Thomas Worthington and His Descendants

ANNE ARUNDEL GENTRY; A GENEALOGICAL HISTORY OF TWENTY-TWO PIONEERS OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD., AND THEIR DESCENDANTS.

By Harry Wright Newman
Maryland Pioneer Series 1933

Thomas Worthington and His Descendants

Thomas Worthington, son of John and Sarah (Howard) Worthington, was born January 8, 1691, in Westminster Parish, Anne Arundel County. On July 23, 1711, he married Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry and Catherine (Greenbury) Ridgely. The births of their children are found in St. Ann's Parish.

Children of Thomas and Elizabeth (Ridgely) Worthington

1.      Ann Worthington, born 1713, died young.
2.      Sarah Worthington, born Feb. 2, 1715, married Basil Dorsey. q.v.
3.      Elizabeth Worthington, born Oct 6, 1717, married Henry Dorsey. q.v.
4.      Catherine Worthington, born July 10, 1720, married Nicholas Gassaway.
5.      Rachel Ridgely Worthington, born Aug. 28, 1722, married Cornelius Howard. q.v.
6.      Thomasine Worthington, born Jan. 9, 1724, married Alexander Warfield of John and Francis Simpson.
7.      Brice Thomas Beale Worthington, born Nov. 2, 1727, married Ann Ridgely. q.v.
8.      Ariana Worthington, born Dec. 25, 1729, married Nicholas Watkins, Jr., and John Ijams. q.v.
9.      Thomas Worthington, born 1731, died young.
10.     Nicholas Worthington, born 1733/4, married Catherine Griffith. q.v.

Thomas Worthington purchased "Wardridge", which adjoined "Hockley" and at the former he established his dwelling and there may be found the old Worthington-Ridgely graveyards. Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Worthington, died December 18, 1734, and was buried at the family seat.

Thomas Worthington served the on the vestry of St. Ann's Parish in 1726 as well as in 1734 and 1742. In 1725 he was elected to the General Assembly and continued to represent his district until his death in 1753 (1).

The following was taken from the Maryland Gazette: "Last Monday morning died at his plantation about five miles from town in the 63rd year or grand climatical year of his age, Mr. Thomas Worthington who for many years past and to the time of his death was one of the representatives of his county and with a steady and disinterested fidelity; was strictly honest in principle and practice, and therefore had the esteem of all that knew him. He was a good father and sincere friend; was frugal and industrious and was possessed of many qualities which constitutes a character of a good and sincere christian."

The will of Thomas Worthington was dated January 9, 1752, and proved in Anne Arundel County on April 3, 1753. He devised his son-in-law, Basil Dorsey, and Sarah his wife, 368 1/2 acres of "Worthington's Range", on which the homestead of Basil Dorsey stood. He bequeathed his daughter, Elizabeth Dorsey, a like portion of "Worthington's Range", where she and her husband had already established their seat.

His daughter, Rachel Howard, received 309 acres of "Worthington's Range", which was to revert to her son, Thomas Cornelius Howard. His daughter, Catherine Gassaway, was devised a portion of "Partnership", also his daughter, Thomasine Warfield. The latter also received a portion of "Addition to Snowden's Manor". Ariana Watkins, another daughter, was bequeathed 300 acres of land on which she and her husband had settled. Nicholas was devised "Wyatt's Ridge", and Brice Thomas Beale received various tracts. The residue of the estate was to be divided among the eight children.

An inventory of his personal effects was filed April 25, 1753, with John Worthington Sr. and John Brice as the kinsmen. Brice Thomas Beale Worthington was executor.