• General Notes

  REFN: 2368
  Copy of Will of Peter Dent, dated 5 October 1757:  This will was found in
  an old desk belonging to Mr. Edward G. Keller, an old and well-known
  resident of Cumberland, MD, the desk having been purchased from George
  Dent by Dickison Simpkins, grandfather of Mrs. Keller, and at the death
  of her father, B.B. Simpkins, was purchased by her husband, Mr. E.G.
  Keller, and the will, after being mislaid all these years was found by
  Mr. Keller about the 15th of December, 1907.
  "IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEND.  J. PETER DENT, OF THE PROVINCE OF MARYLAND,
  PREAMBLE:
  ITEM:  I give and bequeath to my loving wife, Mary Dent, four negroes,
  Harry our carpenter, and Jean, his wife, Dick or Richard and Letty, his
  wife, and the house and plantation I now live on, during her natural
  life, with the furniture in the house, all but what she shall think fit
  to give to her children, as of with liberty of tending and clearing as
  far down and up the swamp as the plantation now is; that is to say as far
  down as the dividing line.
  ITEM:  I give and bequeath to my loving daughter, Eliza Dent, her choice
  of the negroes unwilled at the hour of my death, with full liberty, in
  the house with her mother, during the time she shall be unmarried, and
  one good bed and bedclothes suitable.
  ITEM:  Whereas, I have already given my loving son, Peter Dent, what
  negroes and stock, and made over some land to him, I give and bequeath
  him the sum of ten shillings, current money, with a confirmation of what
  I have already given him.
  ITEM:  I give and bequeath until my loving son, William Dent, all the
  land I have any right to in Frederick County, to him, the said William
  Dent and his heirs forever, as also, what he has already in his
  possession/
  ITEM:  I give and bequeath unto my loving daughters, Mary Beall and Lucy
  Hardy, five shillings each, with what they have already in their
  possession.
  ITEM:  I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter, Ann Dent, one negro,
  a bed and bolster and proper covering, with full liberty of living in my
  now dwelling house until married.
  ITEM:  I give and bequeath unto my loving son, Thomas Dent, one negro boy
  called Jeremiah, son of Sara, as well also I give and bequeath to the
  said Thomas Dent a half of the land that shall be found between house
  where Joe Marlow now lives and the upper end thereof, as well, and what
  land I may have or may take up as the original tract called "White Haven"
  the whole to be equally divided between my said son Thomas and his
  brother Walter, my said son Thomas to have first choice after the
  division is made, the dividing line to be run as true as may be from the
  barrens to the main swamp of Mallowmen, and one good bed and sheets,
  bolster and proper covering.
  ITEM:  I give and bequeath to my loving daughter, Ann Dent, one young
  negro, and unmarried at my death, then to have her equal part of what is
  left unwilled after her mother's death to her heirs and for, with liberty
  of living in my dwelling house, and to have the use of the plantation
  during the time she lives unmarried.
  ITEM:  I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter, Eleanor Dent, one
  young negro to be delivered her at the day of marriage, with the same
  liberty of the dwelling house and plantation during the time she shall
  remain single, as mentioned to her sister Eliza.
  ITEM:  I give and bequeath unto my loving son, Walter Dent, one negro,
  called George, one good bed and bolster, and also the other half of the
  land that's to be found above the house where Joe Marlow lives, to him
  and his heirs forever.
  ITEM:  I give and bequeath to my little daughter, Barbara Dent, one young
  negro named Timothy, with the same privilege of living in my now dwelling
  house, and use of the plantation as mentioned to her other sisters till
  married.
  ITEM:  I give and bequeath to my youngest son, Richard Dent, one young
  negro named Chalres, with a bed and furnit

Details of Peter's family with Mary Brooke