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Charles County MD Will Book 1777-1780; Page 207,
Benjamin Dent's Will. Aug 15, 1778.
I, Benjamin Dent of CC, am sick and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory.
To my wife - the use of my dwelling plantation and also my part of Turners Forest, during her natural life.
To my son Gideon Dent - my dwelling plantation which I now live on, it being part of a tract of land called Dents Inheritance, containing about 143 acres, after my wife's death. Also, 4 acres of a parcel of land called Turners forest, and adjoining Dents Inheritance.
To my son John Bruer Dent - if my son Gideon dies w/out issue, then John Bruer is to enjoy the above mentioned lands.
To my son Benjamin Dent - pt of that tract of land called Saint Stephen Coalman, and containing about 100 acres, it being that part of the land my son Benjamin Dent now dwells on.
To my son Shadrick Dent - if afd Benjamin dies w/out lawful issue, then Shadrick to enjoy the afd land.
To my son Zachariah Dent - pt of a tract of land called Turners forest, containing about 96 acres. Also, 4 acres of a tract of land called Church over, adjoining Turners ford, bounded by Thomas Suit.
To my son Shadrick Dent - if afd Zachariah dies w/out lawful issue, Shadrick to enjoy Zachariah's land.
To my son Titus Dent - pt of a tract of land called Saint Stephen Coalman, containing about 50 acres, it being the pt of the land I bought of William Cooksey.
To my son John Bruer Dent - if sd Titus dies w/out lawful issue, John Bruer to enjoy the afd land. Also 1 cow and calf.
To my dau Chloe Waters - Negro woman Violetta, during her natural life, and the heirs of her body forever, and no more.
To my dau Joana Higdon - Negro girl Monaca, during her natural life, and the heirs of her body forever, and no more.
To my dau Hezia Burroughs - Negro girl Henny, during her natural life, and the heirs of her body forever, and no more.
To my son Zachariah Dent - 1 cow and yearling and 1 Negro called Mille.
To my son Titus Dent - 1 cow and yearling and 1 Negro girl named Pat.
To my son Shadrick Dent - 1 heifer and 1 Negro man named Nace.
To my dau Susanah Dent- 1 heifer and 1 Negro girl named Moll.
To my son Gideon Dent - Negro girl Rachel.
To my son Benjamin Dent - Negro boy Jerry.
To my sons John Bruer Dent and Shadrick Dent - Negro woman
Moll, to be equally divided between them.
To my wife - all my personal estate not already disposed of, during her natural life, and after her death, to be equally divided among my 7 children, viz, Gideon, Benjamin, Zachariah, Titus, Susanah, Shadrick, and John Bruer Dent.
Executors: my sons, Gideon Dent and Benjamin Dent.
Signed Jul 5, 1778 - Benjamin his mark Dent.
Wit - Thomas Dent, Joseph Waters of James, James Waters. Probated on Aug 15, 1778 by all 3 witnesses.


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Birth
[c1709-10 Newport W Hundred (Hd) Charles Co MD (Chas Co): Benjamin Dent born; father John Dent, mother possibly Catherine ------ (see narrative article on John Dent {John1})]

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14 Aug 1733 Chas Co: John Dent {elder brother} conveyed to Benjamin Dent "in consideration of natural love and brotherly affection which he hath and beareth towards the said Benjamin Dent" 143A of "Dent's Inheritance" «Chas Co Deed Bk (ChD) O2:5»

Marr
[c1742? Chas Co?: Benjamin Dent married [Susanna]? ----- (Susanna probably Benjamin's surviving wife---see 1779 record below; maiden name may have been Brewer, since he named a son John Brewer Dent)]

Son
[c1743? Chas Co: Gideon Dent born]

Dau
[c1745? Chas Co: Chloe Dent born (married 1767)]

Dau
[c1747? Chas Co: Joanna Dent born]

Dau
[c1748? Chas Co: Kezia Dent born]

