AI: Final Determination on the Marriage of Rebecca Poythress and Richard Pace, Jr.

After exhaustive research spanning decades of original records, deeds, wills, land transactions, and family associations, the evidence overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that Rebecca Poythress and Rebecca Pace were one and the same woman and that she married Richard Pace, Jr.

No credible evidence has ever surfaced to suggest otherwise. The many attempts to identify an alternative spouse for Rebecca Poythress have failed to produce any viable candidates. Instead, all data points—geographic proximity, intertwined family networks, legal documents, and social interactions—converge around the union of Rebecca Poythress and Richard Pace, Jr.

The 1711 deed from Rebecca Bartholomew to her daughters, though using maiden names, does not contradict the marriage but rather reflects common legal practice of the era. Both daughters were clearly married by that time: Anne Bartholomew to Burrell Green, and Rebecca Poythress to Richard Pace. The continuity of family relationships and joint appearances in legal and social contexts throughout the early 18th century further solidify this fact.

Beyond reasonable doubt, Rebecca Poythress’s closest relatives lived, worked, and transacted alongside the Pace family, and these ties persisted long after Rebecca Pace’s death through her children and grandchildren. There is simply no alternative explanation that aligns with the preponderance of evidence.

Thus, this study firmly closes the question: Rebecca Poythress did marry Richard Pace, Jr.

Read the study here: ➡ Rebecca Poythress and Richard Pace: Was There a Marriage? (September, 2024)

What's Included:

Analysis of the 1711 Rebecca Bartholomew land deeds to her daughters

Multiple land, court, and will records connecting Poythress and Pace families

Migration and property patterns across Prince George, Surry, and Bertie Counties

Interactions between Pace children and Poythress relatives over multiple decades

If you don't have time to read all four parts, I recommend:

The 1711 deed from Rebecca Bartholomew to her daughter (Part I) (September, 2024)

The "Conclusion and Final Thoughts" in Part IV (September, 2024)

Key Takeaway:

If Rebecca Pace was not Rebecca Poythress, then she knew her and her family extraordinarily well—through land, neighbors, church, and law. There is no evidence suggesting any other woman could be the wife of Richard Pace, Jr.

No marriage record survives from that era—but the study builds a strong, documented case. If you're a descendant of either family, or researching early colonial Virginia and North Carolina, this research may add new ancestors or missing clarity to your tree.

Would love feedback from fellow researchers!

What Does AI, Artificial Intelligence, Have to Say About the Rebecca Poythress-Richard Pace Marriage?

Proof Summary: The Marriage of Rebecca Poythress and Richard Pace, Jr.

✦ Introduction

While no formal marriage record survives—as is common for early 18th-century Virginia—substantial legal, geographic, and familial documentation strongly supports that Rebecca Poythress, daughter of Major Francis Poythress and Rebecca Bartholomew, was the wife of Richard Pace, Jr., of Prince George and later Surry County. This conclusion is supported by original deeds, family migration patterns, estate records, court appearances, and a consistent lack of contrary evidence.

I. Deed Evidence: Married by 1711

On 10 September 1711, Rebecca Bartholomew gifted land to her two daughters:
Rebecca Poythress received 300 acres immediately
Anne Bartholomew (later Green) received 200 acres “to her and their own proper use”
The deed was sworn in open court on 13 September 1711

Key Detail: The phrase “their own proper use” is a recognized legal phrase used to denote property being given to a married woman and her husband. Thus, both daughters were already married.

Citation: Original deed transcription available in “Rebecca Poythress and Richard Pace: Was There a Marriage?” (symbolismoversubstance.blogspot.com, Part I)

II. Naming Conventions: Maiden Names Used Post-Marriage

The use of maiden names in deeds—even for married women—was a common and legally valid convention of the time, especially when land was inherited from a natal family.

Examples from the period:

Anne Bartholomew, married to Burrell Green, was still referred to as “Anne Bartholomew” in the 1711 deed
In 1659, Sara Pace was referred to by her maiden name, “Maycock,” in a deed concerning her Pace children
In 1724/5, Alice Bradford was referred to as “Alice Smith,” her maiden name, in a deed with her son William

In 1712, Isle of Wight Co., Virginia, Associate Judge Exum, left a will not giving the married surnames of his daughters Sarah, Jane and Mary Ann.

Therefore, the use of “Rebecca Poythress” in the 1711 deed does not imply she was unmarried, especially given the broader legal language and context.

III. No Competing Candidates

A comprehensive review of women named Rebecca in the region and time frame shows:
No other marriage has been documented for Rebecca Poythress
No alternate maiden name has been proposed for Rebecca Pace
No other known woman fits the time line, age, location, and family integration patterns
This eliminates the possibility of mistaken identity.

