Edward Dorsey, the first son of Edward Dorsey, “The Immigrant,” and his wife Anne were born in Virginia. On August 25, 1664 he and his two brothers received jointly 400 acres of the plantation Hockley-in-the-Hole in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

Before 1670 Edward Dorsey married Sarah Wyatt, daughter of wealthy planter Nicholas Wyatt. Children of this marriage include: Edward, Sarah, Samuel, Hannah, John, Joshua, Nicholas, and Benjamin. Sarah died about 1690 and Edward took a second wife, Margaret Larkin, daughter of John Larkin and his wife Katherine. Children of this union include: Charles, Larkin, Francis, Edward (the Younger), and Anne.

In 1679 Edward Dorsey entered into public and political life in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. He was made a Justice of the Peace and a Gentleman Justice of the Quorum. He ascended through the military ranks: Captain of the Militia in 1686, Major in 1687, Field Officer in 1694, and Colonel in1702. He entered the General Assembly in 1694 as a delegate from Anne Arundel County and continued to serve until his death. He was Judge of the High Court Chancery and Keeper of the Great Seal of the Province. Edward Dorsey served as a member of the House of Burgesses from Anne Arundel County from 1694 to 1697 and from Baltimore County from 1701 to 1705.

Edward DORSEY was married to Ann,1 her surname being unknown. Some researchers have inaccurately listed her as Ann, daughter of Matthew HOWARD, Sr. While Matthew HOWARD did have a daughter named Ann, there is record of her husband being James GRENEFFE.2 Also, there is evidence that Edward DORSEY's daughter Sarah married Matthew HOWARD, Jr., son of the previously mentioned Matthew HOWARD. If Edward DORSEY's wife were the daughter of Matthew HOWARD, that would mean that his daughter Sarah's marriage to Matthew HOWARD, Jr. would have been to her blood uncle, a relation that was strictly forbidden, then as now. The listing of Edward DORSEY's wife Ann as a HOWARD probably came about through some researcher's incorrect interpretation of his son Joshua DORSEY's will. In his will, Joshua made bequests to his "cousins" John, Samuel and Matthew HOWARD. Though not stated these were children of Matthew HOWARD, Jr. [who married Joshua's sister Sarah DORSEY]. "Cousin" in the 1600s was a term often used for nephew or nieces, and sometimes used to refer to grandchildren. That researcher being unfamiliar with usage of the term apparently interpreted that they were true first cousins, and incorrectly concluded that Edward DORSEY's wife Ann was a daughter of Matthew HOWARD, Sr. Another possibility for the surname of Ann, wife of Edwrd DORSEY, is that suggested by Jay Worrall, Jr. He suggested she may have been the daughter of Humphrey BACHE of London, and the aunt of Elizabeth HARRIS, of Quaker fame. There are several other inaccurate statements regarding the first generations of the DORSEY family. Some researchers have attributed a daughter to Edward DORSEY a daughter Ann who married Nicholas GREENBERRY. There is no evidence that Edward DORSEY had a daughter named Ann. While Nicholas GREENBERRY's wife was named Ann, she could not have been a daughter of Edward DORSEY. Nicholas GREENBERRY did not emigrate from England to Maryland until 1674, at which time he arrived with his wife and two children.3 His wife could not have been the daughter of Edward DORSEY, who had been living in the colonies for over 25 years. The other major error in print regarding Edward DORSEY is in regard to his ancestry. Edward DORSEY was claimed by some as being descended from Sir Norman D'Arcie cousin of William the Conqueror, and from the Lord D'Arcy family of Hornby Castle.4 DNA evidence has proven that theory to be incorrect, showing that Edward DORSEY is not related to those families.5 The latest DNA results [November 2005, updated March 2006] would indicate a likely Irish origin for Edward Dorsey.15 Edward DORSEY drowned near the Isle of Kent in 1659.14 Caroline Kemper Bulkley in a 1938 article contended that he was living in 1667.16 She cited from Maryland Land Patents a warrant in 1650 to Edward DORSEY of 200 acres, and also 200 acres more that were part of a warrant for 400 acres granted to John NORWOOD and Edward DORSEY in 1651, "said DORSEY of Ann Arundell, Boatwright" assigned all his rights to George YATE on 23 April 1667. Her "transcription" of the record moved the location of the words "said Edward DORSEY," making the record appear to say something it did not. The record reads:17 Warrant was the xith of November MDCL Granted to Edward DORSEY of the County of Ann Arundell County for two hundred acres of Land the which heas signds away as followeth, as also two hundred acres more part of a warrnat for four hundred acres, granted John NORWOOD and the said DORSEY dated the xxiiii of February MDCLi. Know all men by these presents that I Edward DORSEY of the County of Ann Arundell, Boatwright, have granted bargained and Sold, for a Valuable Consideracon allready received all my right title intrest Clame and demand of an in a warrant, for two hundred acres of Said Land bear =ing date one thousand six hundred and fifty and also two hundred acres more, being the one half of a warrant for four hundred acres the one half belonging to Capt NORWOOD bearing date one thousand six hundred fifty one, unto George YATE of the said County his heirs or assignes for ever from me the Said DORSEY my heir assignes forever Winttness my hand and Seal the xxiiid day of April MDCLxvij Signed Sealed and delivered in Edward DORSEY Seale the presence of us Cornelius Howard John HOWARD October the xxvi MDCLxvij There are two separate parts to the document. The first is the 1650 and 1651 warrants, for which the word "said" is in reference to the 1651 record being the same Edward as in 1650. The second part of the document is the 1667 sale to YATE. The "said" in that part is referring back to the Edward DORSEY mentioned in the first line of the sale. There is no part that states that the Edward of the 1667 sale is the same (or "said) Edward of the 1650 and 1651 warrants. Edward of the 1667 sale would be the son, who as the eldest son would have inherited the land under English common law. Edward DORSEY and wife Ann had children: 1. Edward DORSEY11 b. say 1644; m.1 Sarah WYATT;12 m.2 Margaret7; d. between 26 Oct. 1704 and 31 Dec. 1705 Baltimore Co., MD7 2. Joshua DORSEY11 b. say 1646; m. Sarah6; d. between 20 Feb. 16876 and 3 May 168810 Anne Arundel Co., MD6 3. John DORSEY11 b. say 1648; m. Pleasance8; d. between 26 Nov. 1714 and 22 Mar. 1714/5 Baltimore Co., MD8 4. Sarah DORSEY6,13 b. say 1650; m. Matthew HOWARD6,13; d. before 3 Oct. 1691 Anne Arundel Co., MD9

