Charlene Bell Dietz - The Spinster, the Rebel, and the Governor: Margaret Brent Pre-Colonial Maryland 1638-1648

The Spinster, the Rebel, and the Governor

2022 by Charlene Bell Dietz

All Rights Reserved

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022905520

Dietz, Charlene Bell

The spinster, the rebel, and the governor Margaret Brent: pre-colonial Maryland 1638-1648:
An Inkdance book club historical biographical novel /

Charlene Bell DietzFirst Edition

ISBN 978-1-9452-1238-3 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-9452-1239-0 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-9452-1240-6 (electronic)

Quill Mark Press

Albuquerque, NM 87108

This book is a work of fiction structured from recorded historical events. All events and all people in this story are exemplified fictitiously and are products of my imagination.

Designed by Felicia Cedillos

Connect with Charlene Bell Dietz:

chardietzpen@gmail.com

https://inkydancestudios.com

https://www.facebook.com/charlene.dietz.9/

This book is dedicated to my family, my cousins, their children,
and other descendants of the brave men and women who labored
and gave their hearts to settle Maryland.

Partial List of Historical People

Altman, Father John , (b. d. November 1640) one of two Jesuit Priests to arrive in Maryland with the first colonists. Worked closely with Father Andrew White. Their mission was to attend to the Catholic colonists and convert the Native Americans. Father Altman spent much time on Kent Island and assisted with distributions and assignments at Mattapany, involving their missions storehouse at the mouth of the Patuxent River.

Baldridge, James , (b. d.) sheriff of St. Marys City, Maryland, c. 1638.

Brainthwaite, William , (b. d.) commander of Kent Island and deputy governor. Relative of Calvert family.

Brent, Ann, (b. 1612 d.) daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Brent and a sister of Margaret and Mary Brent. She married Leonard Calvert between 1642-1644. Two children: William, Ann. Ann (daughter) married Baker Brooke (d. 1678/9) of Calvert County, Maryland. Remarried Henry Brent (d. 1694). Remarried Richard Marsham (d. 1713). The marriage of Ann Brent to Leonard Calvert has been questioned. This author believes motivation arising from researched facts eliminate the controversy.

Brent, Catherine , (b. 1612 d. 1639/40) daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Brent, a sister of Margaret and Mary Brent, and a nun who died in the convent English Abbey of Our Lady of Consolation in Cambrai . Some have her death dated much later.

Brent, Edward , (b. d.) one of six sons of Richard Brent and Elizabeth Brent and a brother of Fulke and Giles.

Brent, Eleanor , (b. d.) daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Brent became a nun and was one of seven sisters of Richard Brent and a sister to Mary and Margaret.

Brent, Elizabeth , (b. d.) daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Brent became a nun and was one of seven sisters of Richard Brent and a sister to Mary and Margaret.

Brent, Fulke , (b. 1595 d. 1656) one of six sons of Richard Brent and Elizabeth Brent, departed from Plymouth, England and immigrated to St. Marys County, Maryland on the ship Charity , November 1638. Member of the Maryland Assembly, returned to England, March 1638/39. No researcher knows why he returned. This author uncovers motivation for probable reason. Married Cecily___. Died before January 1656/7. No children.

Brent, George , (b. 1602 d. 1671) one of six sons of Richard Brent and Elizabeth Brent and a brother of Fulke and Giles. George married Anne Peyton in 1635. George Brent, age 21, was granted administer of his fathers estate in 1652

Brent, Giles , [Col.] (b. 1604 d. Feb.1671/2) one of six sons of Richard Brent and Elizabeth Brent, departed from Plymouth, England and immigrated to St. Marys County, Maryland, on ship Charity November 1638, member of the Maryland Assembly, granted land and status. Commander of Kent Island. Deputy Governor of Maryland 1643-1644. Married Piscataway Empress, Mary Kittamaquund. This marriage seems to baffle and shock researchers. This author uncovers likely motivation and acceptance for this marriage. Four children lived: Mary, Giles, Jr., Katherine, Richard. He moved to Aquia Creek, Stafford County, Virginia c. 1649. 1654 deeded everything for the second time to his sister, Margaret, to educate his children and take care of his wife, Mary. Remarried Frances Whitgreaves ___, no children.

Brent, Jane , (b. d.) daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Brent is a sister to Mary and Margaret.

Brent, Margaret , (b. 1601 d. May 1671) daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Brent is the protagonist of this fictionalized biography. She left no known letters, diaries, or journals. Most information about Margaret comes from the records of court cases and genealogy research. Knowing who she was and what she did stems from tangential information about events and people around her. Only her birth date and family information is known until she arrives in Maryland in November 1638 with her sister, Mary, and two brothers, Fulke and Giles. They left Plymouth, England on the ship Charity in October 1638. Margaret and Mary owned Sisters Freehold (70 acres and a manor south of St. Marys Fort) and had titles to other lands. Research shows the Brent sisters built a fortress around their home and it became the Catholic garrison during the Protestant rebellion. No one knows when the fort was built, and other researchers believe it was erected for protection against the rebellion. This author believes the motivation establishing the fort came long before because of what Maryland experienced prior to the rebellion. Margaret presented over 125 legal cases to the governing body of Maryland, and in the records that survived after 1642 shes often listed as Attorney. Leonard Calvert appointed her his executrix after Ingles rebellion while on his deathbed. He told her to take all of his possessions and Lord Baltimores to pay the soldiers their wages. After Leonard Calverts death, Margaret asked to be allowed to have two votes in the courts. This denied, she settled Leonard Calverts estate and paid the militia. Margaret, with her sister, moved to their Virginia estate, Peace, in Westmoreland County, Virginia.

Brent, Mary , (b. 1603 d. 1658) daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Brent. Little is known about Mary. She arrived in Maryland in November 1638 with her two brothers, Fulke and Giles, and Margaret. She and Margaret moved to their estate, Peace, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. These two sisters remained unmarried.