Known Information
George Dent is listed in the household of Bruce Dent in the 1860 census.
Newspaper Sources
Evening Star
Washington, District of Columbia
27 Nov 1868, Fri • Page 4
National Republican
Washington, District of Columbia
04 Dec 1868, Fri • Page 3
Evening Star
Washington, District of Columbia
29 Jan 1869, Fri • Page 4
National Republican
Washington, District of Columbia
30 Jan 1869, Sat • Page 4
Evening Star
Washington, District of Columbia
25 May 1874, Mon • Page 4
Evening Star
Washington, District of Columbia
24 Sep 1878, Tue • Page 4
Evening Star
Washington, District of Columbia
10 Mar 1879, Mon • Page 4
National Republican
Washington, District of Columbia
18 Nov 1879, Tue • Page 3
National Republican
Washington, District of Columbia
02 Feb 1884, Sat • Page 6
Evening Star
Washington, District of Columbia
18 Dec 1889, Wed • Page 10
The Critic
Washington, District of Columbia
09 Oct 1890, Thu • Page 1
Evening Star
Washington, District of Columbia
10 Oct 1890, Fri • Page 2
The Evening Times
Washington, District of Columbia
13 Aug 1897, Fri • Page 5
The Evening Times
Washington, District of Columbia
13 Aug 1897, Fri • Page 6
Evening Star
Washington, District of Columbia
28 Sep 1901, Sat • Page 3
1844-5 | Estimated Birth Year
George was born in DC.
Based on the 1850 & 1860 Census
1850 | Residence in Ward 7 of Washington City
He is living with his parents, Bruce and Cassandra Dent, in Ward 7 of DC.
According to the census, George attended school, most likely founded by Enoch Ambush, who ran a school for Black children in southwest DC. Ambush ran a school at 10th and E Street. Additionaly, Ambush was a friend of Anthony Bowen who helped form one of the few schools for free blacks, the “Sunday Evening School”, in the Wesley Church, now the Metropolitan A.M.E.Z. Church on D Street SW.
Based on the 1850 Census
1860 | Residence in Ward 7 of Washington City
He is living with his parents, Bruce and Cassandra Dent, in Ward 7 of DC. He is a teenager now, although no occupation is listed for him.
Based on the 1860 Census
1868-1869 | Arrest
In Nov 1868, the Evening Star reports that “large crowd of colored population assembled near the Lincoln Barracks” to witness the laying of a cornerstone for “East Mission”, of Israel Methodist Episcopal Church. “There was considerable confusion and disturbance in the outskirts of the crowd during the evening confined principally to boys, and with that exception everything passed off quietly and peaceably.”
In Dec 1868, the National Republican reports that George Dent was arrested on suspicious of participation in riot near Lincoln Barracks on Thanksgiving Day.
In Jan 1869, the Evening Star reports that he was sentenced to three months in jail for resisting arrest. In the National Republican, it was reported that Geo Dent, Geo Poole, and Barney Clinkett were found guilty and Clinkett was sent to jail for 39 days for the riot, while Dent when away for three months for resisting arrest.
1869 | Driver
He is listed in the City Directory as a driver. He is living at the address that is consistent with Bruce Dent in the 1860s, 585 3d W.
1870 | Residence in Ward 7
George is living in the household of Silas and Fannie Greeley. Cyrus Greeley is listed in the 1871 City Directory as a cook living at 209 F SW. George is living about a block east of his father’s home on 3rd Street.
1870s | Bricks
In 1872, he is listed as a bricklayer at 513 3rd St SW. This is his father’s address, after DC updated the numbering system for addresses in 1869. In 1877, he is listed as bricklayer living in Willow Tree Alley, which is located between B and C and 3d and 4 1/2 SW.
1910 Photograph of Willow Tree Alley as it appeared in the Washington Times | the alley was razed in 1913
1874 | Affair & Arrest
In May 1874, The Evening Start reported that Louisa Edelin, George Dent and Isabella Dent were arrested for assault and battery on John Edelin. The article reports that George Dent and Louisa Edelin (John’s wife) had been having an affair and when John found out, he addressed the trio. They assaulted him with paving stones. In Dec of 1874, George was fined $5 for his part in the assault.
1878 | Arrest for Assault
In Sept 1878, The Evening Start reported that George Dent, a hackman, was charged with assault and battery with intent to kill; he was arrested for a dispute over change from a newspaper that the boy was selling at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Depot. The Depot was located in Armory square, at 6th and B NW, immediately southeast of Center Market. The defense was able to show that the incident was an accident.
Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station | DC Public Library
1879 | Profane Language and Vagrancy
In 1879, George R. Dent was arrested twice, once for profane language, and for vagrancy for which he “was sent down to the farm.”
1880 | Residence in Ward 7 of Washington City
He is living in the household of Emma Johnson and Emma Walker, near Willow Tree Alley, on 4 and 1/2 Street. In 1882, the Critic reported that George pleaded guilty for assaulting Emma Walker and spent 7 days in jail.
Based on the 1880 Census
1884 | Soliciting fares
In 1884, Geo. Dent was charged with soliciting hack fares in the Capitol Grounds, as reported in the National Republican.
1889 | Disorderly Conduct
In 1889, the Evening Star reported that “a small bald-headed” George Dent was charged with disorderly conduct at the Fisherman’s hall. The Order of Galilean Fisherman was a benevolent society established after the Civil War to help the newly emancipated Black people. It stressed equality and financial literacy. The map is an excerpt from Baist’s real estate atlas and shows square 538, where Bruce Dent held property in the 1850’s and 1860s. George lived in lots 26 of this square in the 1870. The Temple of Galillean Fisherman can be seen in the north half of square 539, off of F street.
1890 | Fast driving
In 1890, George Dent was accused of driving fast (faster than 8mph). He was a hackman who drove a Surrey and picked up fares at the Baltimore and Potomac Depot. A lawyer for Dent claimed that the animal could go that fast as he had driven him and was lame in one foot. The officer countered that the horse the lawyer had tested wasn’t the animal the Dent had driven. Dent was charged $5.
Surrey, 1900; in the Suffolk Museum and Carriage House, Stony Brook, Long Island, N.Y. | Encyclopædia Britannica
1897 | Accident at Brickmaker Factory
The Evening times reported that George Dent fell from a kiln at Ford’s brickyard. He sustained a head injury and was taken to Providence Hospital.
1900 | Residence in northeast DC | Schott’s Alley
He is living in the household of Harry Hall. His occupation is listed as a hackman and his birth month is recorded as June.
Based on the 1900 Census
1901 | Death Reported
His death is reported in the Evening Star.
Further Research Needed:
- Locate his death certificate from DC Archives
- Research connections between George Dent and the names reported with him in the articles
stories of Then 
