Author: Pace, James
Biography:
PACE, James (b 1762 : ancestry.co.uk)
When his poems were published in 1804, he was a gardener for the Cunningham family at Lainshaw House, Ayrshire. One of his poems indicates he had previously worked for Baron Rutherford. He was likely born on 3 Sept. 1762 (baptised 5 Sept.) at Kelso, Roxburghshire, to Andrew and Helen (Hope) Pace. He was married but the name of his wife is unknown. In 1802 the Scots Magazine published his poem to Burns’s memory and gave notice of the publication by subscription of his book, describing him as a “strong-minded, self-educated man who…has made himself master of music, mechanics, and many other branches of information.” Walter Scott (q.v.) and his wife both subscribed. Pace is recorded as living in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh, in the 1841 Census. He died in Edinburgh and was buried on 23 July 1843. (ancestry.co.uk 17 June 2020, 5 Feb. 2025; findmypast.co.uk 5 Feb. 2025; Scots Magazine 64 [1802]) SR