Col. Edward Dorsey (before 1646 – 1705) was a colonial settler of

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

and

Anne Arundel County Anne Arundel County (; ), also notated as AA or A.A. County, is located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was 588,261, an increase of just under 10% since 2010. Its county seat is Annapolis, wh ...

. His house at 211 Prince George St. is a historic Annapolis home, once occupied by

Francis Nicholson Lieutenant-General Francis Nicholson (12 November 1655 – ) was a British Army officer and colonial administrator who served as the governor of South Carolina from 1721 to 1725. He previously was the Governor of Nova Scotia from 1712 to 1715, ...

from 1694 to 1709.

Early life

On 25 March 1661, an at least 16-year-old Edward Dorsey returned to Maryland on a boat captained by Robert Mullen. His

father A father is the male parent of a child. Besides the paternal bonds of a father to his children, the father may have a parental, legal, and social relationship with the child that carries with it certain rights and obligations. A biological fat ...

was a boatwright and converted

Quaker Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally, others referred to them as Quakers ...

who had claimed lands in Maryland before drowning off

Kent Island Kent Island is the largest island in the Chesapeake Bay and a historic place in Maryland. To the east, a narrow channel known as the Kent Narrows barely separates the island from the Delmarva Peninsula, and on the other side, the island is sep ...

in 1659. In 1664, he was registered as a planter on one of his father's land surveys known as "

Hockley-in-the-Hole Hockley-in-the-Hole was an area of Clerkenwell Green in central London where bull-baiting, bear-baiting and similar activities occurred in the 17th and 18th centuries.Boulton, W. 1901. The Amusements of Old London: CHAPTER I - THE DIVERSIONS O ...

". In 1667, he had taken on the craft as a boatwright and house builder around the settlement of

Annapolis, Maryland Annapolis ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is the county seat of Anne Arundel County and its only incorporated city. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east ...

. By 1666, he was captain in the militia, rising to major in 1667.

Later life

In 1675, he was registered as a lawyer. In the years 1679 and 1685, he was the justice of

Anne Arundel County, Maryland Anne Arundel County (; ), also notated as AA or A.A. County, is located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was 588,261, an increase of just under 10% since 2010. Its county seat is Annapolis, Mar ...

. Around the time of the latter he moved into the house on Prince George Street. The first session of the Legislature in Annapolis was held in the house. In 1694, he returned to the military as field officer of

Calvert County Calvert County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 92,783. Its county seat is Prince Frederick. The county's name is derived from the family name of the Barons of Baltimo ...

, becoming Colonel in 1702. Before 1700, Dorsey moved to Major's Choice. His will was probated in 1705.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dorsey, Edward History of Maryland 1640s births 1705 deaths People from Annapolis, Maryland People from colonial Maryland American people of English descent Dorsey family (Maryland)