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{{Short description|Pardoned accessory to an 1843 Canadian murder}}
{{Disputed}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name =
| image = Grace Marks and James McDermott Sketches.jpg
| alt = A sketch of Marks alias "Mary Whitney" and James McDermott
| caption = A sketch of Marks alias "Mary Whitney" and James McDermott at their trial
| birth_date = c. 1828
| birth_place =
| death_date = after c. 1873
| death_place =
| nationality = Irish-Canadian
| other_names = Mary Whitney
| occupation = Maid
| years_active =
| known_for = Murder conviction
| notable_works =
}}


'''Grace Marks''' was an [[Upper Canada|Upper Canadian]] [[maid]] who was convicted in [[1843]] of murder in the death of her employer Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery. Her conviction was controversial, and sparked much debate about whether Marks was actually instrumental in the murder, or merely an unwitting accessory.
'''Grace Marks''' (c. 1828 – after c. 1873) was an [[Ireland|Irish]]-[[Province of Canada|Canadian]] [[maid]] who was involved in the 1843 murder of her employer Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery, in [[Richmond Hill, Ontario|Richmond Hill]], [[Ontario]]. Her conviction for the murder of Kinnear was controversial and sparked much debate about whether Marks was actually instrumental in the murder or merely an unwitting accessory. Marks was the subject of [[Margaret Atwood]]'s historical fiction novel ''[[Alias Grace]]'' and its adaptations in other media.


==Early life==
Marks was born and raised in [[Northern Ireland]], had 8 siblings, with another 3 who were stillborn. Marks's father was a stone mason, an alcoholic and abusive person. The family immigrated to Canada in 1840 when she was 12. Her mother died on the ship en route to Canada, and was buried at sea.
Marks was born and raised in [[Ulster]], [[Ireland]]. Her father, John Marks, was a stonemason and an abusive alcoholic. She, along with her parents and eight siblings, immigrated to [[Upper Canada]] in 1840, when Grace was twelve. Her mother died on the ship en route to Canada and was buried at sea.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wallace|first=Arminta|title=The story of the Irish 'murderess' behind 'Alias Grace'|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/the-story-of-the-irish-murderess-behind-alias-grace-1.3353581|access-date=2021-04-20|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}</ref>


==Murders==
In her murder trial, Marks was tried alongside James McDermott. Marks was put in an [[Psychiatric hospital|asylum]] and later a [[penitentiary]], while McDermott was [[hanging|hanged]]. After almost thirty years of incarceration, Marks was exonerated and moved to Northern [[New York]]. After that, all trace of her was lost.
Marks was employed as a maid in the house of [[Yonge Street]] farmer Thomas Kinnear, who was in a sexual relationship with his housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery. In July 1843, Kinnear and Montgomery were murdered by James McDermott, a servant.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Walton|first=George|date=1843|title=The Trials of James McDermott and Grace Marks at Toronto, Upper Canada, November 3rd and 4th, 1843, for the murder of Thomas Kinnear, esquire, and his housekeeper Nancy Montgomery|url=https://static.torontopubliclibrary.ca/da/pdfs/37131055310551d.pdf|access-date=July 23, 2021|website=Toronto Public Library}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Stamp |first1=Robert M. |chapter=The Kinnear Murder Case |url=http://edrh.rhpl.richmondhill.on.ca/default.asp?id=s6.3 |title=Early Days in Richmond Hill: A History of the Community to 1930 |publisher=Richmond Hill Public Library Board |archivedate=August 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803223903/http://edrh.rhpl.richmondhill.on.ca/default.asp?ID=s6.3}}</ref> Kinnear was shot and Montgomery, who was pregnant at the time of her death, was hit on the head with an axe and subsequently strangled before being dismembered and hidden under a large tub.<ref name=Smithsonian>{{cite web |last1=Katz |first1=Briget |title=The Mysterious Murder Case That Inspired Margaret Atwood's 'Alias Grace' |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/mysterious-murder-case-inspired-margaret-atwoods-alias-grace-180967045/ |website=Smithsonian Mag |accessdate=15 October 2018 |date=November 1, 2017}}</ref> Under the alias "Mary Whitney", Marks fled with McDermott to the U.S., but they were apprehended in [[Lewiston, New York]], and deported to Toronto. It remains unclear whether Marks took part in the double murder.<ref name=Smithsonian/>


