William Paca, 1740-1799

Contents

Foreword 9

Ackno1de<lgments I I

Chronologyofd1c Life and Public Carccrof\\'illiam Pac:a l!l

Genealogy of \Villiam Paca l B

Introduction 21

CHA PTF.R O~F.

Genesis of a Signer 25

CHA p·rF.R 'l.\VC)

Eady Career in 1.bc l'rodncial Capita l :lil

C:HAPTF.R T HRF.F.

Access to 'Wealth. Influence. and Power 43

CHAPTER FOUR

The Deli bernwr 5 5

C H Al'l'ER FIVF.

T he Decis ive Blow is Slt'uck 7 I

CH APTER SIX

A Consumace Public Scn •ant if/

Notes f/5

Index JOI

Fore\vord

111 thc aum11111 ol l!J ; :; :\ rthur ..\.Houghton .J r. proposed to me the idea

that 1hc lliccn1c1111ial year 1night be appropriat<e lor the production of a

condensc::d 11101101:raph 011 t•ach ol 1hc four signers. l'aca. Chase. Swne.

and Carroll. Ckarl~. l'aca had fo1 ;\Ir. H ough ion th<: g rcaiest in ltTCSL,

and I was d1argcd wi1h the task of hndin~ the hcst authority 011 him and

to inn~stigal<.: du: presses for a suitable publica tion which "·oulcl cnlrnnc<'

t he era and would bt an ile111 for c.o llct:tors and hislOria ns. \Ir. llough-

1011 wen t funhtT ancl rcrot11111e11ckd lo \\"ye lus1i111tc that it make ;,

1:1ant w undc1wriu: dtt· l':1ca projcc1. 1d1ich ii' Trustees approved.

Through di(' kiud ut·" ol llr. J ohn I.I. Roles. editor of the ,\forylt111d

Hi.1i fJl'i1·a/ ;\L1JK11~11u' . aud 1)1·. F.th1·ard P.1penlusc. :\1 rh i1·ist ot i\lary land .

1hc scn-in:s 11 f Dr. <_;rcgur~ :\. S1i1·crso11 and i\lrs. Phebe .Jacobsen 1\'cr<.:

obta ill(:d . and. since th(-S<e 1wo ;ts ;1 """" 1111doub1cdly "·ere 1hc foremost

on l'aca. the booklet hc1 c prc~ut<ed 111ust rnnk as an oucsrandiug publi­

tatiou. Thus :--Ir. lloughto11's wish ha~ been fullilkd. and it is to btc

hoped that olhc:r me111hc1\< of th<: i\fary land public ha1·i11g spec ial 1iC$

with Ch<isc. Stone: and Carroll will co 111t· lorwarcl and mak<e po.s ihlc the

01hcr mo11ograpl1> IO <:0111111cnwralt' 1hc: gn·a1 era ol ;\ faryland.

The i\lard:11ul 1-listorirnl Socitct\ '"i~hes to 11.:c.orcl its thanks to Mr. '

H ough ton and w Wye l11 <l i1Htc 101 placing this puhlic:atio11 un<lcr the

~oc:itct)"s i1n pri111 and tor a llo\\·i11).: it. 10 he: so ld lor lh<' bencti l of the

Soricty.

P. \VI L LIA.\ I FILUY. Director

July 11. l!lili

9

Acknow ledgrnen ts

:• IH>llk could 1101 ha,·e hccn wriucn without tht: assistance ;111<1 coop· . ,.,,, 01 c ou111kss incli, iduals. P . \\'illiam Fill". Dirc:ctor of 1hc ;\ l;1n._ , , . fla,1<nica l Soci~l)'. a11d jan1cs (;,NC'lson. DirNiorof \·Vyc l m 1i1111c .

• . 1hc: ,1;1ffs of 1hc im1i1u1 io ns they head. tkscn·c spct. ial mc:ncion. Onr •t .11f :11 the I !a ll of Rernrds hdpcd us in many "·ays. \Ye arc cspc·

..... ' 1111kb1<:d to :\l ycc Libb~ Im her superb typing ol what often was . • 111.1lly illegible 11rnnuscrip1. ancl to Stcplrnnic Tooles. who typed .i:nc:1.d1it; ''t:1~io11s or the gc:nc:dogica f chart as well as 1hc cap1ion.1 to

. •11.111011> and r>1h cr fron t inaner. \Vit ho111 1hc know ledgeable g uid · , .llld suppon .. hl Elltrnrd C. l'ap<:nlusc:. S1a1c Arch i\'is1 ol J\laryland , -.ol11111c could nnc:r ha\·e bcl·n cmnplcicd 011 time. T he staff of the

•.• J.11n c: I l istory Project. whid1 Dr. l'apenfnse dircns. pro,·ided ,·alu­< 1nIornu1 ion 011 Pa ca·, own ca rct: r. as wd I as 1 hose of Pac a· s anccs­

., "ho " '' in tht Cc11cn1I :\ssem li ly. Carol T i li es. a member <J I· 1hc _.•l.ll 1H· Jlisiory l'rnjc:u team. de.1c n ·cs special rcl·og11i1io11 for her

.. •'·"" ,. 111 compiling the chronology of Pac;i's life and public can:cr. '. ,. ll:n . ;i mc111hcr of the hi<1orr <lepan111cnt ol t he University of : .. -.1 11 11 /(h. shared hi, 1101.:s on Pa(n'$ lc!(al caree r with us. and R idrnrrl

,, Cura tor of \ b 1H"n ipls a1 the Mardand Hiswric:al '.'ioc i<:l )'. ;1ss irl11-_., .. •c:.irchc.I th<: ~urict,-'s co ll cc1ions for ite1ns pertinent. 10 our smdr. < •. 11 n1:r R:tine,· and J ohn \\'altnn . .J r. were ex1-Cptionallr gc11c1ous in ., 1d 11t!( us with 1hc1r t·xu:nsi\'C rc,carch nolt:S 0 11 \·\' illiam l'ara. In

c:11 p11 n!1." 10 1rncc Li1c ;111ccs1r\ o t th ~ Paca lamily in America . we ar(' <• 1.tlh i11cleht.<~d to Professors Va lc111i11c J. Belfig lio and Gio\'anni

' ,.,,,, •d111 shatcd with m rl1c: rcsnlts of 1hcir own research on chis

I 1

prob lem. Peter Parker and his staff at the Pennsyh-:mia His1orical Soci·

ety were most helpful. as was Ech1·in Wolf 2nd. Librarian , and Bernard

F. Rei ll y. Curacor of Prims mid J)ra"·ings. at the Library Company 0£

Philade lphia. ;\·fr. Wolf dcscn-es spec.ia l mention l>ecause " ·i1hoUL his

assis1ancc Hesler would srill II(: a 1n}'stuy. l'l·i uch of Lhe background

research for this 1·o lu111e "·as do11c at chc: sp lc11dicl li brary in rhc Research

Depart111c111 of the Colonial W i II ia1mbu rg Fou111l:r1.ion , Dr. Eclwanl J'>'I.

Rilty. Director. H iswric Annapolis. Inc .. panicul;11·ly C:regory \\'eid­

man. Curator. provided u< with im-:rl uahlc information on l'aca·s life in

. .\nnapolis as '""" :\s ge11c;d 1>~ic1J inl<mnat ion to11<:crni11g his descend·

ants. J\farjoric .Ju11c, of the J\laryland Roo111. Enoch Prall Free Libra ry.

l.laltimore. cahnly responded lo fr:1111 ic 1dephonc calls for infor111a1 ion

in the last hours before \\·e wcm LO pres, . If the style of \\Ti! ing in this

1·o lu111c is judgwl to be mon: dw11 pedestr ian. ii is due largely to our

ediwr. Ann H olsrra ( ;rogg. For her i11tcllii,rcnn- and pmfc~sionalis111 we

arc p rolo11ncll ) gra1cful. \Ve arc imkhicd to Susan Ld1111ann for mak­

ing tht: hook look at1rac1in: a11d lor ,hcplwrdin p; the 1·olu111c: 1.hrnup;h

1he press.

Finall y. our respective spouses <lcscrn : ;1~ much credit as anrone for

chis volu111c. T heir paiicncc and suppon durinp; our hm:·11 ight conlcr­

cnccs. our iutcrn1inablc discussions of Para ancl h i~ la111il y ar dinners

and social aifairs. and our abrupt ca11cdl:11io11s of n1gage111 t111' because

galleys or page proo fs had arrived. con li nns " ·h:11 we ho1h ha,·e alwa~s

kno1,·n - tht')" arc good pcopk. \·Ve Jm·in14"ly dcdic;i1e·· 1his1·ol11rnc: to 1hc111 .

G . .-\. S. l'. R J.

.June: 4. l'li li :\1111apol is. i\farylnnd

12

ChronologJr of the

Life and Public Career

of William Paca

Orto~r SI. I 'i40

Born 11C;1r prCM.:lll lO\\·n of .. \hingdcin , H:-1rrunJ c:ounty. '.\laryl;11ul. lO John :1n" Eli1;1h.eth S1ni th l1;t«a

1752

Eme•» '' ""k111r of Phil;tclt•lphia

17f>9

Rct t•ircs B;tchc lor of . \t'l:i de~t et: J l'OlH ( :ol lege o f rh i la<l('I ph ia

I i!'i!>

\ rri ,·ct1: i·.~;,11,.j;oli~ 10 lx~in r lt1·k<1hip 1111dtT Shcplu.·11 Uordlc~ ()r1 obc1 ~i. 1161

:\d1nitted as ;,ttlOf'llC,.'~. ~Jarc>f0

\ C:.011rt. . .\1111 :1polj,

l iti2

R.crch·es .\(aster of :\r1 s dcg1 C<: (1'0111 (:olJL·gc oF P hil;ulclphi:1

i\l;1 r~6. 17ti!j

!\·1arries .\ l ~l'Y <.:he\\' iu .-\nnapolis

juue I ifi3

. .\ctmiru·d as :t\torney •. \ nnc :\ ru11dt·I ;uul liahintOTI' C:Ount\' c:n11r1 ..

. \ pl'il 10, ) ;1;i

:\d1nittcd as attorncr. Pro\'inci~l (:n11r1

1u1u: l ifll

l/(i I

Birth of daughu:r. f-l<·nrit'U:t '.\l :.1·ia

1:1

.J u11c.: 1765

Adrnittcd as alLOJ"JlC~'· C~u~('ll :\nne·s ( :011n1 r ( :01u t

~l:o\· ~~ . 1166

Elected to Conl mnn C:n1111cil. CAJrp<n-;uiou of . \ 1111:tpoli'

I i tii - - -----

J.Sird1 of s~c. und ll:u tgluf' r. He nrieua .\( ;1ria

~O\'Cll•hl'I' !!(;. 1 i ti(

F.lc:c.:tt:d clt.:k·gate fron1 :\11napoli~ 10 l.(nrt.:t· l IOu!ie of the (:t'll(~r:tl .·\ :-o\('JHhJy

.\1:1 )" l i (i8 - - ---- ---

J> r a c Li c ·: i 11 g a11orncy in ( ;h:11u:cry c:ourc

April Iii. 1;;0

Elec.ted church ,,·:trdcn. :i,r. .~nnc .. ~ . . .\1111apoli'

June 12. liiO - ----

Eh:<:tt.:d v('::itry1na11 . SL :\nue·:-,, :i nd \\'arden of Sc,·eru t:hape-l

J~1 n11:1rv 1·7; J

I::lcc tc-.l tl<:lt;""gate J1·01u :\nn~lpoli) I<> Lu,rer I IOui-t o( 1 h1· < :(·11t·r:1l ,\ 1t>~c.·nlhly

;\ roirrh l i . 1;; 1 - ----- -

Birih of ;on, John l'hi lemou

.\1>1il I. liil

Re.elected ,·c.-stryr11:111 • .St .. \ n 11e · ..... \ n n:ipol i,

l iil. l ii:! (: }

:\lcler1nan. c:or1>ora1io11 of .\unapoJi;o,

NO\'t·111hcr 17/'2

1\dn1ined a s atlOl"llC~'. <.:h:1rlc.-s c.:011111y ('.our1

~J ay :!O. Iii~ Electcc.I dCl();at<.· fro1n .\nn:tpoli) IU L(.n\Cr 1-tnuSt· of 1h•· ( :<·ucral :\ :-..'t,"111hl"

J.11111.11' I!•. Iii I

i\fary ( :he\'' Paca dic!I i11 .-\nuapolis

.J t111C 22·~[>. I i"; t

H.cprC5('111 ;1ti\'c lrun1 .~\1111:1poli.\ in the Firs1 .\(~1ryla1ul <:011,·c.·11civ11. l·:Jl·c·lc.·d

deleg:ue f() Fit':-.L <:011Li11cntal (:on~Tl'~., .,

Septe1nhc.•r ,) • ()flo l>c.T :!Ii, lii·J --- - --

:\t lencl~ f jrsr Co11ti11e11t ;1I (:ougre<t<- in Ph iJ:ul('Jplti:1

~O\'Clll l.>er 9. l'ii·I

li.lcc..tcd c.lelexatc fro1n :\nnt" .\ r1111tl•·I C'.4u1 111r h> SN:oud .\ lat yla1nt t:On \·en1 ion

11

Dc-cc1nlH·r A-12. ( ii-t - ------- -·- - ---Delc.~atc to ·1·hird .\latyland C:ou,·cntion rtprescnti ng .-\nne Art111del ( :cntnty

May 10 · July 2 1, 17i5 ---

• .\.ttcnds Sc·cond r;onrinc nraJ C:ongrt-s.<; in f•hi l:idel))hi:i

J uly 27 .. \11g11s1. 1·l .. 17/:J

\ne n ds Fi fth ~laryland c:onVl'Jttion; a ppo in1ed 10 \h1ryla nct (.;ounr il of Sa fe,>l y for t he \ ·\'c-sll'rn Shore; l'l'·Clcclc<.l to (:o ngrc'i:-i hy '.\l:irylancl c:ou\·<.:ntion

:-\u~ust 2~. I 775

l);.1uglttc·r 11a1n(·d f lt".,tc:·1 horn to l.<.·vl na in Phil;1dc·lphia

.\ngust 2~> · ()c.tolJc» 21. 1ii5

.\uend~ '.\·faryland Cou11cil of Safet} (<httt"• of ;1u t·11c.la 11<.<.· u11<.'l'l't<1in)

Scptcnll><.·r 12. 177:)

Ele<:tcxl dc]l'gate to ~ix th .\( :lryl:irHI C:CJn\'<··ntion frc>111 .\nne .\r1ln<lel ( :01111 ry. but did not au,·nd

l)augJner f-ll'llll'J' b :ipd1,td a t (:li ri~t ( ;htH'' ·li. l•l1ihul('Jphi ;1

'.\!o,·eauhc r 9 · l lt'<'t:tuht>r 11. 1775

D<'lrga1c 10 d1t: t.:on1l 11<·n t;il c:o11grl·~s in PhlJac.IL·Jphia; fr<'t1oently ab$<'nt

January 17 · . \ pt·il 17/ t)

.\t t<'nds Cout inc1ual (:011g-rL·~~ in Pltilach·lplii;1

.\fa y H·~5. 177ti

.\Hend.') !)(•\ '(•tllh i\ l:lryl:i ncl c :on\'<'Olion . Rt?·<'1t?Clt>d cle1eg:i1e 10 (:on~Tess on .\l::i.y 21

June· l!> . . \ug-us t Ht. 177() ----

\ ttl'. lld S <.:onlint~ntal <:011gr(~s~ in PhiJadt·lplti;t: \·Otes for inclt:pc nden«c: on July ·1 and signs p;1rrh11t('lll cop~ o n .·\11g11~1 ~

:\11g·11s1 l·J . S~p1en1her I~. 1776 - ------ --------

D t l cg at t: lro1u . \11uapoli:t lO :'\ inth !\(;nyh1n cl <:nn,·encion

Scprc1n hrr J 1).2R, 1776

:\ttcnds (~ontincntal Con gress iu Pl1i ladeJpl1i<1

()rtol><·r 2 . :'\o\·r 111hcr 11. 17/4)

:\< 1e11ds .\(;u·yland ( :on\·t·nrion . Rt· .. t·lt t 1rd dt·h·ga1<· 10 C:ou.~rc-~i : ;1ttc·11tls (:ong:rcss -.....i.'\10\·e1nber 21 ·Dec:erubcr12 ( t)

:"'O\'t:>nlbcr 25. I i7fi

Elened by \lat·yl<o11d Lc!(islatun· to State Se11ate

Febr11 :iry ~ .J i}; I tJ-2·1, I li7

.\t t<·nds Senate. On Fehr 11ar~ 1.1 n ·-c·lt·( <t·cl dt· 1c~{aH: to ( :ongTc~:, b y C~enera 1 .;\ssen1 bly

Ir,

Feh1·uary 2A. 1777

Marrie> ;\nn Harrison "' Christ Church. l'h il"• lelphi;o

.\larch li-29, I iii: April 8-19, I iii --- - - - -

Attends Senate i11 . .\ 1111apolis

:vfay 5 · June 20, I iii: .\ ugust l !i (?) · ,-\u~u-H 22. I "iii

.t\ttends (~0111inent:i.l (;un~n::s~ i11 Phil:icle lphi :l

:\ugus1 2•L 17ii · Scpl crnber 1777 - - - - -~~--

l nvOl \'C:d in dct'c~nsivc O)J(' J':'llions on EasH:r 11 Shore a~a i11sc Hrit i.;h i11,·asion or the

Chesapc.i kc !lay

October 2.J .2i; ~fl\'l·111h('r ·1-1 0; 1 5-1~1. I iii - ---

1\tcends ~f arylaud S<-11:ue: rcsii;·ns c)n No,·c1nhc·r 19

M:ird1 !I. 17711

Appoin1ctl a Judge o ! 1he Ccncra l Court for M:lfyl:oml

Oc·1 ohrr 24, 1778

Resigns a:> .J udp.e of the Gc1u.:r;1l (:ou rl

C >rt nlll-·1 :!R. I i 78 - - ---

.Birth of ~on Ht•111·y i n Philadelphia

No,·e 111bcr ~l. Iii~

Rc-clt"Cl<-"tl lO Sl"11a1c or ,\f ar-yland: did 110( :llltncl

~·ovc·111hf'r I~ . 11\:c-t·111ht·1· 12. Iii~

Re~elec:tcd delegate (0 (:on1i1H' IHal c :o11gn:i-.. I,~ ). f:1r~Jand l.c,l{l\l:llut(•: :\Uf'IHb

:"{ovcn)IJC'r I!) . l)tcemhcr I~. 117~

J 1111u;1ry I. l i'i~ J . i\ l~1 y l·L 17iH

Present in Co1ni11t·Htal Congr(·s~

!\Jay c>. J 'i'i!l

Son \\"illiain inrerrt'(I i n {:l1ri, 1 ( ;htH'<-1• ~arcl. Phi ladclphi:i

Junr 18-25 (iJ. l 779 ----~· ----~

Attends Congres.< in Philadelphia

Jul y 20 · AugusL 15, lii9 - - - -Present in i\'faryl;.111d SenaLe

;\ugusL 2~. Scpu:rnbcl' Co , 1779; ScpLc111lic·1 25 -Unohcr B. I /?!I; Or t0hcr 1 11-~0. 17i~l

1\ttends (~ong,1·cs.; in PliiladeJphi:i

Novt rnhe-r A. Occc111hcr 6. 1 / 79 - ---Present in ~J aryla11cl Scn:ue for f'Mtrrion or ~-.ion

.Ji11111arr 22. I i80 --- ---- ------ ------~------~ .-\ppoiutcd Judge LO ( :ongrcs.)lona l c:ourt or :\ppt•:1b. in Pri1c.: a11c.I . \ d111lralcy c:a$CS

16

Fehrunry J 780 - ----. .\ppoiuicd Commissioner of Cuufisca tnl Propeny hy ~farylan1l 1.~~sla1urc.

Never sat

f c-bru:ar,· 25. 1·780 - ---- -

. .\nn Harriro11 Piu. ;1 <li('s in P hiladclphi:l

~rarch 2 . ~la) I fi, t 7~0

:·\ue nds ~laryla 11d Se 11a1e i\(arch ~: rc-elec1ed .·\prll 7 fO c:ougt't.'S'): l'C~ignat iQn

from St:uat<: accepted ~fay Hi

~lay 1780 - - - - -

:\dntittc<l as ;-ut attorney in che Court o f thl' \\"("~ tern Shore

I 'i~ I -----~----·

SOn Henri• l'aca die.<

:>:o ,·cmher 15, 1782

J::kttcd governor of ~laryl;1nd b\" Ce1wr;il AS>cmbl )

Nn\'t•rnht:r 11 . 1782 - ---

Resig ns as J u<l~e of C:ouh11·c:'\sio11al ( :oort vf .\ ppr:i ls

'.'J0\' \·111 hct' 2 l. 1 i8~ -- -- - - -l£.lecte<l to second ternl :1.;; J.;O\'<'r11or o( ~f;u yland h r Lcj{i)J.-it11re

:\o,·cmbcr ~1. 178-l

Elec.1e<l to third tl·nn ;.1) gv,·ernor by ~lar~'l:tntl I .<'(.,ri111l:u11rc.:

:\pril 2i · t\'o yc111ber -t, 17Sfi

Ser\·cs on T\fnr yla 11d .Exe<.·uli\'e < :ounc ll

'.\fo,·c111hrr fl · ~[;1 ~ ~fj , I i~l; - - -

:\Llcnds General ,·\ ss.einbly :ts cleJegat(' fnnn <! ul'.'<.·11 :\nn<"·., < :ou11t~

.\ pri l I.'>. I i~/ - --.,.-- - - - - -

• .\dnlitted so)ititor iu I he C; hant"C"r-y Cout t Of .\ 1 :"11"~ 1:-tud

:\vri l 1188 ~--~~---~ --- --- - ---~IC r 11 b c r from H:.rfOrd C:ount y to dlc- ta til ying C:orl\··t ot ion £or tht· Fc.:dcattl

Constitution

Appoi111cd Judge o f the l lnitc<I ~'"'~'for dw DbtriLI o l .\lorrland

Ortoh•r I ~- I /99 ----~-------· -- - - -

Oies a t W ye lsl:in<l

Genealogy of

Williarn Paca

ROBl, RT rACA

'- 168 1 Ill 1662' ~tAR\ PARKER

1622-1699 (ll'idol\' or John ll ~ ll. d 1660)

.·\ C,lt"ll.A PA CA

:.1721 Ill ( I liCJ'I) ~IARTll.~ Piii LI. IPS

~-1 i46

:\<.juila 1700-1743 111 ( I) Frances S1okes (!! ) Rachel lllar (widow of John llrown)

Mary 1701-1/0~J

j:uncs

Sus:mna I /0[> ;

111 .Jo~cph G:tlJ011·ay

M<ny 1709-~ 111 ( I) Richard Calloway (:!) Sa11H>cl Chew

.J ()t-1 N

lil2-Ji85 Ill 1732 Ft.17.AR FTH ~ ~flTll

~- I i58

l'ris<:i ll a ;. I 7-1!! 111 \\'iustom: S111icl1

:\lary I i '.L~.;

.\'luila I ;:is. J iK7 Ill Helen T ootcll

\\' ILLIAi\1

I 7·111-1 i !J!l 111 I iii~ \."\'.:~::"of AK \' CHI!\\'

l 7:Hi · I ii 11

Ill I ii7 \:\:\ llM\l\IM.).'l

I i57-1 i80

Eli1ahc1 h l ; .12.;

:\Ian ha I ; .J:l- 11!2!) Ill .J a1111:s Ph illips

111 \\'illiarn Sn1ith

111 R i!'harrl I>alla111

H •::-iKl>.TTA ~tARIA

I 764?'·?

HF.:\'RIF.TTA ~f,\RIA

1767?-IK!lll m I i!l1 Thoma~ Gral ton Addison

.JOH'.\1 Pf-ll Ll·: ~10~

!iii -I MO m I t\00 .Julia1111:\ Tilghlllan 1IR~- 1 861

\VILLIA.\I

I 77·fr-l 77!J

------IL H EHER 1;75.: ---l·f r:::-. It,. 1778-1781

Introduction

(.m1: tnor Paca w.os nor merely a fine· looking man:· wrote Thomas :">! :11·,h Forman. a neighbor of the Signer. "" H <: " "'s handso111c." 1 For. 1t1an·, rcrnarks arc: one· of seYcra l responses .John Phi lc111011 P11ca rcct:i1·cd 111 11'~7 \\'hen he asked friends and acqua intan(:cs of his father to rliscuss " " lather'; chan1cu.:r and rnreer. Not surprisingl)·· a ll of die rcspond­<1t1' dc:scribed \V illia111 P;ica in the most glo\\'ing terms. "'His concluCL :n C:ongrc:ss "·as I rec from any pania l or narrow propensities cm general l' '"'tion,."· Jndi;c: R idiard Peters of l'c1111syh ·a11ia commented. adding ih .11 Paca'.~ ··c11 thusiasnl iu our r.:t usc cost hi111 g-n . .:al sacr ifice of. pri,·ale p1 npc:ny."'' Wi1li an anist ·s .,c:mitil'ity to the: suhtlc qualities n f lo nn .1:1.I 111on·m1:11t in ,1 suh jcu. Charlc:S \\'illson l'calc rc:cordcd that l'ac;1 "·" a ha11dso111c: tn:m. more: than 6 lc:ct high. of ponly appearance,

iw 11 11-: 1\"ell ed11rn1cd a11cl accuston wd 10 the besr company. he \\'as grace­l ul n1h is11101-cments .t11d compl:tCl'llt to e1·cry one: in short his 111anners """"· ol tlu.: first polish."'

