Elizabeth (Edmonson) Brent (abt. 1815 - 1881)

Born about 1815 in Maryland, United States

Descendants

Died 2 Mar 1881 at about age 66 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Biography

Elizabeth (Edmonson) Brent is a part of US Black heritage.

Elizabeth Edmonson was born about 1815 in Montgomery County, Maryland, the oldest of 14 children. Her father, Paul Edmonson, was a free Black man, having purchased his freedom, but his wife, Elizabeth's mother, Amelia (possibly Culver), was still a slave, and by U.S. law of the time, any children born to an enslaved woman were also the property of her owners, in this case William Henry Culver and his wife, Rebecca Culver.

In 1837, John Brent (c.1804-1885), a free Black man, purchased Elizabeth's freedom from Francis Valdenar, trustee for Rebecca Culver, and John and Elizabeth married soon thereafter. They lived in Washington, D.C. and raised several children, including their youngest, Calvin Brent, who would become the first black architect in Washington, D.C.

John bought land in Washington D.C. and built a house^[1] where, in 1847, he and Elizabeth founded the John Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church. They began holding church ceremonies in their house until a church building was constructed nearby a few years later. John was the first pastor.^[2]

In 1849, six of Elizabeth's still enslaved younger siblings were part of the failed slave escape attempt aboard the ship the Pearl, a famous incident which later inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe to write her 1852 best-selling anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin. She wrote specifically about the Edmonson sisters in her A Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin in 1853.

Elizabeth's husband John attempted, but could not arrange release for the siblings, after the Pearl was apprehended. They were sold to slave traders who took them to the slave market in New Orleans. Her brother Hamilton eventually secured the freedom of at least two of their brothers in New Orleans. Her father appealed to Rev. Henry Ward Beecher and his congregation, who raised the money to buy their sisters' freedom.^[3]

She was 35 when she and John were counted on the census in Washington D.C. in 1850 with eight children.^[4] Ten years later Elizabeth was 45 when she and John were counted on the census in Washington D.C. in 1860, again with eight children;^[5] she was 55 in 1870, with John, some of their children, and others, including a James Paynter, in Washington D.C.;^[6] and by 1880, when she was 65, some of their children and several Wright and Bell grandchildren were living with them in Washington D.C.^[7]

Elizabeth died in 1881,^[8] and is buried in what was Mount Pleasant Plains Cemetery, Woodley Park, District of Columbia.^[9]

Slave Owners

• William Henry Culver (-1826)
• Rebecca Culver (abt.1785-aft.1860)

Sources

1. ↑ John H. Paynter, "The Fugitives of the Pearl," The Journal of Negro History, June 1916, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 243-264 Online Copy p. 10 excerpt - 9: John Brent, the husband of Elizabeth, the oldest of the Edmondson girls, had first bought himself, earning the money chiefly by sawing wood; had then bought the freedom of his father, Elton Brent, for whom he paid $800, and finally bought Elizabeth's freedom, after which they were married. He purchased the ground at the southwest corner of 18th and L streets, now owned by his heirs, and erected a small frame dwelling. This was later enlarged and there the John Wesley A. M. E. Zion Church was established. He was a laborer in the War Department during forty years and died in 1885.-From interviews with Mr. Brent and other members of the family. Also p. 2: There were altogether fourteen sons and daughters of Paul [Edmondson] and Amelia who passed as devoutly pious and respectable old folks. Paul was a freeman who hired his time in the city. Amelia was a slave. Their little cabin, a few miles out of the city of Washington proper, was so neat and orderly that it was regarded as a model for masters and slaves alike for many miles around. They were thus permitted to live together by the owners of Amelia, who realized how much more valuable the children would be as a marketable group after some years of such care and attention as the mother would be sure to bestow.
2. ↑ John Wesley AME Zion Church, "About Our Church," located at 1615 14th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009, "History of John Wesley AME."
3. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Edmonson sisters," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Edmonson_sisters&oldid=1075305122 (accessed September 12, 2022).
4. ↑ "1850 US Census," Elizabeth Brent, age 35, bp DC, with inferred husband John, 8 children. Year: 1850; Census Place: Washington Ward 1, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: 56; Page: 37a. Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. [Free Ancestry Image]
5. ↑
   • "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCVM-8RF : 18 February 2021), Elizabeth Brent in entry for John Brent, 1860.

