USA > Maryland > Anne Arundel County > The founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland. A genealogical and biographical review from wills, deeds and church records > Part 55
USA > Maryland > Howard County > The founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland. A genealogical and biographical review from wills, deeds and church records > Part 55
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Joseph Dorsey Dubois, son of John P. M. Dubois and Ann Dorsey (of Joseph), is the Secretary of the Wheeling Steel and Iron Company. His daughter is Mrs. J. J. Holloway, of Wheeling.
The daughters of Edward and Betty (Gilliss) Dorsey were Mrs. Betty Van Bibber, wife of James, to whom John Gilliss, of Baltimore County, granted his tract "Empty Bottle" in 1786, and Mary Hill Dorsey, to whom John Gilliss granted "Bachelor's Refuge" in 1789; she bought lands in western Baltimore in 1787; she became the wife
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of John Wilkins, whose daughter, Rebecca Wilkins, married Howell Williams. The brothers of Mrs. Betty Gilliss Dorsey were John Gilliss, of Baltimore County, and Henry Gilliss, of Curtis Creek. Her sisters were Mrs. Milcah Richardson; Sarah, first wife of John Davidge (of Robert), and Mrs. Pinkney.
SYKESVILLE.
This growing town was started in Howard County, but succeeding floods drove it into Carroll County. It takes its present name from Mr. James Sykes, the Englishman, who converted a flour mill, which had been carried on by Charles Alexander Warfield and others long before 1800, into a cotton mill and lived to regret it.
Mr. Sykes was the first to petition the erection of Howard District into Howard County in 1850. His old homestead on the Howard County side still stands, but his large cotton mill has stood idle since the last flood. It may yet rise from its ashes and be made to shed its electric light through the progressive town that now boasts of a bank, several progressive stores, several churches, a college and one of the handsomest station-houses along the Balti- more and Ohio Railroad.
As a shipping point for two progressive counties, this enterprising town will continue to grow.
In the triangle formed by two roads leading from Sykesville to the Old Frederick Road on the south were seated the following early settlers: Thomas Forsythe, Robert Shipley, John Hood, Vachel Dorsey, Edward Dorsey and Benjamin Lawrence, of "Delaware Hundred."
Old St. James' Church, upon the Frederick Road, celebrated for its camp grounds, stood near the present St. James.
Into this section progressive surveyors were early seated. Robert Shipley was nearest Sykesville.
"SHIPLEY'S CHOICE," 200 ACRES.
This tract upon the river side of the Severn is the earliest in the Shipley name. It was surveyed March 30, 1681, for Adam Shipley.
It was held later by Peter Porter and by James Barnes equally. Richard Shipley granted to his younger brothers, Adam, Robert and Peter, "Howard's and Porter's Range" and to his brother Robert lands on Elk Ridge. Adam was to hold the homestead of his mother, Lois Shipley, on "Howard's and Porter's Range." Peter Shipley, by will, left all of his property to his brother Richard, as heir-at-law.
Richard Shipley and Peter Porter sold 100 acres, in 1716, to Robert Freshwater. In 1720 Richard Shipley and James Barnes sold 100 acres to the same purchaser. Richard Shipley sold also to his sisters, Keturah Barnes and Lois Shipley, "Shipley's Choice." Richard and Adam Shipley sold "Howard's and Porter's Range" to Henry Sewell. This tract was the original survey of Captain Cornelius Howard and the first Peter Porter.
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Robert Shipley (of Adam) was the inheritor of "Shipley's Dis- covery,' upon the Patapsco, south of the Great Falls. This was laid out in 1724. It covered 250 acres. In 1742 Robert Shipley sold 140 acres of this to Nathan Barnes, and in 1744 he sold 110 acres more to Peter Porter, who named it "Porter." These same two families of the Severn followed him. Robert Shipley is next found upon his large survey at Sykesville. His inventory was returned in 1767, by his two sons, William and George Shipley, his executors. His daughters married John Hood, Upton Welsh, Howes Goldsborough, Dorsey and Gassaway.
Welsh and Goldsborough located upon his surveys. A large reserved graveyard upon his home marks many a resting-place. Dr. Howes Goldsborough and Captain Upton Welsh, with their Shipley wives, were neighbors.