Old 111cn ·s 1 ecollc<1 ions o[ solllC(1ne dead [or on:r a c1uancr of a cen­illl ~ .m: nor ;tlway' reliable c1·idc:11ce. lim 1hey arc imponan1 i11 du: case o t \Vi llia111 Pact because ol th<' abst·nc<.: ol detai led clesc.ripiions of hi m .,,i,;i.- h <: \\'its ali1·c: . T lw lull-leng th portrait of Paca executed h)' Peale 1·1 I ii'.! confirms th:it he wa> tall. handsome. and corpulent, but c1·en thou~h lu: participated in e1·err 1111portant political event in ;\laryland Im 1111wc· than 1wcn11'-l11·e \Tai·, his co11tem1>orarics arc virtu:tll\' silent . , ' ' "' ll'ha t he " ·as like ;is a person ;111d ho\\· he conducted his affa irs . .John \ d:1111; c l')ptirnlly dtscribc:d Para as •t "cklibt:rater" who acted "gc11c:r­

" "'" and nobly" d11ring tht• dd1atc: m·er indcpc:ndence;' and Dr. Benja·

~ I

min Rush consiclcrccl hi111 "a good 1c11lpcrcd '"or1hy mall. wid1 a sound

u11clcrs1ancling "·hich he was wo inclok11t to cxcrcisc;··> but for the most

pan it is necessary w si f1 through \";lSt quantities of less direct kinds of

e,·idence to piece t0gc1her a c:omple1e pic:1.ure of the man.

Tiu.: dearth of " ' ·idcnc:c: rcbu ing 1n \.Villiarn l'aca is especially cliscon· cen.ing because he ,,·as 011c of the most acrc.1111plishcd poli1ic ians of the

!{evolutionary gt'11enJtin11 i11 :\tar) land <llld because so much of his

career \\·as spen1 ill imponattt awl highly 'isibk public ofiiccs. YcL. t.hc

fac1 th;u. his co11tci11poraric' ".> rarclj 1ncntinllccl him except in regard

w his official fullniolls is in it,c ll n;, ·c:1ling. William Pac:a jealously

guarded his pri,·acy and :1> llllldt as pos<ihk separated his private life

frolll his public duties. In acldi1ion he ""'s rc.<c·rH~<I. and he much pre­

ferred to remain in the background while o thers who were n 101T com­

fortable in the public , ·ic1\' articulated the principles and policies 10

which he \\·as con u ll it tecl . . ·\ t :lllot he r ti rnc or place \.Vi II ia m Pac:a wou Id

no douh1 ha,·e been cmncm 10 practi((· bl\,. anti pursue his favorite

smdi<:s of colls ti w1io11al and n in1i11al la w in his leisure t ime. Rut the

crisis in publit· affair' 1ha1. lerl to :\merican indq>cudetKe and 1hc ucccs·

sity of establishing: " "'r gcwc rn111r·nt.s lnr 1hc I ' ni1.cd States and his own

State ol ;\Jaryla n<l ca lled for th e unselfish dedication of tht best poli1ical

and legal minds a\·ailablc in America. and 'Villiant Paca ms<: ICJ 1hc

challenge Titus. \\.ill ia111 Pa .. ;1 !irs1 became a leacler or the popula r pany that re•is1.ed British inlringcmcnts of An1crirall 1·if?:hls a11cl libcnics, he

then panic.ipatcd in the g-reat debate <>HT inclcpcndcnce in the Conti­

nental Congress and aclckd his llallle rn the doc111nc1H rcgis1crin!); the

<:olonists· iuLcmion to 'eparntc from F.ngland. Luer he sen-cc! the State

of l\farv land as a llle mbcr of 1he House ol J)elc:ga tc,. ;i scnawr. judge.

aml finally gon:rnor. En:nts O\Tr "·hich he had little t:oittrol maclc \·Villi:1n1 Paca one of ;\lardand"s outs1<111di11g patriots :rnd politicians,

and althoug h public sen·ice orten intcrlercd " ·ith his pri ,-;u:y an cl scp­

ara1.ecl him frolll his famil y. he nc1·cr expt-cssed regre t O\'er the sacrifices

he "·as calkd upon to m<•ke for his state <Hl d his co111Hr). T he p urpose of the follo \\·ing biog raph,· is to trarc the .<»tlic111 fac1s o f

Paca·s personal lik and to docun1(·1n the counihutions lw made w the

1;arly history o! the St<ltt· o! ~laryland tlm-.ugh h is vario11s public ollices.

Num.:rous .shor1 hio!);raphi~s ot Para ha1-c appeared o,·er the p;ist cen­

tury and :i half. hw ;ill c<>nLain u1ajo r tactua l error1 and few a1.tcmpt to

place tht: man i11 historical rn111ext. something that is cssrntial if his life:

:llld " ·ork arc Lo bl' jutlgc.:cl l<til'l). Finally. nur hope is that through the

;i u<h· ul one 111a11·s efforts to achic,·c . .\1ncric~n ind t pendence an<l w

c'1:1blish a gO\'C'rt1111ent dedicated LO the p rcscr,·ation of indiYidual libcr­

u , .. ;, a hc-11er app1cc.:i:uion will be gaine<l of the ch.tllcngcs lacnl by other

111 1."111her~ <>f the R c.·\«>lutitu1ar} gcncra1ion.

1 11 \I' I I ll 1 •' I

\, • • '' ••• ,,.l .. il ch. iullu~llll' .. tnd IJ<1\\'t:r \\'.l\ ll1n ill'<I in cighu:cnth·Cl'll tltry \ l .11\l.11111. I he indusirinm and ahlc had more opponuniir 10 achicn·

, ... • ,.,, 111 llu: t.ult1n iL".\ tha11 i11 t·:n,.;lancl. luu provincial society incrcas-111..:I' • .1111t· lf> l>l' chu11ina1l.·t l I>) ah·\,. ~1ca1 la111ili l"'· l\cin){ horn a IJoycl. ( .11l.J, IH>1tu1~h. ()11J:tn)'. tH ' J'jJglun:tn ditl 1101 g_uaralllCC la111c or (orltlllC.

'"" "''" 111 lloe genii') 1\'cn.: 1auKlll from inlanq that tlH:)' had <;XCCp· 1 '' •11.d 11gh1> ;111ol re,pon•ibilitics. and other 111c111hcrs of the con1111u11ity

olC'11 ·11c<I 10 their kadcrslup un less they prll\ul d1c111sdws inept or

"""iko.ohl y arrogant. \V illi:1111 l';wa ,,·a., ho1h in1cll igcn1 and able, but du·,c .1l t l ibttl C~ a)Olll' (':t lHH) 1 :u t (IUIH IOr lhC SOc.:ial, J>O)i1ic.al , anrJ (inan·

, 1.ol ' '"""' h" :u hi"''l:d d111 i11g hi' lifc ti1lll:. '1'11 nndcrs1a111l \ ·Villiam l'.11 .1 ·, t .11c.·t·r. 011c.: 111ust look at h is la111ily 10 disc.:ovcr chc advanlagcs he d 1·11\cd . t~ a birthright.

I lw l'a«L' had hccn in ,\l a ry land for only <' iKht y years when \ ·Vil liam

" ·" 1>0 111 . luu 1.ha1 \\'as a 1'<:1')' long 1i111c i:o111parcd w lll:tll)' farnilic-s in ol w , 111011) . ·1 h1.: proj.\<'llitor of d1t: 1':11::0 fa111i ly in i\hryla nd, \Vill ia m

d w Sig111.·1" grcat ·grandfa1I H: 1, \\':OS naol1<'• 1 Rohen . Rohen Pact ;irrivt:d

111 olic 1.·111001) abo111 I (j(j() , a11cl. li ke so 111any other sc1·cn1.ccn1h-cen111r y

11 11111 igr:o11t.,, " inually 1111thi11g is k110\\'11 abou t his earlier life or family

11.11 kg1'f1u11d . The Italian >imnd ol th t· nan1 e and tht' fact 1ha1 sc1·eral of

l(olici t l'aca's <icsccndanl~. i11duding- his""'" son. we re given the fore ·

11.11 11" :\quila. has led srn11c to <'oncludc that the la mil y was of Italian

"' 1gi 11. \Vhik a dist;ont link wit h Ita l)· is not inconcci\'abk, the sugµ;cs ­

""" d1at Rohen l'ar a. 1h c: i111migran1. \\'a s horn in lu1fy or chat his fa111-1h· load recentl y mrwed to Enl\land fro111 that coumr r cannot be sub­

''·"" ia tnl and pmbahly ha> nn i.a ,is in la< t.

The surname of Rohen Paca. the imt11 igra nl. was spelled in several

ways i11 contemporary documen ts. indnding Peaker . Pecker. Peaca. Peca.

!'aka. and Paca. The name r.onld have been a cor ruption of severa l Eng­

lish names. including Pace . Pach. and P<1ke. with the ve ry profusio11

ot poss ible antecede11ts for the l'ac<i 11ame posing die 111ajor obstacle in

attempts to trace Robert's origin. Fun.hermore . the [act that Rubert

Paca named his son .'\<pt ila doc., not const.itme proof ol t he tamily's

Jcali;rn a11<:c.•try .. .\quib i~ th(' nan1e of an .trnlian pro\'in<:e aud capital

city a short d istance from Rome . hut it is also the n<t1111· of a notable

Ruman gc:-11cntl and c omni. a constcllatio11 in the northern hemisphere.

and a .Je1,· 1\'ho. \\'ith hi, wife Prisf:illa. became a Christian <·on1·crt and a fel low worker \\'ilh 1.hc :\ po,d e Paul. Seve11tt'Cllth-ce111l11·1· Maryian<l

families often ga1·c the ir diildrcn Bihlic.al or classical Latin na111cs. with

the name :\ cp1i la appcarillt( i11. a t11ong oth('rS. the- Johns famil y. Quakers

who li 1·ed in the nt:ighhorhood where Roben l'aca . the i111111igrat11,

settled. ;\11o tl1t:T factor tending to rlisconn t Robert Pam's ltalia11 ances­try is tha1 all of che pcopk ht: is knm,·n to ha\'<: asso~ iatcd with in Mary­

land and . more important. e1Tryone he- is k110 \\'ll w ha\'(' ar ri \'ed with in

t h(' colony. "·ert: English. T hus. aldioug-h the problem uf Rohen Paca's

ancestr y has uoc bt·e11 resuil't'd and p ro b<i b ly will nc\'r.r he conclusively

cstabli>hed. "·hat e1·idenc:e exists sugg-ests 1hat he was F.ngli~h by birth

and. most probably. an Englishnrnn by hcritagc.' The tirs1 111r.mion of Robert Pae<1. t he i111 m igTan1. is found iu t hc

i111·e11to r r of John Hall 's :\n11c . .\ru11dd Crn11111· estate . taken on Jun('

19. 1660. lo llo\\' i11g Ha ll's rlcmh.,. Pact 1.-a' 011<· nf five men and wolllcn

Hall had brnugh t in co the colony sou1c- 111011th~ earlier. and in cxcha11g-e

for his 1ra11sponat ion rnsrs Paca had probabh· i11dc11t11 rccl himself w Hall as a scn·a111. Pact"'"'' ha1·c hcc 11 c n11>loved i11 I i<1Jl's store or on his ' , pla111atio11 . ;llld he cen;t in ly kne"· thc H ;11l fo tnily wdl. ind11ding .John's

wife. Mary Parker H;tl I. ~I" rr . t he dauglncr of Wi ll iatu P;11·kcr. a \\·ealthy

Cah·cn Cou111y pl:mtcr and la<:wr for a I .011do u tobacco fi r m, "·as the

rnmhcr of a chrt:t'-)'t«tr-olrl so11 11 ;11 11crl John.

Hy the Fchrnar1· following .Johu Ha ll's <kath. R o bert Parn h;1d 111a r­

ried his "'idow. thereby acquir i11g a read y- made family and cons idcrahk

propcrtv. Paca assu1n('d tht ;1clrniniscracion of Johu H;i lrs cs1atr. . per­

forming the c<isk cf!icicnth· ;111rl 1·0111pctcnt h'. Included among I !all's

assets \\'t, re the so-calkd hcach·ight s due h illl Jor importing l'ac:a and

se \'cral other i11cli1·iduals lrnn1 England : the proprietor uf Mar yland

.. ncoura~<"<l ,cnlement ot the colony uy pro1·idi11g Janel for 1.hose willing

., , pay cheir own passage or t he t'Ost of 1ramponi11g others 1n the pro1._

'" ,.. 1 1 n 1663 Paca hacl a ·l!IO·ane c r:ici called Forest of Oa1111 sun"C)'Ccl

: .. , hi111 in cxchangt• for nine or 1hc ht.'adrigh1s 1hat he hacl act1uired by

·. on uc· •>I his 111arri<1ge w the 11·irlo11· H all.' The 11-aei was locatt.'d in ch<:

!I erring Creek section of A nnc ,\rnndcl County near where ~fary had

·pcn1 all o l her married li fe. Later in the 1660s Paca purchased a 300·

" re· por1 ion of a 1101 her t rnrt ca 11 eel Can er Ben neu ;1s 11·c 11 as a •15-acrc

: , 1c1 he 11a111ecl Paca's Chance. T he reconls of these land transactions

·nc.tl th;n R ol.>cn Paca wa' li1 cra1c. ao least to the cx1cnt that he could

<!II his 11a111c. while his wife . ~laq. c1-cn chough from an affiucm

'J!llih. 'igncd with her m:irk . llli1er:iq was high a1nong all cla.,scs in

... ·Hn1ccmh·<et1tnry Maryland. IJ111 women in paninilar were olten

:c·n 1cd rn:n r udirncnrary im1nKcio11 in wri1i11g. rqprdlcss of their

; .. 11c111 ,· h11anc:ial abili ty w I',.°' ick 1hen1 with an cel uc::11ion.

l. 11 1k is k11n11· n about Robc::r1 and ~!ary Paca\ til e 1< >gc1hc:r. T hey h;l<l

"' least one child. a son '"'"'"cl Aquila. half-brother 10 M;or)"s son by

"1cr tinr 1na1Tiagc. Johu I lall. bur infan t 111111'\;ilior was so high in seven·

· ccnr h-~·c111 111T :\merit«I tha1 oh!' Para~ may well ha\'e hacl other children ' .

·, '•o died \'c;ry }'otmg. The H <Tring Creek area where the Pacas li1·cd

·,, a' hca1·ily timbered. and chc faoni lics who sc11 lccl there: car\'ecl out

t111ildi11g sites and m1a ll plrns for tobacco n1011cy crops and largco· fields

:or 1hc maize and ' 'cgetables tha t p,.u,·ickcl most of the food for them·

·ch cs and their livcs1ock. Life"'"' lwrd . e1·en for fa111ili e~ like 1.hc Pacas

"'ho owned hm<l and were nda tivdy p •·ospcrnm. Roucn ancl l\.fary

"'or keel long days. he in the fields anti .<he arouncl the house, ;md as

-non a' 1heir sous wnc olcl enough to wal k they accompanietl t he ir

,,,ther to the fields in prtparn1 ion for beco111i11g plamcrs themselves.

~lo<t of their neighbois were re ligious <li sscn1crs, many of who1n had

, •H ilt 11'0>11 \ ' irgi11i<t. ;111d af1<:1· 16611 the a n:a " "" pop11la1c:d bl' ma ny

1t1c111bcrs ol the Socict\· ol Fric11cb .. \fal'l"S fa111ilv was Ano·licnn. ho"" J I • ti

c1<·r, and the Pacas prolrnbl) attcnc k d 1hc first H erring Creek Anglican

C h11 rch. OtlH.:>' t ha» d1urch. thl' P;iC'a·~ soc ial acti1·i1ics were limited bv

du' amou111 ot work required on their plan tation. Bui whenever pos·

-1hle the Pacas probably 1·isite<l 11righhors. especiallr the Burrage, Chew.

1 loll.uul. \\''ater~. and Richar<l5<m lamili~s 11·ho owued adjoining planta·

·urn<. The family al"' cnjorcd 1·i,i1s "·ith Mary's faohc,.· in ucatb\ Cal ·

' "rt C:oumy. where the l1or' m11 sl haw rl cl igh1eel in their ~tanclfaihcr's

27

large house with it.~ many duucrcd rooms. Perha ps thl' most notable

fact about Robert Paca and his fami ly is that 1.hey were blessed with good health. Mary Paca may have lost c:h ildren, hu1 she herself did not

die in childbirth and she had lWO sons who reached marnritv. Further· lllOl'C. the Paca's mar1·iag-c lasll'd l wo c.ll'cadl's. ;1 \'l'ry long ti me consider· ing tha1. Robert, as an immigran1. had w ad just to the changes in di· ma te, food, and exposure to disease co ll c:c;1 i\'(: )y known ;1s "s<;aso11i11g."

which proved fat.a l ro so many nc11·co11icrs to Maryland.

Robert l'aca supported his fami ly primari ly by cultivating his Anne Arundel County land. hut he also appears to ha\'c kept a store. His farher· in ·la ll' l\'as a merchant. and as l'aca undoul.nedly acquired rhe store and pan o f lhe im·cmory rm·ncd I"· his \\'ik's li rsl husband. storl'­keeping musr ha,·e seemed likt an <Htrani ,·c sourre ol supplemental

inwme for his fa111i ly. P;1ca appears ini tially ro han: prospered as a plan ter-mercha 111 . hut hy 1 hr' Ill id · Iii 7 O~ lie \\"<IS i 11 sniou s financial trouhle. In If.ii i he owed Joseph Taylor. a London merchant. over 22,000 pounds of cohar.co.' The: na111r(· of lh<,; debt is u nknown. but Paca prooably i111ported goods for his store from Taylor. The price of tobacco. l'aca 's 111ajor cxpo1 1 crop. liq;a11 to );cl[ lmn1 its lunali \'l' height i11 the early l 6n0s. and by the I 67<1s the rn111morli1.1· was \\'Ol'lh on ly

about a penny per pound. In rer111s of money. l'aca 's debt to Taylor '"·as le.\s than £ 100 sLcrlin~~;. hut i1 ''"ls a $lJlll he \Vas uc,·c r ablt..: to r4tist·.''

Paca morq;agcd his 30t1.acrc:: portion ol 1 he tract Carter l\ennc11 to CO\'CI'

the debt, but when he failed rn ma ke 1he required paymcnis he was forced to forfeit the land .' The tn1n C\'Cntually c:;11ne into t.he possession

of another London 1nerd1ant. .John Brown('. \\'ho so ld the land to Sa11rnc::l Che1,. one o f l'aca·s neighbors.'

Robert l'aca retained pus~t·ssion ol 1.hc rema inder o f his land . hut h is f111ancial position mn1in11ccl 1n be preca r ious. \Vhl'n hl' died in ]()8 1

his personal eslatc 1rns \'Cry small. I le o\\·nerl no slaves or scrvanl's and

only a kw head of Ji ,·estock. The tota l estate ll'as " ·orth only 9, I 65

pounds of tobacco. l'quivaklll to j ust £3'1 sterling. Furthermore. once his stepson .John 1-1'1 ll had rn111 plcted I'" y i ng- 1 he.: debts Oll'cd by the cstatl'. th<,; net ,·;due of Paca's assets dropped to 1.636 pound.s of tobacco. or about £6 sterling.• E,·en though Roher1. died a ''innal pauper. he had shepherded the patrimony of his stepson carefu lly. never risking it

in any of his 011·n financi;d \'l'ntu1Ts. His "·id<n1· and two sons were thus spared from a life of pm·eny.

, . Will of llobt"Tt Pnrti. IVillinm's Crt11l·J1.ra11d/alher

:\ s Rn l>crt l'aca had cared to r h iin . .John H a ll in tum assumed respon­

·thility for Rohen ·s son .-\ q u i la. t 11 sea1·ch of Kreatcr opportunity, Hall

<old the :\nnc Arundel County lands his stcpta1her had prcsern:<l fo1·

hu11 and moved the family w che northern part of Balt imore Coumv,

" ·h c· rc t hey settled «do ng tht: Hush RiH:r. Ht rc wit h 1hc assistance ot h is

Ill" " " wife. Sa rah. " '" ' his mother. John cst;1l>l ishccl a secu r<.• ho 1n<: for

\ cp1ila and (or the 1111111<.:rous H;tl l prnv;cu y 1ha1 ,,·ere to co 111c. In lli'l:i.

,,·hen :\ <.( u ila was a bou 1 1\\"cn1 y ye;i rs old. he 1110,·e<I 0111 ol his step·

b101hn"s home ;rnd commenced plaming. T he area ol Jlahimorc County

"' he re th<.· Hal " and P;1rns li ved \\"3 S sparsel y st:ltkd. so land co uld s ti ll

29

be purdli1scd d 1c:1p ly. Perhaps ,,-ith assist;uicc- fro111 his older step­

brother. :\cptila began ;1cqui ri ng land. laying th t: foundation for future

prosperity when rising land priccs ,,·ould increase the rnlue of his invcs1.-

111ent. . .\<p1i la married in I 6!)!1 . illld like his latil<:r h1: made a fortuitous

tn<llch. Hi.' bride. \ fan ha Phi llips. was t he da ughter of 1.he late .J;um;s

Phillips. Sr .. a \\Tahh r planter who had lt:il her one-fourth of his estate.

Manha n emually had 1n sue her <:Iner brot her for h<.:r portion of the:

estate . l>lll t.ht: security o l her do\\'cr enhanced Paca's suc: ial position

ann cnabkd . .\quil<1 10 acquire c1·c" lltorc land.

Aquila and Martha Ph illip.< Pat'.:t wt: rc married in the :\11glican

C hurch o l St. (;c·orgc'.s Parish . Ba lti111orc County . . ·\!though the Pac;1s

were :\nglican . t hq had ah,·ays had dose connec tions "·ith Quakers.

hoch in Anne :\rundcl Co11nt1· allcl lait:r \\·hen they nton;d to Bush

Ri1·cr. Sometime in the lirst ten years o( their marriage . .-\quila and

l\fanha joined the SnciCt) of Friends. In 1·iO'l :\quila built a ntec ti11g·

house for Quakers in th<· n('ighborhood. :md ht: and his 1,·ifc full y

cnthraced the Fric:11ds' wa) nl Iii .-:. inducling the practice of affin11i11g. rather chan .swearing. oachs requi red 011 !<.:ga l donn11c11ts and i11 coun

appearances .

.-\quila and '.larcha Parn ltad si ;.; dtildrcn. thrC'C: sons and Lhrcc daugh­

ters .. .\s h is lamih· g re1,· in size. so did :\quila 's inHucncc and itnpor­

tan<:<:. Hct\\'CCll I /n:i and I iOli he sctTcd as sher iff of Balt imore County. he \\·as a county j ustice of the pt'<K<: frottc 1707 to I 7 14. ;111cl bct.w(:c11

I iO/l and Ii I I he sen·ed as a delegate in the Lo"·er I louse-. or I louse of lklc-gatc~. rite t:ltni1·e branch o l t he prm·incial lcgisl;tturc. ca lled the

Gene ral :\sse tn hly.'" The offices :\quila held "·et-c pn:stig ious. but i11

I 71 'l relig ious S(:rupl<'< lc.;cl hi111 to dc:di11" all fun her puhlic sc:n·icc. In

resigning his sca t 011 chc t.:011111y hc1idi h(' f'X pla incd thac his action n.:suhcd fro1n a "1uac1 t:r nt ( :on~cicncc only.' · to1 he \\·as con,·inced that

oaths ad111inistcrcd '" thC' t·nu r1 wc·r·c nntl rary co the Lord '.< command­

ments."

E1·c-11 atccr rc1iri11g lro111 p ub li <· lilt·. :\quila Paca tnntin 11 ed his e;.;ten­

sive J ~t11d dealings . his ~-~;o;tl hci11g to a111as ... suffic ient acreage 10 ensu re

th<it each of h is three sntb would h t pro1·icled " 'i ch a landed estate.

Aquil<t ownc·d at least I .600 acres of land in I i 01' " ·hen he was lirst

ckctcd tO the l.01n ·r I louse . :ind when he dic·cl in 172 1 he had thret:

times thac a111ou tn . In addi tion lw O\\'n<:d four WJT:tn ts and fon y-11rn

slaves whe n he died-;i 1-er y large 11u 11ther for a Ha lt i111on: Count~·

30

p la111 i.;1· a t 1ha1 1imc- and his wta l persona l prnpcn y \\';!> valuc:d at nearly [2.:'\00 cnr rcn1 money." Aquib had achien:d what his father could nui. By carelully shephadi11g his meager asse1s. he lmd amasserl .1 <itabk lonune in laud. sla,·es . and 01hn property. which would enable his daugh1c1·s w niaJTr well and his sons to become substantia l planters.

Aquila and Martha Paca 's second son. John. was \ Villiam the Signer's lat he r. Born abou1 I 7 I'.! . .Jnl111 \\'ilS ra ised a Quaktr t c11 nt least the fin;t 1('11 years oJ· his lite. and ~int:e his la ther speci fica lly asked in his will 1hat his children he: broug ht up as Friends, Joh n probabl)' cont inued w worship in their 111ccti11g-housc umi l he established his own house· hold . .John had Jell 1hc SCK·ict ~· ol Friends h~· thc ti111c; he; \\':ts twcniy-one, howen~r. for in ln2 he; 111an·ic;d Elizal>cth Smith in !>t. .John 's Parish Church. As wi1.h h is father a1Hl grandfather hefo1·e h i111 . .Joh 11 's maJTiage 10 Eli1abcd1 S111ith pron~d ti11a11c ially l>c11dicial. H <·r fa1h cr. \\'illia111 'lllid1 of Ba ltimore Co11111y. 1d10 died th e n;ar hdo1 c her 111arriagc. had lc l1 hct onc slave, a tract o l l:111 d . and pe rsonal property valued at £1 i'J current ruoncy. 13

Jnil11 l'aca hec.arne an allhtcnt pl:)11 tcr. s" n ·ing the citi7.cns ol Haiti· more Count)· in" \arict~ ol ollices. Ekncd \\·arclen of S1. John's Parish "' I 7:l!i. John lacer sen·ed for 1hincc11 ~cars on the parish \'t-stry. H e '·'."' a pp<>i111c<l a just ice ol Ilic pc::at·c in I /.'\2. amt he auai ncd 1hc rank o i l·ap1ai11 in1bc rnnn1 y 111 ili1ia . Fi11 ;tll y. in l i61 . .John P:1ca \\·as elected .1 dcl q~atc from Bahimorc Cm11ur 1.n 1hc LowC"r J louse. in 'diich his la1 her harl a lso scn·ccl.

