Edmund Brent (abt. 1605)

Husband of Rebecca Hall — married 1645 in Larkstone, Ilmington, Gloucestershire, England

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Biography

Birth

Edmund Brent is believed to be a son of Richard Brent and Elizabeth Reade and brother of Giles Brent, but this is not proven by other records. Records do, however, confirm the existence of an Edmund Brent in Virginia. Edmund was closely associated with Giles, who witnessed a document, and Edmund had property at Peace Plantation in Aquia which he willed to his daughter Katherine.

If Edmund Brent was born to Richard Brent and Elizabeth Reade, he would have been born about 1605, and probably in Larkstoke in Ilmington, Gloucester, England. Relationship revealed in various Virginia deeds. ^[1].

1645 Marriage to Rebecca Hall

About 1645. Edmund Brent married Rebecca Hall perhaps in Larkstoke in Ilmington, Gloucester, England. Relationship revealed in the will of Edmund Brent, the power of attorney of Rebecca's second husband Richard Stearman, and the will of Richard Stearman. ^[1]

1646 Birth of daughter Katherine

About 1646. Katherine Brent was born to Edmund Brent and Rebecca Hall perhaps in Westmoreland County, Virginia. The relationship revealed in the will and deeds of Edmund Brent. ^[1]

A theory was proposed that Katherine Brent became Katherine, wife of Richard Marsham. This theory is presented in more detail by Shawn and Lois Potter in their article on the subject. ^[2] A thorough discussion of this and related theories of Katherine Marsham's origins may be found at http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:The_Legend_of_Katherine_Brent_Marsham. It is most likely that Katherine Marsham began her life as Katherine Fisher.

1648 Birth of Edmund Brent, Jr

About 1648. Edmund Brent, Jr. was born to Edmund Brent and Rebecca Hall perhaps in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Mentioned in father's will. ^[1]

1653 Land on Aquia Creek

May 4, 1653. Giles Brent assigned 300 acres upon Quiough (Aquia) River in Northumberland County to his brother, Edmund Brent. ^[1]

1653 Nominy River Land to Edmund Brent

On 19 October 1653, R. Bennet granted 700 acres of land in Northumberland County on the North West side of Nominy Rover to John Rosier, Clerk. On 31 March 1657, John Rosier assigned the land to Edmund Brent, merchant; Elizabeth Rosier, wife of John Rosiere, relinquished rights in the land. Giles Brent and John Wethers witnessed the transaction. ^[3]

1655 Land in Northumberland County

July 20, 1655. Thomas Youll assigned the following patent to Edmund Brent, merchant. Sir William Berkeley, Knt. to John Stearman 300 acres in Northumberland County on south side of Potomac River abutting southeast upon Nominy River, west on land of Richard Hawkins, north on a small creek called Kings Creek, which divides this land from that of Mr. Speke. Due for transporting 6 persons. Signed September 15, 1651. ^[4]

September 3, 1655. Mr. Edmund Brent filed mark for cattle and hogs. ^[5]

January 10, 1655/6. Edward Thompson of Westmoreland County, planter, sells Mr. Edmund Brent, merchant, for fifty pound sterling to be paid now in England to the said Thompson or his assigns, 3 cows, 2 heifers, 1 cow calf, 2 steers, 3 yearling calves, and a bull 2 years old this fall. Signed Edward Thompson, William Hardich, Augustine Hull (last two names may have been witnesses), October 20, 1655. ^[6]

March 31, 1657. John Rosier assigned following to Edmund Brent, merchant. Wit: Giles Brent, John Wethers. On October 19, 1653, Richard Bennett, Esq., etc. grants Mr. John Rosier, clerk, 700 acres in Northumberland County on northwest side of Nominy River. Adjacent to a small branch dividing the land from that surveyed for Lewis Burwell, deceased, northwest parallel to Nominy River bounded on a tract surveyed for Thomas Youll, southwest on Nominy River. This land due Mr. Rosier, vizt. 500 acres part thereof granted to Maj. Lewis Burwell on November 17, 1650, and by Burwell assigned to Thomas Youll, and by him assigned to Rosier. The 200 residue on the north of the 500 acres due for the transport of 4 persons into the colony. ^[7]

Land in Westmoreland County, Virginia

December 21, 1657. John Rosier assigns the following patent to Mr. Edmund Brent, merchant. Signed John Rosier. Acknowledged in court by Mr. Walter Brodhurst, attorney of Rosier. On January 14, 1656/7, Edward Diggs, Esq., to John Rosier, clerk, 1050 acres in Westmoreland County on northwest side of Nominy River. 500 acres of this land formerly granted on November 17, 1650, to Lewis Burwell, and by him assigned to Thomas Youll and by him assigned to said Rosier. 300 acres another part formerly granted to Thomas Youll and by him assigned to said Rosier. The 250 acres residue due for the transportation of 5 persons. ^[8]

