Fourth Generation

38. Thomas Beale DORSEY¹⁴⁶ was born on 18 January 1726/7 in Elk Ridge, Anne Arundel, MD.^146,147,148 He was appointed vestryman and warden after 1746 in St Anne's Parish, Anne Arundel, MD¹⁴⁹ He signed a will before 1771 in Anne Arundel Co, MD.¹⁵⁰ Thomas died on 1 November 1771 at the age of 44 in Anne Arundel Co, MD.^151,152 He had his estate probated on 13 November 1771 in Anne Arundel Co, MD.¹⁵³ He has reference number 590. In 1732 Thomas Beale Dorsey received by deed of gift from his father Caleb Dorsey, Howard's Discovery and Crouchfield containing in the whole 350 acres bought by the said Caleb of Benjamin Howard, and 150 acres part of Howard's Heirship, which was bought by John Dorsey, Esq. deceased of Cornelius Howard and given by deed of gift to the said Caleb Dorsey, to be held in trust until he became of age. (Anne Arundel County Deeds I. H. T.I, f. 420). In 1742 his father willed him Howard's Hills containing 200 acres and 60 acres more of Howard's Heirship to be his at the death of his mother, also 4 negroes, cattle, sheep and hogs. A tract of 48 acres of vacant land between Crouchfield and Howard's Discovery, called Last Discovery, was patented by Thomas Beale Dorsey, 29 Nov 1769. (Patents B. C. & G S. No. 38, f. 325).
In 1752 he served as churchwarden in St. Anne's Church and as vestryman from 1753 to 1756 and from 1769 until his death in 1771. (St. Ann's Vestry Proc.)

Thomas Beale Dorsey in his will made October 28, 1771 and proved November 13, 1771 devised:

To eldest son Caleb Dorsey, dwelling plantation and lands thereon which are entailed to eldest son Caleb, also adjoining lands;
To son John Worthington Dorsey, all lands at Elk Ridge called Lower Quarter;
To daughter Sarah Merriweather, 1 negro and 10 pounds Sterling.
Executors: son Caleb Dorsey and son-in-law Reuben Merriweather (Anne Arundel County Original Wills D, folder 54, Wills 38, f. 378)

Thomas Beale DORSEY and Ann Ridgley WORTHINGTON were married in 1746.¹⁵⁴ They¹⁵⁴ lived plantation at Anne Arundel Co, MD in Wyatt's Harbor after 1746.¹⁵⁵ Ann Ridgley WORTHINGTON, daughter of John WORTHINGTON and Helen Heath HAMMOND, was born in 1720 in Anne Arundel Co, MD.¹⁵⁶ Ann Dorsey, wife of Thomas Beale Dorsey, was the daughter of John and Helen Worthington. She inherited from her father in 1766, his dwelling plantation called Wyatt's Harbor and Wyatt's Hills, negroes, household goods, and stock. (Wills 34, f. 30) She died on 23 November 1771 at the age of 51 in Anne Arundel Co, MD.^157,158 She has reference number 591. This is the intersection of three family lines - Hammond, Dorsey and Worthington.
The Hammond descends from John (b. 1643) who settled in Anne Arundel County, MD. This line does not reappear in the family - all other Hammonds descend from William Hammond of London.
The name Dorsey remains a constant in the Hammond line to Stockton, CA .
Worthingtons only intersect at this point, though the name Comfort Worthington Dorsey (wife of Gilchrist Porter, mother of Julia, mother-in-law of Richard Morris Roberts) underlines the importance in the Roberts line.

Thomas Beale DORSEY and Ann Ridgley WORTHINGTON had the following children: