Birth

[c1753 Newport W Hundred (Hd) Charles Co MD (Chas Co): Walter Dent born (married c1776); father probably Thomas Dent {John²,John¹} (see narrative article "The Family of Thomas Dent Sr of Newport Hundred, Charles County, Maryland")]

-----

[Note: Genealogist Harry Wright Newman in his book "Charles County Gentry" (and to a much lesser extent in his book "The Maryland Dents") attributed information actually concerning this Walter Dent to Walter Dent son of Judge Peter {William²,Thomas¹}, of SW Prince Georges Co MD; for more details, see the narrative article "The Confusion concerning Walter Dent in Harry Wright Newman's Published Works"]

Marr

[c1776 Chas Co: Walter Dent married possibly to a dau of Mark Winnett (Walter named a son after him)]

[Note: Walter Dent Sr left no known will, nor are there other sources which comprehensively list his children. A major source in reconstructing his family is the 1859 St Francois Co MO administration of his son John Dent, which listed as siblings (he died unmarried) Absalom, Jane, a decd sister, Mark (decd), and Walter (decd); Walter Dent Sr was closely associated with some of the above mentioned in Franklin Co VA records, and was the only Dent male in the county as these children were reaching their majority, making him almost certainly their father; these five were probably only the first family of Walter (i.e., only John Dent's full siblings were probably listed in above administration), since there are other children for whom Walter is known or suspected father]

Son

25 May 1777 [Chas Co]: Mark Winnett Dent born «Mark Winnett Dent Bible»

-----

1777 Chas Co: following on county-wide militia list in Capt Henry Clarkson's Company, 12th Battalion: Thos. Dent Jr (a Sgt) {prob Thos³,John²,John¹}, Hatch Dent {John³,John², John¹}, Henry Dent {Thos³,John²,John¹}, Gideon Dent {Benj³,John²,John¹}, Wm. Dent {Thos³,John²,John¹}, Walter Dent {prob Thos³,John²,John¹}, and Saml. Dent {Thos³,John²,John¹} [published in Clements and Wright, "The Maryland Militia in the Revolutionary War"]

-----

Early 1778 Newport W Hd Chas Co: Walter Dent on constable's list of men 18&> «Chas Co Ct Prcdgs Bk (ChCP) X3:630-640»

-----

24 Feb 1778 Chas Co: in final account of Walter Suit and his wife Susanah Suit, executrix of Peter Davis [of Newport E Hd], decd, money to estate received of Walter Dent «Chas Co Will Bk (ChW) AF7:116»

-----

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»

Son

[c1779 Chas Co: Walter Dent born]

-----

1779 Trinity Par [Chas Co]: Walter Dent on list of subscribers to parish from "West [Newport] Hundred"; listed for one subscription and 30 lbs of tobacco «Trinity Par Vestry Prcdgs (TPVP)»

-----

1780 Trinity Par: Walter Dent on account (a "list (of subscribers) given in to collect") of Capt Hezekiah Dent {Hatch³,John²,John¹} for 30 (lbs of tobacco) «TPVP»

Dau

[c1781 Chas Co: (unknown name) Dent born (1859 St Francois Co MO administration of John Dent {son of Walter Sr} cited a Thena Dent, dau of a decd sister)]

-----

1783 2nd Dist (Newport East and West Hds) Chas Co: Walter Dent on tax list [in a section of the 2nd District listing containing known West Hd residents] with following assessment: no land, no slaves, 2 horses and 7 black cattle valued at £24, other property valued at £18, a total amount of £42, and a tax assessment total £0.8.5, in specie £0.2.1; also listed as having 8 white inhabitants in his household [3 extra from wife's family?]

-----

Bef 19 Apr 1783 Chas Co: Hezekiah Farrand {husband of Mary Dent, prob sister}, at his death occurring before 19 Apr 1783 (probate of will «Chas Co Will Bk (ChW) AG8:146», owed money to Walter Dent (as per final account of 26 Mar 1787) «ChW AH:344»

Son

23 Sep 1783 [Chas Co]: Absalom Dent born «St Francois Co MO cemetery records»

Movt

[by 1785: Walter Dent moved from Chas Co to Henry Co VA (not on 1784 Henry Co tax list)]

-----

1785 Henry Co: Walter Dent on tax list in Salmon's Dist [Reed/Beaver/Daniels Creeks area] with 1 white male 21&>, no slaves, 4 horses, 2 cattle, £0.9.3 tax

Son

5 May 1786 [Henry Co]: John Dent born «St Francois Co MO cemetery records»

-----

1786 Henry Co: Walter Dent on tax list in Waller's Dist [formerly Salmon's Dist] with 1 white male 21&>, no slaves, 3 horses, 5 cattle, £0.17.3 tax

-----

9 Apr 1787 Henry Co: Walter Dent and Joseph Broady {poss brother-in-law}) on voting list for local election [published in Lela C. Adams, "Abstracts of Deed Books III & IV of Henry County, Virginia"]

