Giles Brent

Giles Brent (sometimes Gyles, ) was an English colonist in the Province of Maryland and Virginia Colony. As a Roman Catholic family, Brent and his siblings emigrated away from Protestant-favoring England in the 1630s. Giles lived on Kent Island and eventually became acting governor of Maryland. He was married to Mary Kittamaquund, the daughter of a Piscataway chief. After a disagreements with Lord Baltimore, Giles and sisters moved to Northern Neck, Virginia, where they established major tracts of property. Giles's son, Giles Brent II was active during Bacon's Rebellion.

Early life and family (England) Giles was the son of Sir Richard Brent and Elizabeth Brent . Elizabeth's father was named Giles Reade. The Brents were of Gloucestershire of South West England, at Lark Stoke and Admington in 1553. Sir Richard Brent was High Sheriff of Gloucestershire for a time. Richard and his wife were close to Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke, part of King James I's court.

In 1619, Sir Richard's daughter Catherine converted to Catholicism, with the family eventually all joining the faith. Catherine and other sisters joined an abbey in Cambrai starting in 1628. Most records begin Brent's residence in the New World in 1637/8. Aged about 27 years old, Brent sailed from England on the ship Elizabeth to the Province of Maryland. With Maryland being a quasi-refuge for Catholics, Giles's brother Fulk (or Fulke) Brent and his sisters Margaret Brent and Mary Brent emigrated later in 1638. Giles held the office of Treasurer of the colony in about 1640. He had property near St. Mary's City, but then in February 1639, replaced a William Brainthwayte (Braithwaite) as commander of Kent Fort on the Isle of Kent, an island which was heavily contested at times by native Susquehannock people and by previous landholder William Claiborne.

Giles Brent was a in the Maryland General Assembly . Brent was deputized as Governor and also named "Lieutenant General, Admiral, Chief Captain, Magistrate, and Commander [of Maryland]" by Leonard Calvert whilst he traveled to England.

In late 1644, Giles Brent was approximately 38 to 40 years old. He married Mary Kittamaquund, a daughter to the Piscataway leader, who was also a juvenile ward of Governor Calvert. Mary Kittamaquund Brent's ability to speak the Algonquin language helped maintain friendly relations between the Brents and Patawomecks. Giles eventually was exonerated and returned to Maryland.

Leonard Calvert died in 1647, leaving his estate matters to Margaret Brent and appointing Thomas Greene as governor of the colony. Brent's property included "Peace Point" in what would become Marlborough Point near the mouth of Potomac Creek. It was argued that the then-frontier land was still part of the Province of Maryland. Although considered "the most conspicuous Papists in the colony", By native Indian law, her three children, Richard, Giles (II) and Mary (II) inherited her Maryland lands. Giles (I) attempted to lay claim to these lands, but was unsuccessful.

In 1662, Giles Brent and his neighbors feuded with native Patawomeck chief Wahanganoche (or Whipsewasin). Brent had re-arrested the chief on charges he was acquitted for previously by the colonists. The Virginia General Assembly fined Brent and forbade him from holding any public office.

By 1670, nephew George Brent arrived in Virginia colony. The Reverend John Waugh lived across Potomac Creek (later named "Waugh Point") from the Brents. Described as a quarrelsome person, Waugh's anti-Catholic views seeded distrust in the Brent family, notably George.

Giles (the Younger) married his cousin (Mary) and had several children. In 1679, Giles II's wife divorced him due to mistreatment.

In 1686, Captain George Brent was granted a land patent of , lying between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers (later Prince William County). Granted by James II, included a royal mandate assuring the Brents and later inhabitants of Virginia should have free exercise of religion. Although the exact location is lost, Brent Town was established in this area. in present-day Aquia, Virginia. The cemetery is still used for field masses by the Knights of Columbus.