Person:Rhoda Dent (1)

Research Notes

• Most researchers agree that Rhoda Dent was never married to Elijah Chinn and that he was the father of her two children William and Mary Dent.

Working Timeline

1771 - Loudoun County, VA - named in Will of Elijah Chinn

1773 - Loudoun County, VA - Apr: Division of the estate of Elijah CHINN, a list of bonds and accounts to be paid by Mr. Thomas CHINN, one of the executors, to Christopher METCALF, James METCALF, John METCALF, Rhoda DENT. [Loudoun County Will Book B:36-39]

1774 - Loudoun County, VA - 24 Feb: Account of administration of estate of Elijah CHINN by Leven POWELL, Loudoun Co., VA, lists payments to Charles MURPHY, Rhoda DENT, 10% to William and Mary DENT. [source needed]

1781 - 20 Jan: Horrace RANSDAL sent a dispatch dated Elk Run, Fauquier Co., VA, to Gen. George WASHINGTON, "General ARNOLD with 1,800 men is now encamped encamped three miles from this spot. They continue to exercise the most unheard of cruelty indiscriminately on men, women and children, and wantion destruction of every kind of property. All eyes are turned to you for vengeance. It was only yesterday that Sallie METCALFE was shot from her horse by a British sentinel, whilst she was endeavoring to make her escape. She is the wife of Captain John METCALFE with whom you are well acquainted." In an interview in 1851, Horrace recalled that "Sally METCALFE recovered from the shot, and with her husband, she afterward moved out with Col. Tom MARSHALL to Kentucky in 1783." ["Shooting of Sallie Metcalfe," "Kentucky Historical and Genealogical Magazine," Vol. 1, No. 1 (May 1899), citing 1851 interview with Horrace Ransdal. ]

1799 - 15 Apr: In his will, her husband left her 450 acres to have as long as she lived single. Made executor of will with son Thomas. [Will of John Metcalfe. "Kentucky Vital Statistics," Record of Wills of Mason Co., KY 1791-1823, 2:38. FHL #976.932 s2b.]

1799 - Mason County, KY - Rhoda METCALF on Tax List. ["Mason County, Kentucky Taxpayers, 1790-1799," p.98. FHL book 976.9323 T48t.]

1800 - Mason County, KY - 22 Mar: John PICKETT and Elizabeth his wife and Christopher METCALF and Sarah his wife of Mason Co., KY deed to Roda METCALFE and her four children: Sarah, Lucy, Roda, and Bella of Mason Co., KY, land in Mason Co. ["Mason County, Kentucky Abstracts," by Florence Nelson Young. FHL book 976.9323 R28m. Citing C1:19]

1800 - Mason County, KY - 10 May: Rhoda METCALFE, widow of John METCALFE dec'd, releases dowery rights to commissioners Pearce LAMB, Simeon WEST, David BALLINGAL, Mason Co., KY. ["Mason County, Kentucky Abstracts," by Florence Nelson Young. FHL book 976.9323 R28m. Citing F:154]

1800 - Mason County, KY - 27 Oct: Rhoda METCALFE, widow and relict of John METCALFE, late of Mason Co., KY, release of dower on land conveyed to Christopher METCALFE and John PICKETT to JPs. John GRAHAM, George FARIS, Mason Co., KY. ["Mason County, Kentucky Abstracts," by Florence Nelson Young. FHL book 976.9323 R28m. Citing C1:144]

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Partial Will Transcript of Elijah Chinn, in Loudoun County, Virginia Will Book
   A:209.

   [from the Will of Elijah Chinn, dated 22 Jan 1771, proved 11 Mar 1771. See Elijah Chinn's page for complete transcript.]
   
   ... Item I give and bequeath to RHODA DENT one bed and furniture and cow and calf, my black horse, a pewter dish, 1/2 dozn. pewter plates, two pewter basons one iron pott and one frying pan to the sd. RHODA her heirs and assigns forever.

   Item I give and bequeath for the support and maintenance of WILLIAM DENT and MARY DENT children of the afd. RHODA ten barrels of Indian Corn and four hundred weight of pork yearly and every year for the next seven years to come and that the said corn and wheat be paid out of my estate to the afd. RHODA yearly for the term aforesaid provided she doth not apply the same properly towards supporting the said children but if she fail in that performance the sd. corn and wheat shall be delivered to them or paid out of their support according to the decision of my executors hereafter mentioned. I further give and bequeath to the sd. WILLIAM and MARY thirty pound of Curr. money such to be paid them out of my estate when they arrive to the full age and in case they should die before that time that the said money be paid to their mother and that my executors do put the said MARY and WILLIAM to school when they shall be of proper size for that purpose and that my said executors do pay out of my estate for four years of schooling for the said WILLIAM and three years for the said MARY also to provide them proper books and other materials for learning.

   Item I give and bequeath all the residue of my estate both real and personal not already bequeathed to be equally divided between my three children - RAWLEIGH, CHRISTOPHER and ELIZABETH to them their heirs and assigns forever.

   Provided that if my said three children RAWLEIGH, CHRISTOPHER and ELIZABETH should die without lawful issue that then in that case all the estate afd. be divided between the aforesaid WILLIAM and MARY DENT in the following manner viz: that all my above mentioned lands with half the negros be held and enjoyed by the said WILLIAM DENT and by the heirs of his body legally begotten and the other half of the said negros to his sister MARY and her heirs and assigns forever and that the residue of my estate be equally divided between them. ...
   -----
   [Identifies her as the mother of young William and Mary Dent.]