William Brent (1733-1782)—the son of Capt. William Brent (1710-1742) of Richland, Stafford County. In May 1757 William became a justice for Stafford but in October 1765 he resigned in protest of the Stamp Act. Shortly thereafter, he resumed his office as justice and served until his death. In 1776 William was elected one of two delegates to the last Revolutionary Convention. On July 23 of that year Lord Dunmore landed his ship at Richland and burned Brent’s house and other outbuildings. William served in the House of Delegates in 1776 and 1778 and in 1780 was elected to the Virginia Senate as representative of Stafford, King George, and Westmoreland counties.