/ 0 1111 :1Hd Eli za b.:t h S111 i1h P.tc :1 had SC\'C'll ch ildrc11-fi\'t: clauglners .i:td t\\O 0011>. Tht:i r l1rst child. a gi rl named '.\fan . \\'as born in I 733, :olloll'c;d h\·e years later ll\ 1lw11 Ii"' ""'· n:unt·d . .\<1uil.1 in honor o( " ' g1.1ml1.11ht·1. ..\><.:Conti"""· \\'i llia111. was 1>0111 011 October :II , 1740. ·,,i[cm~d l>~ 1.l.111~lt1ct'> E lizaheth. \ Ja11ha. S11><11111ah. :111d F r:mn :s . . .\11 .. 1 tht· d1i ld1t·11 \\TIT born in th<· P:1ca house 011 tht' Bush Ri1·e r near ·!w 1 ill ap;c· of' .\hingdn 11. lor:nnl in :1 'ection of lbhi1nore Co11111y th;it :.ne1 ""' ' i11 rn rpor:ncd i111.o H arford C:o11111 '-

""di in!-\ i< knim·n ah1Jut \l' illi .11 11 l':ict'< boyhood. a l tll<~ 11~h it would !l.1\c.' ddh·tl·d litlh· lto111 the.· c:xpc.·1 i1..·1u e ot r>thc:r -3011~ ol ~ro,pcrous and ! '1(u11i1lrl\l f)l:tlllt:t lanlilu."·;; :tl 1hl· ti1ne. Ilnrn only t\\"O yc:l rs apart. \\'1lli:1111 >11111 '"' ..!1kr bro1hc1 . .\<Juil.1 ntu'l h~l\e hc.-n quite dost-. The .,.., 1111cloulJ1<'1lh 'l'c 111 "' 11n1th ti111c as possible on horst'i>ark or on : .. 01 "~ 1 1lori 11!\ 1hc \\'Oncl., a 11d lit·ltl, n l thci1· la1hcr's pl:1111.11io11. Onn:

3 l

/olrn f'11ca. Jttlhr1 n1 U'l/luun f 1ara

tlu· ho'' had 1l'ac.lu:<I .alnJlll ' '' \t.:.11' c)t .1~c.._ ho\\.t.' \L'I thc.:i1 hcc.· ci111t.·

,,·a~ ~rc.tll' rc')ll u tc.•c.L lohn P.tta h.11ttl·tl h1"i ~on:-i to bt.· l'li11fa1t~cl. and he could aff111cl 10 <<'C 1h.ll lhl·' \\Cll'. \\'11c1hc1 1h« P.1<.1 lao,·< a11ended

a ttc:ighl><nhoncl \Ch<>nl •n \\l'll" p11\,t1c.·I' 1u1tu·cd in 1lat·l1 hon1e i.;. not

lrnm,·n. hm i11 c11lw1"""1hn \\011hl h.nl· '"'"'"·ti .11r.l<li1io11al E11?,lish

•) ., .. _

cduc;11ion, whid l meant tha1 L11 in and rC'lig io n \\'CIT Li1•: core of the

n1rriculum. T he IJ<.1)S. m1dies u·ould ha\e begun 11·i1h a si1111>lc .\BC

book o r a hornhook 1~ i 1 h 1he kucrs <J I 1hc alph <t bct and Lord's Prayer

pri nted on it. b ut as soon ;is ih t: y had karnr:d 1hc kucrs 1ht:y 11·c·1-c 111os1

prnliahh· gi1·cn a copy ol \\'illiam Lily's Shor/ ln t m d11clirm o( (;t'(11H·

11111r. lhl' s1a11dard La1in primer sinn; 1hc ag·e ol llcnn- \'Il l. For hotll'S

c:tc h day . SC\'t:rn l lllOllths or the yC:<I' . \\'i llialll ,11111 ;\qui)a pOUl't'd O\'t'l

1hc ir Latin k s,ons. lirs1 in such lrnsic IL'XIS a' : 11•.10{/.1 Fali/,,,,. la1c r

prngressiug 10 more diflicu lt Lati n pms1· and \ CTSc writers.

In I i52 John Pam d«iclcd lO st·ml his tKeln·· and lourtec11·)'r a r·o lcl

"'11s tor lunhcr swcly to the . .\<:aclc-rn ~ :llld Ch;iri1 ~ :id1ool in Phi larld·

phia tha1 had opened 1hc prcn·cliu).; yc-:1 r. The lc11g1h o l . .\quila 's a ttend­

.111rc at the .-\ r.adcn1y ;, 111H:cn ain. bu1 a lter he· had 11ias1cred La tin and

had anaine<l •0111c- knowledge of (;red .. 1hr s.·rnnd major l.111guag·t·

1.1ugh1i111hc ~taudard ci!l;h ten1Lh-c c-111ur" n11T1t ulurn. his l.11li .. 1 prob ·

:1hk belic"·ed th:it liis 1 irnc would bt· ht:l.tt:r spr111 i11 ill(' field' nhsi;rl'ing

tht: O\·c.,:rsCCr~ ~11 HJ Sfl\'t'foi .1ud 1t:a1·ui11g lhe ~\rt C)i husbandry. J·::1ch gen­

t'l':t tiull of Pact> i11 ~l an·l:111d had pnn i,kd ;,, '°"' " 'i th a landed t·state.

b t1l the l<u nil y lollo\\·ed the prariitl' ol g i1 ing t11 .. eldest ""' 1hc hulk

•11 tlic propel'l )'. T hus :\q11il :1 11·a< dt'.\ tint·d 10 inherit 1110" of h i' l:1lher"

1·<1 a t t'. i11cludi11g- 1i;, 1h,·t•ll i11g pl.1m:11iou. so i1 wa~ i111pt' ra1i, ·c t b;it he

\..no,,· ho\\' to 111a11age a l:trgc a~rit uhur.il cn1<:rJll'iSl.'. \ \ .illhun. r>n the·

01ht·1· hand. rould cxpt't't 0 1111 a rnodn1 landed t•,tatc· lrom hi> t;11 l 1<~r.

so hr ' l'en1 lh t: ncxr four 't'al, .11 th t· :\ cadt>lll\ prcpat inp; lor co lk:gt:

:t11 il a profes$iu11:1I c<iH'l't'. 111 ~Jay 1 ; ;,;,_ tl1t: 1rn<1t'~s nl 1lw .\ radt·111 y

:rnd Charil\' Sd1ool \\'l'rt' g1<11 1tC'<I a ne\\' d1al'l<'r t•nahli11g 1h1:111 IO estah·

l"h a college \\' i1h the ;1u1 horit1 tn ""'"rel clt:grcc·<. Ra ther rha n <end ing

f,j, son w a 1111i \'nsi11· i11 l'. 11g l;111d l ikt · 1 11a11~ othl'I' :i lllucnt :'ll ardandt"''·

!1Jlrn Paci 1·l ('11cd w c11tt·1· \\' ill ialll i11 1h" 11ew "Collc!(t:. :\t'<id1' 111\'. :i11d

Ch:1ril ~ School ol Phil:11ldphia."

1 he Collcgt: nl Phil:iddpliia ( toda~ t h, l' 11iH:r>i1~ or Pt•nmd1·an i:1 )

p laced a 'lro11A e111pha'i' 0 11 the relig iou' cdur:11io11 ol its s111dems.

" ' ith dai l) >tucly o f the lli h le cxpt'l' lt·d o f c1Tn· 't111lc111 . 11111 11 11clcr the

l{Uitfance of tht· pro'""1. \\'1lli:1111 S11111h. thl' nll'rit 11h1111 """ torn1ul:lll'rl

10 include HlOI'<' dlttH l ht: U~\l(d COLI!'~('"' OH lht: <l:i~, j l·'i ;1ncl S( riptur('S.

F irst-yl';ll' smdCt H$ tle1·01t·d 111oq •i i 1h., ir ri111t '" I .:11i11 a11d Engl ish

exercise'. readi11g lro111 tl 11· classic, , :111d 10 ,trith1111' I i1· l<'Wlll~ . b111 they

\\'e l c encour:igctl i11 "pri\ otll' hour." lo ''""' I hes,,,.,'"'"'" (he H11111 l1/r•.

and other Lonrlon magazines. as \\'<.: II as lsaar \\'a11 \ l .op:1r and .John

Locke's £,.<rn Co11rnni11g J-1111111111 I ' 111frr.<tamli11f{. S"<'<n11l-yc-ar smdenrs

bcwrn studying moral dtl<I 11awr:1I philosophy and r(";uling a 1·ariety of

books in leisure timl'. indudin:;: 1.,ar \\':tr<"'s 1ranslation nl The Four

Book.1 "J 1l 11drm P11//ad11l°.• A rrh1trll11rc. lsa;oc :-;'"'"'""' l'ri11ri/Ji11. and

J ohn Dryden's r:.w1y.•. During the b st 1car of lht: thrct·)'l'il l' ('t) lll'SC

students <tudic-d c i, ·il hiswry. t:thin. op ii cs. :isironomy. d 1c111istry. :111d

agricult tirt:. suppkn1l·11tccl hy readi ngs l ron1 Locke . ~ icl ncy. and Har­

rington. as "'" II as frnm Fr:mcis ll<Kon's F..1."'·'"'· or Co1111l'i/.1 ,\/ ,,ml 1111 d

Cil·il and Francis llutch.-so11 's s .1.•/1•111 <>I .\1fJl'lll /'/1 ih><Of'hr . T hl' th rCC·

year c;ou1sc: ,, .. t) ri~oro11,-!'I0111 c 1hou~ht la1· too tlc1nanding-btll stu·

dt:lll> "·ho gradu;ttcd from the colkgl' rl'cci1Tcl an excellent education

with exposnrt: to a ,·arictr ol '"bjrns often lack ing in 1norc tradi tiona l

n1rriculu111s in :\rncrir.a.

Willi :un Paca enrolled in che Collt:gt: of Philadelphia in 1756. grad·

uating in I i5!l wich a hadw:lor of ans degree . I It appc·ars to h<l\T had

no rl ilricultv with 1hc: cou1·s<.: \\'Ork. t:n;n d1ough tht:: crustcc~ of che

school \\'<Lrlll .. l parc1Hs chat so1nc pupi ls would rt:quin.: tu111· ur fi1·c years

co g1ad11ate. T he death of his 111mht:r in I ;c,i; clicl nm tlctC"r his farhet"s

cle11:rn1in:11ion ro ha\c \ \'illiant <or11plcte his college education. :md

forrnn:ncly John Pact had the htwncial means to cnahlt: i.;, yonng-est

son to graduatt' ;uad cn1bark on .l t'ilfl.l' r l 11 la \, .. l\u t thi!'I ~CH 1 \ras not to

be a hu111h lc; la wye r knmrn onl ~· i11 his hon1c co11111H111it)'. 111 the lat<.:

sumnH!I' of I i;\9 , the 1·ear of his grad ual io11. armed 11· ich :1 <'Olltl{e clegtTC

and chc: <c:n1rit y ol lr ic11ds in pro111incnt positions i11 bo th l'<·11ml'lrn11ia

and }..far)hmd. n i11ctccn-1·car-olcl Paca arri n::cl in \l :cryla1"1'' <apital

<·ity of .-\ nnapol is.

C JI A l ''l' F.K. T \\'0

Early Career in the Provincial Capital

T he .-\1111apolis t ha t \·Villiam Pac:a r:11 11t' lO in 17;,9 \\'as a m1a ll . rn111pan

c ity \\'ith a pop11latio11 or about n11 ~ thomand pt:opk. :1 tliil'cl nf 1d10111

\\'e re ~l:t"l'' or free blacks. ' ] ht· tow11" , ;,., belied its i111porrn1u:c. h01,·­

e1·er. a111l the 1'<>llll~ Pac., could 1101 han• selencd a l><·11c1 place in

Maryla11d to begin his <"11·ecr. I he colony'< powcrl11l :uul inlluemial

pla tntr~. lawrcrs. anrl 111erd1:111t' c ith..-r rt>sided in .-\n11apolis ur 1·isited

the tOl\'11 lrcqucndy. :rnrl in tt·rn1s ol 1n:alth ancl t:0~11topo liw11 spirit

the prc11•inc ia l capital ""'s surpa"t:d hy le:"· :\ 1ncr ic;111 c it i<>s .

. \ 111H: :\ ru n<k I T o\\·tL as it " "" fi 1 't rn I k cl. had bn :11 " 11·1 eyed i rno

lo1s i11 I !ix-I lrom one hu11dr".I acres o r la11rl ""'""("' by Richard H ill.

Rohen l'ronor. and tht· 1.ord l'ropriewr.' .-\hhuu!;h clcsi!(n:lll'<I '" '

uftitial pon ol entry. :\11nc .-\rnmld -1 mrn faikd to ~rm,· during it~

l11St decade: nu houses were u11ilt :1111( 1he Sll1''l')' stake' ior lots \\'Cl'C

lo't. T hrn . in I f>fH . (;01·crnor Frn11ci' N id 10lso11 com irn.:cd the \ I ary­

Jand leg is lai nn: to mo1'l' the p ro"i11cia l cipital trorn Catholic-cltn11ina1ed

St. i\ lary's C:nunty to a gcol(raph ic;1ll r 111orc cc111 ral locatio11. Ni<.i1olsu11

<dcr.1e<l r\t111c . ..\rnndd Tuw 11 :is ilw ne\\· capital. 1c11:11 nin g- it :\ 11 11a po lis

i11 hono r o l l'ri11c:ess .-\1111c . H e '"n't:)cd tht· to\\·11 a~ai11 . rq>lac inii; the

orig inal 1111inspirc•I ~ri<l\\'ork pl:ut ll'ith a conipkx ol Sll'<'rt.< racl ia tiug

from ciu Ir,, feature' tha1 ,1ill tlomi11ate 1hr 101,·n·~ phvsic;1I appearance.

Relocation of 1h1· pnwincial capi1al l"''"itkd an i111p«1t" for 1hc

I0 \\'11·s~rnw1 h. but the <l~n:lop111e111 ol .\nna polis ""'"; till ,Im'" It co11-

t:1i11 cd o nl y :lbout fort\' lu)ltsr< at the end ol the scl't' ltlt't'11 lh centuq.

11carlv all o l wh ich were poorly huilt ,,·ood cn strnctul'C<. :\ s early :\S

I iOf\. h1,>1\'c \'lT. a 1:inyard had b('cll "'tabli5hcd in the town. ;ind ship-

building ;llld rclat<:il 1radcs soon dc,·clopi;cl. 1\111 the .<<· i11cl11strics a lone

did little to cncmtrage the tot\"11 ·s g-rowth . ( ;on~rnment itse lf provid('d

the most important qimulus to .-\nnapo lis. with t he propricrnr a111l his

agents ll"Orking unceasingly after Ii I ·I 10 incr('asc dw amount of revenue

from qui t rent>. rl11ti<:s . a11d odicr i<:es. the 1;ollcu ion o f which l'C<Jllirccl

an ever larger number of go\·ernrnem oflicials in the capi tal city. The

c.onccnt rat ion of .-.a pi ta I in :\nnapol is :ind the growing popnlat ion of

gon:Tn111c111 cn1ployccs :ntr~ictccl tnuks1ncn and ~en ice-oriented bus i·

ncsscs to tO\\"ll and led to the c:onstrunion of additional houses. shops .

and i1111s. The Fn::nch and lnclian War pnl\·ccl dis;1strom 10 the ship­

bui ld ing and ta1111l11g l11dus1ri(:!". bu1 . ..\ 1111a po li s 11(:, ·crthclcss entered

an e ra ol 11nprt:ccclemc<l prosper ity ,,·hen host il ities ended in the ea rl y

1 7611~. T he cit y Ji;1d bccn111c 1hc social :111d c.:11lu 1ra l as " ·el l as t he go\'·

ernrnemal capital of the 1not·inre . and the conremration of financia l

and politic;1I pc"'·cr in 1he city caused . .'\nnapolis lO e'pericnc(· a golden

age in the 1kc;1ek hdorc the \V;,,. tor l11clcpt11dl'1Kt'.

W illiam Paca journeyed 10 -\n11apolis in 1 1 ~,9 10 ~1111-h la1.-. and he

was fon u1 wtc 11> h i; acn~pt rcl as a d crk hy Stephen Bordley. 1.he most

c111inr 111 b\\· 1·e r in the pro1·incc. Bord ley trained aspiring l;n,·yers

through a Sncra1ic lllCthod of instructio11 cornhi ncd with pracl irn l cx­

periencc. (;01·c rnm<·111 . politic, . a11d 1hi: ]a ll' \\'Cl'C condnncd on an

intensely pe rso11al lc1·(·J in cigh1cc·nth ·cc11 111 ry Mardancl. so esrablish ing

propcr sor ia1 co111H:c1 ious '''"" al .;o csscntia l 10 any aspiring la,\·yer. ~:fuch

of Bordk-1··~ >tKCCs.s a~ a la11· teacher stemmed lro lll his ahi litr to int ro­

duc:e his studcuts i1110 th« 11pp«r t '< lw lo 11 o l p rm ·incial sor.ict1·. enabling

them to 1110\'l' qu ick ly a nd <::"ih i1110 1he inner circle o( 1irot·incial law

aucl politic.; ~f•cr co1nplct i11g: thc:ir lutc:higc.: llndcr hl11L . .\ l l11oug·h \·\~i ll iain Para ,,·as not p:i.rticnlarly gr<'garious or 011tg·oing.

he rt-cogni,,ccl 1he m:icss i11 of c:stahlishing so •. ial ancl prulcssiunal con­

tacts. Perhaps bec<tU~(· h(' found r cJ" ti11g· 10 other~ 011 <111 i11 di,·i<lual basis somewhat dillicu lt. h(• was a11rnc1cd 10 cluhs. 1\'11('rc he cnuld n dti,·a tc

social rdat iornhips " ·ithin a lonnalizcd and s1rncrure<l en,.ironmenr.

S yrnptomati~ of his p rckrence fo r< lu bs. Pa< a helped lonnd a dcha1ing society 1richi11 a lei,· \\Teks ol his arri1·al in :\nnapolis . C;tlled t he

Forensic C lub. thl' society was to pron · int"a lnabk to Pa(a as a 111e;111s

of expanding h is social rnn1ans as \\di a.; lor clcn•loping h is skill in

lo~ic a nd oratory. the ' lock in t.radc ol au ;11 ton11'.\· .

The purpose of 1hc Forensic Club 11·a, 10 pro,·idt a rcg11 b r oppor

Titkpa,Qr of Fon·11Jir Club Mi11utrs

n111i1 y for " young Cemlc111c11·· 111 debate issue' 011 polir ic:s. 111oralil) .

nalu ral la1\'. a n<l ot lwr su lijcns ol i nu:re~I 1 o mc:m l:x:rs ol 1 he group.'

Paca was one of six drnncr 111c111bcrs ol the dub. and he ligurcd

prominently in its dc hat<·' lor ~e1na l 1·ca l's. l ' nlikc 1hc e;1rlicr T uesday

Club o r lhc Homonr Club that " ·onl<l be: formed a decade latc:r, lhe

Forens ic Club was not a genteel li1nary sol·ic:1y but rarlu: r a forum for

scriou5 debate;. T he 111celi11gs. wh1 rh were held twice each 1110111h. lasrcd

fil'e hours <11111 induded supper and gcncrous li b;11ions ol ll'ine and nun.

The chairman proposed the topic: for debate for each meeti ng. appoint ­ing t.l\·o or three members c.o debate on the ncgati,·c <111d affirnmtivc

sides of the issue.

Some oft.ht quest.ions considerer! by chc- Forcmic Club slto"· t.hat its 1nc1nbcrs \\'Cl'C acti\·c ly tlcbatl11g 1hc na1urt.: of ~o,·cn:.:ig·nly . natural rights, and the form o[ go,·ernmenc chat would besc. l"·escnT indi\'idual liberties years before the Scamp .\ct and oc.hcr British measures forced other colonists to wnsider these quc-slions scriou1-ly .. -\t the dub·s third

meeting, for exacnpk. the question dehated \\·a.s .. 1\'11cthcr So1·crcignty can he acquired by Con'lucs1.·· \\'hich \\'as dctcnni11cd in the negatin·. On l\Jarch 111. 17i:i0. the chairman p1·oposcd the question .. whether th<:' People have a Right co dethrone a King:· a topic chat 111a~· h;l\·e l.1t·e11 considered coo (.Otl1.ro1·ersial bc:cansc- the club's n1i1nnes do 11ot renml

either del.><1tc or a rnce on the wpic. Jn late l if.i i 1he club debated whether aristocracy ,,·as a bc 11cr forn1 nl go\'Cl'lltttctll than de111ocracy. l'aca argued that it was. and his ~idc wo11 . The loll•"'·i11~ year. che club debaccd whether monardl) or ariswuacy \\'as l11c belier form of go,·­ernment. and. intc:rcsc ingly. although che me111bcrship indndccl 111any

who hncr ''">tdd licco111c leading patriots. lllOJlarchy was ,·otcd to be preferable.

The club die! not confine its debates to poli1iG1l issues. Jn December 17() l the membership considered the legalic.y or o\\·ning sla,·cs. with

Paca. \\'ho \\'OLLlcl one day be a laqJ;e shn-cowncr. arguing that ic "·as legal. 011 this issLLC. despite the preponderance of slave01rners in the dub. the proposi1io11 was dctcrnii11ccl in tht.: ncga ti,·e. Ocher issues dis­

cussed by the Forensic C lub ha,·c a sLLrpr isingl y 1nodcrn r ing. such as the question ··1dicthcr .rnicidc in an r case he h"d'LLI'. ;111d the issue " \\'hc;thcr soldiers doub1ing tlw jusu1c.ss of a war OLLghc to fight.'.

Alchongh chc Forensic: Club had a scrioLL.' purpose in prm·idin).\ its

members with experience in 1hi11kiug thrOui(h and debati11g wpics of current interest. it also had :u1 importam socia l role. T he club 11·as exdusi\T, \fitlt ne\\· members be ing admitted hy unani111ous 1·otc 011ly.

anc\ those 1\°110 ,,·ere admincci were ror the 111nst par! ynung gentlemen. The appl ication o[ Samuel Chast: . for t:xamplt: . a hrilliam young orarnr and la,,· scudcm hill of utHli sc inguishcd background. 1rns initially

rejected. Ch;1sc finall y gained admictan((' in September 1761. bu1 he

was fined for .. illlp ious Language" ac the second lllC<:1.ing he al!encled and \\·as expel led trom the dub 11i11c mo11tlts l<Hc1· becaLLse ot his

38

extremely irregular and indecent" behaYior. The deportlllt:m of otht.r club 111c111bcr,, howC\'Cr. "'a., 11ot 111uch nrorc g-clllcd than that exhibited

oy Chase. Par.a was c.wir.c lined sixpence on February '.!(i. 1760 for ·obscene" and "illlpious Language." :\t a meeting in October J 7()3

( ;c:orge Digges \\·as lined sixpence .. for making up the following inde·

,e lll expression. lO "'it-Damf n ] it- ." and .James Tilghman """ lined th<.: saJlll'. ;1111ou11l "for sayl11g· 1.hat l)a1n l 11 J it \Va:; (t ( :lo\\·nish l·:xprt:s~ion

"none but ;1 Clown would U(' guilty of such an expression." The cause

' 't t hCS(' lapses in decorum is suggested by another entry in the club's rn inutes . 1d1nc P;ic<i. i11 the rnpac.·ity of dub l!Titsun:r. was on.lcred to

purchase for the next JH<::Cting "half a quarter Cask of Maderia wine. tf\·e Ga llons of Rum ;111d a loaf of sugar . .....

Paca 's regular ;1r teHdance suggests th;tt he enjoyed the Forensic: Club.

I he bi-monthly mce1in!1,'S also cnablccl him ro associat(' on au iHtimatc

pcrsoHal Incl with the young la"'r ers. merchants. and politiciam " ·ho .. ,ere to dominate .-\nnapolis society and provincial affairs during his ;;cnenuion . . -\t the sa11Lc time. h« recciYed 1·aluabk experience in dcbat-111g conr ro,·crs ial issut.:~. uudo11l>lcclly sharpc.:ning hi.s 0\\'11 y)<:rccplion

''l political aucl mora l p r i11ciples in the process.

\ \ 'illiam Paca continul:'d his clerkship in Stephen Bordky·s office: for

:norc than a year. Then. soHictimc in late 1760 or t.arly 1761. he sailed ·nr England to complete h is legal ('ducat ion ,,·i1h about six n1011rhs ol'

-rndy at the Inns of Coun in I.ondon:'· Pam prnhahly a('quircd liulc pi.rt tir al knowledge during his briC'f stay at the ln11(T Temple. but he !rd parti <.: ipatc i11 somr.: ol thr.: old>ilt<.:s aud moots held there. Most

1111 pona111 . h'irh h is namr.: cnrcrcd on the rolls of the Inner Temple, he rt·t u rncrl home 11·i th l he pn:sl ige ol ha\' ing at tended the most i m por­

:.u ll legal ccnrer in rhc F.nglish·spc;iking 11·orld. a status ad1ic1·cd by : t: \\· co Jon ia I ht ,,·yer.s.

:'\ot long ;ifter l'aca returned frolll F.ng-land he applied for admission tu the :"-.fayor 's Court in :\nnapolis. 011 Octohcr 27. 1761. Paca, John Brirc. and Samuel Chase \\·ere admitted as atcorners in the court:' Each ·. ,-~, a ht11· srudcnr under the 1mclagc of an a11orney in town. and,

.«tording 10 Salllnel Chase. they applied for admission co the Mayor's I :oun "merely for lmpron~men t.. without the remotest View ol Profit.">

39

'f'lu: Old .-\t·;tek·111y ;1ud <.:hariLy School. t:•hich, 111 Ji55 . t 11as n:cha1•t11 rf•(/ a.~ the

Coli<',~'', A rnrlrm y, "" rl (; harity Sr.ltool of f'/1 i/adelph i(1

!\lost <ases chat"""" before the courc wnc fo1 111inor infractions of city

orditta tt ccs. and 111<111\' ol clu: people brought bdore ic were loo poor to

l) il\' high legal fees. The 011ly auornn in d1c M;n·o t-'s Conn in a position I '- ' • I

to 11i;tkc more th:111 a fc\\· shil li11gs each sess io11 \\'as the prosecu tor. a11

ollicc recentl y rnc:11 cd by the <lead> of Wi ll i;uu Wilkins. T he position

was first oifcrcd to l'aca att<I thc11 to Hricc. but both dccliucd in fa\Or

of Chase. Chase lnicr daimcd he mack ;1 total of only t ·IO during the

first li,·c years lu.: acted as prosi.:e ulOr . so Pac;"s inr<.>nic as a defc11sc: actor·

ttc)' 11111s1 h;m: bn:n 11cgligible indeed. Paca·s ad111issio11 lo rhe rnurr

must thcrclorc be nimick1wl .1 pall of hi, legal education rather rhan

che co111111C11< cmem ot his prnfc.sion;il car'C' Ct'.

