Jane Smith wife of Leapolous Mace

 Jane Smith was born about 1849 in St Alborns, Herefordshire, England

Death Living

She died on Jun 4, 1914 in Cumberland, Cumberland, North Carolina, United States




Her parents were Ambrose Smith 1806-1879
and Sanspareil Heron Born about 1800.

 Her Grandparents were:
 Ferdinand Smith

• B: 1785 –D: March 11, 1826 in captivity Portsmouth Hampshire

• Morella "Amaryllis" Smith

  B:1787 – 1854

Ferdinand Smith was put to death.
The cause is listed as burglary. It appears he was with a group who stole sheep and cows. One of the men was Lewis Boswell. Below are photos from the prison that list what he did and state that he got the death penalty.

Morella Smith, widow of Ferdinand Smith, 1854 inquest

From The Ipswich Journal, 3 June 1854:

WOODBRIDGE

INQUISITION. By Mr. Woods Coroner. – On Thursday last, at Grundisburgh, on the body of Amaryllis Smith, widow, aged 70 years. It appears that the tribe of gipsies frequenting this and the neighbouring counties, to which she had for many years been attached, arrived at Grundisburgh on Monday last, and pitched their tents in an orchard at the back of the Half Moon Inn. One of  their women being ill Mr. Acton attended her, and on that occasion saw Mrs. Smith in good health. On Wednesday afternoon, she was heard in her tent making a rattling noise in her throat; it was shortly repeated, when her daughter rushed into the tent just in time to catch her when falling. She was unable to speak and insensible. Mr. Acton was sent for and was speedily on the spot, but she died a few minutes after his arrival. His examination being to the effect that she died of serous apoplexy, the Jury were quite satisfied that her death was from natural causes; verdict accordingly.

Morella Smith – recorded here and on her death certificate as ‘Amaryllis’ – was the wife of Ferdinand (aka Faden John) Smith [reference A2 in the Borrow's Gypsies family tree elsewhere on this site]. The couple were married in 1803 in Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk. She was the mother of Ambrose Smith, George Borrow’s ‘Jasper Petulengro’ (c1804-1878) [B8] and must have been known to Borrow, if his description of his first encounter with Jasper and his parents at Norman Cross near Peterborough is fact rather than fiction. The daughter mentioned in the newspaper report is Elizabeth Smith  who gave evidence at her mother’s inquest, where her surname is recorded in her statement as ‘Buckland’.

Jane married Leapolous Mace on Jan 19, 1874 in Durham England. She was 25 years old.

Jane and Leapolous had 4 children:

Madonna Mace B: Oct 28, 1876 in Camp Deebank, Kincardinshire Scotland.

She died Jan 13, 1916 in Asheville, North Carolina.

In 1910 the census says Madonna is 34 years old and living in Brooklyn New York,

with her husband Gustavus Middleton and their 6 children. Living next door is her Father Leapolous, Mother Jane and Brother Augustus who was 27 at the time.

Madonna and Gus had twin girls Violet and Bertha. This picture of them appeared in the newspaper along with an article about their grandfather Pooley Mace.

	Herbert Mace Born 1878   Herbert married Minnie Tyler and they have 6 children Sydney Polley Mace 1903 – 1986 Herbert Mace 1907 – 1997 Alfred Mace 1908 –  Earle Mace 1914 –  Bertram Mace 1916 – 2009                                                 Wilhelmina Mace                                                1917 –

	Augustus Mace Born August 31, 1880 in a tent on Littledenny Farm, Denny Stirlingshire, Scotland.                  Death 1939 in Cumberland, North Carolina, United States Draft Card For Augustus Mace Sept 12, 1918. Photograph of an aristocratic group, one of several photographs copyrighted by Augustus Mace. Originals in the National Archives. He also photographed the Prince of Wales and Queen Alexandra and these photos are in the National Archives. Apparently he was a well known photographer!
	Melbourne Mace Born in Scotland in Dec. 5, 1880.
	Melbourne Mace Residence Year: 1917 Street address: 525 S Adams Residence Place: Petersburg, Virginia Occupation: Salesman Publication Title: Petersburg, Virginia, City Directory, 1917

This is a copy of Melbourne's Draft Card September 12, 1918.