
    Last Modified 30 May 2013 

    Father Edward Dorsey, Senior,   b. 1619, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 2 Aug 1659, Kent Island, Queen Anne's County, Maryland, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 40 years) 
    Mother Anne 
    Family ID F584  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Sarah Wyatt,   b. 1657, Of Anne Arundel, MD Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Abt 1690, Anne Arundel County, MD Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 33 years) 
    Marriage Bef Nov 1670 
    Children 
     1. Edward Dorsey   d. 1701
     2. Sarah Dorsey
     3. Samuel Dorsey
     4. Hannah Dorsey
     5. John Dorsey
     6. Joshua Dorsey
     7. Benjamin Dorsey
    +8. Nicholas Dorsey,   b. 1690, Middle Neck Hund, MD Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1717, Major's Choice, Baltimore County, MD Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 27 years)
    Family ID F581  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 18 Jan 2014 

    Family 2 Margaret Larkin 
    Children 
     1. Charles Dorsey
     2. Larkin Dorsey
     3. Francis Dorsey
     4. Edward "Younger" Dorsey
     5. Anne Dorsey
    Family ID F583  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 18 Jan 2014 

  • 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."


Today's Genealogical Quote

If we know where we came from; we way better know where to go. If we know who we came from; we may better understand who we are