From the large survey east of Lisbon, upon which Ex-Sheriff Nathan Shipley's descendants still live, a large family went out to many sections. Having failed to get some family data from represen- tatives of the family in Howard, I can only name some of the descend- ants of these early surveyors in Howard and Carroll, as Judge Shipley, father of Mrs. H. O. Devries; Dr. Shipley, Mr. Oscar Shipley, Talbot Shipley, Samuel Shipley, Talbot Shipley, Jr., Bradley Shipley and Oliver Shipley, still upon the homestead. This tract was "Shipley's Adventure." Dr. Shipley, late Examiner of the Schools of Howard, and his brother, Rev. Ethelbert Shipley, are close upon the old surveys of Howard and Shipley.
FORSYTHE.
Thomas and James Forsythe came over from Scotland, in 1779. James went west. Thomas settled near Sykesville, now Howard County. He married, first, Miss Elizabeth Hasgood, of Devonshire, England, by whom he had one son, Henry Forsythe, who was born in 1804. Thomas Forsythe married, second, Miss Mary Warfield, daughter of John and Mary Chaney, and, third, Miss Amelia Gaither, having no issue by either.
His homestead, near Sykesville, was a part of Robert Shipley's estate. It descended to his son, Henry Forsythe, who married Mary Dorsey, daughter of John Dorsey and Ellen Cochran. Their heirs are Julia A. Dorsey, John T. Forsythe, Manelia, Arthur P., William Henry and Emily V. Forsythe.
John T. Forsythe heired the old homestead at Sykesville, now held by his son, John W. Forsythe. Mrs. Mary Forsythe heired from her father a tract upon the old Frederick road, known as "Lost by Neglect." This became the later residence of Mr. Henry Forsythe and is now held by his son, William Henry Forsythe. To this valu- able property was added a handsome estate upon the " Hood's Mill" road, now the homestead of Arthur P. Forsythe.
Adjoining both is the late property of Mr. Nimrod Dorsey, who married two daughters of Henry Forsythe. This estate is now held by William Henry Forsythe, who holds an extensive property in a splendid state of cultivation.
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These two brothers are among the first of our progressive farmers of Howard. Mrs. Walter Dorsey's estate, at Cooksville, and Mrs. Nimrod Dorsey's, east of her brother, are also well-developed.
Arthur P. Forsythe married a sister of Mr. James T. Clark, President of the Drovers' Bank of Baltimore. One daughter is Mrs. Hammond, of "Hood's Mill."
William Henry Forsythe married Miss Welling, of Clarksville. Their son, William Henry Forsythe, attorney-at-law, was a member of the Legislature from Howard, upon the Judiciary Committee of the House. Mr. William Henry Forsythe, Sr., has been a Director of Springfield Asylum since its removal to Sykesville.
DELAWARE HUNDRED, HOME OF BENJAMIN LAWRENCE.
This oldest son of Levin and Susan Dorsey followed his brothers to the neighborhood of St. James' Church. He was upon the "Committee of Observation " for his section known as "Delaware Hundred." He built a mill, known later as Polton's, on Delaware Bottom.
In 1762 he married Urith, daughter of Samuel and Urith (Randall) Owings, of Owings' Mill. Mrs. Owings was the daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Beale) Randall. Benjamin Lawrence's heirs were Samuel, Levin, Mary and Susannah Lawrence.
Samuel Lawrence, in 1790, married Sarah Hobbs, daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth Cumming (of General William and Sarah Coppage). Their daughter, Urith Owings Lawrence-James Brown, of Delaware, and left Caroline, wife of James Anderson, of Louisville, ยท Kentucky, whose daughter Louisa became Mrs. Dr. Kemper, of Cincinnati, to whom I am indebted for valuable aid.
Benjamin Lawrence (of Samuel)-Susannah Howard (of Thomas and Ruth [Dorsey] Howard), whose grandmother was Susannah Lawrence (of Benjamin).
At the beginning of the Revolutionary War this section, known as " Delaware Hundred," became the centre of a busy settlement, after all available lands had been taken upon Elk Ridge. Benjamin Law- rence was a central figure of that settlement. His wife Urith Owings, was the daughter of Samuel Owings, whose estate covered a big section of Baltimore County. Their daughter Susannah married Edward Dorsey (of Vachel); their daughter Mary married Elias Dorsey (of Vachel), whose daughter Mary married-Levin Lawrence (of Benjamin).