1659 Will

11. July 20, 1659. Will of Edmund Brent.

• To wife, Rebecca, executrix and guardian.
• To son, Edmund, my two plantations at Nominy.
• To daughter, Katherine, plantation at Aquia River and land at Peace, 300 acres.
• Children under age.
• Signed March 26, 1658.
• Wit: Giles Brent. ^[9]

Remarriage of Wife

May 17, 1660. I, Richard Stearman, who married the relict widow of Edmund Brent, deceased, do constitute and appoint Mr. Francis Gray my true and lawful attorney for the receiving of a debt due to me from Henry Lilly, and do give my attorney as full power as if myself were present, and likewise do empower my said attorney to use all lawful means for the recovery of the debt due to me from Samuel Parker, as witness my hand this 17th of May 1660. Signed Richard Stearman. Wit: Thomas Pope and Ralph Elstone ^[10]

September 30, 1672. Will of Richard Stearman of Nomany in the county of Westmoreland. His wife, Rebecca Stearman, is to sell the whole of his estate in Virginia, Maryland, England, and elsewhere, either for money or for tobacco, and all the proceedings are to be remitted to London. The proceeds are to be equally divided among his wife Rebecca and his three children Richard, Valentine, and Margaret; and if his wife should bear a child who survives to 21, it shall be included for an equal share of his estate. Wife, Rebecca, executrix, and my brother Mr. Thomas Hall of London, merchant, overseer; overseer to have charge of his children during minority if wife dies. Wife and children to take next ship to England and remain there. If wife desires to return to Virginia, no part of childrens estate to be brought with her. Provision for inheritance if any children should die. Col. Nicholas Spencer and Lt.Col. John Washington to help wife in disposal of estate. Signed March 5, 1668/9. Wit: Nicholas Spencer and John Lowling. Probated in London by Rebecca Frodsham, alias Stearman. ^[1]

1662 Land Transfers

300 acres of land in Northumberland County, Virginia, were granted by Sir William Berkeley, Governor of Virginia, to Giles Brent on 4th May 1653, and by him sold to Edmund Brent. The land was left by Will to Edmund's daughter Katherine Brent, Dec 9, 1662. On 9 September 1668, the land was transferred to Edward Sanders by George Mason, acting under power of attorney from John Dynel and Katharine his wife. This establishes that Katherine was married to John Dynel sometime beetween 1662 and 1668. ^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Shawn and Lois Potter (shawnpotter@my-deja.com) "Katherine Brent, was dau. of Edmund Brent (RD)", Fri, 19 Jan 2001, http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/GEN-MEDIEVAL/2001-01/0979876500 http://www.deja.com
2. ↑ Shawn and Lois Potter (shawnpotter@my-deja.com) "Katherine Brent, was dau. of Edmund Brent (RD)", Fri, 19 Jan 2001, http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/GEN-MEDIEVAL/2001-01/0979876500 http://www.deja.com
3. ↑ Mike Marshall. Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia's Northern Neck Counties. Profile for Giles Brent Contributed by James Hughes. Citing Fleet, Beverley, Westmoreland County, 1653-1657. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. County, 1961, 104 pgs. Land Patents page 69. Accessed 9 October 2020 jhd.
4. ↑ Westmoreland County, Virginia, Colonial Abstracts, p. 37, cited by Shawn and Lois Potter .
5. ↑ Westmoreland County, Virginia, Colonial Abstracts, p. 40, cited by Shawn and Lois Potter
6. ↑ Westmoreland County, Virginia, Colonial Abstracts, p. 51 cited by Shawn and Lois Potter
7. ↑ Westmoreland County, Virginia, Colonial Abstracts, p. 69, cited by Shawn and Lois Potter
8. ↑ Westmoreland County, Virginia, Colonial Abstracts, p. 91, cited by Shawn and Lois Potter
9. ↑ Westmoreland County, Virginia, Colonial Abstracts, cited by Shawn and Lois Potter
10. ↑ Proceedings of the County Court of Charles County, Maryland: 1658-1666, Baltimore: Maryland Historical Society, 1936), pp. 304-5
11. ↑ Mercer Land Book, p. 165. Extracts from MS. Book of John Mercer of Marlboro, in possession of his descendant James Mercer Garnett, 1316 Boltod Street, Baltimore, Md., and by his permission copied for THE QUARTERLY. Communicated by Miss Kate Mason Rowland, Marlborough in Potomac Neck. Mercer Land Book, (Stafford County, VA) William and Mary College Quarterly, Vol. 13, No. 3. pp 165-166. Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project. http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/stafford/land/misc0000.txt. Accessed March 9, 2015

See also:

• Mercer Land Book, (Stafford County, VA) William and Mary College Quarterly, Vol. 13, No. 3. Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project. http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/stafford/land/misc0000.txt. Accessed March 9, 2015