Paca unde rtook his first case ; honly alter hci11g aclmim:cl LO die

Mayot"s Coun. Ht• represuHcd Deborah W ilkins. txccutrix ol' William

\•\filkins, the b1c prosecutor. :i~aimt Thomas \.Vilson. in :i c:tsc tha1. had

been pl'ncling siltl'l' .\pril I/Iii. 1.ikc so ntall) r.1ses Pac• \\'011lrl handle

in 1he l\fa ror's Cou r1. 1hc<lisputl' bc11>t:cn \\' ilk im a ncl W ilson in\'oh'cd

a debt. Dd1or:1h 's lnr~band . i11 tht· '"' pacity ol p rosecutor. was cnLitlecl

tt• :1 fee of one hu11dr('C l ponrHb ot tol,acco l'or l'\ '(:ry bill tiled and prosl'·

cuted in tht: l'Olll'I . i\l rs. Wilkins allq;t cl that l>~ lorc her husband '.< death

he had proccs.•etl ten separatt: bill< for T homas \\' ilson and that \ .\'ilson

rclusccl to p;1 )' the rl'q11i1·ccl Ice• to h<T h usband's esta te. F.\'ett though

'l0

:\I rs. \ •\ ' ilkius·s daim to 1 hr d1ous;11ul pounds ot tohacco appc.;ircd ,·a l id­

<he argued that the court 's O\\"ll n :cords would p l'O\'t• her e<1>c - ;1 jury

or twd\"C.: 111cn lound agai11st her. ;nul \\'illia 111 PaGl lost t h<: lirst or 111311 )

cases w hi~ friend .Sa111nel Chase.

l'vl 111:h of Para's >pan: iitnc i11 the niornh, lollowing hi; return fro111

E11gland was spc111 prepari11K a thc;is Lor 1 he Colic)!;<' o l l'hiluddphia.

whid1 granted hi111 the degre<~ ol :\b>tcr of .\ns iu I i fi:?. He co111in11ecl

to takt: au occasio11al <.asc i11 the i\!ayo r's Court . howt·\'cr. aucl in early

1163 he won h i~ lirst co111·1 victory. :i suit bctwc1~ 11 William Randall

.111d Ch;irlcs H a111111011d m c1 a small dda. But P;1c.1 could 110 1 daim

that thc \e rdict 1~:is du<.: l<J hi, <upcrior oratorical >kills or w a mort•

:11 lcpt presentati1.>11 o f the pninrs of l:iw than that of his oppo111:111. again

\amucl Chase. Chase's dic111 lailcd w apptar in co11n . so Pat·a \\'Oil by

detaul1. EYCll though he \\'as not active i11 the court< du ring I i6~ and

I 71i~ . Paca did participate. \\'irh h is l;I\\' 1111or. in <C\'l' ra l k r;a l transac·

1ions ck;iring land title;;. indit·:uin~ that he ma,· h:Hc scn·ccl in 1he

t .1paci1y of a junior ;1>socimc in llordky'., ollicc.

The rear I 7li!I \\'"' lllOlllCntoll' lor \\.i ll ia1n l'aca. both pr r5ottall )'

:ind prvlcss io11 ;1lly. hcc<•u>C i1 s;I\\· both his ntarri:t)!;C ancl his lonnal

t·ntr:rnc<' into ;n1 <let in· lci;al pranic•c. Un ;\lay 26. I 76:1. \Villia111 Paca

1n:uTit:d Ann \l ar~· C11t:\\', .1 lkni1111atdy k11 mn1 f>, lil'1 f:uuih· '" Mollr.

1111c oi the most 'out;ltt·aite r " ·omen in t he; pnn·inrc; Willi a111 's father.

~i;11Hllath<:r. ;mt! ;:n•a1 -gr:rndfather had all m:i11 icd "·di. cnh:111c ing their

lnnum·s .md s111 in l pro111 i11c11cc through thcit "·i,·cs. hm non t: of the

111a1 i:hes rnnlrl co111pa rc to 1hat ol \\'il lia111 Paca and l\lary Chew. No

" ·0111an in the pro\'inn· h:1cl 111ort· illmirious 1cl.11i' c>. and l'c w had

);•<::ttcr wcah.h. \Ian "'"' 1f'lated IJ, l>lood nr 1 na rria~c w nearly a ll ol

the lead ing \laryl;111d la111ilic:s. H cr 11 101her. Ht:nricu ;1 i\faria Lloyd,

\\·a< a granclclaui:lucr ol Colonel Edward l.i<\~d of Taloo1 Coum\". and

"·hcu she was l<'ss th:1u li\'c ~''ill'' old \loll,· h.td hce11 left a considcrnbl<'

k:"aC\· '" anoth<:t' rclati,-c. Rich;1 rd llc111tl'tl. at that time the l'ic.hest " . '

1nan i11 lh<· prn\'ince l'\ lan··, l;11IH'1 . Samuel Che\\'. dirt! when she wa~

an i11l a111. ;n1d .>he h;td hc<'n r;1is<:d in the l111111c of her <1epfathcr. Daniel

llu lany. Sr. hi\· fa milies e(1na kd iii~· llula11ys in hmdholdin~. political

inAucn< e. a11d \\'Calth. so \Ian· h~d 1(1'0\\' ll up :1111i<l<1. 1hc best that

prov i1l(' i:il society had to olfrr.

·II

Gin.: 11 ~ l ary Chc,r·s wealch and suri;tl position. \\'ill ia111 l'aca \ras nm.

of c.oursc. her only suiwr. W1·i1ing lro111 London i11 July 1 i6 1. Michael

Mac:'\c111:1ra entn:au:d Charles Carrnll of ,.\nnapolis lO 111ake certain

that his ~lll. T o111111} i\lacNemar.1. .. pay (."Qllstant ,· isiL~ to i\'lrs. Dulany .

\! rs. l)om:y &: \liss l\!olly Chew.'"' \! rs . fah,·ard Dorsey. Mary's sister,

hacl bern recently widowed. She was alread y showi1111: signs of the illness

10 which ~he woulcl shortly succumb. howeve r, and the youugc r and

11c,•c r-marrinl Molly was ce rtain ly the principal object of MacNernara's

interest. ..\nothcr. and 111orc pa1hetic. c;1S<: ol infa1uation involving Mary

Chew ult imate ly resulu~d in :1 suit in the Chancery Court. Charles

H omewood had met Mary through her brothers. Philip and Bcn ncu

Chew, with whom he had au ended school in Annapolis. According to

e\'idencc J.nesemcd in the Chancery rnsc. Ho111cwoo<I .. became fond"

of Mary and "' had or pretended to hal'e hopes w sn111 c ti me obtaining

her for a wife: · He <lisplayc(l b is dcrn1io11 in <H > unonhoclox manner.

prefixing her initials to his own w1111c. Styling hi111sclt l'll. C. C. Home·

\\'ood. J\fary's I rn~trated suit0r signe<I legal rloc:1111ic1n s under this as·

sumcd name. and a rour1 decree was n:quire<I co establish whet.her his

signature was ,·a\id when \\Tillcn in lhis ··,-cry cx1raordinarv manner."'

" 'ith many men to choose lrom. ~Ian· Chew did not {eel compelled

co 111arry ;t\ all c.1r\y age. l 11~tca<\. ~llC' \,·aited unti\ sl1c.: ,,.C,) l'''Ctl1 y-cight.

a ncl 1hc 11 she 111arriecl a man six 'C'"'-' her junior. Mary could ha\'C

chosen a \\·cal thier and m o 1·¢ soc ially prominent ni:111 1 ban \.Vill iam

l'aca. hut wbaL he lat·k.:d in 1 hcsc aLtribmes he n )11lpc nsatecl for with

his c<lur:11ion. g raceful ma1111crs. and physi<:al charm.

T he 111011lh follm,·ing his 111arriage to 1\-!ary Chc1,·. l'aca q ualified as

;1n :111orney in the Anne .\ rumlcl and Baltimore County Couns. j ust

twcnty·t\,·o year• old. \\'illia111 Paca' pro~pcets could not have looked

brigh ter in the sn111mer of I it>~. · 1 ·hc Trea ty of l'ari< cmting the long

French and lmlian \ \'ar \\'as signed in Fcbruarv of that )·car, bouyi ng

up :\111eric u1 and Engl ish hope~ thot n resumpt ion o t lll1imerrupted

t rade""" commerc<: wou ld u~hcr in an era of 11nprCtl·demed prosperity.

T he SU(<:Cs< ol l'ara·s o\\·n la1,· pr;u:tirc ,,·as assured by h is educa tion

a11d ~k ill a11d augrnc1ncd by hi< 111a rria~c. · r hm. \\'illia111 l'aca ancl hi~

bride began married lite with l"\Cl'\' cxpcn:uion that theirs would be

a long ;uul happy union in a world al peace.

CltAl'TF.R ' I HIO'.li:

,-\ccess to Wealth, Influence, and Po,ver

I h ~ social status \Villia r11 Para ac'luircd by marriag-c to Moll ) Chew . 11.11:111tl·ccl that his law pra <'licc \\'ould llouri.; 11 and that he could. it he

'•"'<'· 1110\'t: <JUick lr and easily in10 ~olonial poli1ic-s. Fur1hcr111orc. wi1h ' t· \a!'-1 f11l.tnc ial rc.:sources <>I his ne,,· 'rife. Paca. \\'as able t (> acc.1uirc a

1r g<· land1.:d ('stale a11d in1111cdia1dy h1~1-(ill con~1rnctio11 of an Annapolis .1mion >1 1i1ablc fo1 his hri<k. T hus. c,·en 1liough his lather hacl pro-

11 k .I hi111 with an excellent erl11ca tio11. i1 "';1~ his 111:1rr iage tha1 g:n·c lie you n!I,' f'ac:t a cress to \\·ca I th . in lh 11.:11u:. and powc1·.

l'\('u before Pac.r 4ualified a> <111 anorney i11 the .\nne .-\ rundd 1 .111111' Conn in June 1 ifi$ . he ;111d hi~ \\'ik had taken the first Mcp " '"';tr<! l:>Uilding ;1 house: o l their 011· 11 i11 . .\1111apo lis.1 Four days alter

11·ir marnagc. the Pacas p111 d1a,ed l\\'O :1djoini11i.: lots on Pr ince ( ;.-orge ' l ll·•:l lrtHll · rhruna~ .Johns<»l. Since )'aca·~ l:t\\' pracLit:c \\·as 11o t yet 111oducin!( 111ud1 inu 1111e. ii 11•:1> /110111 's lonunt· that ena bled thein to ,• u><cc:d \\'ith ihe project. l\lolh·'s la111il\' w;is a large: one. and 111os1 ol u · hro1hcr< and ,istcrs rc·sickd i11 >t1hstan1ial rl\\'clli11g~ ncarb)'. hut

·II.: l'aca> c.: 111barkcd on 1.hc.: 111os1 a111bi1ious 1>ui ldi11g pl<1 11 yet seen in \nnapoJi,, cons1n1ning il1t· Jirs1 ol the g1ca1 brick 101\'nho11sc:s thac 1.lorncd ihe ci ty i11 the Lkcark beforl' the Rcl'CJ)utio11.

J'he Pacas mol'c::d into du: g rca1 J11·e·pan ( ;<·orgian ruamion i11 176?1. lou1 rn111 plcting the: house and pc.:rlcning 1he i;•mkn 1ha1 discin!(uishecl Cl 1c1 p1ir~cl SCl'eral 111ore years. Tht· <·osL ol buildin~ the house on Princl'

'-. --

( ;eorgc S11n·1 ;, 1101 k110"·11. but 111<: s t1111 11u1<r han• hcen 11rinccly. C\Tll

co11sidcri11g j\J ;1 n · 1',,. ,t', '"" ""'"· 0111« il11· f1<JU><: 1ra> fi11isht:d. howe1·er, it t·s tablishcd a swncbrcl 1 hn1 i 11ll 11c·11< <'d 1 he building plans o l mher \\·c.-;1l t h y nu .. ·rchau l"-. la\,. )'C.' I *' . . 111d (!.<J\'c1 11111t:1u ollic i ;tl~ i11 lht pro,·incial ca 11 i ta!.

.·\I i.hough "'l"'l'I ising ilw 'Othl rnr1 io11 ol h is ne w ho"'<:. CYe11 \\'ith Molly's ht: lp. rcq uirt:tl <'011sicl<·1:ihk a111:111 i1.111. v\!il liarn 1':1ca at the same t i111<: b<:c;1 111c i11 c1«:<1.,i 11g h ani1t· in 1ht.: rouns and i11 loca l poli cies. In .\pril I /(;.1 h~ qu;dih <·d '" a11 atWl'll<:) in the Prol'in.·ia l Coun. allC l i11 June c>I lhaL yc11r l tl' h<·~a n H> 1>1«ict i<"l' in cht: J.' rt"<-1c rick anti Prir1ct: c;corgc's COUllL) Cutt l'l>. ll~ June ol l ilif1 he had hl't:n admi1ccd ;Jl(

alCO!'llcl' in 1ht: ()u<.:cll -\ 11 11 c·~ Cou1n1 Cou rt. a11cl about the same time ' - '

he began prauicing 111 the Ch.1111 Cl') C:o11n . i\lo;t ol J'aca's lega l cases i11 \'0ll'c-d di'l'"c'' ' c11C't dt·li1' . l:11ul 1i1k,. or charges ol assault and bat­tery. a1ltl ht: <>ltcn lcJuncl 1h:tt 1ht· <11>J>t)\i11µ. :tllorncys \\·t·re n1er1 l1e knc,,·

h·ell fro1111hr Foren<i.- Club. 1110<1 no1:ihh .John I fall. l'ho111as Johnson. and :>an1111;l Cha,c. \\'hil,. lht:<c lllcn 1t·111a1ncd ~oo<l lricnds. their pro·

cli\'ity tor earnest dch.nc 111can1 1h.11 "'"" 111inor debt cases in,·oh'ing i11di ,·i1l11<1J, wloo111 110111: kll<' \\' wdl could lx:co11u.: tht: source ol consid-

cn1bk: c111c r1ai11111<:111 for judges a11d spectators alike. Unlike 1 he Foren­

sic C lub debates. the conser1nenccs for 1hc losing side in these court

b<tttles could be serious. but for r.he auorncp im·ol\'cd the an of arguing and ,,· inn ing the poin1 "·as still comid('rc<l the most imponan1 acm111. plishmcm.

The forensic talents ol Paca and the 01 her young l<m·yers in the pro­' ' in(:ial capital were soon to he 1cs1c:d on "" issue of much greater im­

portance than those ot rhc cases they argued in the loca l cou ns of la\\'. Both ,\mericans an<l Englishrnen rejoiced in 1763 Kith the cuh11inatio11 of the French ;rnd Indian \Var, lm1 1hc: fl ush of ,·ictory soon palt:d as firitain found herse lf contron1ed \\'ith prcssiug adrninistratin • an<l finan­cial problc111s. Cm·crning the 1·as1 L<' rl'itory c-eckrl br France required iunncdi<HC at1ention. and on Ocwbcr 7. 17();~ . King (,t>orge III. 1.hen

only t1rcnty-lin: years old. issued a proda111arion e$cablishing his policy for tlH: ;irca. The l' roc la111a1 io11 of l ili;\ prohibited English settlement beyond 1hc . ..\ppalachian rnou1naius and was designed to stop colonia l c1tc:rf>ac:h11lCnLs 011 lnclla11 f<111<l~. 1lu.: scu1rcc: ol c:'Hllinual di.sscnsio11 a11d conttict. The prnclalllation ad\'ersdy afftctt:tl somt: colonies. especially Virgin ia. \\·here K<:althy im·c~1ors hacl spcn1bt1(·d hl:a1·ily i11 w<:stcrn

lands. but le"· Marybnders had an interest in or expressed opposi tion 10 the king's decision.

:-tore serious 11·crc 1hc li na11 cial prnblcn1s Bri1ain laced as" resuh of the French and Indian 'Var. :'1-Jo,t colonies had borrowed he:11·ily trom their citizens 10 raise c.roops and suppl it:> in rnppon of 1hc ,,·;ir dfon. and England had txpendcd thousands o( pounds l rom her 011·11 treasury

to 111ounl a m cct:ss lul milii.an· .:a111 paign in .-\merica . In addition the king decided that J3ri1 islt l roops >houk! be lll<tintaiu<.:d inddiuitdy iu .\rnerica to n1:111 the wcst<Ttt forts ;111d to protect the colonies' northern bo11nd;irr tn.>111 i11n1rsio11S h~· Fr<.:11rh Canadians. British cit iLens \\TIT

alrcarh· taxed to the limit. so i1 st:erned emird l' scnsihk- to Crnrg-c>

Cren,·ille. chancdlor of the exchequer. to ask tht: ,\111cricam c.o bear

p<ll'l ol the linancial bnrdt:n. (;rtn \·lllc's ,tlltnq.>t lt) raisi.' i·t,·e11uc lt·ou1 ·\ n1c..· ric'l tcJok l,,.cJ i·ur1ns:

lirst. leg·islati<.>11 l(• c11s11rc 1h:u i 11:·1xi 111lu n i11 <li r(·<:l 1·c,·c1)uC frorn d11 Llcs Oil tra<lt• \\'C\S dtri\·cd frtJlll the C<J]<Jl l il'S. (Hid .~l'(:(H HJ , the illl}><J.~ili<)l' Of

direct taxes on the .-\111eri<·ans. (;renl'ille ;ulrled to the list of commodi­

c.ies raised in the colonies th;it had to be lllark('u:d through English

pons. and he in.stim1.ed bo11n1k:s on other cro ps. mos1 11oc:1bl\' hemp,

to cncou1 agc increased pro<l11c1ion. :\g;1i11 \lardand ,,·as little affrc1cd

by these n1casnr.,s. bc"1usc robac~(> . the colony\ majo r export crop. was

;llready 011 the c11unu:n11cd list. and the boumics dicl liulc to aher the

kinds ol crops r:iisc.:cl by planter' in the pro\'incc. In 17(:;4 Cn:n,·ilk

p ropose<! the Sug;11· :\ n. a bill that """ l>0th 111c:n :1111il i~t and tina 11cial

in d1arancr. or. in other Korcb. sought both 1.0 con trol colonial produc·

tion anti to raise money. :\fol;1sses imp<Htl·cl into the colonic:s fro111 non·

English islands in tht: \\'est lndic; h:ul Ion!{ bcl·n subject IV a h":ivy rnx .

but lack ol cnlon:cmcnt awl c xtensin: s11111ggling had nnll ilicd the

im pact ol the l;n,·. The S11g;1r ,\(! lowered 1.hc ta x on 1n(l lasscs IO a

rl«tMmablc Je,l·I hm pro,·idcd for su·ict l·11lorc"111cm ol the laK. Jn

cffccl. t he.: Sugar ,·\c1. 11-;os the first direct tax fc,·icd on /\.merirnns, and

opposition. pankularly fro111 i'lc1.- Euglandc1-s ,,·ho dcpc11< l<.'<l on im­

pul'tcd 111o lasscs for their n1111 clisti lleri<:s. '"as in1111cdia1.c aud int<:nsc.

Marylanders offered little prolCSI :1g<1i11sl the Sug;ir .-\n howc\'C r. l>c·

cause it did not rea ll y affect lhl:tll . although a lcw c xpn:ss<:cl uneas iness

<H lhl· p1c( cck111 f'arli:1111clll load C>tahlishcd wilh 1hc bill .

t; rc n1·ilk next 111m·nl to raise addirioual incom<• horn the wlo11ics

U) proposing th<: Stamp .-\< 1. a lor111 uf 1:1xatio11 alrcach· imposed on

English1n~·n and. he l>d ic1·cd. 1hc rdorc ;occeplablc Lo most .-\111cricans.

H<: "1b111i11cd du~ S1.1111p An to 1'.trlialll<'lll in Fchrua1·y I i65. ancl the

bi ll pass, .. d wi1h 1·inually no dch.11l· ur oppMit io11 . The act requi red

that ta~ 'lamps 1.x: purdoascd lor a •ariet~ ol itl·111> us...cl in lhc: colonies.

inclu<li11 14 p la \'i11g cards ;rnd di e<-. m:11·sp<1pcrs <ind ;1l 111anacs. ancl all

do<. u 111cn 1s used in lei::1 I t ra11<act ions and cou 1t> ol la 1.- . so nca rl )' cn"r )'

. .\111crica11 11·as i11 souic 1rny 1ouchcd by 1he :1<:1. The total n;\'c 1111{' Gren·

,·illC' expcn<:d lO raise loom lhc bill w:i< <111all. howc:\'cr. to1ali11g uni~

;i sixth of the an1<>1111t 11r:etkd 10 11mi111ai11 llril ish troops iu A1ntTica. H

the laxes i111posed by the S1:11np .-\u had bcc11 'l'n:ad c\'1:11h- over the

c111irc population ol 1hc cokmics. t:ach pt-rson 1roulcl han~ wm1·ibutcd

onl) a shilling per )l'ar. or about hall ol 011<' <la)·'s wage . 11111 though

111i11i111al. this n t·11· tax did 1'< >1He at 1hc ll'ors1 possible ti1111:. Th(' pric<.:

of tobacco had J.>lll111111ctcd in I ili4. and b)· I i1;;, the: :\111crica11 colo·

11ics- cspc«ially 1host 111os1 direnll' dqw11dc111 upu11 Lobarco- wc re in

1he lhro<:., of :t ...:n-t<· cco11v111ic dcprn,ion. In Jnni: I ;1;;; Bcni:clin

C:ih·crl. a 111tmbc1 ol the 1'01·crnor"s Council. l'Xprcs;cd t he colu11is1s·

ccono111ic hardship in :l kt1l·1· t0 hi, 11nck. Cetilius Cah·en : ··olll 1ra<lc

is rni11cd ." he \\Tutt: : " \\·c arc in1111t·11scl\' in dcb1 . and no< 1h.: least ;

·l6

prnhabiliL ) ol gcui11g clear ... The people ol America were never in such a d isrn.:sr si111a1io11as1h1:y are ~l prcsenc."' \Vord ol 1he pa!-.<agc of the ~1amp .\ n readied 1.he co louits by i:arlr Ap ril l 765. Tho ugh lhc .-olonisLs w u ld no l rca lis1ic;tll) argue rhat i1 i 1npp~t:cl "" intokrnlile (111a1H ia l lwrdc11 on them. m;111y c:olo11ial k ad­ers believe.I it po'<"d a seriom c.halln1gc 10 :\me1 ica11 right<. :\ pr ime 1c11c1 of Enp;land"s un11.,-i1te11 c()11stilutio11 \\·a, tha l no ciri , t·n could be taxed wi1ho111 hi., conscnL or the appn n·al o f a rcprcse11 rnlin: clcc:tc<I hr him . .Sinc;c the : \111crira11 co lu11is1s were not 1cprescmcd in l'arli;11ne11t. LhcJse o pposed to rhe .S1amp :\ct ro1u crHkcl tlwl if Pa rliarnc111 could k'")° even a '"'a ll tax 011 1he pap<:r used i11 .ilmanacs ancl 11ew.- papcr., . 11o rhi11g co uld prc,·em it fro1n pass ing even higher taxes on a11 en :r·incn:asing list of A1m:i·ican goods. l'roponcn" ol rl1e S1amp .-\ n n.:.,porHkd d1a1 c n .: ry 111e11d;t:r of Parliamc111 \\"orkccl for 1 he ~ood of all Bri1 j,h citizen,. and accnsc:d r ht: .-\ 111c rican.1 of 11 r..: rc I, . st:<.: king an .:xn r 1c to r shi r king their lair share o l the cos1 req11ircd tor t hei r ow11 p1utec1iun and !or «:c11ri11g Lli c la11 ds wo 11 (rum 1'1c Frent:h .

T he li rst g rc;o l pru1csr. "!{a insl the Stam p An <:<\111c in Virginia . ,,· here l'a1ric.k H enry ... ye ,·cry De,·il in Polilicks: · denou nced the bill i11 1.hc H ouse of B11rgcs.1cs i11 \\i illiarm burg. H enn· in1rud 11 <"ecl ,c,·cn rc:solu· t i()m. which dcdarccl thar 0111 ) d ie c'>lo11 i.1ts lwd rh t· right w lc\-y taxes n11 1hc 111sel 1"C"< and that P;irlia111cn1 ·s a11c111p1 10 do so sho11ld be resisted

.ti .111 cos1. \·Vhcu t he.: Mfll .1 /,111il Ga: 1' i/1• a1111 CJ1111ccd rhc Stamp :\ct Le) \l :irdandcrs 011 April 111.l/(i:"i . .Jonas ( ,ieen. 1hc p ub lisher. rcponcd rl1at ··111cland1oly a11d a l~nnin~ ac:co t1111s·· o ~ the tax had just been re· c .-i,Td lru111 rhe 11on h. Fot tlnt·c mo111h, the pages of the (;11 : f'l/e wen: hlktl with le11e1< ;mcl ediwrial< conclcmning the an :111tf srning the ,1,1gc !or 1ht; hrsr g-rca t puh li <: pt"c>l<.:SI in :\n11apnlis 0 11 .\11gus1 26. The k .ulcr of th is 111~-et ing """ Sam 11d C hase, bu c \ ·Vi II iai 11 Pac'" was ac­c i vrl y. if 110 1 so conspi<:uouslv. ill\oln ·d . The crowd constructc<l an di1~y ol Zachariah J lood. the Annapo li.s me1diant 'dw had acrc ptecl 1i1c oflire o f ,tamp collcnor lor Maryland. a111\ ch·;iggctf i1 through 1.li c ' ""·n·s srrcc1s in a can. :\ few cla ys [;n c1 sc\cnll hundred p1·ulcs1ors ck~t r nyt«l 1 loocr, -\nnapol i, w:1rcho11s<: '" tun her rel rilntt ion for h is -dl· in1crcs1ctl corulu< 1. l'ublic ourrngt a t th e: S1;1111p :\n g;rcw throup;hcml the fo ll and " ·inter .. 1 I i6;}-66. lh Fcbruan · ol I /(jti 111:11n· ~larvb 1akrs hacl de1en11incd . '

( ' 1h.11 c·u111pk 1e a11d open deli ante ol dw law "·as «ssc111 i;rl 10 g;1in its

repeal In that 11u.111th some ol the ··principal gcntktucn·· ol Balt imort'

Coun ty mn tu form a ··Socitty for the l\£ai11 tcna11cr.: ol Onlt'r a nd Pro­

tect io11 o l .\t1 H'ric111 Lib1:rt.\.'. wh ic h <1u il.:k lv b<,c:1111t k11mn1 as the ' '

··Sons ol Lihenr:· Th..:~ >oui.;111 the suppon of otht:r co11ntie<. and thi.:

firs t to n:spo11d """ :\nnc . .\rundcl. with Samuel Chast: and \Villia r11

l';rc;r <H)(anizing that n J11111 i \Son< ol I .ihen~. \V ith t he full support ol

the .-\nni.: . .\ru11clc l So11>. the Halti11ron~ Ar<>Up 111:ll'rhed 011 .-\1111apoli>

to dt111 a r1cl that th.; 1011111v m un<, which had been do><·<I since it hail

blTOllH' ncce<sari lo u'<· , 1:11nped paper for lq;a I don nnC'tllS. be n :­

opc11ccl. The .Sor" of Lihl·r t' \\·on th<·i1· case. incl ica1ing the s1n;11g1h of

th<.; oppo~ i1io11 that had bt:r.: 11 111obilizcd "Aain,t tht· Sta rnp .\ ct.

The 11.'r , ·or ol p11hlic rcsc1ll1l1t:IH :rgainst th e Hriti.$h !{O\Trn11rc11r ''as

short li1·crl. lum·c1·er, " ·irh new• ol the .'it alllp :\ ct'• 1cpcal bci11g re­

cc i1·ed i11 1hc co lony only a fc"· dais alt~r tht 111al'Ch 0 11 . .\nnapolis. On

Tucsrlay. l\lay '.!i . (;m·ernor !1ora1io .Sharpe: rlissoh·cd the (.e11r.:1·;rl :\ s­

'<'1t1blv. a11d 1l1a1 C\TuinA' polit i6:11rs and citi1ens a likt' participated in

a hoist.crou• <'eicbr,1tio11 rnarking th e o ttici;rf 1qical of the rax. Thr.: Man­

la11<! G 11 : l'llt' rcpo n ed t lr:11 "Loral ;11 rd Pa triotic Toasts wc1·c Drank,

lht' (,1111< at the Dod at the ,.;nJlc Tittl<' Firing. and o rh.:r D l·n rnnstra·

1 iom of Jm· shc\\'rL nn :1n :()t1nt of tht· l\t l'OKT.\.'\l "' \\'.' o l the" A~rt·· .~n·

b<' ing Rqica led." "

.\ni111o>il). lO\\'ard lhi1ai11 subsided. but r<'lations hC't1n:e11 thl' Ameri­

C"a n colo1lics ;nul tl1c 1uotht.:r (·f1 11u1 ry \\·c:1·c tlt:\4.:r again •1ttitc tht: :-,~tine .

:\o 011c ;r1 1h .. ti111c: " '"'th<' ::l tanrp .\ cc er;,; , :is a ha r birtge r ol ·\111c ric111

imlcpcnclt·11ct' . hm thr n1lonists k11t'\1' the,· had laced a sc1·ert tesr ol

their righl5 and libcni('s and har.1 ,11.-.-ectkd i11 pr.:>t·1,·ing thC'Jtl. Rt­

sist;111r" to tl11' St:11 1J p \ n nt'a1c·rl a 11t·" · ' lirnl·minn in rnJoni:rl politics.

LitLh.:-l no,,·n n1en . 1ua ny of t h«111 y(>t111g·. J .-u I ')t-g·~.n 1 i1ed )Jro1 c.~L' j n e,·c ry

co lo111' .lltd c.:111crgcd as politi1<rl lea<kt$. Thc t:rl·ti<.' the) li:irl crnplo)<~•I.

panic 11I :r1 h · 1.hc u s1· o l Ill'"' ' papns rn pop11 b rin: their ideas ;1111 I mo hi Iii('

Sllj>(JOl1 in the Ci ti<» ;1111) 101,·ns. \\'~It: 0111ino11s OJtlClh Jor both nri tish

I>l,litici~1u$ :t1H.l l·c.>u,C' r\·~tt i,<.:S r.ll trt:nc hcc! in pctsi 1i<)tl~ of 1>•J\\·cr i11 .-\nler­

ic;i. In :'-l :rn land the r<·., i>1 :rr rn ' 10 tl11: S1a11q.1 An :;<a1·c· publk c~pu,11n:

lll \\'illi:r111 P a<:r , S:11rn1el Cha<<:. and other k:rders and <'rrlt;lllf<:cl theil'

rr.: put:tt iorr ' . rill' popul:rrit~ l'ac:1 :iuaincd fn.1111 hi~ efforts to :rd1ic,·c

the repea l o f t.ht: St:rlllp .\ n (·nabkd hinr to gain hi~ ti rst puhl iC' ofliC<'

1d1c11 tho: ci titcn> of \ 11nap0Ji, t:ku,•d him to dll' tit''< C0t11lllOJJ

Council in ~l;1 y I ili t.}.

In the midst ol the pu bli1· turmoi l m·c r t he :-.t;1111p ·\ u. c:H'11b ot a pcrso11al nature also din:ctc<l the course of 1hc l'arns· l iH·,. I h<' hirih elates or alJ their dt ild rru an: llOl prt:cisdy k llOlfll . Ja1gch hCCtUS(' .Joua; ( .t c·<:tt. publisher ol ohe M 11,.\'l1111d (;'"' '"'" who '""' l'l:>J><>11,il>lr foo keeping' the parish rcgist c t 101 St . :\ t111t:'s. >n11pul1H"I ) .:111c•rcrl only liis U\\'ll ta111il\''s 1·ital s1.:11istic·s. l\ut 11·he11 Mary 1'<1.::1\ 11tl>1hn. l-kuri­c11a ~!:11 ia 1.loyd D ulillly. drl' "' 11p hco "·ill 011 :\01·1~11ol 1c r ii . 1 i!iii . ,he mc:utio ned a g randdaugfun. I k11 r in1a :\-bria Pam:' ' l'hu~. the 1';1c<1s· h rs t ch ild 11-:1~ horn somcti111c durini: the lirst cightcc11 1110111h> of 1hc:ir marriagc. pmhahk iu late 1 /(i-1 or e.irly I /!iii. !'hi~ child died shortly 1hereal L.,r. lx·cauS(' their >c:nmd cla11l{ICI. who appc:;u1> \0 han: h<:en burn i11 l 76i. '""' ~i1c:n t he " " lH' name. I lc11rie11a \I aria. \I rs. D111:1111 111c1Hio11cd ohrcc.: other gra111ld:tt1!(htc:r' in her will . a ll n l 11·hom 11-e1-c :rlso 11:1111cd I lcnric:ua Mari ;1 in her honor. One. l-k11rit·11a ~ ! aria DorS<:) . '""' :111 orpha11 she ltn,!'I I \\':ts raising-. When Mrs. I lul;iny died in lk<:t: nih.:r I 711:> . cen·H:ar-old .\Ii'' I Jc1111r Dorsey 11101·cd 10 hc: r . \1n11 l'ac.1'> h111nc. a r id1 but 1c1 ~ ill )Ot1 11g g irl. She "''" prohabl) <uffcri11g lrom :r tt-.pir;uory a il111e111. lx:rhap< 111hcrnilo>i>. :uni ahhnugh her maid. a sla1·e woman namc1l Sall. atu:mkd her. \I r,.. l':u:r undertook chc p1 in icipa l 1•cspnmibilil\ lo t lll:tking her niece '.< life :rs n>mlonabk :1> po»iblt· ;ind lor proYidinf( het \\' ith an crluc:nio11 " a' \\'as proper Jor Jin agt-." \·Vhc11 l\l iss H.:1111) ·, " ·"'dition nmlin ued to ck1crion11<:. the best don ors avai lahk 11·crc umsttlted . 111 sp i1 c ol «n: ri o11c·, dfons . . ~he di<:d 0 11 Ocrober I. J /fili. ocn 111011tlts :tlcc:r arri\·in~ :u the l'aca home .

. \ hh1111~h young. the sut ia l ,1;11m o f i\l i" l lc:1111i 11eccssi1a1cd :1 large l11nr1al. and \ \.illiarn J>ac:o :1llc1t1kd 10 t·1·cry de1ail. In cii.:h1ce111h· 1cm1tr) .\ (;1ril:1nd an elaborate lunrrn l 1t·<j11irc:d that 1urn11nt·1-s he p r0· 1·i1kd \\' it h appropri:n.: .1uin" su l':ict purd1asccl m ·c1 c igl tl) ya nls o f 1d1i1c d o th 10 1 thost' in :tlt<:111la11 i:c . '" 11·dl as t\\'e11lr-cllH' pair, o l gi<n-c:s to r the pri11c: ipal 111c:11 111 cite l unct a l prnces.$ion. J11rn 11!(l'll<Htsh. Para bought mosc 111 rht· fune1al 111a1e ri:1ls lrr1111 Z;idtariah H ood. 1hc 1k:spiscd 'l;1111p co llec:to r \\'llOsc cfligT ht' had hclpc:1l hurn only momhs hcfnn·. To "'S\ll'C a propt'r l u11<:ral 11· 1th minimal an~u ish 10 the la1ni l). Paca paid .I woman .. )or ~('II ing up with r die . Cot psc:· a11d he had a rn~IOllt •lll<tCk

task<:!. lined \\·irh white doth. p1cparcd for 1he l>oth. F.xpcmi\·c ru. n.:rdb 11·t:rc ~11 ab,o lu1.- nerc~s i 1 ' Im people of Pac o\ rank . :111d even if

he had been unable 10 charge all ot t he costs against the little girl's em11c. he probahly would ha,·c clone the sanic.>

Followi ng the n:pcal ol tht· $ta111p Act. \.\' illia111 Paca was abk to dc,·01c more time to his law practice and to the completion of the mansion on l'rin <T George .Street. H e still LOr>k an ocrnsional case in the Annapolis ll'l ayo1".s Court. btll he hern1rn: increasingly acli\'e in the co u111\· and prn1·i11r ial court.<. Hc a lso se rved as the lawver t·or his 11·ife's . ' 11·ca l1h y and inOucmial rt:lati\'eS. par1icularl~· in settling the cs1;t1es and clearing land 1illcs to propel'!)' kith,- Henric11a '\·!aria Lloyd Dulany ;md :'l'fiss H enny.

l'aca 's politica l r.a rccr <:xp11ndc::d in I 76i \\'hen hc and .John Hall \l'Cl'C clcc tecl ,,·ithout oppos ition as dclcgares lrnm .\nnapolis to chc Lower Hous<' . Unlike most colonics in :\111crirn. :\!aql;in<l was owuc<l by a pri1·atc bunily. 1-.ing C:harks I gr:rn ie<l the prOl·inn: to George Cah·en. fir~! Lord Hah i111 or<-. and ln)Jn )()~'.! w I ii6. except [or a hiatus of CrOlrn rnk bctwt•cn l lill'l ;111d Iii!\. it >C111<1 i11cd the l<unily» private )ll'CSlTl'C .. -\ttcr I ol.\~) the king-. :\f ling 11·ith hi< council. (.onld \ 'ClO legis­l;n ion passed h~ the: l\fardancl le~i,la1111t'. so poli1ic:s in the p1·01incc ,,·as panicularl~ complex during the c ight<:cmh t·c11tury. A loose and shifting coali1io11 . 1·arioush· 1cnned dw ;11 1t ipropriet:1ry. co111111·1-. or popu lar party. cn rc rgccl to rcs i., t "·ha t it comidercd 1111 rcam11a hk· <'lets a11d policies ol both the proprietor and tlrc king. The: popular p«rty'5 s1rc11gth la1· in 1hc Lo"-cr Home of 1hc kgi;lature: the 1101·crnor ;mcl his Connc:il (whirh also 111c: t. " ·ithnnt the go,·c1 nrn-. as tht: l ' ppcr Honse of the (;c11n;tl :\ ssembl l') were all p;1t rona)4<: :appointee' a11cl jealously guardtd the propricw r's prcrog:Hi,·c, . .-\hhnni.:h the .ml iproprictary part )' had lllitdc <lnlll' progrc<' in its cffon lO <tS'tTt greater pcm·er and aud10ri1y for d1c ckcu·<l hou'c of th<· kgisb111rc 11t:lore 1hc l'i6Us. its grcn1cq gains 01 < urred in clw tu111uhuo"" dl'l:tdc: hdorc the Rc,·ol11tio11. lly p ublit:h · a lig11ing h i11isd t ll'i ch 1hc pop11h1r party in resisting 1.hc Stamp :\< c. \\' illi:rr11 Paca :oclric1·ccl 111<· s1q>po n 11t'cesSH)' lor his clce-1io11 LO the: Lower Hmi>c in l'i6i. and he qui< kh became one ol i1s lorcmost ach·oc " 11:;.

Thi' year 1h;11 Pact cntcrtd the (:encnil Assc:111hly wiuie~si:cl passagc ot ch<: Townshend Dmics by l'al'lia111c111 and rlr c: beginnin)'.\' of the nc x1

great nms m the political alfai1-s of the colonies. Charles Townshend.

appointed chancellor of 1he cxdl(:qucr in 1766, fully appro1-cd of Gn:11·

villc's idea of raising rc\'Ctlllc from the colonie>. but he adopted an

approach that he lx;lievcd the folonislS wou ld lind an:cptablr. l n pro­

testing t he Stamp Act d1c colonist~ had drawn a distinction between

imcrnal and external taxes_ They admiucd l'arlianu:n1 ·s riglat to regu­

late co11111u:n :c and to co llect duties. o r " Cx lt:nrnl " taxes . 011 1radc goods.

lnll 1hq insi~1ed that direct. or "internal." taxc< coulcl be leYied only

l>y thcmsch·rs or by t he ir rcprescn1ativc.< i11 Lhe colo11ial legislatures.

Townshend hirusclf considered the distinction bcn,·<'<'n imcrnal and ex­

ternal t:txcs absurd , but he w:1< prepared to 1akc 1hc A1neric;t1is :11 their

\\'O rd. · 1 hu$, rather than a dirrn tax such as had been aut·mptcd with

the Stamp .-\ Cl. T ownsh r nd prnpo<cd an cxpo r1 dmy 011 tea . paper.

glass. and paimei"s colors.

The t'<·onomic conclition ol '.\laryland was much bc:ucr iu I 7tii cha11

it had been in 1765 whtn the Stamp .-\ct w<1s passed. Funhc:rniore. the

l>rit-e of che comnH><litics alfcned b\' tht· T owushcnd Duties a lrcarh· . ,

rdlr:ctecl the urx by 1ht ti1ne chc ~oocb rcachtd 1hc co lony. so thnc ,,·as

no hared pnsition of scamp ..:ollcctor around \d1ich to org:rnizt opposi­

tion. Besides. t he b11r<lcn ot the tax Jell n1ost hc:aYi l} on tht co11unercial

colonies in the north . so 1hc 111ajorit) of 1\Jaryl:1111lers accep1ed the new

tax ,,·ichout opposi1 ion .

l'rotc>l against the Towmhcnd Du1ies firs• arose in '.\lassadiusen<

aml '\cw York. the tconoc11ics of which \\Tr<· dircrrh· affected lw chc . '

act. The discon tell l ~e11cr;ctnl in th<· northern colonies !:riled tu spread

w Maryland n11cil 1768. ho"'C\'er. and 1hc11 the is>llC was pairccl with

the: pcrc11nial c·ontlict bc111·ec:ll 1.bt J.01,·c.:1 H ou'c of the ( ;en<:ral :\,.

:.e111bly :rud the go1·cnwr. rite m 111.-o,·er>I' 11-as ~parkt·d by 1he fa1 Dous

circular lectc.:1 fro1n the ,\la'>adH1'ctts I lomc of Rcprt-.cntat iYcs, a

document pcllncd b)· Sanrnd ,\ claim. expressing rha1 co lom"s belic l

1lrn t rhc Towmh<:nd Du1ics w<.:1<; il lega l :tlld uq:;ing the ki ng to respond

f;11·o rabl) to 1hc "clutilull Supplicarions ol his disuessccl . .\meric;tn Sub·

jt:c1' .. .... By tht' 1i111e iii<: Mn<sad1use11.- c ircular lc11e r \\'as presented

to the :\bryland C.cncral As.-cmhl)- ho\\'c\·c1'. GO\'crnor Sharpe had

rc,c i\'C·d a kllcr lron1 l.ort l f·l ills l>ornu1-\'h . hrs1 scc rt:iary fo1 the colonies,

cond<:mning the auiun of '1a,,acf111<etl> '" "lactiou> ... Sharpe himself

did 1101 l ~\'or 1he To1rnshc11tl Du t i<'s. b111 he fe lt co111pc llcd lo prcscm

H illsbo1·0111-\'h 's kiln co 1h<· .·\ s<L'lllhly. :1d1·is ini: 1hc dclc~llc> tu ignore

51

the /l lassadiusc:lls lircular lctwr · 1 ·1ic I .owcr I lousc. forced hy Sharpe to defend its lrecclo111 w ;1<:r. r(·Sp<mdccl \\' itl1 a11 addrcs.< exprc~ing a111;1i.c111em d1at loya l s11bjcct>. 1din 011h· so11gltt to peti tion the ir king lor ;t rt:clress ot ,t:(rit:rn 11cc.s, wou Id be branded as "faniou;" or ··rnb· ,·cr<i1·c ... Sharpt· coumerc •. 1 b1· rli<soh·ing the ·\ ;s<:n1hly . but 11vl bdore the: l .o\\·er Hou~c: hacl cltaltnl a pcticion w ch<' king and a lettcr dcclar· ing cltac it agreed wit It the prilt(:iplc~ statt·1l in the /llas~1ch11sc11s circular ktt<:I'.

II~· ~farch 1 7()~ Boston 111<·1·d 1a11 ts had bq.:1111 agitating for a non· i111p11n<r1iv11 ;1grcc:111e11 1.. an, I i11 .\u141"1 the: ~ unilat<:rall y dcdan;d that thc1 would no io11gc1 i111pt111 good< lrom England. a tc.:1,· minor items ncc.11:.J lor the: >hipping and li<hin~ i111l"'trit·, cxrq1t<·d. The ,\/ ,,,.yfom/ (.;11 tf'lir• :u.:n·kr;-11cd ib rc.:poni11)( ol opposi1.io11 to tire TOln1shc11d Du· tic:.,, dc:sc:rihing i11 de tail the c1"1v111s otticiak <c: irnrc of .fol111 Ha11cock's sloop. tl11: l .ilia/y. a11 d the outrage ol ci tiLens a1 1hc landing n l British ll'OOJ'' itt Bos1011 iu tht· t;dl ol 1h(' ~c:ar. Fi11alh . in i\larch 1'71i!l. Balli­""""' n•lTchanc' ara·ilccl to 1hc wishl:s ol their Phi ladelphia <'Ottncer· 1>~trt(, by sigui11g a 1lo11 i111JHH t~Ui(>ll a~~;rcer11c11t. :ind i11 ~lay th~ rcsi<IC1lts ol :\1111c -\ru11d1: l C1>111H \ ;1g rc1:cl to do Lite sa11h'. Ou .Jntll; :10. lorty· thl'Cl' ··111erch;1tll >. ttadns. lrccl1nldcrs. 111t·cha11ic~. a11d otht:r i11h;ibi· tant<" 111c1 in .-\ 1111:tp11Ji, lO d1~1ft a 11<111i111pona1 io11 <t!(ree11w111 for the enc ire p1·0,·ince.

:'-Ian land had lnT ll ,10\\· iu tkn·lnp i111-\'op1>< » 1tiu11 lO the ·1·ownsl1c11d Duties .11 1.1 in ad np1i111-\' no11i111 pu1rn1io11 HH:a<u n·s. Inn he r <i1itc:11 s hdd stG1d ta' t utHT public scu1i111c11 1 """aro use.I agai n<! tht: '""· The new gol'c:rnor. RolK·rt l~lic11. atte111ptrd 111 abort the.: 11011i111po1utio11 agree· 1111·111 iu 1hc >1111 1111c:r ol t ili9 by publishini.; a1h·ancc word of Parfia. rn1:111 's rq.>cal ol all h111 1111: du ty oil 1c;1. but ll H' I'< h;11Hs attd 11l:1ntcrs ali kr , l<)Ocl Ii rrn . ~I an lande r~ rn111 i1111ccl 10 lronor rhc- non i111 pona1 ion agrc<:111C'11t 1hro11p;ho 111 1hc rn11rn1<·1· and fall <>I I iiu. n-cu alll·r mer· chams in the nortlwrn pons of !'>alcm. i\farhlclwad. and :\c1dn1n pon had 1•crn11111wnrcd trade. Finalh l' hibddph ia11; 1'otcd IO rc"11 11c trade, lorci ug the Ha lLiuwrc: 111c:rch;1111> Lo folio,,· s11i1. By the d ose of 1770 the: hri:akc lO\\.ll ,1f no11i111~ >«>11 a 1 i,111 \\·as cc>tut>lc.·tc. ,,·ilh t:\'t· 11 tc.-.1 being i111p<1rtl'd a111l rn11>11111c.J In <.:lt'l'\Otle . . \ lth1111~h 11011impo1 tation fa J. 1c1-.:<l iu ~larylancl . n< C'J,"whc:n:. 11 irh 1hc: tax on tea -'till iu fnl'l'e . . -\IJ1l't'i can~ b:ttl at:h ie1·e1l tlw rcpl·a l ol th(' orhct "J O\rn <he nd Duties a11cl they 011n: al{ain had >how11 that 1h1"y cot1ld coordi11atc a m<1a inrd prn-

. •) "-

leSl against \\'h<tt thl'1· hdic1·('d were British inlringcments of their righ1s. En~n though 1hc cco110111ic bo1colt rnllap"'d in late I ;;o . .-\ mer­i(an~ Wl·rc conscions as nc\tT bdore ot the eco110111ic and pol itical po11·er they could bring t<> hear agai1t\l the mother conn1n•.

\\'illiam l'ata mmt ha1·c l>t'cll pal'lin1brl~ rdie1·ed 1hat the turmoil (J\'Cl' 1he T oll'n>hcnd Dnries ended 11·hc11 it did. l>ccause hi< personal affair' .« •cldenly rc'l 11i r<·d additiona l 1i1nt and atten t ion. l ' util I i70 he load spem all his acl11lt l ik in :\1111apoli.s. his income frn111 h i< la\\' prar· 1iC« gl'ncrousl r '"l'l'li:111c11tnl 1>1· his wile .. < fo1'11111i:. l·k had im·estcd " )111c 111onc1· in l;mcl in Frc,«lcrick. l l.11 l<nd. and Onccn \1111c's .:otnnie.. . -but he "·;1s 1101 ,t large landmn1c1 :ind cli1l 11m :ieti1·dy en~agr in plant· ing. Then. in 1 iill. i\far1· Paca 's l>ro1 htr. !'h i le mon I .low] Che\\·. diccl. 11'iol1 the l'xcep1io11 of l\rn lega<' i1~'· Cite" · kit all his es1a1c H• hi < sisters . .\Jar~ l'aca ancl .\ b11i.;;m·1 llonllcy. 1hc wife ol .Jolm lk:ilc l.lonlley.• Phile111011 l.loyd Chc11 .. s pt~•>on:1I ~1a1t· ""'" s11lman1 ial. bu1 ;rn c1·c11 lnon: 1·al11abk p:tn o l 1hc. heq11 l''t to his s i>t~r< \\'as \\'yc Island. ~.195 :t( I'{'< of 1'11: most k nik Janel in d1(· pro1·i11ce. I .1JC~ tcd on thr Wye Ri\'er i11 O ueen .\1111l·'> Cou1111·. \\'1<· J,l:rnd ''"" tlil· silc or some o l 1hc <!arl icst . . . 'ctdcmt:nts 011 tht! f:n,1crn Shor'" Tubal·co h:ul hcr11 i;mwn 011 1ht: island 1<11· n\·er a l11111drl·tl years \\·ithot1t a11y tli 111l11uti<>n in t11t: soil"~ (cr1i li1~ . . 111d the rich 10:11 11 a l'o p1od11n:cl ho11ntiful crops o r "'lw;it . 111.1iz<?. ancl loc111p.

' I he lfordlc~, and Pac:1s <p lit \\'n: Island c,1011·11 1he middk. wi1h 1hc !lordlcn 1aki11i; till' \\"C>l<:rn half .1ml the l'a.:1' the castern. ·1 he brick 111.111sio11 in ,\1111:1polis lrnih \\'ith ~fan· l'ala ·, 111011c,· '"" ha1·dr com· pk1n l 11'11<·11 tl1is d<::tth in .\la1' ·, 1ra;:i<·,1 ih slou11 .Ji1·1:cl lamil y 1 (·d111mded " ' ilw l'ac;-1.\ il11a11ria l l1L:o1<·l i1. 'J'hinr yt:a rs nld . "11 cccssl11lh c,:stablishecl ·'' .111 ;nwnw,·. and with :t rq111tat io11 ;1' an i111l11c111i:1l and popular pulitilal k:uler. \\'illiam Para 11011· louml him<l'lf ""'·'llT ol a l11cr:t1i\l' Jd.tDtation a1u) ;1 1ul.'1nl>t:r of 1l1l' ''>ltlny's l'la11ti11g ~entry .