Nimrod Dorsey (of Johnsa of Vachel) married Matilda Dorsey (of Edward and Susannah Lawrence).
Mary Dorsey (of Johnsa) had a daughter, Elizabeth Frost, whose daughter, Emily Childs, married Levin Lawrence Dorsey (of Elias), son of Edward and Susannah Lawrence.
In 1798 Benjamin and Samuel Lawrence removed to Jefferson County, Kentucky. The first stone house in the county, known as
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"Eden," was built by them. Samuel Lawrence's wife rode in her carriage over the mountains of Maryland'to join her husband, Edward, and his son-in-law, Nimrod Dorsey, soon followed.
The above marriages between the families of Vachel Dorsey and Benjamin Lawrence show some of the tangles we are called upon to solve.
"Two of Benjamin Lawrence's first cousins became his sons-in- law; his cousin's daughter became his daughter-in-law and aunt to her own first cousin; his cousin's granddaughter married his grand- son."
Two of Benjamin Lawrence's descendants, Mrs. Dr. Kemper, of Cincinnati, and Mrs. John Shirley, of "The Anchorage," Kentucky, have spent thirty years of their intelligent lives in seeking to unravel the tangled threads of their Dorsey, Lawrence, Hobbs and Cummings relations.
My own researches of wills and deeds are herein added to their life-work.
MARRIOTTSVILLE.
The estate of General Richard Marriott, a descendant of John Marriott, of the Severn, gave the name to this little village of Howard. A magnesium limestone quarry is immediately at the railroad station.
The late Henry O. Devries was for many years the leading farmer of this section.
It was in this village he organized a Farmers' Grange. Upon "Prospect Hill," near by, lived Michael Burgess, oldest son of Cap- tain Joseph. Coming out of the Revolutionary War, in which he fought as Ensign, he married Sarah Warfield, of Davidge, and handed down his estate to Thomas Burgess, Sheriff of Howard. The latter married Honor Dorsey. Their sons were Dr. Thomas Burgess, of Nashville, Illinois; Dr. Lloyd Burgess, of Sparta, Illinois; Joseph Burgess, of Nashville, Illinois, and William Burgess, attorney-at-law, of Orange Court, Virginia. The daughters of Sheriff Thomas Bur- gess were Mrs. Charles Hipsley and Mrs. Lucinda Day, mother of State Senator George Dorsey Day, of Commissioner William Day and of Joshua Day, of Glenelg. A portion of this estate is now held by the McEvoys.
William Burgess (of Michael), of "Prospect Hill," located in Baltimore. He began the business of Merchant Tailor. It has been followed by his son William and his grandson, William C. Burgess.
Joshua Burgess (of Michael) resided in Lisbon. His wife was Rebecca Mercer. They left three daughters, Sallie, Rebecca and Mrs. Gaither Henderson, and one son, William.
HENRY O. DEVRIES.
Henry O. Devries, the late President of the School Board of Howard County and long State Grange Agent, was born near Skyes- ville in 1826. His father, Saib Devries, came from Holland in 1803, where his family was prominent in the wars of Holland.
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Mrs. Sarah Devries was of the Elder family, who took up a large estate upon the border lines of Howard and Carroll Counties.
In 1850 Mr. H. O. Devries married Ann E. Shipley, daughter of Judge J. H. Shipley, of Carroll County, and grandniece of Colonel Beale Randall, descendant of Thomas Randall and Hannah Beale, of Annapolis.
The Devries estate is a part of the property once held by Colonel John Eager Howard, near Marriottsville. Mr. Devries was Judge of the Orphans' Court of Howard; was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1867. When the Grange movement was inaugurated he became an active supporter; was Master of the County Grange, and, still later, became the Master of the State Grange and General Manager of the State Agency, which he made a success. Mr. Devries also made a success of farming. He but lately retired from the Presidency of the School Board. Judge Devries' daughters are Mrs. Dr. Luke M. Shipley, Mrs. R. S. Maxwell, Cora and Martha Devries; Newton W., Alpheus C. and Rev. Benjamin F. Devries are his sons. After a long illness Mr. Devries died in the fall of 1902. The funeral took place from St. James' Church and was largely attended. Mrs. Devries survives.
