Hugh Brent, Jr.

Hugh Brent, Jr. was born in Lancaster County about 1660. He was the son of Hugh Brent, Sr. and Mary Atchison - who were both immigrants to Virginia from Kent, England. Hugh Sr. received many land grants in Lancaster County from 1654 to 1663 in the Fleet's Bay area. He died before March 13th, 1672 and left all of the land given to him by patent to Hugh Jr. He also left additional lands to his three daughters but instructed that when they died the properties should be transferred to Hugh Jr. Thomas Haynes and Fortunatus Sydnor were named to manage the property for the minor children. A December 1677 entry in the Northumberland County Order Book shows a payment to "William Flowers for taking up William Marttin, servant to orphants of Hugh Brent."

Hugh married Catherine Swann in 1678 at Christ Church Parish in Lancaster County. They had four sons and a daughter. In 1709 Hugh and Catherine were witnesses to the will of her father, John Swann. Hugh was listed in the Lancaster County Milita Foot Service in 1687. In 1691 he was named a constable for Lancaster County. In 1703 and 1705 he was surveyor of highways. In May of 1710 Hugh was appointed as a Justice, but he refused the post "for he thought him selfe not fitt to be a Judge of ye Law that did not know ye Law." Two months later he was again appointed and this time accepted the office. In April of 1712 he was named sheriff.

Hugh died without a will before October 10th, 1716. On that date an inventory of his estate was made by his son, Hugh Brent, III. The lengthy inventory was presented in court the following January. His inventory included seven named slaves and one unnamed woman listed as a servant. Other items of interest were 66£ of pewter and 34£ of old pewter, 4 1/2£ of shott, 2 1/2£ of powder, carpenter & joyner tools, 770 gallons of cider in cask and with still, 32 cattle, 17 sheep and five horses.