18560 i.
George PACE I.37120. Richard PACE I
(106) was born about 1587. He died prior 1626. According to "The
Pace Family" (Anthony:1976),
Richard Pace I was born in 1590 and died before 1626 (I have penciled in that
he died in James City Co, VA - unsure of source), and married 1608 to Isabella
Smith in Wapping, England. I have penciled in that Isabella died after 1635 and
that they were married on 5 Oct 1608 in Stepney, England.
According to "The Pace Family" (op cit.):
"The American Pace family began with Richard and Isabella Smith from Stepheny
Parish, London. They arrived in Jamestown in August 1611, on the ship MARMADUKE.
Jamestown, at that time only four years after its founding, was the only settlement
in the new country. Its inhabitants had not yet ventured to establish their homes
very farm from Jamestown and its immediate area.
After serving the colony in various capacities for seven years, one could obtain
a grant of 100 acres of land. Richard must have had his eye on the bluff across
the James River from Jamestown. He paid for the transportation from England for
six people, 5 men and 1 woman, and obtained fifty acres for each person he was
responsible for bringing to the new country. This 300 acres, Elizabeth's (?)
200 she had acquired, and Richard's previous 100 gave him a plantation of 600
acres. This plantation was named Paces Paines.
The six persons brought over by Richard Pace were indentured to him for seven
years of service in clearing and planting the land granted. This became known
as the headright system, and it was a very neat arrangement.
Religion was an important factor in the early years of Jamestown. One of the
first buildings was a Church. Rev. Samuel Maycock was brought from England as
a minister to the Church.
Richard Pace adopted and converted an Indian boy named Chanco. He educated him
and taught him Christian principles. Chanco was a playmate for Richard's son,
George. When the word was spread among the Indians for the great massacre of
March 22, 1622, Chanco was informed by his Indian brother that his job was to
kill his master during the massacre. Chanco was conscience stricken. He felt
a certain loyalty to his Indian ancestors, yet, the teachings of the Christian
religion had taught him that murder was sinful. Chanco's Christian spirit was
triumphant. He told his master, Richard Pace, of the impending danger.
The character of Richard comes into focus in this emergency. Had he not been
a kind man, his Indian boy, Chanco, whom he had 'used as a son', would not have
loyally warned him of the impending massacre. Had he not had the qualities of
leadership which enabled him to promptly place Paces Paines in a state of defense,
he would not have been free to row the three miles across the James River to
Jamestown in time to give the alarm. But for this prompt and courageous action,
the entire colony would have been wiped out.
Richard died in his late thirties, possibly in a raid against the Chickahominy
Indians. He made his mark on history, and also founded one of the great families
of this country.
Source: Blood of Freedom (Earl S. Mier), Virginia, The Old Dominion (Andrews),
Virginia, The New Dominion (Dabney), Virginia Historical Genealogies (Boddie),
Pace Society Bulletin #3"
37121. Isabella SMYTHE
(106) was born about 1589. She died
after 1637. Birth and death information did not come from "The Pace Family"
by Anthony (1976). Children were:
18560 i.
George PACE I.
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