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Since my last post I have now discovered the connection to Jem Mace.
My Great great grandfather, William Jackman, married for a second
time to Caroline Hart in about 1860. My research shows me that the
mother of Caroline was Annie RUDD who I believe was the mother of
Jem Mace.
MAUREEN
BROWN, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Having
started researching our family tree we have come across the 91Èȱ¬
Norfolk website with the two articles on Jem Mace – very interesting
indeed. Having plotted out much of the family tree, I can see that
Jem Mace was my Great x3 grandfather! Jem Mace had a son Albert
Mace, who in turn had three children – Eileen, Alfred Henry and
John Farnham. Eileen married an art critic, Thomas Shepherd, and
they had three children - Neil, Theo and Eileen. Alfred Henry married
Hetty, and they had one daughter – Suzette. I believe that a daughter
of Suzette – Charlotte – has already written into you and is mentioned
on your website. Lastly, John Farnham married Minnie Portbury Bailey,
and they had one son – Denis Farnham Mace. Denis is my Grandfather,
and can clearly remember Jem Mace’s son – Alfred. We are still working
on the family tree, and would love to hear from others doing likewise.
Equally, if we can help any one else in any way we will. I would
like to be able to contact Charlotte, whose mother was my Grandfather’s
sister. My e-mail address is enquirieshmp@aol.com.
MARTIN FARNHAM MACE, WEST SUSSEX
I
would like to try and clear up a puzzle. Many years ago my mother
showed me a newspaper cutting of Jem Mace and along the edge of
the page, whoever sent the cutting had written that he was some
form of relation.
My
mother always said that to know where you are going you need to
know where you come from. So I started the research. Mother was
born in Bradford and her father was born in Rotherham and the name
was Wyett. Great-grandfather Alfred was born in Beeston, Norfolk,
and I have since discovered that the name can still be found in
the village. One name related to the Wyett name is Keith Skipper
who I spoke to some years back. Other names in my family tree from
Beeston are Stimpson, Orton, Capps, Sainty, Moore, Ritta, Stannard
and Barringer. Now, is there anyone out there who can shed light
on the relationship to Jem Mace or the Wyett family?
I believe my great-grandfather left Beeston under the impression
he had injured his father in a fight when he was around 18, in one
of the local public houses they ran. This could have been The Ploughshare,
as Henry Wyett ran this pub in 1865-1900 with his wife Elizabet
and I think Elizabeth continued until 1904.
I think Henry was my great-grandfather's brother and I know that
the name Wyett is a very old name in the village, as one burial
I found there was of a Henry and Elizabeth and he was born in 1791.
I also believe the Wyett family were all coaching house and farm
workers working with horses. I would be very grateful for any information.
DEREK
SMITH, BRADFORD, WEST YORKS
Finding
the possibility of having a distant relation to such a great boxer
as Jem Mace (my great, great, great Grandfather) is quite to an
inspiration to celebrate and encourage the research of a family
history.
I would encourage genealogy to everyone as people long forgotten
about can be remembered and documented for generations to come.
TONY
CRYER, MANCHESTER
Jem
Mace was my grandad's great grandad - that's what my grandad told
when I was a lad.
JASON MACE, BARNSLEY
Reading
all the stories about Jem Mace, nobody seems to relate him to Norwich.
I was always of the opinion that Jem Mace, the boxer, came from
Norwich, but I can't find confirmation. I'm a boxing coach in Australia
and it appears he developed an unusual boxing style that has gone
down the tree with a few boxers and won world titles. If anyone
can help me further, I would be forever grateful.
PO Box 1962, Southport 4215, Queensland, Australia. Email: palmerboxingclub@yahoo.com.au
NEIL
MCINTYRE, GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA
I
am a distant relation of Jem Mace - something like my mum's grandad's
grandad's grandad, or something like that. I just want to find out
as much about him as possible to discover my family's Past. Thanks
Stuart Parsons (mother Sandra Mace) parsonz69@hotmail.com
STUART
PARSONS, SOUTH OCKENDON, ESSEX
Hello
Mace family. My name is Matthew Delaney, my grandfather was George
Mace apparently quite a direct relation to Jem Mace, but I personally
couldn't say for sure. I'm sure that some of you guys must have
some Mace family trees and would be very interested to see where
our family would join into it.
