The fun of genealogy is piecing together bits of evidence from various sources to tell a story. It's great if there is documentary evidence, but it is not always there and you have to do the best you can with what you have. DNA has provided conclusive evidence that John of Middlesex is related to Shropshire area Paces, and strong evidence just a bit short of conclusive proof that he was John Pace born 1665 in Shropshire. Recently, a person named Pierce applied for Pace society membership based on his DNA matching John of M Paces. That led to further contact with the Pierce DNA coordinator and some interesting new evidence. Gordon T. Pace says his research in that area shows that the names of Pierce and Pace are often interchanged, sometimes the same person being recorded as Pierce one time and Pace the next. There are two Pierces in the Pierce study who do not match with any Pierces except each other, but both whom match with John of M. When I contacted the Pierce DNA administrator, he sent some added evidence that one of them has family stories that their ancestor(s) came to Middlesex County, VA, ca 1684. Families and friends often migrated together, and John b. 1665 would have been 19 in 1684, a good date for the arrival of John of M, giving him nine years to acquire the means to buy land in 1693. Jack Pace has shown that John was probably already a resident of Middlesex County when he bought the land. Gordon has researched that parish and surrounding parishes, and John 1665 is nowhere to be found in later records. If he died or married, there should be a record. He apparently left the area. It's just speculation of course but could be a piece of the puzzle. I will maintain contact with the Pierce group. You can never tell what might turn up. Roy Johnson

Roy: I would suggest that you read Pierce, Pace, Milton and Huie Families By Virginia Copeland Jantz Printed by Waco Printing and Stationary Co. in Waco, Texas THERE ARE SEVERAL CASES where PACES CHANGED THEIR NAME TO PIERCE. One line goes John of Midd--Joseph-- Josiah Pace--Stephen Pace--AUGUSTUS Pierce--Wm. B. Pierce--Kendrick Oscar Pierce--Queen Zoe Pierce etc.etc. William Pace began spelling his name Piercebefore leaving Mecklenburg Co. Va. He was youngest son of Josiah and Lucinda (Stroud) Pace their childreb were Sarah Pierce, John Pierce, Josiah Pierce, James L Pierce, son? and Tabitha . Pierce. This book is offered from the author (see back inside page of Pace Society Bulletins. 442 pages, hard cover, $30.00 well documented. Good searching, Jack Pace (Va.) ---- Roy Johnson <royj@webster.edu> wrote: > The fun of genealogy is piecing together bits of evidence from various > sources to tell a story. It's great if there is documentary evidence, but it > is not always there and you have to do the best you can with what you have. > > > > DNA has provided conclusive evidence that John of Middlesex is related to > Shropshire area Paces, and strong evidence just a bit short of conclusive > proof that he was John Pace born 1665 in Shropshire. > > > > Recently, a person named Pierce applied for Pace society membership based on > his DNA matching John of M Paces. That led to further contact with the > Pierce DNA coordinator and some interesting new evidence. > > > > Gordon T. Pace says his research in that area shows that the names of Pierce > and Pace are often interchanged, sometimes the same person being recorded as > Pierce one time and Pace the next. > > > > There are two Pierces in the Pierce study who do not match with any Pierces > except each other, but both whom match with John of M. When I contacted the > Pierce DNA administrator, he sent some added evidence that one of them has > family stories that their ancestor(s) came to Middlesex County, VA, ca 1684. > > > > Families and friends often migrated together, and John b. 1665 would have > been 19 in 1684, a good date for the arrival of John of M, giving him nine > years to acquire the means to buy land in 1693. Jack Pace has shown that > John was probably already a resident of Middlesex County when he bought the > land. > > > > Gordon has researched that parish and surrounding parishes, and John 1665 is > nowhere to be found in later records. If he died or married, there should be > a record. He apparently left the area. > > > > It's just speculation of course but could be a piece of the puzzle. > > > > I will maintain contact with the Pierce group. You can never tell what might > turn up. > > > > Roy Johnson > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PACE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message