The Mary Knowles-Mary Baker
controversy: What was the maiden name of the wife of Richard Pace of
The following material originated as a response to a query by Margaret Ezell on 6/4/96. Click here to see that query.
Margaret, Thanks for your query. I have no first hand information;
but let me quote from SOME SOUTHERN COLONIAL FAMILIES, volume 2, by David A.
Avant, Jr.., Lt. Col. USAFR (Ret.), L'Avant Studios,
"It has been claimed and widely published that [Mary Pace] was a daughter of a JOHN KNOWLES and that this JOHN KNOWLES "may have been" the Puritan minister brought down from Waterford, Conn., in 1642 to preach to the people of Mansemond Co. This deceptive theory has no evidence to support the allegation except that a great grandson had the name of KNOWLES PACE. In spite of this absurdity we notice that some recent accounts still advance the claim in published form and thus perpetuate the delusion. Another school of thought believes that her maiden name was "BAKER" (of which more later) A letter dated 20 May 1971 from MISS MAUD McLURE KELLY (PACE family scholar) to MRS. ELEANOR (PACE) TERRELL states, 'Do not be led astray by these wild guesses which claim that RICHARD married Mary KNOWLES." (page 197, regarding the BAKER claim): Charles City Co., VA., Court Order Book 1664-1665), p. 530 21 Jan., 1664/5 - DEED OF GIFT FROM RICHARD BAKER TO RICHARD PACE of a parcel of land lying on the other side of the bottom on the west side of the aforesaid BAKER'S plantation containing 140 acres. Witnesses: WILLIAM HARRIS, PATRICK JACKSON, AND CAESAR WALPOLE [RICHARD BAKER signs by his mark "X". Recorded 7 Feb. 1664/5' COMMENT [by Col. Avant]: Neither the reason for the "Deed of Gift" nor the implied relationship of RICHARD BAKER to RICHARD PACE is stated. JESTER and HIDEN (p. 260), in the PACE Family chapter, states that "It is probable that MARY PACE was the daughter of RICHARD BAKER, of Charles City Co. who on 21 Jan. 1664/5 made a Deed of Gift to RICHARD PACE."
Roy Johnson speaking now: I am a member of the Pace Society (since 1990) and I am gradually accumulating their earlier bulletins. I find many cases in which "assumptions", "probablys", and "may-have-beens" have become entrenched as hard fact. This is most unscholarly; a hypothesis should be treated as a hypothesis until ample evidence has been accumulated to form a conclusion. I have not seen evidence to point firmly in either direction, and I believe this line should be left open on family charts. I would tend to trust Jester & Hiden the most. Bruce Howard is much more knowledgeable than I am, and he may have a comment, if he has time to respond. I will post this on the Pace Home Page for further comment by anyone interested. Regards, Roy Johnson
Important
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Mirror site on Schnakenet at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~schnake/HistoryInInk.htm
Mirror site on Pace Network http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~pace/HistoryInInk.htm