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2 Mar 1749/50 Chas Co: Robert Cadel of Chas Co sold to Benja Dent of Chas Co for 6750 lbs of tobacco 100A part of 200A "Saint Stephen Coleman" in the possession of Edward Cadel «ChD Z2:383»

Son
[21 Jun 1750 Chas Co: Benjamin Dent born (from DAR application - original source unknown)]

Son
[c1752 Chas Co: Zachariah Dent born]

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1753-69 Chas Co: debt books list Benjamin Dent with part of "Dent's Inheritance" of 143A, and part of "[Saint] Stephen Coleman" for 100A

Son
[c1754 Chas Co: Titus Dent born]

Dau
[c1755 Chas Co: Susannah Dent born]

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22 Oct 1755 Trinity Par Chas Co: vestrymen and church wardens met at newly built parish church, at which time a large number of Protestant freeholders of the parish met according to notice and declared their desire to have pews distributed through lottery scheme proposed by parish vestry; those present included: church warden Hatch Dent, and freeholders Thos Dent, Michael Dent, Peter Dent, Benjamin Dent and John Dent Senr «Trinity Par Vestry Prcdgs (TPVP)»

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18 Dec 1755 Trinity Par: 2/3 of pew no. 13 assigned to John and Michael Dent, who paid £2.6.8. 31 May 1756 Trinity Par: 1/3 of pew no. 13 assigned to Benjamin Dent, who paid £1.3.4 «TPVP»

Son
[c1757 Chas Co: Shadrach Dent born]

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3 Dec 1757 Chas Co: John Dent {elder brother} sold to Benjamin Dent for £30 sterling money of Great Britain 143A of "Dent's Inheritance"; Mary wife of John Dent acknowledged her right of dower «ChD G3:146» [this deed duplicated the 14 Aug 1733 deed to Benjamin]

Son
[15 Dec 1758 Chas Co: John Brewer Dent born (from age given in cemetery record)]

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Aug 1760 Trinity Par: following were on list of parishioners contributing to aid sufferers from Boston fire, with amounts given: Hatch Dent, £0.11.3; John Dent Jr {son of Hatch}, £0.3.4; Benjamin Dent, £0.7.6; John Dent, £0.7.6; Michael Dent, £0.7.6; and Thomas Dent, £0.7.6. «Calendar of Md State papers, Black Bk series #1010 X, 132»
=== Contributed by Ralph D. Smith
June 1765 - Leonard Higdon and Benjamin Dent confess judgment to Francis Posey, Jr. for the sum of 424 lbs. of tobacco debt and 2 shillings and 6 pence currency which sums were recovered by Posey against Higdon October last, said sums to be levied against them in case Higdon shall not pay Posey said sums, with additional costs thereon, by Feb. 10 next.
Source: Charles Co., Md. Circuit Court, Liber N No. 3, pp. 277-8.
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13 Aug 1770 Chas Co: Abraham Devenport [Davenport] of Frederick Co MD sold to Benjamin Dent of Chas Co, planter, 100A part of "Turner's Forest", formerly called "Bow"; Mary, wife of said Abraham Devenport, relinquished her right of dower «ChD S3:48»

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1770-72 Chas Co: debt books list Benjamin Dent with part of "Dent's Inheritance" 143A, part of "[Saint] Stephen Coleman" 100A, and part of "Turner's Forest" 100A

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1 Oct 1772 Chas Co: William Cooksey of Chas Co sold to Benjamin Dent of Chas Co, planter, 50A part of "St Stephen Coleman"; Barbary, wife of said William Cooksey, relinquished her right of dower «ChD S3:296»

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23 Oct 1772 Chas Co: Thomas Suit of Chas Co, joiner, sold to Benjamin Dent [4A] part of Church Over, adjoining said Thomas Suit's land and said Benjamin Dent's land called "Bow" «ChD S3:306»

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1773-74 Chas Co: debt books list Benjamin Dent with part of "Dent's Inheritance" 143A, part of "[Saint] Stephen Coleman" 100A, part of "Turner's Forest" 100A, and part of "[Saint] Stephen Coleman" 50A