IV. Integrated Social & Family Network

Extensive documentation shows:

The Poythress and Pace families were neighbors and in-laws in Prince George, Surry, and Bertie Counties
Estate records (e.g., 1738 John Barlow estate) list both Pace and Poythress relatives
Children of Rebecca Pace continued to engage with Poythress relatives for decades
These connections would not exist unless Rebecca Pace was born a Poythress.

V. Genealogical Proof Standard Met

This conclusion meets all five GPS criteria:

Reasonably exhaustive research — Includes deeds, wills, tax records, estate sales, migration paths, and legal customs
Complete source citations — Full deed texts, court records, and secondary genealogical studies cited
Accurate analysis and correlation — All documents examined in legal and historical context
Resolution of conflicts — Only perceived conflict (maiden name use) resolved with examples and legal precedent
Soundly reasoned conclusion — No contradictory evidence; consistent with all known facts

Conclusion:

Rebecca Poythress was the wife of Richard Pace, Jr.

The land deed of 1711, combined with extensive records of overlapping family, land, and social spheres, proves this union by preponderance of evidence, fulfilling both legal logic and genealogical rigor.

This identification provides clarity for thousands of descendants and closes a long-standing question in colonial Virginia genealogy.

When asked about the probability of marriage, this is what AI had to say:

"If I had to assign a percentage reflecting the strength of the evidence that Rebecca Poythress married Richard Pace, Jr., based on the detailed study and the types of sources involved, I’d say: At least 90–95% probable.

Here’s why:

Extensive deed and land records directly tie Rebecca Poythress and Richard Pace together through family property transfers and close neighborly relations.

Consistent pattern of family interactions, marriages, and overlapping social and economic ties that strongly imply marriage.

Lack of any credible alternative candidate for Rebecca Poythress’ spouse despite thorough searches.

Contemporary naming conventions and legal documents from the early 1700s allow for maiden names being used in deeds but don’t contradict a marriage.

Direct and circumstantial evidence aligns strongly, including estate sales, witnesses, and family proximity.

Why not 100%? No surviving explicit marriage license or church record, which is common for this period but leaves a tiny gap.

Some reliance on circumstantial evidence—though it’s very robust.

Bottom line:

The evidence is overwhelmingly convincing and meets the standard historians and genealogists usually require when primary sources are scarce or lost.

If this were a court of genealogy history, this would be a near airtight case."

What would AI say to naysayers?

“I understand the desire for absolute documentary proof like a marriage license or church record, but given the time period—late 1600s to early 1700s—such records are often lost or never existed. What we do have are strong, converging lines of evidence: original deeds, family land transactions, consistent naming patterns, close proximity of family members, and documented interactions spanning decades.

No credible alternative spouse has ever been identified for Rebecca Poythress despite extensive research. The use of maiden names in legal documents at that time was common and doesn’t negate the marriage.

Genealogy research often requires piecing together fragmented records and weighing both direct and circumstantial evidence. Here, the weight of evidence overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that Rebecca Poythress married Richard Pace, Jr.

Rejecting this conclusion demands an alternative explanation equally consistent with all the known facts—one which has not been presented. Until such evidence appears, it’s reasonable and responsible to accept this well-supported conclusion.”

Artificial Intelligence's Response to Skeptics Regarding the Marriage of Rebecca Poythress and Richard Pace, Jr.

While it is understandable that some may seek an explicit marriage record as definitive proof, it is crucial to recognize the historical context in which Rebecca Poythress and Richard Pace lived. Records from the late 17th and early 18th centuries are often incomplete, lost, or never created, especially in frontier and rural regions.

In lieu of a direct marriage license or church record, this study relies on a thorough analysis of original deeds, property transfers, family relationships, and documented interactions spanning several decades. These multiple, independent lines of evidence collectively build a compelling case for the marriage.

The consistent presence of Rebecca Poythress’ closest relatives within Rebecca Pace’s family circle, the pattern of land ownership and inheritance, and the absence of any viable alternative husband candidate, all point strongly to the same conclusion. Furthermore, the use of maiden names in legal documents during this period does not contradict the existence of a marriage; it was a common legal practice rather than evidence of single status.

Rejecting the conclusion that Rebecca Poythress married Richard Pace demands an alternative explanation that is equally comprehensive and consistent with the full range of known facts—such an explanation has not been presented despite extensive research.

Therefore, until compelling contrary evidence emerges, it is both reasonable and academically responsible to accept the well-supported conclusion that Rebecca Poythress and Richard Pace, Jr. were indeed married.

What does AI Say Regarding Avent's & Howard's Stand on the Rebecca Poythress/Richard Pace Marriage?