My
grandad, George had some brothers, Cecil and Bill are two of them
I think. My email is Matthew.Delaney@postgrad.umist.ac.uk
if anyone can help. I find all of this very interesting, I'm sure
the internet has helped a lot with the hunting down of relatives.
MATTHEW
DELANEY, MANCHESTER
In
the town of Kenner, Louisiana, which is a suburb of New Orelans,
USA, there is a lifesize bronze statue of Jem Mace and Tom Allen.
Jem fought Allen in 1870 in Kenner since prize fighting evidently
wasn't allowed in New Orleans proper.
The
prize was $10,000 and was won in 10 rounds by Jem using a straight
left. Jem was quoted as saying, "The right hand should be used once
in a fight - to finish it". It also was allegedly the first time
that the title "World Champion" was used.
Although
my family name is Mace I don't know of a connection to Jem Mace.
The family name Mace probably came to England from Normandy when
Seigneur Le Ferte Mace and troops attacked England in 1066 with
William the Conquerer. Possibly some of the Seigneur's men adopted
the name Mace when surnames were established throughout England.
Comments?
BILL MACE, HUTTO, TEXAS, USA
My
grandmother born Suzette Mace was a direct descendant of Jem Mace,
he was her great grandfather. My uncle has a huge archive of family
pictures and historical data relating to him, and has done extensive
genealogical research into his 'antics'.
CLAIRE
BROWN, SOMERSET
I
am a descendent of Jem Mace. My Grandmother was Matilda, nee Mace,
and my Dad told me that Jem Mace was her Grandfather. Unfortunately,
my Dad doesn't know much else about the family history. Matilda
had a number of brothers, but I only know one name: Charklie Mace.
I have a book (which I haven't yet read) called "In Memoriam - Jem
Mace - his life story told by Himself" presented by Peter McInnes.
Apparently, Jem produced a number of children, but didn't talk about
them much!
MICK
FREED, CHESSINGTON
After
reading about Jem Mace on your website it prompted me to ask if
anyone has heard of a bare knuckle fighter called Henry Bond who
it is said was the champion of Norfolk - he was born 1854 in Downham
Market but this was not his real name just the name he fought under.
Any info would be welcome.
BERYL
BUSHELL, LEEDS
My
Grandad is a relation of the late boxer Jem Mace and we are trying
to find out exactly how he would've been related to him. My Grandad's
name is Henry Stannard (born 1928), his father was also Henry Stannard
and his parents (i.e.. my Grandad's grandparents) were Henry Stannard
and Mary Mace. We know that Jem Mace was born in Beeston, Norfolk
on 8 April 1831 and was one of four brothers. What I am trying to
find out is how Mary Mace was related to him. I think she may've
been his great-granddaughter, but we are trying to find the missing
links between Mary and Jem Mace. I look forward to hearing from
anyone with any pointers/information, it would be much appreciated.
MANDY
HARRINGTON, KENT
My
great grandmother's name was Caroline Mace (1885-1963), daughter
of William Mace (1846-????) and niece to Jem Mace (1831-1910). I
would be interested in hearing from others from the same blood line.
DAVID
HALL, CRANEBROOK
I
believe I am related to Jem Mace. I am directly descended from a
James Mace whose daughter Margaret Mace married James Hainsworth
in Bradford in 1878. Jem was reportedly Margaret's Uncle. I would
welcome more information on them or the Stamp family who also came
from Norfolk.
HEATHER
STAMP, WESTON-SUPER-MARE
Hello,
just a quick note to tell you that my bloodline is related to
Jem Mace. My granddad Frank Murray married Emily Mace - her
father was Arthur Thomas Mace. Arthur also had a brother called
Oliver Mace.
