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Grace Marks was an 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.

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.

In her murder trial, Marks was tried alongside James McDermott. Marks was put in an asylum and later a penitentiary, while McDermott was hanged. After almost thirty years of incarceration, Marks was exonerated and moved to Northern New York. After that, all trace of her was lost.

A number of theories were offered as to Marks' role in the crimes: 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.

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.

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-'''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.
+'''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.
+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.
-Her conviction was controversial, and sparked much debate about whether Marks was actually instrumental in the murder, or merely an unwitting accessory.  Grace Marks was tried alongside James McDermott, also accused of the murders.   She was put in an asylum and later a penitentiary.  He was hanged.  After almost thirty years of incarceration, Grace was exonerated and moved to Northern New York.  After that, all trace of her was lost.
+In her murder trial, Marks was tried alongside James McDermott. Marks was put in an [[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.
-Grace was born and raised in Northern Ireland, had 8 siblings, with another 3 who were stillbirths. Grace's Father was a stone mason, an alcoholic and abusive person. Grace's Family immigrated to Canada in 1840 when she was 12. Her mother died on the ship enroute to Canada, and was buried in the sea.
-Several theories as to Grace Marks' psychological issues were made. In Alias Grace (book by Margaret Atwood), it was mentioned that Grace was simply pretending to have psychological problems to get into the asylum, or that she had a double personality disorder, or as the book suggests, that she was possessed by the conciousness of her best friend Mary Whitney. However a fourth theory, perhaps outstretched, has the most evidence, that the Grace comming out of the pennentiary was actually Mary Whitney. Mary Whitney took the name of Grace Marks after Grace died from a botched abortion.(Told later by 'Grace' that it was Mary Whitney who died) The title of Atwood's book 'Alias Grace" also aludes to this theory.
+A number of theories were offered as to Marks' role in the crimes: 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.
 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]].