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.