Dean
The earliest DEAN reference I can find in Kent Co., DE is to a JOHN DENNE who was granted 200 acres of land just north of Duck Creek in 1676. The name could have become "Denney" or "Dean" as both families occupied the area but since subsequent members of the mixed blood Dean family lived in Duck Creek, it is possible this was the original ancestor.

In 1720 Letters of Administration were granted on the estate of a JAMES DEAN, to his widow, Mary. The only heir mentioned was an un-married, un-named daughter but a witness to the will was William MORGAN. This may be a coincidence but a Morgan/Dean connection appears later in the mixed blood families.

On 14 Feb. 1722, Mark Manlove of Kent Co. sold land on the north side of the Murderkill River to a WILLIAM DEAN, "tailor" of Kent Co. for 20 pounds. This land had originally been laid out for Manlove in 1717.

On 17 August, 1724 a deed records the sale of lands once owned by JAMES DEAN and sold by the administrator of his estate, Robert Gordon of the City of New Castle, for 20 pounds to John Clifford. The land is described as a tract of land called "Simpson's Choice" on the north side of Little Creek beginning at the corner of Samuel Berry's lands.

In September, 1725 a Quit Claim was filed for 60 acres of land on the north side of the Murther Creek which WILLIAM DEAN by deed of mortgage in 1722 had bought from Mark Manlove and John Hall.

It would appear from these references that the Deans had begun acquiring lands outside of Duck Creek as early as 1722.

In November, 1766, Letters of Administration were granted on the estate of THOMAS DEAN to his widow, Mary. No children were mentioned.

There is no firm connection yet between these early Deans and the first confirmed ancestor of the mixed blood Dean family in Kent Co. but the re-occuring names (John, James and William) and the connection between Duck Creek Hundred and Little Creek Hundred that continued into the 19th century strongly suggests a connection.

James Dean first appeared in the 1755 Kent Co. Tax lists, so he was probably born sometime before 1740. It is here that the mixed blood line began.

Good sources of information on the Deans can be found in the Delaware census records , the tax lists and probate records . It would also be worth searching nearby Maryland and Sussex Co. DE when numerous Deans can also be found.