. " :>.)

The Deliberator

Williau1 and J\la1 )' l'<tct stayed in Annapolis aft.:r acquirin~ the ir cs1a1c on \\' ye Island bemuse d1ey both enjoyed liYing in the 1>ro,·i11cia l capi­tal. .\l:iry had spen t lllllf:h ol her lik in Annapo lis. a11<l the u1a11sion she and her h1"l»11u l lt a<l lrnilt 011 Prince C.co rgc Sll'ct:t c11al>lccl 1hl'111 w c111cnain frc<1ur11tl~ and clc-:~;i111h. Funhcnnore. l'aca·s law practice ;u id political alli c:' were 1:t:: 1Hercd in .\nnapolis. anti hL· refused 10 al>a11-tl<>11 hi s respo nsihilii ie, 10 eithe r. In addition :\unaµo lis 1rns n11 interest· i11i( and exciting plare 1.0 li n .: in the I 770s. \.Vith ii s horsL' races. ha lls. C\l;llings at thL· llC:Wlt lmih t lu::ttCr . and other :Hll':lCtiOllS. rc11· \'01111g 1m1plt:s \\·oultl ha\t preferrc1I il1L· isolation of an island pla111a1ion acros$ 1hc Chesapeake Bar .

. ·\nuapo lis\ soc ia l lifL: was aug nwn tcd during 1hc wiuli.T of 1770 by 1 he Ion nation ol a 11c 1,· dub designed to pro1·id<' "•t rational amusc­lltL'lll .. lor its 111t:mhc1s. :'\a111t'<I llu- Homonr \.ltil>. the 111c111li<'1-.hip l\'aS

1omposcd largch· "' kading- c itin·n< in tlw (0111nn111itl'. l ' 11Jike the Forrn•ic Club l'a.;a lt;id helped lrJn n in J7:1!l. 1hc Ho111011 )' C lub \\'as no1 a de bating; sodt:ty li n t a su iri l)· socia l gatht:ring 1d1osc " d o111 i11;1ting -pirit .. . \\·as Fun." ' Jonathan Boucher. the Ang li can p<1stor of SL \nm"s. harl nothing l111t to11tl 1111'111ories of 1hc Hommw Club c\·cn

1ho11gh he becmw c111biucrcd \\'i1h 1nuch tha1 had happent:d co him 111 .\l aryl<111 d al ter hi, property " ''" co11fisca11:il :ind sold when he fled 10 £11).\ l:tnd during the" \\';ir lo r l11d cpc11cle11r<'. :\n:orcli11g 10 Uoucher. 1h1' f-lo111011y Clnh \\'<lS "the bc<i duh in a ll rcSpt< is I ha\'c ;;\·er heard ••I : :t< th<' sok ol>jcc1 ol it "'"'to pro111otc in11cxc:lll mirth and ingenious hu111our." --1, <01111 grc1\' into such fame ." llouche1· added. " tha1 the

(;o\'ernor and all the p1'i11cipal pcopk in tht: cou11try a111l>itio us(\· so­licited ch.- honour of being mcmhrr.~ ()r ho11or;u·y ,·i;iwms." '

\\'illia111 Pac:a was nominated lor membership in the Homony Club at the 1111:cting on February !I. Iii!. along wiih \Vill ia111 Eddis and Thomas .Johnson. Paca <'ontiuucd his asw.-ia1io11 with the Homony Club IOI' the 11cxt three yea1,. al1iio11gh his attcnclancc 11·as less regt1lar t ha 11 i 1 had he en . a dcc;tde ta r l ic1'. at Forensic Cl u I' 111<:Ct i 11g-s. On Ir a le11· inomhs after joining the Ho111011 y Club. i11 fan. boll\ he and Thonias .Johnson ,,·ere expc:llccl for 1·iolaiing the nik against missing li,·c 1·011>cnni\'c meetings without a \'alid <:xcme. The di,111iss;d was pt111i1i'c rather than permanent . howr,·c1·. and al the: hrs1 111ceting in :\'o\'C'111h<'I' I ;; I ho1h Paca and John.o;on \\"Cr<: again elec1c1l 111 111c111bcr­ship. In his kner of accep1 a1 u '" Pam made pointed rdcrc11ces to his rcsponsihilities as a repr,·s1:nuui,·c of :\nnapolis i11 the l.cm·cr House a11d tv Iii, co11n;rn for the 11·d 1:1re of the country. pcrhnps i11 a11 cffon LO explain his earlier absc:tH'C' 1>111 11101-c probably as a mi ld rebuke to 1hos" 1111·111hn.s like Bouch"r 1drn ~11pported the propril'la r» p:irt) in the C: t:1lt'ral -\ ;sc111bJ,:

:'\01hing can be more a1;ri·t:.,.ahl<e to me than tht: honot11· or being a mrmhr i ol I he Rc-..pl•·1abk Homony Clnb. My Counu·y·~ Conc.cms do 1101 imc1 kit· with my afl'cpiancc· ol" scat in that much <:>stcc1ncd a11d .1ppl:n11kil i11 stit11tio11 . I >ho nlcl tlic:rdore l>c hnpp) i11 1111iti11g tlw c.hnr:Wt(·r ol :1 Rcprc~en i;11i,·c ol tlu: Ci ty [ 1.11' A11n:ipolis in the '"'''""l>h ~ wi th th:11 of a 111.:111ht·r ol the llo111011 y Club.

I mn -;ir 111os1 respect full y )'Our 1·cry hu111blc and obliged Friend and Sen [ an] t.

Ahhou~h Paca \\">OlC his :tecep1a11cc in pmst' , 11111>t ollidal co111muni­c;11iom to a11rl lro111 the Hot11011i Cluh \\'Crc in ,·cr~c. In rnch form. for exa111plt:. did 1.loyd Dulany :111d Thomas .Jenings. on March 2. 1771. seek pcnni,sio11 to aucnd a 111t·et i11 g of' the dub as visitors. In a11swer each mcml>cr ol the dub rqiisccrtd h is assent In rn111posi11g- :1 two-line resp<Hl~C. l':tca·s c.r11JCt ihuclcn1 l~ ot particttlar in1c1·cs1 l.H.:c.:a usc lt estab· li)lil·) c..onc:lt1'i' cl~ ho\,. hi' 11,t111c ,,·at; 1>rono1111cc<l I>~ <'<J11tt·1111,oraries. Each mcmhcr of 1hc dub 1h ~ 111<:tl the last wo.-ds ol the first line of his couplet \\'ith hi< name. 1d1ic Ii appl·:irnl at the condusion of the second line. F'ol' CX<l t11ple . .John CJ~ph~ 111. tlic St'Cl°l'lary of Lht: c:luh \\TOlC.

!i6

H any rnan gainsa y, on his Pate I will rap hi111 .

By ,·inuc of rny comntission. Secretarr John C lapham.

Cl:tph:nn was followed by \ \'illiam Eddis. who penned.

I fully assent lo what aho\'e said is.

,\nd am you r 111ost oi>cclicnt \-\' ill. Eddis.

II l'aca had pronounced the fi1 st ~ rllablc of his 1rn111c with a short a­

dw wa" l'afa Street is l' ronou nccd toda\· in f\alt i111on:-a su itable ' ,

n:joiudcr to Eddis's Yersc might ha,·t. been

Ami so do I , tho· I I ear we ma )' lack a

Spare gl<tss ol \\' inc. but no more from \Viii Paca.

ln<tead. l':ica selected ;1 worcl '"ith a long tt to rhpne \\' ilh his na111c:

And so do I . tho' I cannot bUL think we take a

Rash Step in so doing. ln tL no more rrorn \.Viii Paca. ''

1';11::0 assumed ;m additional public o lli<:c in ,\ pril I i 70 when he was

elected church warden for St. .\nne's Church in Annapol is. Samuel

Chase bcc<tmc a church warden at the same time. and both men were

''"orn in as ,·estrytm:n of the parish in J u11c of that year. Pac;i remained

un the.: \'CSll y unti l I i7 ·1. """ dc< pite his m;rny odier responsil>i litics he

,t: IYt:d the chu rch faithlull,·. miss ing but fi•·c 111cc ti11rrs in as man,· vcars. , .. ' . \knt bcrship 0 11 a parish \ 'CSU')' ll'as usuall y little more than an un­

retn1111<;ra1.ivc honor. l>ut in Para 's case it bc<:a111c a central issue in the

ucxt great political confl ict rhat bc.:s<.:t Marylanrl.

The .-\ngl ican Church wa> establisher! as Marrland 's official rrligion

' " the Act of I ill!!. " ·hich 111cant tlrnt s11ppon for tht· church ca111e from

1a,.cs p:iicl by all co lonists. rcganllc:..' of their faith . T his act pro,·ided

that clngyinen's co inpensation " "" to be in the forlll ol a tax of Cony

pounds o l tol.>act.:0 o n cad1 poll. or taxal>le. iu their parish. In 1747 the

(.cncra l Assc n1bly appro•·cd the Tol><icco lnspe('.1.ion :\c t. a <:0111promise

l>ill that \\'as p;is~cd by the Lc111·c t House only ;iftcr i1 had received per·

111i,sio11 lO ;ippcnd a [cc schecluk se lling t ht: <llllOllllt of moner or LO·

b:1cn> dcr~r111c11 and othtr p 1m ·i11t.ial ofliceholtlcrs coulcl collect. T he

Fn· ttill ol l/·17 lowered Lht• dcr)lymen's sa l:trics tO thirty pounds or tobacco per po ll. Inn 1Hany residents ol the pro\'incc. especially the

leaclc.:t s ol the a ntiprnpric ta ry pany. thought the :nno 111H was sti ll too

57

high. J onmhan Boucher admineil that the ··conditiou of the cs1.ah lished

Clergy Kas highly n:spectabk" aud that the ··officers of (;o,·ernmcm

were still be tter prO\·idc::d for." l.1u1 nci1hcr he nor anyouc else who

profited frolll a pa l ro11agc oITit:e \vas " ·i ll ing to see his salary reduced.

T he long-scancling ani1110.sity between the Lower House of the . .\ssc1nbly

and the propr ic1ary g0\·ern 11 u~111. nm,· hcighu~necl because of the rad i­

calization of the populace during rhc Stantp :\ct cr isis a11d resistance

to the Tmn1she11d D11 t ies. made it ine,·ii.able that leaders of the oppo­

sit ion wou ld exploit 1hc need to pas' a 11<·w Tobacco Inspen.ion .-\ct and

demand recluctirl1t$ in t he fee .schedule. ·· \frn's lllinds wert' rcsik:.~s and

dissatisfied." Bouche r 11 1.11<·rl. · ·ron:\'cr clisi:ontcntcd and grumbling ar

the present st<HC of th ings . and fore\-cr projecting rdonnar ions."' \V il­

liam Pact and Sa1n11cl Chase. \'cstrynicn of Boucher's church of St. Anne-.~. led the attack 011 officers· and clcrgmen's fees. first in the

Assembly. then in the· press. a1HI uh imately into the streets.

~kmhcrs of the :\ sscmbly 1d10 fa\'orc:d n :ducing the fees 1nid to

officers arl<.I c: lcrg}nlcn ,,·ere in a :-:.lrc)ng po:;iLi<>11. becattsc t:\·cryonc

agreed tha t rene\\·a l ot the Toban:<.> Inspection .-\c t ,,·as esscnti;tl. T he

econo111 ~ ol \ lardand depended on toban:o. and t he price of the com­

modity was hound to foll if it ,,·as not i11spectnl bcr<1usi:: Virginia,

\la rylancl's (:hid rompeticor. sti ll had a ,11'<>ng inspenio11 sy.~te111.

\\'alter Dulam-. a leader of the nro1>rietan· 1>,trt\ . succ incth· summarized ' I ' • ,

the dik111111<l. ··c;rcat reductions arc ta lk'd of." Dulany \note. ' ·both

wi th respect to the fees of the ofli<.crs a11cl the rt'l-cn ues of the dcrgy.

h'hich they say must take pbtcc 01 the in.<pc<:ting ac1 fo ll w the ~rou 11cl .

1d1 ich indeed. \\·ot• · d he· a ucn rlcd w i 1 h 1 crri hl<' rnnse'l uences to the

whole proYinn: ."" lh'spite the ur~<:11cy ol· the sirua t ion. the L: pper anti

l.01n·r Houses ol th<:: :\sscrnbh tailed to a~\T<:e 011 ;i co111pro111isc bill. and both the Tobacco Inspection :\ct aucl the: Ice sd1cdulc expired on

October 20. 1770.

Once the Tobacco 111spcction :\t'l expired. the .-\ ss<:mbly mtn-ed

quickly to assen its c J<cl11si1·c right to establish a 1H'.lr fee schedu le. :\t

tl1c sa1 u c l i lllt'. the I .<J\ft:r l lo11sc.· ,,·ar1H:cl (>ltlJ) ic •)fllcial \ a11c l c: lcrgyu1cn not Lo accept k <:s until a Jl('W bill wa.s ('11 :ic: Lcd. \\' he'11 \\' ill ia1n S1.e1,·an.

clerk of the laud ofli(:c . ro11 l i11 ued co do '< >. 1 It<: l.n11·c 1 House ordered

his arrcsi. Con:rnor Eden res1ionckd hv d issoh·i1w the :\ssc111 i>lv. set , ;:"! ,

ti ng- Ste\rnn free . anc.l issu iug h is lant011s Fee Prnda1natio11 o[ No­\'Crnber 21}. 1770. Edt:n's Fee Proda1nation l(a\·c per m iss ion to all otli-

58

ccrs and ckrgylllcn who had pn;:\· iou~h 1·ecc:in:tl sa laries for pcrforrn­ing ollicia l d uti1:s w accept the " '1ti1: amou1tt as before. so in essence he: simply rc:insrntcd the ol<l fee ,d1ed tik. W ith F.de11 's unila1cral act, the li11 cs ot baulc ,,·ere: dearly clr;nn1: 1hc: Lowt:r H ouse. poi trayi11g ilsclf '" tli1: guarclia11 of 111'; people. dc11ounccd F.dc:n's ac1 io11 as ar bi­trary ;111d 11s111 p:nious: the: go,·c n1111· ;u11l Coum:il insi"""' that Lhc mcmhct'> ol the l.o\\·cr Hm1sc hacl fo1n.:d 1he Fee l'rocla111ation by re· fusing to enact lc..:gislacion dial 10 the: cC'ono11iic intcn.:>ts of 1:,·eryo11c: i11 the p ro,·i11cc.

Contro\ e•"} O'-c:r tlw Fee Bill di a){g·c:d on Jor three years . a11d the rhelori( 011 bo1h side, gr<.'\\' in<rca>ingly Lx:lligc:rcnt. Co11t ributions poured into th <.· M11rylt111rl ( ;11zelft• ullin:. and A1111e Catharine G ree n. who no,,· edited the papc1'. selcnccl for public.atio11 c\·ery1hing from lc:arncd anidc:s citin~ judicial prc..:ccdcnts 10 satirical po1:ms ancl ho~t i lc diatribe, . Bi lar the most i11flucu1 ia l o f these new>papcr exchau~es "·a; die protrac:1<:d dc..:l>aLe dnri11f!,' 177:1 h~·1 wcc11 Chal'lt s CaiT(J ll ot Carroll ·

59

ion and D<micl D ubny, writing under the pseudouy111s " Fi1·s1 Ci lizen"

and "Amilon."' Carroll aml Dulany did murh 1.0 [ocus the issues in­

vol\'t"d in the Fee l.lill cont rovcr.sy, hu t rhe public bad already been

aroused br a lo11g nc\\'spaper <lehate by .Jonatha11 Boucher. Paca, ancl

Chase concerning clergymen's fees.

Expiration of 1hc Fee Kill of I i ·"ll worked to the ;11h-.nnagc of the

clergymen because they argued that th<")' wnc ag11i11 c111i tl cil Lo the fony

pounds of tobart'o per pol l p rm· i<le<l by the Act of Eswblishrnent in

1702. The :\ r.1 of I ifl2 had been passed by the last meeting of t he Gen·

era! :\ sst1nl>I r llc ld duri ng r.he reign of King vVi ll ia111. and i11 fact. final

action on the bill had on:111·1·cil af1cr the monarch's death. Technically,

the power o( 111<, ~!arylan<l legislature to pass laws cmkd with King

\ ·Villimn's deat l1. but 110 one in sc\•cmy years had questioned the valid ity

of the ac.1. No"· Pac;t a11d Chase did so. In a lcuer to the Aforylmul

C11zet/tt in !:icptc111l>cr I 772. Paca presented his argulllent w the puulic.

concluding,

:\ly opi11io11. 1hcn. is. that upon the demise of King \Villiam. the

asS<·mbh of 1hi:. pro,·inn: was dissoh·cd: 1ha1 1hc assembly which afcer­

wanls nu;t ancl cnancd the comesced forty per poll law, heing called

without a lrc~h wnl of .<11 111111011s. was 1//eg11ll\' and 1111co11stilulio1111lly

con\'encd: T hat, 1herefore, no oulig:11ion can 1'C>1il1 from said forty

per poll act as <• Jaw.•

A rcspcc1ed lall')C l' a 1HI leader of the antiproprict:tl')' facrion, l'aca

carried considerable weight in the province. and his argumrnt \\'as influ·

enc ial. Scn:ral lawyers offered their sel'l'ices free Lo anyone who refused

to pay the poll iax. and a rest case soon c;n11c hdorc the couns . .Joseph

H arrison. a 1111;111bcr of Li1e Lower H ouse. was an-cs1cd by Li1e sheriff

of Charles Coun1y for rdusing m pay 1he 1ax. Pae<1. Si111111cl Chase, and

Thomas Johnson >en·cd as his auorncys. They won their case. and

Harrison wa> awar1lccl £fill s1crlinl!,' in damages.

The R c\'crend llo11d1cr rnok up the cle1 gyrncn 's rausc against Pac:;1

and Chase. responding to each of their newspaper anidcs \\'ith one of

his ow11 . In part Bouche r wa' 111111.i\'atcd by sell'. intcrcst. for res isrnnc:c

to the poll tax had acln:rsd y affected his incomt'. l3011 chr1· noted in his

a111ohiograph)' that " at first I n:cei,·ed abou1 h:tlf my sah1ry . and ever

after less and le.ss." " Hut Boucher \\'as also conct rned \\' itb protecting the

rights and prcrog«nivcs of the e~rnblish«d Chuffh against \\'ha1 he c.on·

60

Tht f~eorJ t url f onnl hnu JJ011r:hc1·

sidercd th<: 111da ir a11d i11 rn11 <i.,Lnll .HLack< o f ··t he.; tll'<) chid dc.;111a· j!.<1,_;\lCS. \it ~lr·,:,rs. <.:halic anti l,ata "1" \\

0 h.•t anno~l'(I Hc>uth~r nuJ~t was tha1 l'aca ;111d C hase rn11ti11ucd to scn·c as 1·es1rp ucn. an ollicc cstah li.<hcd 1>1 Llw >;1111c .-\ cl ol 170'.! 1hat th 1•1 11m1· claimed was im·alid. I le arg11nl that ii rlr. r gpuen 110 lnngcr had a legal right en rnllect a poll tax, l'aca and Cha<..: should r..:sign from the 1·csu·1·. Paca arnl Chase reto1 Led that 1·esu ic< \\·c1c a co111pacL l><·L11·e,' 11 the mcmhc1·< of the.; parish and Lhe nH' ll the)' dH><C lfJ lead theru. Thei r right to sil as 1•cs lr\'JllCLl 11·as therefore du: rcsuh of a church compa" imtead of a lc:g-al .l t;uucc.

\ ·\' hen d ie ncl\· :\.1s<;;n1bly 111<.:t in I 7i:l. the 11u.: rn hcrs pron1pcly ac· ct"ptcd all ol 1he poinl> Paca and Chase ha.I tlcn·lopecl in 1hc1r argu· 111c11ts against the t lcrgr11 11:11 . :\ resolution dcclari11g- the :\ ct of 1702 null and vo id wa' •111idd~ pa<"·d. but the l ' ppcr House rdnsccl 10 assct1l to .111d1 ;u1 c xcnmw n1c;1surc. P11blic sc11ti 111c r11 w a.1 so mani festl y opposed lO th<' dngy n.:o:i1·ing lor11 pounds of whan.:o per poll . how· e1·c1-. clrnc the l ipptr Ho use ~ii.: na lcd ics willingncs' rn co111pro111isc. 111 response. 1he I .01»cr 1 lo mc 1x"scd a hill <cuing dcrgvmcn·s Ices :u

61

thirty per poll-the sa1ne as in the Fee Rill of I i47-bm with the pm­

''ision that parishes could subs1icutc a money payment of four shillings

per poll £or the tobacco. T he o ption to ( onrn1utc the cohacco tax to

monc}· had importallt financial i111plications. UC('ause it 111c1111t that in

years of high tobacco prices clcrgy1ne11 \rnuld aoually recc iYe ;is little

as hall as much as if they had been paid in 1obacco. T he bill was a

stunning blow to the clergmcn. an<l all they 1·0111<1 hope wa~ that th e

goYernor 11·01tlrl rd usc to sign it. But. in the wonls of 13ouchcr. "The

Govn-nor. beset anrl worried l>y his Council lO gi,·e us up tor the sake

of pcac<0 as it 11·as ca lled. in c\·il hour passed the hsw.""

l'aca's comriblllio11s 10 the Matylaml Ga:elle d uring che Fee Bill

contro,·e1-sy were brilliandy co1Kei,·cd anrl argued. and cher established

him in the judg1ne11t of one historian as " the ablest consti tutional

la"')'cr of the pro1·ince at the time."" The debate between Daniel

Dulany and Charlc:s Carroll has recci,•cd more aucmion than Paca's

cxd1ange \\'ith l\oucher. bu t some consider 1h:u Dulany had the upper

hand i11 1hc argu111l·nt umil Paca. Jnhmon. and Chase draltccl a ktter

that. appea ri ng in 1hc M11ry lt1111/ Gm.rl/1• on Sq He111bcr !l. 1773, thor­

o ughl y demolished Dulany's defense. Chase and Johnson w<:rc extremel y

able men . \\"ith Chase in paninalar excelling at oraton·. In a Paca 's

brilliant insights and rc111arbblc po"·t·rs of logic ,hinc 1hrough all ol

their _joim efforts . II~ thc cimc tht· Fee Bill co11trovc rsr ended. P<i ~-a

had ach ieved widt: rec-ngnition as a 1nat11rc and <oc-cm11plishecl politician

with few equals in ;\larylancl.

Pac;1 prele.-red fighting injustice and opp• 1:ssion by co11s1 n 1c1 ing

lint:!) argued 11cwspapcr css;1)' 1ha1 Lraced cons1iw1ional prccc<lcnL~

and appcaled 10 111a11 's natural right>. b111 he nncr forgo1 the lessons

learned d uring the ; ucccssful pro< l'~ ls against t h~ St;unp Act and Town·

shend Duties. Strong- public support 1ras crnt ial if the an1iproprii:tary

leaders in the l .011·er 1-!oust \\'(;rt'. 10 prnail. "' of'rasionallv l'aca joined

Chase am! 01hrr politicians \\'hnse pnso11ali1irs were mort· su ited to

m i11gli11g ,,·id1 caowds and appeal ing <lircrrl y to the people.

