Priscilla Dorsey Ridgely

Biography

Priscilla Dorsey Ridgely was born in 1762 into a prominent Maryland family with significant landholdings and social standing. She lived during the American Revolutionary period and the early years of the new nation, witnessing the transformation of colonial society into an independent republic while maintaining her family's position among the planter elite.

As a landowner of considerable property, Priscilla Dorsey Ridgely was part of the gentry class that shaped Maryland's economic and social landscape during the late 18th century. She passed away in 1814 at the age of 52 and was laid to rest at Hampton National Historic Site, the family's grand estate in Baltimore County. Her life exemplified the role of women in prominent planter families and the preservation of family legacy through property and heritage.