A Wilson Family Tree
Notes for John J. Brent
"Kentucky, A History of the State", ed. Perrin-Battle-Kniffin, 1887, Hart Co., p. 996 (obtained from post to SANDIDGE-L by Karen Jorgensen, 8 Oct 2002):
From biography of Joshua Milton Brents: John Brents, the father of Joshua, was a native of Maryland. He was one of the first settlers of Green Co., Ky; lived to the age of one hundred and 10 years, and his wife also lived upward of one hundred years; both were of Scotch parentage.
Middle initial "J." is from WFT Vol. 22, Tree 393 and "The Dickinson Family of Glasgow, Kentucky". "Brents, The Joshua Tree" also gives the initial "J." in one place.
"Brents, The Joshua Tree" gives his last name as Brent, with Brents as an alternate. Apparently, the name was usually Brent or Brunt or Brunts in earlier records, and settled down to Brents in the early 1800s. In the memoir of Mary Brent Roberts, she notes that her grandfather's name was Joshua Brents, but that old people said his name as if it were Brunts. "The Dickinson Family of Glasgow, Kentucky" lists his last name as Brent(s).
Most sources start with John. WFT Vol. 22, Tree 393 gives his father's name as William. "Brents, The Joshua Tree" and "The Dickinson Family of Glasgow, Kentucky" give his father's name as Thomas.
Apparently, John lived to be quite old, though I am skeptical that he lived to the age of 110. (This comes from the Joshua Milton Brents biography.) It is also rather questionable that he was something like 71 years old when son Joshua was born. There is quite a bit of information about land purchases, will, etc., in "Brents, The Joshua Tree".
From the Brents Genealogy Ancestry World Tree page:
"The Maryland Gazette 1727-1761: Thursday, 19 August 1756, No. 589: A parcel of transfer notes, signed by Zachariah Jacob and Joseph Howard, were stolen from the Inspecting House at Howard's point on South River. There were made out to"....among the names: "John Brunt"........( The Maryland Gazette, Genealogical and Historical Abstracts, by Karen Mauer Green, The Frontier Press, Galveston, 1989)
"Baltimore County Families, 1659-1759" Edward, Philip, and wife Ann on 28 Aug 1758 conveyed 350 acres Edwards' Discovery to John BRUNTS (Volume 83, Page 236).
Taxables in St. Thomas Parish, Baltimore County, MD 1763 listed in the Delaware Hundred, John BRUNTS. (Inhabitants of Baltimore County, 1763-1774, Harry C. Pender, Jr. 1989, Family Lin e Publications)
Thought to be a signer of "The Removal of the county seat to Baltimore Town in 1768 from the Joppa Courthouse, MD, John BRUNTS.
"He was a native of MD. He was one of the first settlers of Green Co., KY. Lived to the age of one hundred and ten years, and his wife also lived upward of one hundred years, both were of Scotch parentage." (Joshua Milton Brents, his grandson) (found in KY Genealogy and Biography, Volume 1, pg. 65)
1795 First Tax List of Green County, KY (KY Ancestors, Vol 4, No. 1): John Brunts 6-30 1,2,1, 6,4,8,16,-,-,-
John Brunts-Persons Name Chargeable With Tax
6-30-Date
1- Number of white males over 21
2- Number of White males over 16, under 21
1-Numeration
6-Total Blacks
4-Blacks under 16
8-Horses, mares, Colts
16-Cattle
Nothing listed for Number of Town Lots
Nothing listed for Appraisements
Nothing listed for Stud Horses
The spelling of BRENTS is usually BRUNTS, and after about 1804, the spelling became BRENTS.
He migrated with his family after 1780 from NC to the State of KY. The Revolutionary War was over and VA had set aside land west of the Alleghenies to compensate her soldiers who had fought for independence. John's son, John Jr., had been a soldier in the VA Line, and thus claimed the portion of land due him on Military Warrants. John, Sr. bought land in the same area with a Treasury Warrants.
Jno. Brent, Treas. Warrant No. 10728 Jun 27, 1784, 1000 acres on the water of the Licking. (Fayette Co. Book 3, pg 380) (Jillson's Index to KY. Land Grants.) (Register of Land Office Frankfort, KY.)
The family did not remain in Fayette Co. the next record is in Nelson Co., KY. There are marriage records of the children, and John Jr.'s will is there.:
Squire Boone by John Brunts, from the office of a Treasury Warrant No. 14787 for 20,000 acres , 2000 acres surveyed for the said Boone and returned with his 2000 acre survey. (Nelson Co . Processionery's Book, pg 212, dated 29 Dec 1784)
Greene County was formed out of Nelson County in 1792, thus Green Co., KY is where they resided.
His will is recorded in Green Co., KY, Will Book 2, 10 May 1815, and admitted to Probate Court after his death in 1819 pg. 35-37
I, John Brents of Green County and the State of Kentucky, being weak of body, but of good and perfect mind and memory do make this my last will and testament revoking all other by me heretofore made. And first I will my soul into the hands of Almighty God, who first gave it and my body to the dust to be buried in decent burial under the direction of my Executor hereafter to be named. As to such earthly estate it has pleased God to bless me with, I give, devise and bequeath in the manner following, to wit: I give my Negro boy, Jack to my son Thomas Brents. I give my Negro woman, Alice and her two youngest children named Caleb and Thornton to my son Peter Brents upon this condition that he deliver up as a part of my estate in the hands of my executor the little negro girl named Let, heretofore given to him. I give the Negro girl, Let, now in the hands of Peter Brents to my son Solomon Brents.
I will that my Negro boy Dick and Mulatto boy Moses be sold at twelve months credit for cash, not to be sold out of my family. I will the balance of my horses and cattle and sheep not included in a deed made by me to my son Joshua Brents and his mother and whatever personal estate may not be disposed of to be sold as said Negros. I give to my six sons, James, Peter, Thomas, Solomon, Samuel and Joshua my entry for 3000 acres of land on Tennessee and warrant on which it is founded, also I give them the Bond assigned to me by Silas Burk on the Williamsons. I give to my granddaughter Patsey, late Patsey Wolfskill, daughter to my daughter Betsy Wolfskill, dec. one hundred dollars in cash. I give to my two granddaughters Betsy Wright and Polly Tibbs daughters of my son John, twenty pounds each. I give to my granddaughter Isabelle Lowry, daughter of Ann Lowry one hundred dollars. In addition to the advancements made by this will be deed and otherwise to my son Joshua Brents, I give him, said Joshua, all the balance of my estate, both real and personal in possession or out of possession except a bond of John Marshall of about the sum of twenty pounds which bond or the money arising there-from I give to his oldest daughters. I lastly appoint my son, Joshua Brents, whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament. In testimony of which I have here unto set my hand and seal this 10th day of May 1815. John Brents
(Bill Doyle)
Note: Some of the information in these pages is uncertain. Please let me know of errors or omissions using the email link above. ...Mike Wilson
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