:'\c1<' de1:1io11s WtT<.: hdrl in ;\lay l7i3. J ohn Hall. also an incumbcm

fro111 :\u1 1apolis. decided not w n111 for anothe r 1c n11. i\ [:11chi;1s Ham­

moml. \\'ho ,,.;i, •Clcctccl to n111 "·i1h Pac:1. "'"' opposed hy Anthony

Steuan. a 111an of good character I.mt with smpiciously ~l l'Ong connec­

tions to 1 he propriclan pan y. T iu: s11pporccr.< ol l'aca an cl Hannnoml

1ook to the Sll'eets. ··panul ing wi1h drums and public ornt iom to rouse

G2

r the I passions and i11flueJ1C(; L the J judgrn1rn t" ol the pcopl(; agai11st Steuart." Un 1hc 111orning of the election so 111any of those who gathe red

al the polling place "·ere for Pam a11d Ha111111ond that Steuart remon::cl his name from the b;11lot. 'v\'ithout opposition. f'aca and I fauunond

were soon declan:d the "·i1111crs. a11d once the polls h;1d d osed they pro· posed a sokn111 proccssio11 to bury Go,·ernor Edcn·s dcspiscd fee Prodama ti on u ndc:r 1 he public v;a llnw, . T wn 111cn ca IT)' i ng nag.~. one labeled u111-:RTY. the other :-:o PROCLAMATJo:-:. headed the procession,

with Pac.1 and Ifammond Kalk ing bet1,·een them. :\ clerk and sexton

followed, walkiug in front of a lllock coffin comai11ing the Fee Proda· 111ation. Two 111en beating 111ulllecl drums and 1wo fifers ph1ying a death 111arch fo llo\\·ed the cottin, and dnnn1 up bc:hi11d the111 were: six s1n:1ll c;11111011 ... \ great no1,·d of citizens brought up the rear of the procession,

which slowly 111adc its ,,·ay to the gallo1rs outside the ro1rn gart:. O n(:c

there. tbc collin Kas suspended frolll the gallo\\·s, theu cut down aud buried as the: (:annon fired in salute. :\ s if the procession itself had not been suAiticntll• 111elodra111atic. the cottin ""''s inscribed "·ith the " ·onls

· J ·he l'rochtmation

Child of Folly and Oppression born :16 No,·c1nbcr 1770

<kµartcd th is life l.Jth ,\lay I i78 and buried sa111e da,· by Frcc111en of :\nnapo lis H

\Villialll Parn was 110 ra bble rouser. and he much µrd ern :d \\·orking behind the scenes. Samuel Chase. 011 the oth(;r hand , had a lircy tem·

pcramem and relished haranguing public ga therings. Paca and Chase

had dian1ctrirnll1 oppmc:d pcrsonali1ics. hm they were on the same side politirnll r ancl the y had a kn·cnt dcdir.a1ion 10 :\mt: rican liberty. Thus. the l\rn had be(·o111e d osi.: I r icnd, early in the ir rn rccrs. cYen though Chase had neither Pac;1·s social grace nor " ·calth. Paca led tht: march

to bury the Fee l'rocla111a1io11 in l i l :I. but in n1ost politi<:al conLron: r·

sics Chase " ·as at the head ol the <To\\·ds aud Pac;L rclllained in the back­ground. Paca \\·as uo less co1nmi1ted 10 th~· liv;h1 a)?;ains1 oppression than wa' Chase. but he felt he could sen(' 1hei1· cause best from his study \\'l1t:re 11e ft>r1nulalcc.l tlu.: <.>J >JH>si1 icu1 ·s arg·11111c111 s ancl Slrategy. -1-(> ap­pn:ciatc Paca·s c:on1rihu1ion 10 Maryland polit io in the years preceding

the \Var lor lndepenclcucc . one mus t rea lize that 10 a large exte11t he

was the i1Hdlcct behind Chase's rhetoric

63

Paca·s populari1r ancl inAucncc had nc,·cr heen greater tha11 iu the

winter of 1 ?i~-7 -1 . bm personal rragedy soon o\'ershadowecl any cx­

hilarntio11 he felt O\'Cr \' ictory in the Fee Bill controversy. On .Janu­

ary 15. I 774. M:iry Chc1,· l'aca died. The cause of her death is unknown.

altho11gh she dvcs nm apix:ar to ha1·e suffered a lo11g illncs.~. She left

thret: children: !111.: l'aca's only daughter. Hcnric11a Maria . not yet sc1·en

years o ld aml two sous. the lirst named J ohn P hilcmon, who was born

\larch I/ . I 17 I. ;ind a second na1ncd \Villiam. The: only 111cntion of

this sc:coml son is the rccorcl or his death, fouud in the parish register

ot Pl1iladclphia·s Christ C lwrd1. \·Villiam must have been young when

his mother died . and perhaps the death of Marr l'aca. thirty-e ight years

old. resulted from co111plica1inns in h i\ hirth. Iu any case. ncarl r eleven

years after their marriage \\'illia111 Paca w:is sndclcnly ;1lonc. and he

nc1•cr fully rcco\'crcd frrn11 his Joss . \\'ca lth and sot:ial prominence he

migbc han.: ~:1i11erl i11 other 1.-ays. b111 nothing coulcl compcnsatc for

.\l oll~-'s companionship. J'he soci;1J life: of . .\1111apulis and the 111agnifi­

cen1 mansion he ;md .\Jary had buih no longer h(')d the s;nne appeal.

Dcrnsta ted 1hcn1g·h he was b,- his wife"s dc;nh. the political n·ali1 ies

of Ilic day did not pn111i1 l'aca much time for pri\'a 1<· grief. In May

I ii3 J'arlia111<:11L passed au an pen n i11i11g the linancially troubled Eas1

lnd i.1 Co111pa11y to cxpon tea dircnly 10 the .-\111c1 ican colouics. rims

cnaliling i1 to undersell all co111pc1iiors. Tea was still taxed. liu1 what

cli,turbed the rolo nists 111os t was Padiament"s asscnio11 of the right 10

legislate ,·in ua l monopolies lor 1<1,·orccl cn 111panies d clling " 'ith A 111cr·

ica. The nor1hern co111111c1<' ial colonies were lirst Lo react against the

Tea . .\cc the t·i1i1em ol' :'\cw York.. Phih1dclphia. and other pon towns

forced ships beari 11g cargoes or tea w lllrn back. Finally. in December

1773. e11ragcd Boston iam led by the rncl ica l S<11nue l .-\dams boarded

,·cssels o"·neil li\' Lht t:ast India COlll) >:t1n- a11d n1~1 ~42 chests of tea ' ,

into the harbor. lloth the :\nu;ipoJi, a11d llahimorc newspapers p1·imcd

detailed and s ti rri11~ acco11111s ol the l\oswn Tc<i l'any. and suddenly

the c: itizrns. \\'ho for three- y<::irs had bcl·11 totall y engrossed in the con­

troversy o,·cr the Fee- Bill. l)nce 111ore bee ame alanucd abom the 1hrca1

ol tyranny ;md oppression i11 thr other colonk'S.

6·1

/oh n Philr.tn (Jlf P1u·a. ,bainted the yi:ar affl'r his ft1thcr·.~ dt'11th

Just as puhli<: apprehensio11 o,·cr 1bc Tea .-\ct had begun to rise in

\'far yla11d. " 'orcl "·as recei,Td of l'arlia1ncn t's passage of the Boswn

Pon :\CL in retribution for the des1rucLion o f 1h<.: Fas t India Cornpan(s

1,ca. This ''"ts the first of 1he ,o .c:allcd intokrabk ;1c1s. a11cl it corn ·

plcccly dosed che pc11 t of L\os1on. i1.s reopening conditio11al upon r<.:.sti·

llltion for 1he tea cks1roycd at tl1<: ·1 t'a l'an.y. Boston issued a circula r

letter ask ing lo r th<: suppon of chc ot he r colonies in its light agai11st

whac iL t<.:l'lllt«l Fngla11d's cyra1111 y. calli11g lo r :1 11n11i111por1.a1ion and

noncxponatio11 :issocia1ion. T he respo11s<: i11 \faryland \\'as intense. and \\'illi<1111 F.<ldis. sun..:yor o f cht: cusL01ns fm· th<.: pon nf Annapolis.

reportn l. " :\II :\rncrira is in Jla1 nc1 I hear sini ng<.: bnguage every cla y.

T he colo11is1s a1 <: ripe: lo r any 111t::1surc tliac \\'ill ccnd Lo L he p rc-.;n ·a1 ion

c1f what they ca ll chcir narnr:1l libc ny." '''

\·\li lliam l'aca acti\'(;[\· o rg:miz<·d loca l nl11l 111111ccs 111 ?lfaryla11cl to

65

oppose 1hc Hos1.on !'on :\ c1.. and he auuidcd rhe Co111·e111ion ca lled at ,-\n11apolis on June 22, 17/•J. which denounced it as "cnicl and oppres­si1·c." The J une Convention also reIDll'ed 1hat a conh'Tess of dclcgales from e\'ery colony should meet as soon as possible, appointing \ Villiam Paca as one of t he delegates to represent Maryland. Thus, when the firs1. Comincnt;tl Congress lllet in Phi larlelphia in Septrniher 1774. Pac;1 joined 1hc fif1 y 01· so other n:prcscnLati1·cs in rlc·lil>enlling the course of action the colonies .should adopt to ach ieve a n::storation of u·usL betll'een F.ngbnd and .·\n1t"ric:1. l>ascd 0 11 an assurance that ,.\merican libcnics would he protectcrl.

At each succcssi\'C· meeting of the \larrlaml Con\'cntion between J u ne I ii~ arul J une I 'ii6. Paca was l't'·Clcctcd as one of the colony's delega1.cs ro the Contincnt<ll Congress. I le returned to his 1hrec chil­dren as o fi cn as possible. hut lor months at a time his presence was rc11uired in Philadelphia. Paca scn ·ccl on a \'arict y of conunitrees in Congress. indttd ing the impon a1u Co111111ercc and Fore ign Affairs Com­mittees. a 11d he \\·as frequen rl y c oiled upon to cxcr'<:i,c his talents in drafting pnlicy papers. reso luliom. and petitions.

\\'hil c at Congress PaG1 bet<llllc close friends with .John :\dams. a

1lelega1e from \Jas.,achuseus and a firm opponent of l3ri1ain 's efforts to

oppress 1he .\ mcrican colonies .. \dan1s quickly pncci1·c:d 1hc differences hcLwccu Paca and Chase. dcscribiu~ the first as a "rlclihnater" and noting th ;H Litt· latter "spoke """ 'n1ly . .. Since [ew of l'nr.a 's pape1·s have surl'i1·ed . .John :\da111s 's diaq is a 1·al11ablc source of info rn1i1tion n11 l'aca's ani1·i1ies ll'hik he 1rn.< in 1'hiladclph i<1. \\'c know lrom his diary, for cx:1mplt>. that .-\rlams ;incl 1wo 01hcr ddq;atcs ,,pen1 .se1·eral hours walking 1l'i1h Paca in the St;ne H ouse ) arcl 011 the.: 11101 ni11g of September ~:!. I ii!'1. discussing Parliament's right to regulate colonial trade.'"

The day follmdng l'a.-a·, 1011~ discu<sion wilh J oh11 :\ th r11s and the other delegates in the Sia1e I louse: yard. the fol1011· inp, was cmcred in the parish register of Philadelphia's C hrist Church :

Hester. Daughter o l \.Villi:r111 :rnd Le1·ina P:ica l3ap1 izcd ~<:ptcmbcr 2·1. 1775 Born :\11g11s1 24. 1775"

For years, this hri~I t•ntry in the Christ Church register has puzzled Parn sd1ola1·s. \Vido1l'ed only abn111 11i11t· months \\'hen the child ,,·as

66

conce i\·ed. it seemed improb;i blc that l'<ica would havi.; n:marl'ied ancl fathered a chil<l. especialh· becau.s<: prup1·iery \\'Ould ha,·c demanded that he spend sc\·cral months in 111ourning follo1,·ing ivlary's death in January of I 774.111 addition. if Paca had 111arricd in Maryland, or even in Philadelphi;o whi le a1.Lc11di11g Congress. the ncwspapns \\'Ou ld have carried an acco11111 of the e\·e rll ii the march had been as ill ustrious as his lirst. T he William Paca who appeared at H ester's baptism could ha\'e been a diffen:rn man thau the \laryland delegate in Congress, but no trace of a contemporary 1.-ith that name has been discoverecl in the vicini ty of Philadelphia.

If \\' illiam Para aud Le"ina "·c:rc: not married. then H ester would ha\'e been illcgir i111at1.:. E\'idc:ncc suggesting this possibility is found in a lcucr written from 'Vyc: Islam!. '.-larch 2'.!. I ifM, by Sarah Bonlley. John !:kale llordlcy's second wifo . In the kucr. Khich was simply a<l­dressecl lO her .- ist<.:r. probably Jenny Shippc11 of Philadelphia. Mrs. Uonlk r employed abbrel'iatio11' ;111cl pseu<lony1m to obscure the identi· tics of the pe1so11' ~he ,,-as di.cussing. She wrote:

It seems P:O: ,,·as 011 the point of being 111'11Ti<.:d to the Chier bur. br th~ good ma11<lgt: 111e111. of C. \\'ith the J.a/io 11! 11 Fale abou t a ~ef{To \Vomau a11d .1Pr'1'>·11/ Cliildri·11 ir i> eutirel\' broke o ff. i\lr:s. I'. who is much displc:"1;1I with C. says she is not a black woman but a musrcc :end is a Yery pre tty \Vo111a11 with only one C hil<l. P:O: lrowc\'er will 1101 see the Chir-1 11or n:cein· a letter fror11 hi m \\Tiucn in his O\\'ll

defence and the tender C. i> bringing his family 10 hn House to atn u>C a u<l keep up her spirits 0 1 in other ,,·onls her u .<e11/1111mt and with the samt good i11te11/i1111 100 will pt-c\·c:nr t\'ery ocher pretender from making hi ~ adcln:ssc:s to her now he (C.) has founrl the way to her '~"'' · I a11 1 rnrpriscd tlrnt she kno"·ing C. would suffer· herself to be duped in so barefaced a manru:r .... l think her not see ing nor rc1:e il' ing a letter frorn tire Chief looks \'erv m uch like a seule<l de· tcnnination agaimt h im. Surc[Iyl common just ice re11uires that he should be lit·anl at least: perhaps lier kinrl l.lrother has ad\'iscd her to such rnndttcl :1s k110\\·i11g it 1hc most cff<'c:tual ,,·ar to prC\'elll the March frn111 el'cr coming on aga in."

II ··the C:hicf .. 1ckrr~J 111 " 'illia111 Paca. 1hc11 ~lrs. Bordle(s com. mcrm 1rnnld conlin11 1hal l':rc:1 liatl bthcrecl a11 illcgitinrate child. and that the mother lr :rd been an :11nanin: 1rnma11 o t a mixed racial back·

61

ground. Jim her cffon.- 1ei pn;vclll a n yone ex<:epc hc 1 s isccr, "·ho ob­viously kne \\' the details ol the affoir. fro1n kno\\·ing the identity of the persons im·ol n:d was so dkn i1 c th:u the lrucr cou Id not be interpreted ~s a11y1hi11g other than an inu i1:11ing hint of the rcl~c iomhip 1.x:twccn P;1ca. Lc\"ina. ancl H ester.

R cc<·ncl y. th t· 111issing link lll:<'CS"11·1 to solw 1hc lll)"SICI')" ol chc.: Christ Ch111·t h bapti ,ni;il entry and 1ht: Sarah Bord ley lc11.c:r surfaced. On lktc111bc r ~- 1 'itl l. \\' illia111 l'at,a . who "·;1s 1hc11 in l'hil:iclc lph ia. wrote lO his fr iend <111d tdlo\\' >i!(m:r ol 1he lkdaration of Independence, Dr. lk11ja111i n Rush:

Dear Sir

i\lr. Harrison \\·ill tlcli\l:r )Oll thi~. I forgot when in I your] Company J;m E\'t:nini\ 10 rC<JtlC<e your :111c11Lio 11 w a young Lad)'. tha t I have piac<·d a t a llo[ :i j n ling School " ' i1h ~!rs. Brodc:im:. " ·he n sickness sh.ti I n :q u ire the assis ta 11cc o t a l'h ysi<: ian: .-he is a 11 :11 urn I Oa ugh tcr o f m ine and cho· lll'1 <:0"'1i1111ion is 1·cry ddicHc· l kn<.)\\' of 1101.hing panirn l:t r in it [ ocher ; 1ha 11 l11at she is subjecc lO :t 1t»l i1•c f' J Habit whith <Kcasiom al Ti rnr' 1-ic:id ;1d1s and si(k "011\:t('h. :\ Physican hm1·c,·cr ha~ ne1·e1 be<·11 1cquirttd in 1hcsc Co111plaims <cs yet. I chink ii holl"cH-r proper that )CHI ,J10ult.l Ix: ;icquaimccl ,,·ich 1hi.< Cin;um­st:mctt. I ha1·c dcsirc1l ,\f r>. llrodcaux to apply lnr your assistance \\'he n , h<: m,· Dau~h1C:1 sh:tll >l:tlld in need of ic a11tl 10 <:onsid<:r you as the Ph ysician .

Yr. n1t)Sl 11. &.

\·Ven . Paca"'

Paca '< letter to Rush i> rc111:1rkabk. It condmiq:I)· C$tablishes that in the momhs follo\\'ing i\larv Che\1 .. s death l'ac;1 cook .1 mistress. and that Hester " ·as the ilk~ic i111a1t: olbpring ol thac liaison. Further more. c.hc lencr shOll"S th<ll Pau1 did nol a lJa111lon his dauf;IHcr a lter her ba1>­is111 on Se prcmhcr :?·I. 1 i i[>. but rather 1h:1r ht' t:a n: hdly watche1I C.l\"er ht:r and that ht: cmcn:d he r i11 a l'hil;iddphia bo;mlinµ; s1·hool a fc"· 1110111hs a f1c 1 he r 1·il1h hinhd:q. Fun hcrmo re. 1hc bn:11rli11J.( >d10ol "·as one ol t he finc<e in l'hiladC'l pliia . '" revea led in an ad1<·niscm<:nt i\lrs. Brodt:<tll !Jbccd in tht.: fkL.,llllit:r 6. I ii5 issue or chr 1'1•1111.•rlu111tit1 Gazt•l/e:

i\lr<. l1nxlea11. lrn1n En[\la11d. Takes this :\lc1hod Ol :icqu:tinting her fric11tls and the Puhlic in gc11cn1 l. il iac sl1<: has opened ~ HOAl<llJ:-JG

liR

s<.:HOOL. m \V<i lrnll-slrcct. near the Corner of Founh-strcct, where

young- l.Al>IES will be genteely boarder! . anrl 1.au!1;hl to read and speak

the French and Englisli Languages. the T ambour. Embroidery. and even Kind of useful and orn;nncnt<il :-<f.EDLE·\\'ORK . .. . .-\n,· Person . . desirous of lnfonnalion concerning the Character and Recommen­dation of \!rs. Brodeat1 . m•"· apply to ei ther of us . R01mRT ~!ORK ls.

B. J:'RAN KLJN .

:\ot only was J\·l rs . ll rodc;1u's boarding school a line ont'. but it was

com·cni«ntly lot:a1cd 11·i1hin a block of the residence or Dr. Rush, whom Pac•t had ju~t :1sked to st' n ·c <•s I kstcr's ptT,011al physician.

l';trn 1n<1y h:t\'C qnidc ly pushed Hcstn's mother out of his life. but the l<tct that Sarah Bordley noted that " l'vl rs . P" described LC\'i11a as <l

" \·ery preny ,,·0111an" suggcsts that a dose friend or relat ive had secn her.

so perhaps 1hc liaison \\'as no1 so crans itor)'- No fun her 111c111 ion o f either l.cvina or Hester has hen fou nd . Pam's discuss ion of his da ugh­tet"s "delicate'' constitution suggests that she probahly did not sun•ive to adulthood. ancl th is is fu rther confin11ed since she is not mentioned in his will.

Paca's re lationship \\'ith Lc\'ina-if it d id not end shortly after

Hester's baptim1-rnust ha,·c tcrn1i11atcd before 177·1. the yea r he mar­ried the sister of the Mr. Harrison mentioned in his leuer to Dr. Rush. The Harrison fami ly kn c: \\· about Heste r. In f;Kt , they accepted con­

siderable responsibilit} for the girl aftn Paca c:nrolkd hc:r in Mrs. Brodeau\ boardi ng school. because one: reaso n he did so was that he \\·as preparing to mm·e 1ht: r<:st of his fam il y back 10 Maryland. Still. it

is im probable tha t Pac:a 1rnuld han: kept a mis1n:ss after his marriage tO ,\1111 Harrison. J.c1·i11a. \\'ho 1nay ha ,'<.: bccn a scn·an t in l'ac;1's Phi la­clc:l('hia hcn1sch<>ld (lu.: \\·as \\·irlo\\·ccl a1 HI 11ccdecJ sc)n1t.:1111c tc) c:arc for his cltildrc:-11 and w tc-nd tO other domestic affairs) probably kft shorth·

after Hester's bi rth. But if so. she departed \\'ith Paca's assurance that t.he ir daughter \\·oulcl he: rc:cognized as his o\\'11 and that she 1rnuld

rt"ccivc 1101 n11h an cclu(:atin 11 . hut 111a111· other benefits that she. an unmarried \\'Olltall of mixed blood. could nn·er provide.

Paca spent nearly half of I i75 in Philadelphia au.ending lO the

business oi Congress. as the political si tuation cominucd tO worsen.

(i!J

l\oth in Congress and back in Maryland l"aca did cvcrythiug possibk lO misc troops and to arm them for what many people expected was an

imminent attack ou the ports of Annapolis and Baltimore hy British

warships. Dcspitc the danger, Maryland's delegates in Congress were prohibited by instructions fro111 the C\fary la11d Cc.111,·c1Hion. \\·hich was, i11 effect. the legislature of the colony's extralegal govcnnncnt, from endorsing independence.

Paca n::turncd to '.lfarvland brief!\' in late December 1775, but he was . . .

back in Philadelphia by the middle o f January I ii6. lly then word had l>cen rccci,·ed that King Ccorge had dcdarcd the colonists to lie in open rebellion. In February, Congress \\'as apprised l>y a letter smuggler! in a flour barrel on a ship from llrisc.ol that the kiug had ordered the confiscation of all :\merican \'esse l$ found sailing in British waters. Even

Robcn Alexander, a 1\ laryland delegate 1d10 had long opposed inde­pendence and "·ho would eve111.11ally bccon1c a Tory, denounced the king's action, adding that ic. had al111ost convinced him that indepcnd· ence 1rns "right ~can be justific<l by 11c.:c.:cssity."'" No one could deny that the colonists \\'LTC arming themselves co fight the British, but what the king and Parliamem 1·ie\\'ccl "' rebell ion. they pc:rcc:i\·ed as r.he only

poss ible response to oppression and tyranny. Fro111 the first, the :\mcri· cans had only askt:cl that their rights as Englishmen be preserved and protected. l\01,· Hri1.ain had d ispatd1cd trnops to the colonie>. killing on both sides had occurred, anrl c1·e1H$ that uo one could comrol were propelling the colonies to1\'ard indcpcudcucc:.

70

The Decisive Blo\f ls Struck

T he wrrcu t ia l r;1i 11s acco111pa11ied Ly lig l1tni11g ancl thunder that punc· t nated the heated clcln1tc earlie r iri t he ll'CCk had passed. but 111udholc; srill do tted the to\\'11 '> trnpa,·ed s tree ts .. \ltho trgh suulight h:rthcd tht· red brick State Ho11>c on Chc>tn llt Street . the tc111 pcrat11n: had reached onlr rhc '°''. ; 11, br 'l:OtJ "· ·" · lkcaus<' of the swnn. Philadclphians were enjoyi ng a rcfn:shing l'l'.>pitc l rolll hot and h11111id sumntcr weather that Thurs<lay. Ju ly ·I. I ii(.i.

As \ Vi ll ia111 J>ac:a picked Ii i; \\"ay th rc111gh 1.hc pudclks rn aw:nd tht· clay's 111ceti111-\" in the .Stat(' Homc assembl y ron111. he ll'as kcc11l )' aware of tl1(' i111 pun;111ce of wh;n he a!l<l thc 01hc1 ddcgatcs in tht: Co111 i11e111al Cong1't:>S \\·ere about to do. 011<.<: J o hn I la11 rnck. the l"'t·s idcnt o l Con­gress . ca lled the 111ccting lO 01elt:r. cad1 delegate would be asl:.t:d to allin11 his '11ppon for a clnnn ll~lll r1:gi,t,1 i11g the colonists' intention lO sepa ra te fro111 England . Tho,c 11 ho ag reed l<J ado pt the measure woul d IX! ci..po,iug Ll1cnisehc., w co1hidcrahlc personal risk . lx:raust· rebellion was crcasnn acro rtling 10 English l:11c llut at the sa111c 1.irnt. the.IC men 1rnuld bt: clccb1ri ng to the ir lc llm ,· rntm t ry111cn. and co the worlcl . th<tt :\mcricans ,,·c1 ~· dc1e1111incfl to gm·•rn 1 hcmscl\'CS and to replace u ll · rcspo11, i1·c gon~ r11111e11t \\'i th a rule of la1,· rounded on principks anicu· la ted i11 this Dcdaratio11 of Inclqx:ndc11ce.

Bcc t11SC \\' illi :1111 Pata had bcru long in,oln~tl in the 1110\'e111enL chat linally ,·11 ln1ina ted in thi.~ 111ccting a t Philadel ph ia on J uly 4. 177!1, he knell' as \\·ell a< anrone that the Ocdaration ol lndepenclc11cc was nm th t: produn o l intpct uosi ty lnu rather lhe r esul t of rears or increasing estra 11ge1llent and conflic t hct\\'cen b1gl:md aucl her . .\111c rirnn eo lunies.

71

I. -

l ;f! ,

--- ._

Most Americans were tied to Britain by heritage, tradicion. and com­merce, and all shared the rights and protection of citizenship under the English constitu tion. Thus. the decision to sever the connection be­tween Britain and America was agonizing for all, and unchinkable for many.

Most members of Congress were becoming increasingly convinced o[ the necessity of separation from England, however, and popular senti· mem throughom the colonies was building in support of such drastic action.' Patriot leaders, acuve in every colony, employed tactics that rangecl from printing learned newspaper essays and pamphlets to in­citing mob violence against Tories and unsympmhetic merchants. Very important in stimulating popular support for independence was the publication in January 1776 of Thomas Paine's Common Sense. First primecl in Philadelphia, the pamphlet was immediately republished in

72

ocher prO\·i n.-ial to\\·ns. ancl more: than 100.01)0 copies \\'ere solcl in the fi rst three month< of the year. In his brill i:mt piece of polilical propa· ganda . Paine issued an <: loquem a11d unco111promis i11g- call for inde· pcnclc11cc. In stirring prose he proclaimed:

0 ye rhat lo,·c lllankincl! Ye char dare oppose not only th e tyranny but the tH<llll . s rancl forth! f::,·er v s11CJt of chc o lcl world is <l\·errun with . . opprc.<<io n. Freedom hath hci.:n hunted round the globe . . .. ( > receive rhe fug-itiYc. and prepare in time an asyl1111r for 111:111kind.

As l'aca attended the >c.s>iom of Congress during the first three months ol I iiti. hi: became incrca,ingly c.om·inccil th;n the delegates should :11 kasc debate t he iss u<: o l indcpendc11ct-. Othe r members. ho\\'· c:\'cr. believed that reconciliation ""'still pOs.'>ihlc. counseling a delay in anr discussion of the ; 11bjec1. The rnc111 bcrs of Congrt·s> were some of the 111os1 accOlnplishcd 111<:n ol any time or place. a11d C:orig n:ss itscll wa.'> 0 11c of the 1110st illtm rious a:»t·mblirs C\'Cr comt·ned. Bul brillia111 oraw1·y and prolound r cawning oltcn 1cnck<l 10 impctlc, nu her than Lo faciliia1c. conf,;'l't:>siona l action . :h .John :\darns on1·c remarked. there was "so much ~\'i 1. Sen"" Lc:arni11g . .-\ c111t·ncss. Subtlct}', l·:toquencc. R:c. autong r.1ty c;endcmen, each ur ,,·hom I had J been habitua ted to lead and guide in his o\\'n Pro,·inn-. that a11 i11unc11,it )' of Tilllc:. [ "'as] spem turn<:cessarily." 2

P et haps bclic,·ing tha1 C:ongn:" would n 111linuc 10 , ·acilla1c on the issue of ir)(kpende11cc, l'a!':r left. Cong ress i11 Apri l I iiu for a sho rt vi.'>il home. 11111 on i\l:ty l:'i tht: \'irg iuia Con\'Clllion mc<:ting i11 'Williams­burg passed ;1 resolution ordering il, delegation in Cong1·css Lo move irnmcdiact:ly lor a rkdar;1tio11 ol i111kpc11dencc. The Con\'!::11tion's reso· lutio11 \l'a> prompt!) d ispatthnl to l'hib1ddphia. ancl on .J u11t· i Richard Henry Le<' ol the \ 'irginia ilc lq;;uion ro>c [10111 his tliair an <I """"' rhat

1hcse L'nitcd Colonies ,uc. and of right ought 10 be. free and inde· penclclll S1aws. 1hat th<:y :u•e ab~olYc<l from all allegiaucc: 10 the Br·i1ish Crown. a nd chat. all politi<al co1111ec1ion bc t\\'CCn them and chc S1a1c ol C: rc:i1 Urirnin is. :mcl ought 10 be. lOtall)' dissol\'cu.