Marks was tried with McDermott for the murder of Kinnear. A trial for Montgomery's murder was to follow, but was deemed unnecessary as both defendants were convicted of Kinnear's murder and sentenced to death. Before McDermott was hanged, he insisted that Marks was, "an evil genius who masterminded the double murder, then feigned mental illness in order to avoid the gallows".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wallace|first=Arminta|title=The story of the Irish 'murderess' behind 'Alias Grace'|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/the-story-of-the-irish-murderess-behind-alias-grace-1.3353581|access-date=2021-04-20|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}</ref> Marks's sentence, however, was commuted to life in prison which she served in [[Kingston Penitentiary]]. At one period (May 4, 1852 – August 18, 1853) she was committed to an asylum but was later returned to Kingston Penitentiary. In 1872, after almost thirty years of incarceration, Marks was pardoned and moved to [[upstate New York]]. After that she disappeared from the historical record.<ref name=Smithsonian/>
A number of theories were offered as to Marks' mental state: that she was simply pretending to have psychological problems to get into the asylum, that she had [[multiple personality disorder]], or that she was possessed by the consciousness of her deceased friend Mary Whitney. Another theory, controversial but supported by some evidence, was that ''Marks'' had died, not Whitney, and Whitney had adopted Marks' name and identity.


==Popular portrayal==
In [[1996]], author [[Margaret Atwood]] published a novel about Marks, ''[[Alias Grace]]''. In that novel's reviews, several critics pointed out eerie similarities between Marks and a more recently controversial Canadian murder convict, [[Karla Homolka]].
What is known of Marks on the historical record comes primarily from [[Susanna Moodie]]'s book ''Life in the Clearings Versus the Bush''. She is the subject of [[Margaret Atwood]]'s historical fiction novel ''[[Alias Grace]]'' and played by [[Sarah Gadon]] in the [[Alias Grace (miniseries)|2017 television adaptation]] directed by [[Mary Harron]].<ref>{{cite web|author1=Maane Khatchatourian|title=Netflix Nabs Sarah Polley Miniseries Based on Margaret Atwood True-Crime Novel|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/netflix-sarah-polley-margaret-atwood-alias-grace-1201800139/|publisher=Variety|accessdate=30 June 2016|date=21 June 2016}}</ref> ''Alias Grace'' was adapted for the stage by Jennifer Blackmer and premiered at the Rivendell Theater in Chicago on September 1, 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/reviews/ct-ent-alias-grace-review-0919-story.html|title=The Margaret Atwood story of 'Alias Grace' gets inside your head|last=Jones|first=Chris|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=2018-11-03|language=en-US}}</ref>

⚫
== External links ==
⚫
*[http://www.canadiana.org/ECO/mtq?doc=43989 ''Life in the clearings versus the bush'', [[Susanna Moodie]] (1853)]


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
*Margaret Atwood: ''Alias Grace'': London: Bloomsbury: 1996: ISBN 0-7475-2787-3
*Margaret Atwood: ''Alias Grace'': London: Bloomsbury: 1996: {{ISBN|0-7475-2787-3}}
⚫
*Gina Wisker: ''Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace: A Readers Guide''; Continuum: 2002: {{ISBN|0-8264-5706-1}}
*George Walton: ''The trials of James McDermott and Grace Marks at Toronto, Upper Canada, November 3rd and 4th 1843 for the murder of Thomas Kinnear, Esquire and his housekeeper Nancy Montgomery, at Richmond Hill, township of Vaughan, home district, Upper Canada, on Saturday, 29th July, 1843 : with their confessions since their trials and their portraits''; Transcript Office, Toronto, Canada: 1843 [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=aeu.ark:/13960/t5hb0b571&view=1up&seq=6 Available online at Hathitrust]


==References==
⚫
*Gina Westwood: ''Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace: A Readers Guide''; Continuum: 2002: ISBN 0-8254-5706-1
{{Reflist}}


⚫
== External links ==
⚫
[[Category:Canadian murderers|Marks, Grace]]
* [https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMDC-37131055310551D&R=DC-37131055310551D ''The Trials of James McDermott and Grace Marks at Toronto, Upper Canada, November 3rd and 4th, 1843, for the murder of Thomas Kinnear, esquire, and his housekeeper Nancy Montgomery''.], including the voluntary confession of Grace Marks and accounts of both trials
[[Category:Disputed convictions|Marks, Grace]]
⚫
*[http://www.canadiana.org/ECO/mtq?doc=43989 ''Life in the Clearings Versus the Bush''], [[Susanna Moodie]] (1853) and [http://ve.torontopubliclibrary.ca/showcase/marks/index.html newspaper accounts] of the day.