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Early 1778 Newport W Hd Chas Co: Benjamin Dent Sr on constable's list of men over 18 years of age «Chas Co Ct Prcdgs Bk (ChCP) X3:630-640»

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10 Apr 1778 Chas Co: Henry Dent, Walter Dent, Thomas Dent, John Dent Sr, Benjamin Dent, Peter Dent and William Dent took oath of fidelity to State of MD before magistrate Joshua Sanders [of Bryantown Hd] «ChCP X3:641-651»

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5 Jul 1778 Chas Co: in his will Benjamin Dent left to wife [unnamed] use of dwelling plantation and also part of "Turner's Forest" during natural life; after her decease to son Gideon Dent part of dwelling plantation "Dent's Inheritance" containing 143A, and 4A of "Turner's Forest" bounding on "Dent's Inheritance"; if son Gideon Dent died without issue to son John Bruer Dent; to son Benjamin Dent 100A part of "Saint Stephen Coleman" (tract son Benjamin dwelt on); if son Benjamin Dent died without issue to son Shadrick Dent; to son Zachariah Dent 96A part of "Turner's Forest" and 4A of "Church Over" adjoining "Turner's Forest"; if Zachariah Dent died without issue to son Shadrick Dent; to son Titus Dent 50A part of "Saint Stephen Coleman" (part of land bought of William Cooksey); if Titus Dent died without issue to son John Bruer Dent; also left slaves to dau Chloe Waters, dau Joana Higdon, dau Kezia Burroughs, son Zachariah Dent, son Titus Dent, son Shadrick Dent, dau Susanah Dent, son Gideon Dent, son Benjamin Dent, and son John Bruer Dent; to wife [unnamed] use of remainder of personal estate during natural life, and after decease to be equally divided amongst seven children Gideon, Benjamin, Zachariah, Titus, Susanah, Shadrick and John Bruer Dent; appointed sons Gideon Dent and Benjamin Dent executors; witnesses were Thomas Dent, Joseph Waters of James, and James Waters «Chas Co Will Bk (ChW) AF7:207»

Death
[by 15 Aug 1778 Chas Co: Benjamin Dent died (date of probate of will)]

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15 Aug 1778 Chas Co: will of Benjamin Dent decd proved by oath of Thomas Dent, Joseph Waters of James, and James Waters «ChW AF7:207»

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1779 Trinity Par: Susannah Dent (widow) on list of nonsubscribers residing in Newport W Hd «TPVP» [this Susannah is probably widow of Benjamin]

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Robert Cadle 106.87 CH £8.2.6 Sep 10 1770 Jan 10 1771
Appraisers: William McPherson Thomas Richard Cooksey.
Creditors: Benjamin Jameson, Benge Dent.
Next of kin: Mary Cadle, Hester Price.
Administrator: Edward Cadle.