WOODSTOCK.
A narrow valley, bisected by the rushing Patapsco, along which winds the Baltimore and Ohio Railway; a station-house, store and quite a hillside village on the south; a church and the magnificent Catholic College looming upon the north ridge of the valley, paralleled by a number of handsome summer homes on the south, constitute this charming resort.
Here were born two United State Senators; Senator Henry Gassaway Davis, of West Virginia, and Senator Arthur Pue Gorman, of Maryland.
Near by lived and died two of Howard's most intelligent and popular residents-Samuel Brown and his brother, John Riggs Brown; and here was born the brilliant editor of the "Ellicott City Times," John R. Brown, Jr., a relative of whom is still connected with it. Here, also, lived Dr. Herbert and his son, Brigadier-General James R. Herbert, whose estate was close to Governor George Howard's "Waverly."
Woodstock is also the home of Ex-Treasurer Frank Parlett, now Clerk of the Board of Commissioners. Woodstock's granite quarries are represented in the handsomest public buildings of Baltimore.
DORSEYS OF WOODSTOCK.
Nathan Dorsey (of John and Honor Elder) was located on the Old Frederick Road, near Woodstock. His tracts were "The Mis- take," "Dispute Ended" and "Ranter's Ridge," the latter taken up by Thomas Browne. He bought of Benjamin Yates, two tracts, "Yates' Inheritance" and "Yates' Contrivance," on the Patapsco.
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Nathan and Sophia, his wife, in 1764, sold part of "The Mistake" and mortgaged "Yates' Contrivance" and "Yates' Inheritance" to Hon. Henry Griffith.
In 1768 Edward and Vachel Dorsey, his brother, bought three tracts, "Mistake," "Dispute Ended" and "Yates' Contrivance."
In 1785 Vachel and Ruth Dorsey sold all their interest to Edward Dorsey, merchant of Baltimore.
In 1786 Edward Dorsey sold all of these tracts to General John Eager Howard for his son, George Howard, later Governor of Maryland.
Nathan Dorsey's homestead upon "Ranter's Ridge" was known as " Waverly." He left no will. His descendants are now in Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, Delaware and Maryland. His son, John Dorsey, was remembered by his grandfather, in 1764. Vachel (of Nathan), who lost a leg in the War of the Revolution, left a descendant, Dr. Nathaniel G. Ridgely Dorsey.
Edward Dorsey was known as "Curly Head Ned."
Nathaniel Dorsey was Secretary of the Society of the Cincin- nati after the Revolution. In 1832 Nathaniel Dorsey, of Harford County, bought "Spring Garden" off James Kirk and others.
Dr. Samuel Dorsey, who graduated at the University of Pennsyl- vania, and Mrs. Priscilla Reid, have also been classed as heirs of Nathan Dorsey, of Waverly.
The record reads: "Nathaniel and Ann Owings Dorsey had seven sons and one daughter. Vachel lost a leg in the Revolu- tionary War and Edward was called 'Curly head Ned.'-Maria B."
"My grandfather was Vachel, who lost a leg in the Revolutionary War, and your father was Samuel, who studied medicine in Philadel- phia. Both were sons of Nathaniel Dorsey, of "Waverly," which passed to the Howards and then to I. D. Judick .- N. G. Dorsey."
THE BROWNS OF WOODSTOCK.
I have studied three years to locate the Woodstock family. As there were eighty men and women bearing the Brown name, and sev- enty more spelling their names Browne, it is difficult to record with certainty the true family. I am aware of the tradition already published, that our Woodstock Brownes came from Captain Samuel Browne, who petitioned in 1692 to be restored to his position as naval officer. I am also aware that this Captain Samuel Browne is claimed as the nephew of Abell Browne, the ex-sheriff and ex-justice, whose will names his "nephews, Samuel and James, sons of my brother James, of Bermuda.". The above testator was twice married, and yet he names in his will but one son, Robert, the namesake of Robert Harwood, who took up "Harwood," which Robert Browne inherited; but Abell Browne was also a brother-in-law of Michael Taney, and both were sons-in-law of Commander Samuel Philips. Abell Browne had a son Samuel, namesake of the Commander. He may be found as a witness in a contest over the title of " Harwood," and said Samuel was evidently the legatee of his grandfather Philips, and, as his
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legatee, became, without doubt, his successor and commander. This is strengthened by the fact that his father, Abell, left him no lands because he was a naval officer. This Samuel Browne (of Abell) took up no lands. He did not hold "Brown's Folly;" that was taken up by Thomas Brown, the ranger. He left no will or testamentary records and no lands.