DANIEL
MURRAY, LEICESTER
Although
my Mace relations come from North Walsham - my grandfather Cecil
lived all his life there 1900 to 1997 - I'm interested in other
Maces. I have found the young Jem Mace in the 1851 census, staying
in Norwich as follows: Address: Timberhill Street, St John Timberhill,
Norwich James MACE /Lodger/Unmarried/Age 19 Occupation: Musician
Born: Beeston, Norfolk PRO Reference: HO/107/1814 Folio:106
Page:8
KATHRYN
RUSSEL, BRIGHTON
This
is very interesting finding Jem Mace mentioned - only yesterday
I found out that Jem was related to my great-grandmother, Matilda
Jackman, born in Great Yarmouth in 1852. I believe her parents
had a pub called The Old George. Does anyone know of Matilda's
relationship to Jem, or the Old George pub.
MAUREEN
BROWN, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
I
have been researching the Mace family history for a long time and
they are certainly an interesting bunch. My great-grandfather James
William Hutson Mace was the son of James Mace, Jem's uncle. Any
information on this elusive chap would be gratefully received. Jem's
youngest uncle Barney married into a Romany clan about which much
is written.
Jem
spent a great deal of time in their company, and his association
with this clan and the itinerant lifestyle which arose from touring
with his boxing booth gave rise to the notion that he was of gypsy
blood. It is an academic point, but I have no evidence that he was.
Jem had a rather complex personal life which makes for great research
as you never know what you are going to find next.
At
the present time I have information on three wives, a mistress,
ten children, various arrests and a couple of bankruptcies. Perhaps
unsurprisingly none of this is mentioned in his book!!! Jem was
also extremely widely travelled. He spent a number of years in Australia
where he ran various businesses, and he went backwards and forwards
to the USA extremely frequently - he was clearly fond of it, and
a lot of his associates settled there.
At
the time of his death Jem was on a boxing tour of Durham. Despite
his great skill in the ring, and the amazing drive he showed in
all of his business ventures he was still working aged 79 and died
a poor man. I have hardly scratched the surface of this extraordinary
character, and would be interested to make contact with any fellow
enthusiasts or relatives.
CHRIS
SHAW, EAST SUSSEX
There
is a wall plaque in Swan Lane, Norwich, which states "JEM MACE 1831
- 1910 World Champion Pugilist. Landlord of the Swan Tavern which
formerly stood here".
JEAN LOIZOU, WATTON
Hi
there,
I followed Look East's story about Mr. Gorman and the Merseyside
people's efforts to fund a gravestone to remember Jem Mace,
the World Champion Bare Knuckle Fighter, and the name rang a
bell!
My father was a boxing fan and read about the bare knuckle fighters
of old. I'm sorry that I had not shared in his enthusiasm. When
he died in 1965 I found a collection of reports of fights in
the 1800's published by Charles Fox of Shoe Lane, Fleet Street
at a price of one penny per copy. There
are reports of many famous fights, round by round, and 'woodcut'
pictures of the contestants.
Jem Mace (without a moustache) is featured displaying his trophies
and there are reports of his fights with Tom King, Bob Brettle,
Sam Hurst, Joe Goss and Bill Thorpe.
The comprehensive reports of the lengthy bouts make fascinating
reading, particularly the colourful phrasing in use at the time.
At one point, mention is made of his ability with the violin
and the fact that he was known as the Swaffham Gypsy.
No doubt, Mr. Gorman will have a great deal more reading matter
than that contained in these penny articles but I wanted him
to know that reading them had given me some pleasure.
REGARDS,
TED (aged 80)
I've
just heard the report about the unmarked grave of James (Jem)
Mace and thought I'd drop a line to tell you the Mace name is
still alive and well and living in Norfolk (not barefist boxing
you'll be glad to know). My name is Julie Mace, daughter of
Trevor Mace who is grandson to Jem's cousin. It's a distant
link but the name goes on.
JULIE
MACE
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