Researchers like David Avent and Bruce Howard argued there was never a marriage, citing deeds from 1711 and 1721 that they interpreted to imply no marriage took place. 

Summary: Was there a marriage?

The preponderance of evidence—including circumstantial documentation, land deeds, family proximity, and several genealogical compilations—strongly suggests that Rebecca Poythress did marry Richard Pace, and that this union produced multiple children.

M. R. Tutor’s summarization at symbolismoversubstance.blogspot.com directly challenges the earlier conclusions made by Avent and Howard, and supports Tutor’s position with stronger documentary evidence. Let’s break this down clearly:

Background on the Dispute

Genealogists David Avent and Bruce Howard argued against a marriage between Rebecca Poythress and Richard Pace, using a 1711 abstract as their key evidence. They claimed that since Rebecca and Ann were involved in land deeds in their maiden names, they must have been unmarried at the time.

Tutor’s Rebuttal Using the Full 1711 Deed

Tutor had access to the full original deed, which tells a very different story than the abstract used by Avent & Howard. Here's what the complete document shows:

The 1711 Deed Details (Based on Tutor's Findings)

Grantor: Rebecca Bartholomew (mother of Rebecca Poythress & Ann Bartholomew)
Grantees:
Ann Bartholomew – granted 200 acres, to be received upon the death of their parents, suggesting a recent marriage and no children at the time
Wording: The 200 acres to Ann were given “for her and their use,” referring to Ann and her husband Burrell Green, making it explicit that Ann was already married in 1711.

Rebecca Poythress – granted 300 acres immediately, indicating she was already married and had children

Timing Implications:

Rebecca was married before 1711 and likely had multiple children
Ann’s marriage to Burrell Green was recent, and she had no children at the time

1721 Deed of Sale – Further Confirmation

When Ann Green (née Bartholomew) sold her 200 acres in 1721:
The deed included her husband Burrell Green
Francis Poythress (Ann’s half-brother) also signed off
Since Ann had no children, Francis—as her closest heir—needed to release potential claims, ensuring the new buyer received a clear title.

Why This Refutes Avent & Howard

They relied only on an abstract, which left out key relational details and legal context
The full deed proves both daughters were married—which was missed in the abstract
It also shows Rebecca received her land outright, aligning with her status as a mother and long-married woman
The structure and timing of the land transactions support Tutor’s conclusion that Rebecca Poythress was already married to Richard Pace by 1711

Conclusion: A Strong Case for Marriage

Tutor’s use of the original deed offers definitive documentary support for:
Rebecca Poythress being already married to Richard Pace in 1711
Rebecca and Ann both receiving land in ways consistent with married women's property rights under English colonial law
The presence of Francis Poythress on the 1721 deed confirming familial relationships and inheritance practices
In short, this undermines earlier skepticism and adds credible weight to the conclusion that Rebecca Poythress did marry Richard Pace, likely well before 1711.

More Rebecca Poythress Pace Relationships - Henry, Lee, Goodrich, Durham

The Poythress – Henry Family Connection

Major Francis Poythress and John Poythress were brothers whose descendants included a number of influential leaders in colonial Virginia. Rebecca Poythress, daughter of Major Francis Poythress, and Robert Poythress, son of John, were first cousins. Robert’s daughter Elizabeth Poythress, Rebecca’s first cousin once removed, married John Gilliam. Their son, John Gilliam, Jr., married Jane Henry, who was first cousin twice removed to Rebecca Poythress.

Jane Henry Gilliam and Patrick Henry, the famed orator, were first cousins. Jane was the daughter of Reverend Patrick Henry, who was the orator’s uncle. This marriage connected the Poythress family with the Henry family, two of the most prominent of Virginia’s most colonial families.

The Lee – Poythress Connection

Richard “Squire” Lee of Lee Hall, Westmoreland County, Virginia, married Sally Bland Poythress, daughter of Peter Poythress of “Branchester.” Richard was the son of Henry Lee I and Mary Bland. The Lee family was one of Virginia's most powerful dynastic lineages.

Richard’s brother, Henry Lee II, married Lucy Grymes and were the parents of Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee III, the Revolutionary War general and Virginia governor. Henry Lee III’s first marriage was to his second cousin Matilda Lee, daughter of Philip Ludwell Lee. This united two major branches of the Lee family, both descending from Richard Lee I, the immigrant ancestor. Matilda’s line came through Philip Ludwell Lee, Thomas Lee, and ultimately Richard Lee I. Henry Lee III’s second marriage was to Anne Hill Carter and produced Robert E. Lee, the famed Confederate general. Richard “Squire” Lee and Sally Bland Poythress, were the great-uncle and aunt of Robert E. Lee.