-----

1787 Henry Co: Walter Dent on tax list [northern half] with 1 free male tithable 21&>, no free males 16&<21, no slaves, 2 horses, 6 cattle

-----

31 Nov 1787 Franklin Co VA (Frkln Co): Luke Thornton of Frkln Co sold to Walter Dent of Henry Co [237A on Chestnut Creek] «Frkln Co Deed Bk (FrD) 1:317» [acreage, waterway not indicated in deed, but are given in Frkln Co land tax records]

Movt

[aft Nov 1787: Walter Dent probably moved from Reed/Beaver/Daniels Cks area of Henry Co just over county line into Chestnut Creek area of Frkln Co]

-----

15 Jul 1788 Frkln Co: Walter Dent on tax list with 1 white male 16&>, no slaves, 1 horse, and £0.2.0 tax [from 1788 thru 1814, Walter appeared in the southerly of the two tax districts]

-----

1788-1800 Frkln Co: Walter Dent on land tax lists during these years assessed for 237A of land [the 100A tract he acquired Sep 1788 did not show up in his assessment until 1801]

-----

22 Sep 1788 Frkln Co: John Thornton sold to Walter Dent 100A on Fall Branch of Chestnut Creek; witnesses were John Martin, Joseph Broady, and Sam^l Bird «FrD2:31»

-----

19 Mar 1789 Frkln Co: Walter Dent on tax list with 1 white male 16&> and 1 horse

Dau

9 Sep 1790 [Frkln Co]: Jane Dent born «St Francois Co MO cemetery records»

-----

11 Nov 1790 Frkln Co: Walter Dent on tax list with 1 white male 16&> and 1 horse

-----

1 Apr 1791 Frkln Co: Walter Dent on tax list with 1 white male 16&> and 2 horses

-----

25 Sep 1792 Frkln Co: Walter Dent on tax list with 1 white male 16&> and 4 horses

-----

18 Mar 1793 Frkln Co: Walter Dant on tax list with 1 white male 16&> and 3 horses

Marr?

[c1794? Frkln Co?: Walter Dent possibly married ----- -----]

-----

12 Apr 1794 Frkln Co: Walter Dant on tax list with 2 white males 16&> [Mark would have turned sixteen 25 May 1793]

-----

16 Mar 1795 Frkln Co: Walter Dant on tax list with 1 white male 16&> [what happened to Mark?] and 4 horses

Dau

7 Apr 1795 [Frkln Co]: Lucy Dent born [date probably from cemetery records; members of the Bell family, descendents of Lucy, have records that a Walter Dent was her father]

-----

8 Aug 1796 Frkln Co: Walter Dant on tax list with 3 white males 16&> [himself, Mark, Walter Jr] and 3 horses [Walter Jr probably turned 16 since last tax list entry 16 Mar 1795]

-----

3 Oct 1796 Frkln Co: John Dent {prob brother} and Mary his wife of Frkln Co sold to Williamson Davis of Henry Co [originally of Newport E Hd Chas Co] 150A on Reed Creek; witnesses were John Martin, Walter Dent, and Walter McGregor {prob brother-in-law} [originally of Chas Co]. 1st Monday in Apr 1797 Frkln Co: deed proved by oath of Walter Dent and Walter McGregor. «FrD7:20»

-----

1 Apr 1797 Frkln Co: Walter Dant on tax list with 3 white males 16&> and 3 horses

Dau?

[1797-98 Frkln Co: Catherine Dent born (as Catherine Love, age 62 in 1860 Frkln Co census, age 82 in 1880 Frkln Co census; in both cases state of birth was VA; Walter Dent Jr was bondsman for Mar 1814 bond for Catherine's marriage to Henry Love)]

-----

1 Jul 1798 Frkln Co: Walter Dant on tax list with 3 white males 16&> and 3 horses

-----

May 1798 Frkln Co: court ordered that overseers of the poor bind Henry Love orphan and son of Willender Love to Josiah Woods; also Mark McKinsey orphan and son of John McKinsey to Walter McGregor; also Thomas McKinsey an orphan and son of John McKinsey decd to Walter Dent «Frkln Co Ct Order Bk (FrCO) 3:335»

-----

12 Apr 1799 Frkln Co: Walter Dant on tax list with 3 white males 16&> and 2 horses

-----

23 Apr 1800 Frkln Co: Walter Dent on tax list, with 3 white males 16&> [Absalom may have replaced Mark at this point, although Mark does not appear on the list separately] and 3 horses

-----

11 Apr 1801 Frkln Co: Walter Dant on tax list, with 2 white males over 16 [probably himself and Absalom, although Mark and Walter Jr (who had married) did not appear separately] and 2 horses

-----

1801-1813 Frkln Co: Walter Dent on land tax lists during these years assessed for 237A and 100A tracts of land [erroneously entered as 337A and 100A in 1801; in 1813, watercourse for both tracts given as Chestnut Creek]

Son??

