Thomas Dent Sr.

(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.

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.

William Wilkinson (1612–1676) who emigrated from England and his first wife, Naomi Hughes (1616–1634).

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 (present-day southeast Washington DC[1]) 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.

Certainly related and using the same coat of arms, Thomas was the uncle or perhaps older brother of Capt.

William was in turn the son of Robert Dent (1500) and Anne Fenwycke.

Their daughter, Julia, was the wife of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States.

In 1695 he employed William Dent of Thomas his attorney to institute legal action against on Lemaister.

In those years it is therefore evident that he was in close association with Thomas Dent and was a freeholder of age.