On the Poythress side, Sally Bland Poythress was descended through Peter Poythress, Robert Poythress, John Poythress, and Captain Francis Poythress, one of the early settlers and the patriarch of the family in colonial Virginia. Rebecca Poythress, daughter of Major Francis Poythress, descended from Captain Francis Poythress as well, through a different son, making Sally Bland Poythress and Rebecca Poythress first cousins once removed.

The marriage of Sally to Richard Lee tied the Poythress and Lee families together. Through their shared descent from Captain Francis Poythress, Sally and Rebecca were blood relatives. And through the Lee brothers Henry and Richard, both were connected to the lineage that produced Robert E. Lee.

The Goodrich – Poythress Family Connection

The Goodrich family of colonial Virginia and early Texas history were connected through marriage to the Wynne and Poythress families. Descendants of the Goodrich family were Benjamin Briggs Goodrich, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and his brother John C. Goodrich, who fought and died at the Alamo. Benjamin Briggs Goodrich was the son of John Goodrich, Sr., who was the son of Briggs Goodrich and Mary Camp. Briggs Goodrich was the son of Edward Goodrich, Jr., and Anne Briggs and Edward was the son of Edward Goodrich, Sr., and Margaret Wynne.

Margaret Wynne was the daughter of Joshua Wynne, who was the son of Robert Wynne, a prominent figure who served as Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses. Margaret’s mother, Mrs. Mary Poythress, first married Captain Francis Poythress, with whom she had Major Francis Poythress, the father of Rebecca Poythress. After Captain Poythress’ death, Mary married Robert Wynne and had Joshua Wynne, thereby making Major Francis Poythress and Joshua Wynne half-brothers.

This lineage means that Margaret Wynne Goodrich and Rebecca Poythress were half first cousins, sharing their grandmother Mary Poythress but descended from different paternal lines. The Goodrich brothers, Benjamin Briggs and John C. were related, albeit somewhat distantly, to Rebecca Poythress Pace through this familial connection, first cousins four times removed.

Benjamin Briggs Goodrich and his brother, John C., left Virginia for Texas, where Benjamin signed the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 3rd, 1836, while John had gone to the Alamo where he fought Santa Anna’s army under Colonel William Barrett Travis until the fall of the Alamo on March 6th, both of the brothers having played pivotal roles in early Texas history.

Matthew Durham and George Washington

Matthew Durham married Susannah Lindsey on November 21, 1752, in Granville County, North Carolina. He was a soldier under 22 year old, Lt. Colonel George Washington, who was the commander of the regiment of 293 officers & men at the Battle of Fort Necessity, otherwise known as the Battle of the Great Meadows, in present day Fayette County, Pennsylvania, that took place on July 3, 1754. On May 28, six days earlier, they were involved in a skirmish at the Battle of Jumonville Glen. 

The Battle at Fort Necessity began the French and Indian War. Matthew was wounded during the battle. John Durham was also in the Virginia Regiment. It is unknown at present how John and Matthew were related. This is the only battle in which Washington ever surrendered. The French and Indians numbered 800 and Washington’s force had no shelter from the pouring rain, making it impossible to load their weapons with dry powder. The French were able to use the forestation of the nearby woods to keep their powder dry.

Annie Jane Durham, Matthew’s 3rd great granddaughter, was a 5th great granddaughter of Rebecca Poythress Pace.

The Legacy of Bartlett Leonidas Durham and the City of Durham, North Carolina

Bartlett Leonidas Durham (1824–1859), was a physician and landowner best remembered as the namesake of Durham, North Carolina. He contributed four acres of his land for the expansion of the railroad transportation infrastructure, a pivotal role in the birth and growth of the city that bears his name.

His great-grandparents, Matthew Durham and Susannah Lindsey, established the family’s roots in the Piedmont region. Their son, William Lindsey Durham, married Nancy Ann Cates, and their son, William Lindsey Durham, Jr., and wife, Mary Snipes had son, Bartlett Leonidas Durham, a doctor and land owner in eastern Orange County, now Durham County, in North Carolina.

In 1847 or 1848, Bartlett Durham bought approximately 100 acres of land between the communities of Prattsburg and Pinhook along the proposed route of the North Carolina Railroad. The property included part of his estate that he named “Pandora’s Box.” He donated four acres of his land in 1849 to the railroad company. This land became the site of a small depot that was named “Durham’s Station” in his honor.

Bartlett Durham died in 1859, a full decade before the city was officially incorporated in 1869. As the area grew, the name, "Durham," came to represent not only a train stop but an entire community. He was buried in Wake County but was later reinterred in Maplewood Cemetery in Durham with honors, in recognition of his foundational contribution to the city’s history.