Dorchester County's legal origin is not known, although it was in  existence by February 16, 1668, when a writ was issued to the county  sheriff by the Lord Proprietary. The County was named for Sir Edward Sackville, the 4th Earl of Dorset, a family friend of the Calverts. Dorset as it was originally called was a political entity by 1669. The 4 th Earl of Dorset died in England in July of 1652. The county was created from portions of Somerset and Talbot  counties. Note that Maryland was founded in 1634 and the Earl helped administer the Virginia settlement in 1631.