{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Marks, Grace}}
{{Canada-bio-stub}}
⚫
[[Category:Canadian female murderers]]
[[Category:Irish female murderers]]
[[Category:Canadian people convicted of murder]]
[[Category:Canadian prisoners sentenced to death]]
[[Category:People convicted of murder by Canada]]
[[Category:Prisoners sentenced to death by Canada]]
[[Category:Irish people convicted of murder]]
[[Category:Irish prisoners sentenced to death]]
[[Category:Recipients of British royal pardons]]
[[Category:Women sentenced to death]]
[[Category:Year of death unknown]]
[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]

Latest revision as of 22:10, 9 July 2024

Grace Marks
A sketch of Marks alias "Mary Whitney" and James McDermott
A sketch of Marks alias "Mary Whitney" and James McDermott at their trial
Bornc. 1828
Diedafter c. 1873
NationalityIrish-Canadian
Other namesMary Whitney
OccupationMaid
Known forMurder conviction

Grace Marks (c. 1828 – after c. 1873) was an Irish-Canadian maid who was involved in the 1843 murder of her employer Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery, in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Her conviction for the murder of Kinnear was controversial and sparked much debate about whether Marks was actually instrumental in the murder or merely an unwitting accessory. Marks was the subject of Margaret Atwood's historical fiction novel Alias Grace and its adaptations in other media.

Early life

[edit]

Marks was born and raised in Ulster, Ireland. Her father, John Marks, was a stonemason and an abusive alcoholic. She, along with her parents and eight siblings, immigrated to Upper Canada in 1840, when Grace was twelve. Her mother died on the ship en route to Canada and was buried at sea.[1]

Murders

[edit]

Marks was employed as a maid in the house of Yonge Street farmer Thomas Kinnear, who was in a sexual relationship with his housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery. In July 1843, Kinnear and Montgomery were murdered by James McDermott, a servant.[2][3] Kinnear was shot and Montgomery, who was pregnant at the time of her death, was hit on the head with an axe and subsequently strangled before being dismembered and hidden under a large tub.[4] Under the alias "Mary Whitney", Marks fled with McDermott to the U.S., but they were apprehended in Lewiston, New York, and deported to Toronto. It remains unclear whether Marks took part in the double murder.[4]

Marks was tried with McDermott for the murder of Kinnear. A trial for Montgomery's murder was to follow, but was deemed unnecessary as both defendants were convicted of Kinnear's murder and sentenced to death. Before McDermott was hanged, he insisted that Marks was, "an evil genius who masterminded the double murder, then feigned mental illness in order to avoid the gallows".[5] Marks's sentence, however, was commuted to life in prison which she served in Kingston Penitentiary. At one period (May 4, 1852 – August 18, 1853) she was committed to an asylum but was later returned to Kingston Penitentiary. In 1872, after almost thirty years of incarceration, Marks was pardoned and moved to upstate New York. After that she disappeared from the historical record.[4]

[edit]

What is known of Marks on the historical record comes primarily from Susanna Moodie's book Life in the Clearings Versus the Bush. She is the subject of Margaret Atwood's historical fiction novel Alias Grace and played by Sarah Gadon in the 2017 television adaptation directed by Mary Harron.[6] Alias Grace was adapted for the stage by Jennifer Blackmer and premiered at the Rivendell Theater in Chicago on September 1, 2017.[7]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Margaret Atwood: Alias Grace: London: Bloomsbury: 1996: ISBN 0-7475-2787-3
  • Gina Wisker: Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace: A Readers Guide; Continuum: 2002: ISBN 0-8264-5706-1
  • George Walton: The trials of James McDermott and Grace Marks at Toronto, Upper Canada, November 3rd and 4th 1843 for the murder of Thomas Kinnear, Esquire and his housekeeper Nancy Montgomery, at Richmond Hill, township of Vaughan, home district, Upper Canada, on Saturday, 29th July, 1843 : with their confessions since their trials and their portraits; Transcript Office, Toronto, Canada: 1843 Available online at Hathitrust

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Wallace, Arminta. "The story of the Irish 'murderess' behind 'Alias Grace'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  2. ^ Walton, George (1843). "The Trials of James McDermott and Grace Marks at Toronto, Upper Canada, November 3rd and 4th, 1843, for the murder of Thomas Kinnear, esquire, and his housekeeper Nancy Montgomery" (PDF). Toronto Public Library. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  3. ^ Stamp, Robert M. "The Kinnear Murder Case". Early Days in Richmond Hill: A History of the Community to 1930. Richmond Hill Public Library Board. Archived from the original on 3 August 2016.
  4. ^ a b c Katz, Briget (1 November 2017). "The Mysterious Murder Case That Inspired Margaret Atwood's 'Alias Grace'". Smithsonian Mag. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  5. ^ Wallace, Arminta. "The story of the Irish 'murderess' behind 'Alias Grace'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  6. ^ Maane Khatchatourian (21 June 2016). "Netflix Nabs Sarah Polley Miniseries Based on Margaret Atwood True-Crime Novel". Variety. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  7. ^ Jones, Chris. "The Margaret Atwood story of 'Alias Grace' gets inside your head". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
[edit]
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