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1. J. Reaney Kelly, Quakers in the Founding of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, (Baltimore: The Maryland Historical Society, 1963), 15. Ann Dorsey and "hir husband" [not named] mentioned in a 1658 letter. Edward Dorsey was the only Dorsey in Anne Arundel County at that time who was married. 2. James Greneff will, Maryland wills 2:215-216, FHL microfilm 0,012,841 and Maryland wills 7:79-80, FHL microfilm 0,012,843. Mentions wife Ann, "brother John Howard" and "brother Samuel Howard." 3. Maryland Patent Liber 18 (Vol. 21):160 FHL microfilm 0,013,071. Land was claimed in 1674 for Nicholas Greenberry, wife, and two children (not named) who were on the ship Constant Friendship. 4. "The Dorsey Heritage," Broadneck Hundred III, No. 3 (1979): 13-44. 5. The Dorsey/Darsey/Darcy/Dossey/D'Arcy/Dorcey DNA Project Results. 6. Joshua Dorsey will, MD wills 6:8-9, FHL microfilm 0,012,843. He made bequests to "cousins" (i.e. nephews) John, Samuel and Matthew Howard, [children of Matthew Howard.] 7. Edward Dorsey will, MD wills 3:725-727, FHL microfilm 0,012,842. 8. John Dorsey will, MD wills 14:26-29, FHL microfilm 0,012,846. 9. Matthew Howard will, MD wills 2:222-224, FHL microfilm 0,012,841. 10. John Acton will, MD wills 6:1-2, FHL microfilm 0.012,843 Sarah Dorsey called widow and relict of Joshua Dorsey. 11. Anne Arundel Co., MD land records IH3:62-63, FHL microfilm 0,013,208. 6 Dec. 1681 Edward Dorsy, "Son and heir of Edward Dorsy late of the County of Ann Arundell" sold the parcel Hockley in the Hole granted to "the said Edward Dorsy, Joshua Dorsy and John Dorsey my brothers" on 20 Aug. 1664. 12. Anne Arundel Co., MD land records WT2:574-577, FHL microfilm 0,013,209. Nicholas Wyatt was granted Wyatts Ridge of 450 acres by survey returned 16 Dec. 1664. One half, 225 acres "became the right of Sarah Wyatt who intermarried Edwd Dorsey of the County, Gent." 13. Maryland Patents 10:499, FHL microfilm 0,013,068. 14. Archives of Maryland 41:314. 15. Edward Darcy-Dorsey Line. 16. Caroline Kemper Bulkley, "Identity of Edward Dorsey I, A New Approach to an Old Problem," Maryland Historical Magazine, XXXIII (1938):27-55. 17. Maryland Land Patents 11:98, [Vol. 13] FHL microfilm 0,013,068.

