Brent, Margaret (c. 1601–1671)

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Brent, Margaret (c. 1601–1671)

American colonist. Born around 1601; died prior to May 1671; one of 13 children.

Though descended from royalty, Margaret Brent inherited very little on the death of her parents because English inheritance laws were stacked against women. Because of that and because of religious intolerance in then Protestant England, the Catholic Brent, along with her sister Mary and two brothers, immigrated to the newly founded Maryland colony in 1638. Starting with a land grant from Lord Baltimore, Brent began to acquire more and more land in the colony. As far as is known, Mistress Margaret Brent of Maryland, in 1647, was the first woman to demand representation, which was based on property. After several hours of heated debate, her petition was denied.

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