First English Catholic Settlers in Virginia
Posted by: 
Taluss
N 38° 28.522 W 077° 23.581
18S E 291249 N 4261273
English Catholic settlers in Virginia are commemorated by crucifix erected in 1930 by the Catholic Woman's Club of Richmond, Va.
Waymark Code: WM5BG2
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 12/13/2008
Views: 28
Historical Information
The Brent family initially chose to settle in Maryland, and Margaret Brent was so close to Governor Leonard Calvert (brother of Lord Baltimore) that she served as the executor of his estate. (In the process, she asked for the right to vote, and is often mentioned as the first suffragette and first female lawyer in America.)
However, the political conflicts in Maryland were intense, including several small-scale civil wars, and the Brents moved to Virginia. Margaret Brent was the first English owner of what today is Alexandria. She and her brother Giles [were] the first English settlers in Northern Virginia.
She built a plantation called "Retirement" while he built "Peace" near Brents Point on Aquia Creek, in what was Northumberland County but is now Stafford County. Giles married Kittamaquad (also spelled as Chitamachen), the daughter of the Piscataway Tayac or chief - just as John Rolfe married Pocahontas, the daughter of Powhatan. Giles Brent's marriage provided him a potential claim to the lands of the tribe, including those of his son Giles Jr.
(Source: http://www.virginiaplaces.org/religion/brentfamily.html 12/11/08)
Inscription
That the beauty of
his countenance be
not hidden from
his own
That his wounds
and woe wherein
he wrote his love
be known to
all the people
he redeemed
Inscription by: Father Walter Nott (1891-1932)
Commemoration
IN THE NAME OF CHRIST
THE KING
To commemorate the first
English Catholic settlers
in Virginia:
Colonel Giles Brent, deputy,
Governor of Maryland 1643;
Margaret and Mary Brent
who settled at Aquia 1647;
George Brent, king's attorney
general 1686, member House of
Burgesses 1688, who petitioned
for and obtained on Feb. 10th
1686 from James II, King of
England, a proclamation of
religious tolerance for all
people settling in the
colony of Brenton.
Nearby rest the remains of
these Catholic pioneers.
CATHOLIC WOMAN'S CLUB OF
RICHMOND, VA. 1930.
The commemoration is located at the intersection of Jefferson Davis Highway (State Route 1) and Telegraph Road in Aquia Harbor, Virginia
FIRST - Classification Variable: Person or Group
Date of FIRST: 01/01/1647
More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]
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