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Charles County Maryland Land Record Liber Z#2, 1744-1753; Page 383. At the request of Benjamin Dent, the following deed was recorded on Mar 10, 1749[/50].
Mar 2, 1749[/50] from Robert Cadel (Cadle) of CC, to Benj:a Dent of CC, for 5750 lbs tobacco, about 200 acres, being part of a tract of land called Saint Stephen Coleman, part of the land taken out of this tract and in the possession of Edward Cadel, containing and laid out for about 100 acres. Signed - Robert (R his mark) Cadel. Wit - Geo Dent, Jno Beale Jr.
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Charles County Land Record Book G#3, 1756-1761; Page 146. Dec 3, 1757 from John Dent of CC, to Benjamin Dent of CC, for 30 £ sterling, part of a tract of land called Dents Inheritance, lying in CC on the north side of a branch called Piles Fresh, and hounded by sd Dent's Mill Dam, containing and laid out for about 43 acres. Signed - John Dent. Wit - Jo.n Winter, Jas Nevison. Mary, wife of the sd Benjamin Dent, relinquished her right of dower to the lands within mentioned. Recorded Dec 9, 1757.
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Charles County Land Record Book S#3, 1770-1775; Page 48, Aug 13, 1770 from Abraham Devenport of Frederick County, to Benjamin Dent of CC, planter, for 100 £, about 100 acres, being part of a tract of land called Turners Forrest formerly called Bow, containing about 100 acres. Signed - Abraham Devenport. Wit - John Winter*, Geo Dent*. Mary, the wife of sd Abraham Devenport, relinquished her right of dower. Recorded Oct 28, 1770,
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Charles County Land Record Book S#3, 1770-1775; Page 296. Oct 1, 1772 from William Cooksey of CC, to Benjamin Dent of CC, planter, for 56 £ 5 shillings, about 50 acres, being part of a tract of land called St. Stephen Coleman, bounded by Oliver Burch, Signed - William (W his mark) Cooksey, Wit - J Hawkins*, Philip Briscoe*. Barbary, the wife of the sd William Cooksey, relinquished her right of dower. Recorded Oct 3, 1772.
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Charles County Land Record Book S#3, 1770-1775; Page 306. Oct 23, 1772 from Thomas Suit of CC, joiner, to Benjamin Dent of CC, planter, for 6 £, part of a tract of land called Church Over, lying in CC, bounded by sd Thomas Suit's land, sd Benjamin Dent's land called Bow. Signed - Thomas Suit. Wit - Jno Winter*, Philip Briscoe*. Recorded Oct 29, 1772.
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1642-1753 Rent Rolls Charles County MD Hundred - Newport: Rent Roll page/Sequence: 419-300: TURNERS FORREST: 450 acres; Possession of - 450 Acres - Turner, Samuel: : Including 2 tracts, the one originally called BOW and the other ST. ANNE RESURVEYED for Samuel Turner, 22 June 1721.: Other Tracts Mentioned: BOW; ST. ANNE RESURVEYED; BOE; mm Note; not identified to a specific Hundred. Location identified by watercourse or nearby tract.}, ,
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1642-1753 Rent Rolls Charles County MD Hundred - Newport: Rent Roll page/Sequence: 366-31: ST. STEPHENS COLEMAN: 300 acres; Possession of - 200 Acres - Caudle, John: 100 Acres - Keate, Elizabeth: Surveyed 19 Feb 1670 for Philip Coombes at a bound tree the bound tree of Francis Fernly: Conveyance notes - 100 Acres - Edward Caudle from John Caudle; 10 Feb 1743, 100 Acres - Benjamin Dent from Robert Caudle; 2 March 1749,,
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1642-1753 Rent Rolls Charles County MD Hundred - Newport: Rent Roll page/Sequence: 419-291: DENTS INHERITANCE: 1169 acres; Possession of - 1169 Acres - Dent, John: : : : : : : Including 4 tracts [?] Col Barton's, READING, EVANS ADDITION, & BARNABY, Resurveyed 18 Aug 1720 for John Dent and patented to John Dent his son, lying on the North side of Piles Fresh.: Other Tracts Mentioned: READING; EVANS ADDITION; BARNABY; Conveyance notes - {mm Note; not identified to a specific Hundred. Location identified by watercourse or nearby tract.}, 144 Acres - Hatch Dent from John Dent; 10 March 1732,144 Acres - Michael Dent from John Dent, 14 Aug 1733, 143 Acres - Benjamin Dent from John Dent, 14 Aug 1733, , ,

• Married: ABT 1742 in Charles County, Maryland

1. Gideon Dent b: 1744 in Charles County, Maryland
2. Chloe Dent b: 1746 in Trinity Parish, Charles County, Maryland
3. Joanna Dent b: 1748 in Charles County, Maryland
4. Benjamin Dent b: 21 JUN 1750 in Charles County, Maryland
5. Zachariah Dent b: 1752 in Charles County, Maryland
6. Titus Dent b: 1755 in Trinity Parish, Charles County, Maryland
7. Shadrach Dent b: 1757 in Charles County, Maryland
8. John Brewer Dent b: 15 NOV 1758 in Charles County, Maryland
9. Keziah Dent b: 1760 in Charles County, Maryland
10. Susannah Dent b: 1763 in Charles County, Maryland