Notes for Margaret BRENT

BIVIN Family Genealogy

Notes for Margaret BRENT

Margaret Brent has been described as the first American feminist -- a
woman who was a lawyer and landowner who petitioned the Maryland
legislature for the vote. Through the family relationship, but also due
to her own unique abilities, she became exectutrix for Leonard Calvert
upon his death. Lord Baltimore, weeks distant in England, misinterpreted
Margaret's action in settling Calvert's debts and wrote an acrimonious
letter requesting that the Brents leave Maryland. The Maryland
legislature, which had had its own problems with this assertive woman,
arose as a man to her defense and in a letter signed by the entire body
told Lord Baltimore that he could not be better represented by any man in
the colony. In fact, Margaret was referred to in Maryland records as
Margaret Brent, Gentleman.

However, in 1647 -- even before Lord Baltimore's letter reached them --
the Brents, weary of the political battles with the Calverts and
disheartened by religious dissension between Protestants and Catholics in
Maryland, had already left the colony to settle near Aquia in Virginia.
-- "A History of George Washington's River Farm", American Horticultural
Society [Internet Web page]

Never married.

Gov. Calvert of MD made her his executor. Maryland Council made her
attorney-in-fact for Lord Baltimore in place of the deceased Governer so
that she could sell Lord Baltimore's cattle. She sold the cattle in
order to buy corn to feed the colony's soldiers. Lord Baltimore's
discontent with Margaret's actions, coupled with the appointment of a new
Protestant Governer, drove the Brents to remove to the Virginia frontier,
where they began a plantation which Margaret named "Peace".