I find a Samuel Brown upon the Bush River in Baltimore County; this was Abell Browne's estate. His will of 1713 left his lands to his three sons, Samuel, James and Absalom. The latter alone trans- ferred these same lands still later. This shows that Samuel and James went elsewhere. The above testator naming his son James, appears to be the Samuel Browne, nephew of Abell; from his son Samuel could have come Benjamin, of "Good Fellowship," who handed down General Samuel Browne.
Benjamin Brown, of "Good Fellowship," was the brother-in-law of Patuxent John Dorsey, whose son Ely wrote to their London merchant to honor the drafts of Benjamin Brown and himself. Mrs. Elizabeth Dorsey, widow of Patuxent John, not only named her two sons, Samuel and Benjamin, in honor of father and brother, but her will of 1771 was witnessed by Samuel Brown, Jr., and by Rachel Todd, both representatives of Benjamin Brown, of "Good Fellow- ship." His will of 1768 names his wife, Susannah (Randall?) and his son Samuel, heir-at-law of "Good Fellowship." His remaining heirs were Rachel Todd, Ruth Todd, Joshua, Vachel, Susannah, Richard, Charles, Ephraim, Rebecca and Benjamin Brown, Jr.
Vachel Browne (of Benjamin) married Miss Hyatt and held her estate near New Market, Frederick County. His son, Joshua Browne, was President of the Elk Ridge Railroad and Mayor of Annapolis.
Samuel Browne, several times Delegate to the Legislature from Frederick County, and the wife of Mr. Brashears, of Annapolis, are heirs of Joshua Browne. Samuel Browne, heir-at-law of Benjamin, held "Good Fellowship" at the outbreak of the Revolution. He married Achsah, daughter of John and Mary Riggs. The archives show his commission as lieutenant in Colonel Charles Hammond's Elk Ridge Militia in 1778. At the close of the war he was promoted. to general. John Riggs Browne, Samuel Browne, Jr., Elisha, Vachel, Susannah and Achsah Riggs Browne were his heirs. General Browne left his homestead, "Good Fellowship," to his son, John Riggs Browne, and bought "Walnut Hill," near the Old Brick Church; here he spent his remaining days. His daughter, Susannah, became Mrs. Polton, of Guilford. Achsah Riggs, his youngest daughter, became the wife of Thomas Beale Dorsey, Jr., of "Gray Rock;" she was the mother of Achsah Riggs Dorsey, second wife of Reuben M. Dorsey, of " Arcadia, " and of Sally, wife of Dr. Arthur Pue.
"Walnut Hill" is to-day one of the most attractive homesteads in Howard. It passed from Samuel Brown, Sr., to Samuel Brown, Jr., who was long Register of Wills for Anne Arundel County. It passed from him, a bachelor, to his brother Vachel. Upon the latter's removal to the city it was bought by Captain Pendleton, of Virginia,
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who restored it after the type of the Colonial houses of Virginia. It is now the property of Mr. Louis T. Clarke, attorney-at-law, Ellicott City.
Samuel Brown, Jr., also came into possession of the homestead of " Brown's Purchase," near Guilford. He deeded this to his brother, Elisha Brown, the surveyor of Anne Arundel. His wife was Ann Ray. It descended to their daughter Lucretia, who became the wife of Hammond Dorsey. By them the old homestead was sold to Ephraim Collins. Its handsome brick mansion is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Earp In a graveyard, immediately in front of the dwelling, are well-preserved memorial stones bearing the names of Samuel Browne (of Elisha), who died 1826; Elisha Browne, 1832; James Browne, 1836; Anne Browne, 1836; she was the wife of Elisha Browne.
The deed from Mr. and Mrs. Hammond Dorsey to Ephraim Collins includes the adjoining tracts of "Warfield's Contrivance" and "Harry's Lot," and it joins the original homestead of Colonel Henry Ridgely.
