William MACE seems to be a common name around the 1800s, especially around the Dorset area, although there are a few around all of England. This particular William MACE is related to me on my father's side. William is my Gt Gt Grandfather's brother. My Gt Gt Grandfather was Septimus MACE also born Weymouth, Dorset, England.

William MACE
Born: 1809 in Weymouth, Dorset, England
Baptised: 16 Apr 1809 in Weymouth, Dorset, England
Died: 1898 Shaftesbury, Dorset, England
Buried: 9 Feb 1898 Shaftesbury, Dorset, England

Born the middle child (4 of 7) to Edward MACE & Francis (Fanny) BEALE, he was born in Weymouth, Dorset, England. This is where he seems to have spent most of his life, like most people in this particular century. The great thing about these ancesters living in Dorset is that the Dorset records are particularly good on Ancestry.com, so I'm able to find actual baptism, marriage and burial dates. Which definitely helps with timelines.

Edward MACE (1778/1851) & Fanny BEALE (1780/1858) married on 22 Jan 1801 in the Melcombe Regis parish in Dorset. They had the following children which I have found.
-- Elizabeth Beale Mace (b 1801)
-- Paul Mace (b1802)
-- Edward Mace (1805/1887)
-- William Mace (1809/1898)
-- Frederick William Mace (1810/1890)
-- George Augustis Mace (1812/1901)
-- Septimus Mace (1814/1872) (my Gt Gt Grandfather) Family moved to New Zealand

One thing noticable for all the Mace's that I have death dates for, they lived long lives. Septimus died on a boat, so I wonder if he would have lived longer had there been better medical treatment available. Who knows.

Elizabeth DUNFORD
Born: 1817 in Wyke Regis, Dorset, England
Baptised: 20 Jul 1817 in Wyke Regis, Dorset, England
Died: Jul 1850 Wyke Regis, Dorset, England
Buried: 12 Jul 1850 Wyke Regis, Dorset, England

Elizabeth was born to Parents Robert DUNFORD and Catherine PARSONS. They were married on 28 August 1816, both from the parish of Weymouth, they were married by BANNS in Wyke Regis, Dorset. Witness' were John Parsons & Ann Parsons.


William married Elizabeth Dunford on 19 Aug 1838 in Alton Pancras, Dorset. At the time of their wedding, William was a Watch Maker & Elizabeth had no profession. William's father Edward was a Gentleman and Elizabeth's father was a Master Mariner. The witnesses to their marriage were Sophia L??? and Jonathan POPLE. Unfortunately for William and Elizabeth their marriage would not make 15 years. Elizabeth died in 1850 from an unknown cause. Will need to get death certificate to see if reason is noted. She had just given birth to Jane Dunford MACE and considering how close the baptism of Jane and the burial of Elizabeth I would hazard a guess and say she died of complications from child birth.

William Mace Family Time Line

1809 William is born in Weymouth Dorset

1817 Elizabeth is born in Wyke Regis, Dorset

1838 Willam & Elizabeth are married

1839 Louisa MACE is born in Melcombe Regis, Dorset
- baptised on the 3 March 1839 in the Melcombe Regis parish in Dorset.
- William's occupation noted on Louisa's Dorset birth record is Watch maker

1840 William Frederik MACE is born in Melcombe Regis, Dorset
- baptised on the 10 Jun 1840 in the Melcombe Regis parish in Dorset.
- William's occupation noted on William Frederick's Dorset birth record is Watch maker
- William Frederick dies in 1904 in Thakeham, Sussex aged 64.

1841 CENSUS
- Wiliam & his family are living in Spring Terrace, Wyke Regis Dorset
-- William, Elizabeth, Louisa & William

1850 Jane Dunford MACE is born in Melcombe Regis, Dorset
- baptised on the insert in the Melcombe Regis parish in Dorset.
- Jane Dunford Wightman died on the 3 April 1911 living at 26 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset. Her husband is noted as a gorcer in the probate record.

1850 Elizabeth dies leaving a very young family behind for William to care for. Jane Dunford is baptised just days after Elizabeth is buried. It may be that Elizabeth died in child birth.


1851 CENSUS
- I can not find the Mace family in the 51 Census

1861 CENSUS
- Louisa is a pauper living in a work house (Elizabeth Beale is also living in the work house, this may or may not be Louisa's Gt Grandmother on her fathers side)
- Jane is boarding at James & Sarah Parson's house. They have a daughter the same age, and they are part of the same parish that William & Elizabeth belonged too. It is quite likely they took Jane in when Elizabeth died as Sarah would have been feeding her daughter Elizabeth. I believe, but need to verify, James is likely a cousin of Elizabeth Dunsford, on her mother's side. Would need to view the 1851 census to confirm that Jane is at the Parson's just after being born.

16 Jun 1864 Louisa dies at the age of 25 and is buried on this date.

1871 CENSUS