Can these go in the dishwasher safely?

Don't put them in a dishwasher. The harsh detergents and high heat strip away gilding and degrade overglaze enamels. Wash them by hand in warm soapy water. Dry them right away with a soft cloth.

My grandmother left me a set with painted flowers and I noticed that the green leaves have sort of crazed lines all through them, is that normal?

Crazing is a fine network of cracks in the transparent glaze. It happens when the ceramic body and the glaze cool and contract at different rates after firing. It shows up often on nineteenth-century earthenware and ironstone dessert plates. The plates are still sound for display and occasional use. Just avoid soaking them in water. Moisture can seep into those tiny fissures and cause staining beneath the surface.

Why do some have no maker marks?

Many early nineteenth-century factories simply didn't mark their wares. They relied instead on pattern numbers painted on the base by the decorators. Retailers sometimes requested that factories leave pieces blank. This allowed the London shops to sell the dessert services under their own names rather than the Staffordshire maker.

When I was cleaning out the china cabinet I found some plates that have small rough patches on the back like someone chipped them on purpose, why is that?

Those rough patches are stilt marks from the kiln. When plates were glazed and fired, they had to be supported on small ceramic pins so they wouldn't stick to the shelf. Workers snapped those pins off after firing. This left three small unglazed dots on the back of the rim. It is a standard part of the making process for antique plates.

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Antique Dessert Plates

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Antique dessert plates are painted or gilded shallow ceramic or glass dishes designed specifically for serving sweet final courses and fruits during formal nineteenth and early twentieth-century dinners.