The Addison family has a rich history in Maryland dating back to the 17th century.

Colonel John Addison, son of The Reverend Launcelot Addison (1633-1703) and Dorothy (Danvers) Addison, was born in Westmoreland County, England, on the border of Scotland. He had three brothers. Thomas and Henry Addison were merchants; Anthony Addison was rector of Abingdon, Oxford, England, and Chaplain to the Duke of Marlborough.

John Addison emigrated from England in the early 1670's. On May 21, 1677, John Addison married Rebecca (Wilkinson) Dent, (daughter of the Reverend William Wilkinson, and widow of Thomas Dent). With the exception of her youngest child, Barbara, who was only an infant when her mother remarried, Rebecca's marriage to John Addison alienated the Dent children: William, Peter, George, Thomas, and Margaret Dent. There is no doubt that Colonel Addison profited from his marriage to the widow Dent and obtained a great deal of Thomas Dent's property. John and Rebecca had one child: Thomas.

John Addison established a powerful family in Prince George County politics. He was a merchant, Indian trader, and owned extensive land. He was also part owner of the ship "Liverpool Merchant", which was seized along with its cargo for violations of the navigation acts. Addison took a leading role in the Maryland Protestant Revolution of 1689. The Revolution lasted only a short time and ended in July, 1690. John Addison served as a member of the Associator's Convention (the Assembly elected under their regime) and the Grand Committee of Twenty (their executive committee). The goal of the Protestant Associators was the overthrow of the proprietary officers (Calverts). From 1690 to May 1692 there was an interim government of Protestant Associators. From1692 to 1715, Maryland was under crown rule (as King William and Queen Mary had declared it a royal colony) with Sir Lionel Copley as governor, thus ending Maryland's status as a proprietary province.

John Addison later returned to England, leaving his wife and son in America, and died there around 1706. He passed on to his son, Thomas, his large estate acquired in England and America. Rebecca survived her husband by 20 years. -------------------- The Addison family has a rich history in Maryland dating back to the 17th century.

Colonel John Addison, son of The Reverend Launcelot Addison (1633-1703) and Dorothy (Danvers) Addison, was born in Westmoreland County, England, on the border of Scotland. He had three brothers. Thomas and Henry Addison were merchants; Anthony Addison was rector of Abingdon, Oxford, England, and Chaplain to the Duke of Marlborough.

John Addison emigrated from England in the early 1670's. On May 21, 1677, John Addison married Rebecca (Wilkinson) Dent, (daughter of the Reverend William Wilkinson, and widow of Thomas Dent). With the exception of her youngest child, Barbara, who was only an infant when her mother remarried, Rebecca's marriage to John Addison alienated the Dent children: William, Peter, George, Thomas, and Margaret Dent. There is no doubt that Colonel Addison profited from his marriage to the widow Dent and obtained a great deal of Thomas Dent's property. John and Rebecca had one child: Thomas.

John Addison established a powerful family in Prince George County politics. He was a merchant, Indian trader, and owned extensive land. He was also part owner of the ship "Liverpool Merchant", which was seized along with its cargo for violations of the navigation acts. Addison took a leading role in the Maryland Protestant Revolution of 1689. The Revolution lasted only a short time and ended in July, 1690. John Addison served as a member of the Associator's Convention (the Assembly elected under their regime) and the Grand Committee of Twenty (their executive committee). The goal of the Protestant Associators was the overthrow of the proprietary officers (Calverts). From 1690 to May 1692 there was an interim government of Protestant Associators. From1692 to 1715, Maryland was under crown rule (as King William and Queen Mary had declared it a royal colony) with Sir Lionel Copley as governor, thus ending Maryland's status as a proprietary province.

John Addison later returned to England, leaving his wife and son in America, and died there around 1706. He passed on to his son, Thomas, his large estate acquired in England and America. Rebecca survived her husband by 20 years. -------------------- John emigrated in 1667 and settled in Charles County, Maryland. He married Rebecca Dent, daughter of the Rev. William Wilkinson (Cong. Lib.E. 186, 3, M 25) and widow of Thomas Dent, Esq.; they had issue, one son. At the formation of Prince George's County in 1695, his estates were included in the new county.

He was member of the Council of Maryland, 1692-93; Chancellor and Keeper of the Great Seal of the Province, 1696-99; Captain 1692; Commissioned July 30, 1694 Colonel, commanding the Militia of Charles County and placed in command of Militia of Prince George's County, Aug.17, 1695. (Service of Ancestors, Colonial Wars.).