American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI)
about Margaret Larkin

Name:Margaret Larkin
Birth Date:1670
Birthplace:Maryland
Volume:100
Page Number:210
Reference:Colonial fams. Of the southern states of Amer. By Stella Pickett Hardy. Baltimore. 1958. (643p.):256

Daughter of John & Katherine Larkin of Eldridge, Maryland. In husbands' will Balato. Wills Lib.l-Fol.47 dated Oct. 26, 1704 Probated Dec. 31, 1704 Annapolis Wills B.T. No.2 Fol.725-27 Additional Administration acct.(Balto) No.2 page 74. Aug. 17, 1707 shows John Israel, gentleman, married Margaret, relict of & exectrix of "Col" Edward Dorsey late of Balto.Co. Further additional acct. Lib. 2 Fol.139 Oct. 24, 1710 John Israel, gentleman of Balto. Co. Administrator of "Col" Edward Dorsey late

Colonel John Dorsey Birth: Jun. 15, 1688
Anne Arundel County
Maryland, USA Death: Nov. 13, 1764
Howard County
Maryland, USA
Col. John Dorsey was born on 15 June 1688 at All Hallows Parish in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, to Maj. Edward Dorsey, Jr., and his wife, Sarah Wyatt. His mother died when he was a toddler; he and his siblings were raised by their step-mother, Margaret Larkin.

In 1700/1, Col. Dorsey was granted an undetermined number of negro slaves and "the plantation that negro Bacon now lives on with 100 acres" by his father and step-mother. In his father's will, proved 27 December 1705, he was bequeathed "the residue of 'Long Reach' (after 100 acre portions were given to two of his brothers) and a lot of silver spoons." Col. Dorsey patented and owned thousands of acres in Maryland, including 1030 acres in Baltimore County.

Col. Dorsey married Honor Elder, 8 April 1708, at St Anne's Parish in Anne Arundel County. They had ten children:
1. Hannah Dorsey
2. Ruth Dorsey
3. Michael Dorsey, Sr.
4. Sarah Anne Dorsey
5. Jemima Dorsey
6. Susannah Dorsey
7. Patience Dorsey
8. Vachel Dorsey
9. Edward Dorsey
10. Nathan Dorsey

Col. John Dorsey died 13 November 1764 or 1767,in Howard County around the age of 78, at home on "First Discovery" in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and was buried on his property (now part of Howard County, Maryland). The inventory of his estate lists 21 slaves, 47 sheep, 80 hogs and pigs, 13 cows, 16 cattle, and 3 steers. Total value was over £3000.

Family links:
Parents:
Edward Dorsey (1645 - 1705)
Sarah Wyatt Dorsey (1657 - 1690)

Spouse:
Honor Elder Dorsey (1689 - 1736)

Children:
Michael Dorsey (1711 - 1776)*
Jemima Dorsey Elder (1720 - 1773)*

Burial: First Discovery Plantation Ellicott City Howard County Maryland, USAof Balto. Co.