The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-11-07
THE DORSEYS OF MARYLAND.
From the Ellicott City Times.


From the Ellicott City Times.
Standing at Mt Calvary Church and
looking out to the northwest over land
scape of surprising beauty, there looms up
the old homestead of revolutionary Col
onel who had organized, equipped and fed
a company of volunteers in the stormy days
of 1776, and after his efforts had helped
to realize the full fruition Of peace, retired
to his ''Happy Retreat to enjoy Its bless
ings.
That soldier was Col. Richard Dorsey,
whose father, John, owned the whole
magnificent domain, stretching out over
hill and dale to the north and west from
which an artist may find types OF Nature
rivalling any now upon canvas.
Col. Richard Dorsey came by an I'M
broken line from our provincial settler of
Annapolis.
At % years of age George Washington
wrote him letter asking him to enlist and
equip company Of volunteers for the ser
vice, promising to see that his expenses
should be paid That letter was after
ward forwarded to his son, Septimus Dor
sew. at whose death it fell into the hands
of MIR. Samuel Taggart, of Baltimore.
Nothing has yet been realized from the
Government, inasmuch as there were two
Richard Dorseys in the field The other,
no doubt, was Captain Richard, son of
Edward, who married Eudocia Todd, son
of Col. Edward, and, who, perhaps mar
ried Ann, of Philemon Warfeld, Of Alex
ander-for such Il daughter became the
wife of Richard Dorsey.
The subject of this sketch, however,
answering the call, became lieutenant in
Col. Moses Rawlings Regiment at 'Fort
Washington and with him had followed
the Commander in Chief on his memorable
retreat through New Jersey when doubt
and dependency had lowered heavily and
men of wealth and influence had focked to
the standard Of England, yet, in that hour
as in every other, our Marylanders were
ever in the front. From Lieutenant he
rose to Colonel.
The following is a copy Of an original
paper now in possession of Col. Dorsey
grandson, Richard H. Dorsey
estate OF MARYLAND,
TO RICHARD DORSEY,
Lieutenant in Col Moses Rawlings
Regiment of Rife Men. DIR.
( d
1777, Jany, 9th TO pay due 81 10 9
Credit-Amt pd at Phil 10 , &
AZ 8 3
70 7 years, s months interest.
The silver spurs of Col. Dorsey are now
in the Glenwood neighborhood- pro
erty of his grandson, Richard H.
His sword was inherited by his son
Caleb and Richard of c. now possesses a
watch given his grandfather by Mr.. Vachel
Howard, the twelve letters of whose name
marked the twelve hours. A silver cup,
with Col Dorsey's monogram, is also the
property of Richard of G.
Among other interesting papers now at
'Rockland' is report of Commission
composed of three neighbors, DIR. Ephraim
Howard, Philemon Dorsey and Thomas
Hobbs, upon the divisional line of the un-
divided property left by their father, John
Dorsey, to John and Richard, his sons
The date of that report is 1880, when Col
Dorsey was still in the army. 1t was
afterwards subject of contest, and | find
on record the legal opinion of Thomas
Beale Dorsey in bold, elegant manuscript,
defending the claim of COL Richard Many
deeds and transfers are among these re-
cords. The title to the old homestead of
Col Dorsey, containing four hundred and
thirty acres is by patent under the sigma
ture of Gov. Samuel Ogle
As Glenwood and much of its surround
ings stand upon Dorsey's Range, which
extended from "Bushy Park to the Pa
tuxent, | will give the correct list of sue
ceeding inheritors of John Dorsey, whose
homestead was just across the road from
Mt Calvary Church, now the property of
Mr.. Dennis p Gather. His son John
married Margaret Boone, of the Severn
river.
His sons were Stephen, who went West;
Charles inherited the property now known
as "Longwood," married Juliana Owings,
of Samuel and Ariana Dorsey, only daugh-
ter of Col Philemon Dorsey by second
marriage with Miss Laurence.
His widow married Charles Warfeld,
father of Thos. o. Warfeld, Mrs. Henry
Banks and Charles A. Warfeld, of Sykes
Vile.
Caleb inherited the farm from which
Glenwood has taken its origin.
He married Ruth Griffith, of Colonel
Philemon, a revolutionary soldier.
His widow became the wife of Charles
D. Warfeld, of "Bushy Park One
son, Chas D., of Cumberland, and two
grandsons, Gustavus and Charles Warfeld,
of Glenwood, survive.
This property afterwards was owned by
Mr.. James B. Mathews, merchant, post
master and general agent of the Sandy
Spring Fire Insurance Co. His marriage
with Catherine, daughter of Capt. Samuel
Griffith, another hero of the revolution, a
brother of Col Philemon, has given to
Glenwood its historic prestige-for it is
the home of "The Daughters of the Rev
olution.
Mr.. Humphrey Dorsey, the next son of
John, married Rachel Owings of Samuel
and Ariana Dorsey, whose only brother
Joshua, of Col Philemon, by his second
marriage, became lawyer of Hagerstown
and grandfather of Mrs. Elizabeth Dow
ney, of New Market.
Mr.. Humphrey Dorsey's only son, Ste
phen Boone, married Sarah, of Joshua
Owings, leaving Humphrey, Mrs. Judge