Mr. Vachel Browne, of Baltimore, is a son of Vachel Browne (of Samuel) by his wife, a daughter of William Berry.
John Riggs Browne, of "Good Fellowship," married Sarah Gassaway, daughter of Brice John, of Fulton, whose wife, Dinah Warfield, was a sister of Major Charles Alexander Warfield; issue, Henry Gassaway Browne, Samuel, John Riggs Browne, Jr., Louisa, Mary Ann, Elizabeth and Kitty Ann Browne. John Riggs Browne was in the War of 1812 and died at thirty-two years.
Louisa Browne became the wife of Caleb D. Davis, of Wood- stock, heir of Mrs. Ruth Randall and son of Robert Davis (and Ruth Gaither). Their son is Hon. Henry Gassaway Davis, Ex-United States Senator, late candidate for Vice-President, and President of several railroads in West Virginia, now a resident of Washington. Senator Davis and his cousin, Senator A. P. Gorman, of Maryland, both born at Woodstock, were in the Senate at the same time.
The late wife of Senator Davis was Catharine Bantz, of Frederick, granddaughter of Alexander and Mary (Harwood) Warfield, of the "Seneca." Their only son is John T. Davis, of Elkins. Upon the recent birth of his son, Henry Gassaway Davis, a telegram was received from Ex-Senator Davis, then a Delegate and Chairman of the United States Commission at the Pan-American Congress in Mexico, announcing a gift of $100,000 to his infant grandson and namesake.
The daughters of Senator Davis are the wife of United States Senator Stephen B. Elkins, of West Virginia; Mrs. R. M. G. Brown and Mrs. Arthur Lee. Senator Davis is President of the West Vir- ginia Central Railroad. He and his brother, Major Thomas Davis, former Democratic candidate for Congress in 1900, are engaged in developing valuable coal mines in West Virginia. Senator Davis, with headquarters in Washington, has recently organized another railroad in West Virginia and has been made its president. In hi
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speech accepting the nomination for Vice-President he showed a conservative wisdom which has made him " The Grand Old Man" of the age.
Mary Ann Browne (of John Riggs Browne) became Mrs. Smith. Elizabeth married Mr. Peter Gorman, of Woodstock. Their oldest son, Senator Arthur Pue Gorman, was born at Woodstock in 1839. (See sketch of Senator Gorman.) Kitty Ann Brown (of John Riggs) became the wife of Henry Hood, son of General Thomas Hood.
Samuel Browne, of "Good Fellowship," married Elizabeth Jenkins, of Richmond. Issue, Henry, Thomas, Charles, Frank, Josephine and Ida Brown.
Thomas Browne (of Samuel) has been for several years one of the managers of Springfield Asylum. Frank Browne bought the homestead and married Miss Davis. He is a progressive farmer. John Riggs Browne, by his first wife had an only son, John Riggs Browne, Jr., for many years the brilliant editor of the "Ellicott City Times." He died in early manhood, a bachelor. The old homestead of "Good Fellowship" is still held by Mr. Browne's heirs.
THE DORSEYS OF ELLICOTT CITY.
The immediate settlers around the site of Ellicott's Mills, but long before this settlement, were the sons of Thomas Beale Dorsey (of Caleb of Hochley), who resided upon "Wyatt's Ridge," where " Belvoir" stands to-day. This extensive tract was the inheritance of Ann Worthington (of John, the merchant, whose wife was Helen, daughter of Thomas and Mary [Heath] Hammond).
Thomas Beale Dorsey inherited from his father "two farms, bought of Thomas Higgins" twenty head of cattle, twenty head of sheep, the family silver and his mother's crest representing a stork; with this he sealed his will, now to be seen at Annapolis.
The only daughter was Sarah, wife of Reuben Meriweather, of a distinguished Virginia family recorded in Burke's Heraldry. They settled at "Round About Hills," on a survey of Colonel Henry Ridgely. Ann Meriweather became Mrs. John Worthington. Nicholas Meriweather, through his wife, Elizabeth Hood (of John and Rachel Howard), came into possession of parts of "Worthington Range" at Clarksville; to this he added other tracts. Their daughter, Sallie Meriweather, married Reuben Meriweather Dorsey.
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