   John Brent Male 55 Md

   Elizabeth Brent Female 45 Md

   Catherine Brent Female 20 D C

   Emily Brent Female 18 D C

   Wm Brent Male 19 D C

   John Brent Male 15 D C

   Martha Brent Female 14 D C

   Amelia Brent Female 13 D C

   Rebecca Brent Female 11 D C

   Calvin Brent Male 8 D C

   • 1860 US Census, Elizabeth Brent, age 45, Maryland, with inferred husband John, 8 children. Year: 1860; Census Place: Washington Ward 1, Washington, District of Columbia; Page: 235. Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009 Free Ancestry Image
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNWB-LMF : 28 May 2021), Elizabeth Brent in entry for John Brent, 1870.

   John Brent Male 65 Maryland

   Elizabeth Brent Female 55 Maryland

   William H Brent Male 28 District Of Columbia

   Calvin Brent Male 16 District Of Columbia

   Rebecca Brent Female 19 District Of Columbia

   James Painter Male 39 Maryland

   Susan Lucas Female 18 Virginia

   Jane Steward Female 10 Maryland

   • 1870 US Census, Elizabeth Brent, age 55, bp Maryland, keeping house, inferred husband John Brent, 3 children, Year: 1870; Census Place: Washington Ward 1, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: M593_123; Page: 76A. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Free Ancestry Image
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6CW-42V : 13 January 2022), Elizabeth Brent in household of John Brent, Washington, District of Columbia, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm.

   John Brent Self Male 73 Maryland, United States

   Elizabeth Brent Wife Female 65 Maryland, United States

   William Brent Son Male 32 District of Columbia, United States

   Rebecca Wright Daughter Female 25 District of Columbia, United States

   Ellen Wright Granddaughter Female 7 District of Columbia, United States

   Irice L. Wright Granddaughter Female 5 District of Columbia, United States

   Marrie Wright Granddaughter Female 2 District of Columbia, United States

   William Bell Son-in-law Male 32 District of Columbia, United States

   Martha Bell Daughter Female 26 District of Columbia, United States

   Claud Bell Granddaughter Female 6 District of Columbia, United States

   Della Bell Granddaughter Female 3 District of Columbia, United States

   Horris Stilt Other Male 26 Virginia, United States

   • 1880 US Census: Elizabeth Brent, age 65, bp Maryland, keeping house, with husband John, 1 son, 2 daughters, 1 son-in-law, 5 grandchildren, Year: 1880; Census Place: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia; Roll: 122; Page: 308C; Enumeration District: 098. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010
8. ↑ "District of Columbia Deaths, 1874-1961," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7YW-Q4D : accessed 12 September 2022), Elizebeth Brent, 02 Mar 1881, District of Columbia, United States; citing reference ID cn 27667, District Records Center, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 2,135,671. Birth Year (Estimated): 1812
9. ↑ Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195864959/elizabeth-brent Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/195864959/elizabeth-brent: accessed 20 June 2021), memorial page for Elizabeth Edmonson Brent (1812–2 Mar 1881), Find A Grave: Memorial #195864959, citing Mount Pleasant Plains Cemetery, Woodley Park, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA; Maintained by FamilyTies (contributor 47950600).

See also:

• Biography of Francis Valdenar, Maryland State Archives Valdenar was trustee for Rebecca Culver, slave owner. " Francis Valdenar was the trustee of Rebecca Culver who is described in records as a lunatic. Valdenar's wife Elizabeth was the sister of Rebecca Culver, who owned members of the Edmonson family, six of whom would have made the attempted escape on the Pearl in Washington, DC. In 1837, Valdenar manumitted Elizabeth Edmonson, one of the eldest siblings, for the sum of $450"