Talk:William L. Brent

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Brents and slavery[edit]

I came across this article (and others today) while trying to write an article about a Virginia politician of a somewhat similar era, George W. Brent. Unfortunately, little has been written about the Brent family (the only overtly Catholic family in Virginia for over a century), and especially their relationship with slavery. I've cited a typescript (mostly about the Maryland Brents) which might only be available in northern Virginia archives (including Fairfax, where I've spent too much time today), and it doesn't really discuss the Virginia Brents in the mid-1800s.

FYI, the prior relationship between this Maryland-born Brent and the former Virginia U.S. Senator (in the pre-existing wikilink)is much more distant than nephew and uncle, which is why I used "cousin".

FYI2, after the American Revolution, several Brents wanted to free slaves, but such was illegal in Virginia, so some moved to the newly formed national capital (Washington, D.C.). However, by the American Civil War, the Virginia Brents were decidedly pro-slavery (especially George W. Brent, though I may need to drive to Manassas for further research). In any event, don't have time to drive to Richmond or Baltimore to figure out this Maryland and Louisiana Brent's role in the slave trade between southern Maryland and Louisiana, although about a year ago I attended a presentation at the Library of Virginia which has partnered with a New Orleans archive to research these issues. Hint. Hint.Jweaver28 (talk) 01:42, 29 December 2016 (UTC)[reply]