[1] After completing his apprenticeship in 1713, he worked briefly for a Mrs. Bradford, and then for a printer named Mears, who involved him in a humiliating initiation rite, discharging him soon after, following which he subsisted by labouring.

After several months he obtained a post with John White, King's printer for York, at a rate of £18 a year, plus board and lodging, arriving in April 1714.

[2] At the end of a year with White, Gent would not renew his contract until he had returned to Ireland and visited his parents but was compelled to leave on account of his former apprentice-master attempting to have him seized for absconding.

[4][5] Gent was sought by Midwinter on a number of occasions to return to work with him, eventually leaving the troublesome Clifton.

[6] Gent was briefly arrested, on suspicion of printing treasonable works, and placed in prison for five days, but was acquitted without charge.

He published several works covering religious topics, in poem form, the first being The Holy Life and Death of St.