Dent family connections
Baptised 27 January 1750/1751
St Helen, Worcester, Worcestershire, England
Drowned in the Severn river on the night of 21/22 February 1811
John served a seven year apprenticeship in Worcester with James Perkins, glover and was given his "Freedom" to trade in 1772. He married Elizabeth Davis (daughter of Thomas Davis) at St Nicholas, Worcester 7 May 1775 and was in business for himself shortly after this, from his home at 26 Sidbury, Worcester.
He was taking on apprentices in 1779 and was clearly established by this date. It is accepted by the glove company still trading under the Dent name that he established his business in 1777.
Among the apprentices trained by John were three of his sons.
It appears that by the time of a general meeting of Worcester glove manufacturers held at the Star and Garter Inn on Thursday 18 June 1807 John and his son John were already operating their own separate glove manufacturing businesses.
John and William purchased Sudeley Castle and Estate in Gloucestershire.
"This morning another inquest was taken by the same Coroner at the Boar's Head, Severn Stoke, on view of the body of Mr. Dent. sen. of Sidbury, in this city, which was found floating in the waters of the Severn, yesterday, in the parish of Severn Stoke, and who has been missing since the night of the 21st of February last. - It appearing in evidence that the valuables which the deceased had with him when last seen were found in his Clothes, the idea that the deceased came to his death by violence was satisfactorily removed, and there being no doubt but the deceased, in passing near the Severn Bridge the above night, owing to its darkness, or sudden illness, to which he was subject, fell into the water and so came by his death. The jury returned a verdict - Accidental Death."
"The body of Mr. Dent, senior, (formerly of Sidbury, in this city, but late of St. John's,) was on Thursday last discovered floating in the River Severn, near the Rhydde, in the parish of Severn Stoke. This unfortunate gentleman was missing on the night of the 21st of February, and although the most dilligent search, since that period, has been actively and unceasingly instituted, no certain tidings of his fate could be obtained until Tuesday. The following day an inquest was held on the body by G. Hill, Esq. coroner, at the Boar's-Head, in the parish above-named, and a very circumstantial investigation took place. It had been imagined by some persons that the deceased had become a prey to violence - but it appearing in evidence that the property which he had with him, when last seen, was found in his clothes, this supposition was satisfactorily removed; and the jury were decidedly of opinion that his death was occasioned by having fallen into the water while passing near the bridge, owing to the extreme darkness of the night, or to a sudden fit of illness, to which he was frequently subject, and the verdict was of course - accidental death."