(Notes from Andrew Kent papers and Sarah Kent Smith)

John Kent, son of Thomas Kent and his wife, Mary, was born in Albemarle (now Fluvanna Co), VA, or perhaps in Hanover Co, VA before Albemarle Co was formed from Hanover and Henrico Counties. The place and date of the marriage of John Kent and Sarah Kent, sister of Robert Kent and his first cousin, is unknown. This marriage occurred prior to or in 1777 as their first child, Archelaus Kent was born 03-12-1778. This would make John Kent older than his brother Robert Kent, who was born 07-20-1762.

In 1891, Dr. A.A. Kent, Sr was told that John Kent and his wife, Sarah Kent and Robert Kent and his wife, Ann Tate Kent, came to Fluvanna Co, VA from Hanover Co, VA. In a deed to John Kent, dated 1782, recorded in Fluvanna Co CH, John Strange describes the land as a track of land that John Kent had been living on. John Kent settled on the east side of Byrd Creek where David Baker later resided, and Robert Kent (John's brother-in-law)setteled across the creek on the west side of Byrd Creek near Kent Store. The creek served as a boundary line between the two lands.

Sarah Kent and Robert Kent were the children of James Kent (Little Jimmie) Kent and first cousins of John Kent. John Kent was a prosperous planter with slaves.

John Kent's death occurred in Fluvanna Co VA 12-19-1822 from the recording in Archelaus Kent's Bible. his will dated 09-05-1821 is recorded at Fluvanna Co CH, Palmyra VA. All of his property, slaves, stock and household furniture was left to his sons, Archelaus and Thomas Kent. His daughter, Lucy Kent Davis, ws left one hundred dollars to be paid by the two sons, Archelaus and Thomas. A son, John Kent, was left for Archelaus and Thomas Kent to take care of and use well. This son was properly a son by a slave as he left nothing and did not contest the will.

Lucy Kent Davis contested the will with John Timberlake as lawyer and agent. On 05-27-1823, an agreement was reached between Archelaus and Thomas Kent and John Timberlake by which one fourth of John Kent's slaves were to go to Lucy Kent Davis and a fee of $250.00 was to be paid to John Timberlake from John Kent's estate.

John White was administrator of John Kent's will. Appraisement of John Kent's slaves last 19 with a value of $4725.00. Some of these marked with an asterisk are probably the ones Lucy Kent Davis received under the agreement.