[c1801? Frkln Co: Zachariah Dent born (in 1814 a Zachariah Dent was bound out to Peter Fishburn «FrCO 6:200»)]

-----

Dec 1801 Frkln Co: Wa[l]ter Dent Sen^r is appointed surveyor of the road from the Chestnut Meeting house [at?] John Jakeses unto the Carrolina Road at David Behelers

-----

10 Apr 1802 Frkln Co: Walter Dant Sr on tax list with 2 white males 16&> [himself, Absalom] and 4 horses [Walter Dent Jr and Mark Dent also listed]

-----

4 Apr 1803 Frkln Co: Walter Dant Sen^r on tax list with 3 white males 16&> [Walter, Absalom, John] and 4 horses

-----

9 Mar 1804 Frkln Co: Walter Dant Sen^r on tax list with 3 white males 16&> and 4 horses

-----

1 Apr 1805 Frkln Co: Walter Dant Sen^r on tax list with 3 white males 16&> and 4 horses

-----

29 Sep 1806 Frkln Co: Walter Dant Sen^r on tax list with 3 white males 16&> and 4 horses

-----

6 Apr 1807 Frkln Co: Walter Dant Sen^r on tax list with 2 white males 16&> and 4 horses [Absalom Dent first appeared on Frkln Co tax lists in this year]

-----

[1808 Frkln Co: property tax was not collected in VA during this year]

-----

21 Jan 1809 Frkln Co: a deed of trust was executed conveying 337A belonging to Walter Dent Sr to a group of trustees, who were to sell the land to satisfy a debt of £86.19.3 owed by Walter Dent to Daniel Brown. 6 Feb 1809 Frkln Co: Walter Dent acknowledged deed in court. «FrD5:562»

-----

14 Mar 1809 Frkln Co: Walter Dent Sr on tax list with 1 white male 16&> and 3 horses [John Dent first appeared on Frkln Co tax lists in this year]

-----

5 Mar 1810 Frkln Co: Walter Dent Sr on tax list with 1 white male 16&> and 3 horses

-----

1810 Frkln Co: Walter Dent Sr a household head in census «p497», as follows: 1 male 45&> [himself], 1 male 26&<45 [Absalom], 1 male 16&<26 [John], 1 female 45&> [wife?], 1 female 16&<26 [Jane], and 1 fem 10&<16 [Catherine or granddau Thena?]; Walter Dent Jr a household head on same page

-----

5 Mar 1811 Frkln Co: Walter Dent Sr on tax list with 1 white male 16&> and 3 horses

-----

16 Mar 1812 Frkln Co: Walter Dent Sr on tax list with 1 white male 16&> and 2 horses

-----

11 Mar 1813 Frkln Co: Walter Dent Sr on tax list with 1 white male 16&> and 3 horses

-----

6 Sep 1813 Frkln Co: Walter Dent attested that John Martin now dead was the third subscribing witness to the 3 Oct 1796 deed from John Dent and Mary his wife to Williamson Davis «FrD7:20»

Marr?

9 Dec 1813 Frkln Co: Walter Dent Jr (signed as Walter Dent) obtained bond for marriage to Keziah Doughten, with Absalom Dent his surety. 9 Dec 1813 Frkln Co: minister Wilson Turner solemnized marriage between Walter Dent and Keziah Doughten. [Though Walter Dent Jr was named in marriage bond, Walter Sr was more likely the groom, since Walter Dent Jr was having other children at the time Keziah was having her two daus; possible groom Walter Sr was about 60, bride was 32 [Doughton family bible records found in Mann Collection, Franklin Co VA Library, Rocky Mount VA, give her birthdate])]

Movt?

[by 1814: Walter Dent Sr, Absalom Dent and John Dent disappeared from Frkln Co tax lists starting in 1814; Absalom and John eventually if not immediately moved to St Francois Co MO to join their brother Mark; if Walter Sr did move with his sons, he probably died shortly afterward and his possible widow Keziah returned to Frkln Co, since she gave birth to dau Cynthia in Frkln Co in 1815]

Death

[c1814-15? Frkln Co (or new location): Walter Dent Sr probably died (no probate records are known for Walter Dent Sr)]

Dau??

[c1814-15 Frkln Co: Jane Cole Dent born (possible twin of Cynthia G. Dent?) (age 30 [probably should be abt 35] in 1850 Frkln Co census, living in Shelton Coleman household; Nov 1830 Frkln Co marriage bond record for marriage of Shelton Coleman and Jane Cole Dent named her mother Keziah Dent [although Walter Sr already had living dau Jane, this does not preclude Jane Cole from also being his dau]; Cole was Keziah's mother's maiden name «Doughton family bible»)]

Dau??

[1814-15 Frkln Co: Cynthia G. Dent born (possible twin of Jane Cole Dent?) (Cynthia's 8 Nov 1854 marriage entry to Nathaniel Oxley in Frkln Co marriage register gives her age as 39, her birthplace as Frkln Co, and her mother's name as Cassandia [Keziah] Dent); age 34 in 1850 Frkln Co census, living in Catherine [Keziah] Dent's household; age 45 in 1860 Frkln Co census, living in Nathaniel Oxley's household]