Ancestors

Richard Colegate

Richard Colegate was born in England. He came to Maryland in 1697 as a free adult, probably from London. He first worked as a factor for London merchants, meaning an agent who handled their trade in the colony. From 1701 until his death he was a merchant and planter on the Patapsco River in Baltimore County.

He was a commissioner for Baltimore County by 1702. He sat in the Lower House of the colonial Assembly for Baltimore County at several sessions between 1707 and 1721. He also served as a county justice, deputy commissary and land commissioner, and rose in the militia from captain to colonel. At his first election he controlled more than 1,300 acres, more than 2,500 by 1715, and over 5,000 at his death. His lands included Friends Discovery, Colegate's Last Shift, patented in 1717, and Cole's Harbour, ground on which part of Baltimore later stood.

He married Rebecca Herbert by about 1707. Captain John Dorsey deeded two tracts north of the Patapsco to him as a gift because he had married Rebecca, daughter of Elinor Herbert. Their children were Prudence, who married John Talbott; Patience, who married William Buckner; Richard; Temperance; John; Thomas, who married Cassandra Cockey Deye; and Benjamin.

His will was dated 8 August 1721 and proved 16 February 1721/22. It divided a great deal of land among his children, most of them still under age. His inventory came to 3,792 pounds, 17 shillings, 8 pence, and listed 18 enslaved people. A compiled family history says he died at the Garretson plantation at Powell's Point and was buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Baltimore.

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Cite: Heirology, "Richard Colegate (d. 1722)", https://heirology.com/ancestors/richard-colegate-1722-dcfaa8.