William Henry Pace Sr (abt. 1745 - 1815)

Born about 10 Oct 1745 in Goochland, Goochland, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 21 Oct 1815 at about age 70 in Scott, Virginia, United States

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Biography

William Pace was born 10 October 1745 at Goochland, Colony of Virginia.^{[citation needed]} He was the son of John H. Pace (abt.1721-1790) and Susannah (Houchin) Pace (1723-1809). ^[1]

His first wife was Elizabeth Newsome Wade.^{[citation needed]} They had one child:

Elizabeth Sarah (Pace) Ivins (1771-)

His 2nd marriage was to Mary Ann (Winegar) Pace (abt.1749-1815).^{[citation needed]} They had seven children:

Joseph Pace (abt.1776-1855)

Nancy (Pace) Bellomy (1778-1862)

Susannah (Pace) Evans (abt.1780-abt.1863)

Elisha ca. 1783

Margery ca. 1788

Edward Neddie Pace (1790-1874)

William Pace Jr. (abt.1795-)

He acquired land in Scott County, Virginia on a grant to Revolutionary soldiers.^{[citation needed]}

William Pace passed by 21 October 1815 at Scott County, Virginia, United States. ^[2]

Military Service

Sergeant William Pace Sr served with Commander-in-Chief's Guard, Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Revolutionary war patriot and military guard for George Washington for 7 years!

He enlisted in the 14th Virginia Regiment commanded by Colonel Lewis on January 23, 1777. Because of his outstanding performance and character, Pace was recommended for assignment to George Washington's Commander-in-Chief's Guard.

Each regiment from Virginia sent four men that were to be interviewed by George Washington himself for the Guard. They were not to appear in uniform as George Washington wanted to see what they looked like in everyday clothes. The candidates had to be between 5 ft. 9" and 5 ft. l0" tall. Additional requirements included neatness of appearance, good character, married, a land-owner, and a sober man with good character. In May of 1777, William Pace was transferred from the 14th Virginia Regiment to the Commander-in-Chief's Guard. William Pace's enlistment was up six weeks after Valley Forge where he spent that terrible winter. However, he reenlisted for the duration of the War. William Pace remained in the army after the Battle of Yorktown in October,1781,until he was discharged in Newburgh, New York, in November of l783.

Although he was furloughed home after the Paris Peace Treaty on June 5th, 1783, he and the other troops would have returned if the British had tried to start the war again. There is much evidence to support the fact that the British were plotting to retake the Colonies.

Several documents from the United States Archives show information through monthly Company Muster Rolls and other documentation. Another good source for this information about William Pace is the 100-year-old book by Carlos E. Godfrey entitled Commander-in-Chief's Guard.

William pace's battles are enumerated in Mr. Godfrey's book, and also on p. 332 of the Casey book. The battles he participated in are as follows:

1. Morristown, New Jersey, May 6, 1777
2. Sick in Hospital, June and July, 1777
3. Battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777
4. Battle of Germantown, Pa., October 4, 1777
5. Battle of Monmouth, New Jersey, June 28, 1778
6. Reenlisted and furloughed one hundred and ten days, January 18, 1779
7. Rejoined September 1, 1779
8. Battle of Connecticut Farms, New Jersey, June 7, 1780
9. Skirmish of King's Bridge, New York, July 3, 1781
10. Battle of Yorktown, Virginia, October 19, 1781
11. Promoted to Sergeant, June 4, 1783
12. Furloughed Newburgh, New York, June 6, 1783 until the ratification of the definite Treaty of Peace
13. Discharged November 3, 1783

A biography of George Washington in THE ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA lists the battles of George Washington during the Revolution, and every battle that George Washington was in after William Pace joined the Guard, William Pace was there, also.

Washington's Guards not only guarded George Washington's person and his papers, but they also fought in the battles, many times on the front lines.

Oaths of Allegiance - 1777 Pittsylvania County, VA copy done by Cynthia Hubbard Headen source: The Magazine of VA Genealogy, v.23, #1 (Feb.1985), transcribed by Marian Dodson Chiarito.

These lists were taken from a typewritten copy found in the Clerk's Office, Pittsylvania County, at Chatham, Virginia. The two following affidavits found attached to the copy are self- explanatory.

I, S. H. F. Jones, do hereby certify that about the year 1930 I personally copied and had checked the names of persons who took the oath of Allegiance in 1777 as shown by manuscripts then in the Clerk's Office of Pittsylvania County, Virginia. The writing was faded and a few names could not be deciphered. Every effort was made to transcribe the names as they appeared on the manuscripts. The names of the foregoing Lists are a true and correct copy of the aforesaid manuscripts to the best of my knowledge and belief. The lists were also checked by Mr. Langhorne Jones, atty. Given under my hand and seal this 8th day of November, 1939. S. H. F. Jones (Seal)

State of Virginia Pittsylvania County, To-wit: I, E. E. Friend, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, the same being a Court of Record, do hereby certify that Mrs. S. H. F. Jones whose name is signed to the foregoing writing bearing date 8th day of November 1939, personally appeared before me in my county, Office and State aforesaid and made oath that the foregoing statements are true to the best of her knowledge and belief. Given under my hand this 8th Nov. 1939. E. E. Friend Clerk Pittsylvania Circuit Court Chatham, VA

Children Listed in DAR Record

William Pace Sr is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A085538.

1. Edward m. Susannah Foster
2. Margery m. GEORGE WASHINGTON WINEINGER
3. William m. ELIZABETH WININGER
4. Elisha m. MARTHA PATSY JOHNSON
5. Susannah m. JACKSON BELLOMY, TARLTON EVANS
6. Nancy m. JAMES BELLAMY

Sources

1. ↑ William Pace was a defendant in a lawsuit to settle the estate of John Pace; Chancery Court of Goochland file #1816-040, Virginia 24 August 1809
2. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 26 October 2021), memorial page for William Henry Pace (10 Oct 1745–21 Oct 1815), Find A Grave: Memorial #22214884, citing Jones Cemetery, Scott County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by Mander (contributor 47110820).

See Also:

• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/), "Record of William Pace", Ancestor # A085538.
• FamilySearch profile of William Henry Pace

Acknowledgements

• Created by: Dee Billings-Gonzales Record added: Nov 28, 2011
• Created by Colleen Greene, Apr 5, 2012