John .·\tl;uns ol i\!assachusc1ts 11uickl y seconrlccl Lee 's 1notio11, bm fur· ther clisr 11ssion \\'as rldcrrcd nntil the: lollo\\'ing clay. Ai:ting- <ts a co111 · mittec or the whole. Congl'C\S drhatcd the \ ' irginia l'l"SOlution on Samr­J ay the Sth anrl a):\aiu on :'\!onda,· th e- I Or h . Finally Con~rcss d t·1ern1ine<l

73

1.hat no i1111ncdiate nll<: 011 the resohu io11 could he taken. because some

delegarions, paniwl<11h those from New York. New Jt:rsey. Pennsyl­

,·ania. Dela1r;1rc, Mary land. and South Carolina. " ·ere restricted by their

instructions fro1n Yoting on the issue of independen<:<:. :\cconlingly

Congress pos1ponerl funher action tor three \\-eeks .. in order 10 gi\'(; the Assc:111blic.1 of the \fiddle Colonies an opportunity to take olf their

restrictions and kt their Dekgates unite in the mt·asu rc." .-\s a means

o[ sa,·ing; l imr., ho11·eyer. Congress appointed a Connnittee of Five 10

draft a decl<1rntio11 of iuclepc11clc11cc for the rn11sidcra1ion of the dele­

gares \\·hen rhey reassembled iu July.

Only four of l ht: <~ight Maryland dclc[{atcs \\·ere present in Philadel­

phia " ·hen Congr<'.S.S vored the postpouemcnt. Since the MaryJ;n1d dclc·

gates ,,·ere prob i bi tt:cl fro111 cnclor.si ng i ndr.pe nclence unless their in­

strunions 1rcrc repealed, rhe1· were anxious to return home to exert

r.heir inHuenct 011 the :\laryland Com·ernion. Each colony rcpresenu::d

in (;c>ngress l1ad 01 > l r () 11c.: Y(>lt'. , hcJ\fC.:\ ·c r. a 1u I 1 C> cast chat \·otc at lea~t " .

d1rec rleleg;tt<.:s lwd to bt' pn::sc111 . The i\13rylanders kne\\· that \Villiam

Paca h·oulrl soon I><.: re111rni11g rn l'hilaclclphia. so Samuel Chase <llld

i\farrhe11" Tilgl1111a11 had alrcadi decided to lcaH; for i\far yland to assist

the other members or rheir ckkgarion alrcad1· t hu-c. John Rogers ancl

Thomas Stone dencd to rt·11wi11 i11 Philarldphia. 1d1crc they were

joined hr Paca hy i\!ay U. l3;1d in l\ laryland. Ch;rsl'. Ti lgh111a11. a11cl ·1 ho1nas Johnson c:m1·asst:d

the pro1· i11<C: and rnnduc:tt'cl a fr;uHit' \\Tiling ca111paign urging the

freemen ol the counties ro suppon imkpcndcnn: by rcpc;iJing- 1hc in­

s1.rnctions forbiddi ng the ddegates 10 1·otc for sq><t1·a1 ion from England.

011 Jun<: '.!8 Chase '""' ih dra frccl a brief note to .John :\cl<im.s in Phila­delph ia proclaiming the good ne\\·s: .. I a111 this l'Vlomcnt fro111 1lic Hnusr.

10 procure ;111 b<1>l'c,s 111 fnllm,· the Post with an Cnan[ imous J Vote

of our Cn11,·c1H.ion ior lndependt::nce .. . s<:e the gloriom cffccrs n f

Coun1y l nstrnctions-·Ollr pc::op l<: han: tire ii not smothered.' ''

Con grcss rccon n~nccl on .July I . a 11d .in q '" 1 he dclq),'a 1 es ,,·ere .. enter­

i ng 011 the grt:<11 clcba1c·· 1he ne1,· instructions cn1p01»ering the Mary­

bncl delegation 10 1·01r. tor indepc11dc1ict· wc rt· laid lidnrr. Con[{ress .

Paca. Rogers. and S1nnc \\·ere elated. because the,· supponcd indepeml­

cncc and yet. " ·mild haw been forcell to abstain from Yoting hacl 1hc

amended instruct ions not been rccc-i1·c:d. Nc.nr , free to an as their

consc iences dict;n('d. dH: \lardandcrs rnuld deb;ue 1hc i~suc and then

cast thei1 \'Ole for 1h1: independence ol the l ·nited ~tall-S fro111 llritain. as ,,·ell as tor 1hc so,·ereigmy of 1he new S1a1e of ~farybnd .

Siuing a~ a co1n111ittct: ot the whuk on .Ju ly l. Congress dcl'ou:d ni11<: hoi..-s to a debate 011 th<: \ ' irg inia rc.-o lucion fo r inclcp<:ndencc. T he following tlai the rcltohnio11 " ·as adopted h) lT<:r)' colony cxn;pt :-\ew York. who~c dt:lega1e:s still had not hccn re l c~>ist:d 1'10111 their i11struc· tions forhicltli11g- them 10 ,·oic· lur ind<'pt:11clcnn-. By adopti11g 1h1: Vir­ginia r<:S<>hnion on July'.!. C:o11gres.~ co111111i11cd itself and 1hc> people of the l ' 11i1cd Sta1es to sacrific<: C\'Cry1hi11g i11 an effort 10 ad1i<:\'e separa­tion from England .. \If tha1 1T111ai ncd wa, 10 ;tdop1 <Hl appropriate i>10Clantatic>n allllO\I U<' ing ( :OllJ{l'(,,' <.•(s <ll'l·isit)I\ It> lhc t,C)llfltrr ;\l'\Cl l f ) tllC world.

The Con1111 im::c ol Fin :. rcspomibk lor ilr;dting- ;1 suita ble clccl;tra­Lion. included Thonrns .Jdferso11 o l· \'i1g iuia. llc 11ja111 i11 Fr:in klin o( Pcnmyl\'ania. John ·\ <la111s ol :\fa<sadmS<:us. Roger Sherman of Con­ncc.:t icu t. and Rol>cn R. I .i,·ing>lnn of :\e11· York. Th" commi1 1ct agreed that hec;iusc of his " pl-nd1a r fcl ic itr ol i;xprcss io11 " the )'(H 11 1i.; .Je fferson should ,,.,.itc: the clocumcm. snhjc:n 1<> apprm·al hy the mhcr 111emhc1-,; of the (On1miucc . .Jcff<:1·son worker! nu the dralt in the second Aoor parlor ol 1.h<; house 11·hcrc: Ii<: li \'t·(I. 11Titing on a foldi ng desk built after his 011·11 design by a Philadelphia Lahi11c:rn1akcr. ·\lu:r .Jeffcr•on i11wr­pora1ecl amencl11u:111' an1l ah('1~11io11< >ni.;gc,tccl b' ;\rla11" ;md Frn11klin. lhe COHH>ti ttl.'(.: sttl) 11 1itt<:1l tl)c cl<.·<·laraLj4) 1t I(> ( ;011g·rl·ss c>n JlnH: ~ rt. l;c) ). lowing approYal ol th<: \'irgi11i<t rcso l111ion lor indcpc ncle11 (:c on Ju ly 2. Cong1i;:.. 111rnecl 10 .Jc:lfcrn111·, declaration. <kbating th<' cloc111m.:111 line by line . .-\dams ancl Frnnkliu h:ul maclc: onli 111i11or additions and cor­n~ctions LO .Jr: ffcrson '.< 1cx1. ln11 C:o11grcss . <it ting as a ro111mittcc of the whole:. insis1<'d on 111ajnr :dtera 1i11ns. By thc t ime 1h c: debate 1:mkd on Jul} 4. J clfc1son's 1lraft had be<:11 rc:clun·cl by ncadi a lounh. with one ul the 111C1st i111pona111 ddetions be ing J cffc:rson 's strong co11dc11111a1.io11 of s(a,·n y. H111 in spi1c: o t tlw 0 111ission, . 1hc doc11111cn1 finall y agrc('cl upon wa~ 110 pall ia t h·c. The: fkrla r;it ion ol l nclepc·nclcncc 1 onciscly a11<l clt•q 11c111I) rn1Hk11111ccl t yra11 11~ ancl de, pot;,,, , and prndaimcd the right oi a ll 1111:11 10 " gowrn 111 cnt dt:d ica icd rn prc:scn-ing and pro­moting di ~ life. liberty. a11cl happiness ol i1' cit i1.cns.

T he debate ha,·inl\' ended. Congres.' \'Ote<l 10 acccp1 the: amenrled n~rlaratin11 u l lndcpt·ndc:1u:e la1c i11 the alt t'l'l l<.,On 011.fuli- ~ - ll istorians disag ree on \\'hcd1cr 1hc fk-d ar;11ion "'a' act ualll' sign ~rl hy 1l1c mcmb<' l'S

75

in Congress on Julr ·1. but Thomas Jefferson , rhe only delegale who

kept 11ott:s of tht proceedi ngs. sta ted u11t:quinically that it was. Further­

mort:, the Dt:daration as adoptt:d rnndu<kcl. "and l'or th<, support of

th is Dedara1ion. '"i1h a firm 1·c:l iaru:c 0 11 th<: prot<:ct io11 of di,·im; Pro,·i­

<lence. \\'e mutually pledge to c:ac.h ocher our Li,·cs. our Fortunes and

our sacred H onor, .. a statcn1cn1 strongly irnplying that those prcscut

int:enrled 1.0 add 1.heir names to t he docu111cnt. Thus. the evidence

suggests th<tt the 1ncmbcrs ot Congress who could legal!\' rlo so- New

York 's ddcgation still hacl not bc<:n rclcast:d from their iustrunions

prohihiting suppon fo r indcpcrnlt::nc:c-sign<:cl !lit: Declaration on

J uly ·I. ' .-\ftc:r Joh n Hancock and C harles Thomson. respeni,·t:ly prcsi·

den t and ser.rctan· of Co11grc". pc1111ed t ht·i r na mes on die document.

tht dclcgatt:s from the 1·ar ious sta tes a<l<lcrl 1hcir signattll'CS to the

Declaration. In rheir 1t1rn rht Maryland dckgatcs tikd to the front of

the room. One by 0111: . J oh11 Rogers. ·1 homas S1.0nt:. and \Villiam Paca

took pen in hand. Each knc"' that "·hen pen touched paper he ,,·as

com mil ling h i11iscll ;lllcl a ll the politirnl influence and world Iv goods

he posscS.S('d to the t:H1't ol .-\merican libc rr.y .

. -\ll<:r 1 he lledar:u ion "·as signed. 1 he don1111c-nt. o r perhaps a copy,

was r11shccl 10 di(: prin1i11~ oflicc ol .Jolm lluulap. D1111lap iuunediatdy

began sctti 11g t ypc . l·omplcti11g his wor k i11 ti me l'or a rnpy of the primed

Dedara1io11 to be pasted imo Congn:ss·s journal the next day. Copies

were 1hcn <l ir~c1c<l 10 each s1a1e :\sscrnlily . C:n11uc:il ol Sak1y. aud to the

co1nman<ling olli( ('l'S o t 1he Continental :hrn). wi th rhc:: order that the

J)cda ra 1 ion he offic:ia II y a 11 11011 ucccl i 11 cad1 sta tc and by the head of

the anny. Bernus(· t he doc11me11t adopted 011 Ju ly '' prodaimccl rhc

cstablishml'lll o l a ne1I' na1 ion. Congr('<s clc::cid('cl 10 " ·a it until an

offic ial seal could Ix· madt: bdort· signing an tngrossed parchment copy

of the Dec:larntion . .John Rog-ers was nor. rct.urncd to C:ongr(·ss in the

election held in Maryland in ta rh· .Jnly. <o whc11 rhc i'vhiryla11 d delc­K"tes siKned 1.he en~\TOssc;<l Dr;c lar;n io11 n11 .\ugust '.!he was not pr<:esen t.

l ronic<•lly . simply because the <'llKrossed rnp\· of :\ng11s1 ~has sur\'ivcd

while tlu: COJJ\' ~igncd 011 J11 ll' ·I has 11 01. th(· onl ~ 1n('11 r(·1ncmbcrcd as

Maryland'< .<igrwrs an'· Sa11111C·I C has('. Tho111as St o n.:. C harles Carroll of

Carro l11011. arH I \\' ill1a1C1 l'aca . .Jnh11 Rogers thm rt'nwim Mar yland 's "torgutre11 Signer ...

R('ga rclk:.<s nf \\'hich l\t a ry la11d (T.< 11Trt· p1Tse1H in Congress to sign the

Declaration of ln<kpe11de1H:e 0 11 J uh· ·I and .-\ugusr ~- 1101 one ,,·as

76

Congress Voting Independence, with Pacn tire middle figure in the group of three <lelegatcs sta11ding behind the seated gentlem~11 holdiug a cane (left section of paint.ing)

deluded into believing that by merely affix ing his name to the docu­ment independence was won. The very day that Congress approved the Declaration, Genera l George Washi11gw11 wrntc lO OllC or his officers from New York, '·The distress \\·c arc in for want of Arms induces me

aga in LO urge your sending on all such as can possibly be spared with the greatest expedi tion. The enemy have landed under cover of their Ships and have taken possess ion or Staten Island , from which in all probability they will soon make a descem upon us." ~ It was now up to the men at arms, guided and assisted by their officers, the individual states, and Congress. to make the promise of the Declaration of Inde­pendence a reality for the 1\ merie<m peopk.

77

CltA1' I }:lit S IX

A Consu1nmate Public Servant

Sc\"l:ll long ye:11-s of frustra ting warlarc fol10 1n;rl th« si!{ning o l rhe fkdaration of Jnd<'pcnd«11(e bdorc F.ngla11d li11a ll y <.1>se111c.:d to a «!pa· ra te cxi~tcn('C IOI hn lorn1cr c0Jon1c:< . J he ,,·ar rears wen; diffa:ult tor all . .\nwricam. "·ith d1rn11it shon:tg1·< ol <'<J11 ip111c.:nt :111d snpplic,. cu1-. renq · inflation. and corrup1ion n1111po1111di11g the human misery of' dead. sick. and wmnakd soldier~. T he.: pa1hnic contli tinn ol the Contincmal :\rn1y duri11!{ 1hc " ·inters a1 Morristown and \';d in Forge is onl i the best known ol the st-1-crc 1cs1s lacc.:<t h1· \\';1shing11m ;c11d his men. Tlw .·\111crica11 dfc11·1 0(1<"11 :ippt·:irC'd ;1bo11 1 to m ll:ip.<c.:. and if Spain. Ho l· la1ul. anti c.:spc< 1alh F 1~11H 1· had nni l><'Cll ,,·ill111y; to 1r:111<lorn1 the ;\mc ric;111 rcbi:llion i1110 a F.urnpc;111confli11. indc.:pcncknce 1night well ha\'c bcc11 unauaina!Jlc.

P:ica co111i1111ed to rt'p1·1:.,cn1 .:.Ltn b1ml in the Conti11e111;d Co11gre,;.1 throughout 17ifi and llii. Onti: Congrt·s, issued 1hc lkt·lara1io11 ot l ndcpendc11n:. ii•« !lr i1ish i:rn11111:1111kr. Sir \l'ill i;1111 Howe. acu·krnteil his dfons 10 h11111ili;11<' Congrt·ss 1" c:ip111ring- Philadelphia. During th<: I a JI of 17 7 6 I I ow1· surccnkd i 11 <:Stablish i 11g a :.t rong I inc of dt'fcnsc through NC'\\. J crSt')'. and Ii) Dccc111h1:r Congr<:<s "'"s 1-um·incccl 1hat l'hiladl'l phia \\'0tdcf won lall. Pnblid" Cong1es.' disnn1111"d 1·1:porl' that it was ;cho111 l<J ;ih;i11olon 1hc t.o\\'11, lmt pr i,;i1d) it laid the groundwork lor n:mo,·ing 1h1: go\'C'n11111·111 to llah1111nrc. On Dc<-c111her 1!! Congress ad1·011rni.:d l.O d11: i\lan·bmd cill'. Ha r.1h 1ri111n \\'C'arhr· r anrl \\'a.<hing· ' '

' ion's 5111 prist' rn1m11<: ol 1hc I lt'<si;i11 Lr<:>OJ'' at Trenton 011 Christma.' Da) pn:t·<: 11t1:d tl1c la ll of Phi l;1ddphia in the winter of 17i6-i7. hut Conp.r.-ss co111i1111c<l to lllt't'I in ll:tlt i11101c 11111il Jail' Fi:hr11ary l7i7.

\\'illiam Para rcm<1i11cd in Philaddphia af1er Congress :uljourne<l ro

llalt inion:. and a llliough he atte11ded Cong-re-s bri .. Hy i11 mid-Jarrnary.

he appears lO lrH'C recurrn:d to l'hi ladclpliia \\' irhi 11 a k w <hi ys. Obvi­

ously 1he risk of c:ap11irt• hy t he llricish "°''s 110 1 as illlponant 10 Paca

as the coun"•ip of tht· lo\'dy young lady hC' hoped would he his nex1

"•ife. Ou Fc.;hrnary '.!:-\. I iii . che <by :de"' Co11gres., officially r..:co11\·t:ncd

i11 Philadelphia. Pac;1 ma r ried A1111 I la rri son. Tht· ct·rcrnony. held at

Christ Cllllrch. was perlonucd br :\ irn's lirother-in-l:1w \ ·\ 'i lliam \·Vhice.

who woultl later oc "l'l-.oi111ed fi,-,.1 l'rotestam Ypiscopal bi•lu)p of the

l'hiladclphia diocese.

\ ·Villia1n Paca was 1hirt)'·S i)< )Tars o ld when he.; 111a rried .-\11 11 Mar rison:

she was ouli 11.-c1Hy. Desp ite hn ro111.h. :\nn was eminemly s t1i1ab lc.

at lc:ast socially. as a wife lor Paca. occause her l:unily was one of wealth

and prominence in l'hiladclphia. Hc:r fa thc1. 1 lcnry Harrison. had

begun lik as a 1na rinn. la tr r beco111ing a substant i;d Philadelphia mer·

chant. H e scrwd <ts aldcnnan of Ph iladelphia in 176 1 and 111ayo r in

I ili2. J larrison im·c•1<~d he:"·ih- in rmrn lots ;i11d lane! in the :'\onhcrn

J.ihcrtics. a mburb bordering 011 1hr .Schuylkill J{i,·cr. and when he

<lied i11 early J a11uary l i66 his pcrnmul proptrty alone was wonh more

than £15.0ctl) t 1nTt'11q. :\ n n w:1s one ul Henry I la1'l'ison's five:: children.

and she shared e1111;ilh· in his t'St:11.- with her 11101her. brothers. ancl • l

s!Slers .

. \ld1011)\h :\1111 l larriso11 seemed a n appropri ale soci<t l 11 1:11 ch for

Vvillia111 P<Ka. 1heir 111 ;11riagc ""'s sbon ;md be$cl by tragedy. Ann

Wds young and IO\Td 1he <oci;il lite of Philadelphia. but the 1hreat of

in11ni ne11t B1i1i,h auad. u 1l n1in:ni11).\ in 1hc: <:11c111)"' capturt· ol rhc

cit y in Septe 111ber I i i i . 11 ccosiia1c:d d rat the l'at'i•~ n1akc their ho111c;

e lsewhere . \ ,\'i lliam Paca u1m·ecl his la111ily 10 W ye l$land shonly after

his marriage 111 .-\nn. lc;l\ ing her in d1:1rge of hb d1il1lren whik he

attended Congress. which hacl taken up qnaners in York. Pc:umrlvania.

:\11 indica1 inn ol the.; so(.ia l life .-\nn Harrison had been acn1sto med to

can he seen in a letter ,Ji,, received i11 ct11·ly I i7~ from Rebeccah Fra nks.

a lilelong lriC'ncl who 1c.;111ainc:d in Philadelphi:1 ahc1 the Bri1ish occu·

pied the: ri l ) . lkcky Frank5 dl'><rilictl tht· J:r,· i~h ha lls gi,cn by the

ll ricish and 1hc:- sty lish gO\\'n' and n 1itT11rcs worn b) rhe 1\'onu:11. co n·

eluding-. .. Mo"· I wish ]'vi r . P. wo11 '1l lei 1·0 11 conic in for a \\'eek or rn·o."

adding tha1 she would accc:pl H'Sponsihilit,· tor her "lx:i11g lei 10 re·

80

turn:·• Miss Franks undoulitL ... Hy hopccl 10 ch1:e1 l\Jrs. Pact ""ith hc1· dcscriprion of the parties and Ila: hospitality of c;enc1al Howe :rnd hi' 111e11, buc her lc11er pron:d emharr;~~sing w l'aca. P rc•ems had accom· pani1:d the lc-ttcl". inc l11di 11g- "'six gautL' handkerd1 icts. '! S111all picn:s of other gauze a11d two ' c ts of different co lo ured Ribbons." and the pack· age had been allmn:d 1hrough 1he c11c111) line. wi1h 1hc cxprc<S appnJ\·al of H owe. Pac:i i111u1cdiatcly ''Tole to Tho111as .Johnsn11. now gc)\·~rnor ol' Maryland. nss uri11g; hi111 1hat neither he nor h is " ·ire l1ad initiated the correspondence or solicited 1he pl'csem~. and he ga\"e Jol111so11 per­mission to bring the: 111attcr bdore the Council ii he c:ousiclcrcd it ··111a1cria l enough:.,

;\n11 Harrison l'aca had probably fo11111l lih: on WyL· hland cx1rc111dy tedious rnrnpa rcd to l'hiladclpl1ia. althou!\"h "'f>Cl'l'isinj\' \\'illia111's three children must ha,·c kepi her hu•y. She undoubiedli would ha,·c pre:· ferrcd li1·ing in :\nnapnlis in the 111a11sio11 011 Prinn: (.;col'f(C Sctcct. bu1 William Paca had decided 1.0 '"" that homt: ;u1d 10 mak<' hi< p<:rr11;me111 home 011 the E:mern Shore. I n I ill\ i1 \\'as n11nore<l 1h.11 l'ao1 had <old the Annapolis 111ansiotl 10 a 1\lr. \Vilso 11 . allhough 1hc deal 111ust have fa llen lhrough bccaus~ in I /:)0 lhc house was p11rd1,1sed by "l 'homas .Jcnings. Perhaps to mollily his young bride. l'afa dc tamined m mon.; his famil y back l<J l'h iladclphi;i in .·\ugust I 7'i /. en:n though 1 he British were known to be pla1111i11g an a11ack on chc dty. l'ac1 arri,·e< I a t \\1'-c Island lrom CongrL·ss 0 11 A11g11,1 :!~. hen hclurc ht: '011 Id gather h is family and tlwir helo11i.;i11gs Hl~clhcr 1hc Brili'h 11i;11·Lhed i1110 Ceci l Count)' and u ll olf chti1· TOlllL" back to l'hiladclphi<t. \\' ri tiug to (;cl\"· crnor Joh11so11 0 11 . .\uj\'11.l t '.!;">. l'at·:i sia1ccl ch;u si nce h(' could 11ot rC'ach Philadelphia l1c had dctc:rmi11ccl .. w n:1nai11 in 1his Quancr ;111cl share the Fate of my Cou11tn'."' 1 D11 ring 1hc 11cx1 IL'\\' week, he: was ~ni,·cly invol\'ed in c::llons w prepare:: a de!1;nse lor chc btstcrn Shnrc.

Pact l\'ilsted no time io rou<in){ tht• loca l militia. assembling licld pieces. and organi7.ing and ar111ing the 11·oops. In l'a(a'> opinion 1h.: situatin11 on tht: Easte rn Shon: was rri1ical. 1l'id1 dcl'isi,·c anion hC'i11g rc<1uirc1l if 1hl· n:gion w;1s 1.0 he sa\"l·d. l'ac:1 ~11111111i1ri1ccl his plan of clefens<! 10 (:m·crnor .Johnson in his kucr ol :\ug-11'1 ~:"i. apologizing in ad\'ance for a11y ex1ralc:!(al anions he 111i~ht be ro1npclkd to cake during the c111crgenq : "'\ ·\' hat I ra11 do 011 tht on-asion ) on may be assured sha ll he: done. I :1111 dcc t:l'n1incd 0 11 it and if i11 the I !cat o f /,cal l may a<h·isL' all) f.xlrcmil\ out ot the """it l.tnc of 1he I.a,,· or 0111·

81

Constillltion l hope I shall b<.: excu~cd: as Lo ExLrcmiLies fro111 :"Jcccssit y they will 11ccd 110 ,.\ pnlog,· nr J 11s1 iti .. a1 ion. ,\ J y Plan is t.o ha\·c a respect­

able Body of Militia ann·d and assembled in1111cdiatcly and I hope 110

scoundrel ol Tory or Traitor will be able to she"· his I lead or gi,•c accy Discourage1nent Lo 011r Exertions . .. ''

The initial reactio11 to Pac1's efforts w raise 1roops IO defend 1he

Ea.seem Shor<.: troc11 thc l\rici'h " ''" lavornlile. hw he soon discovered that Tories and 1ht:ir srmpachizcrs were doing c,·crything possible to

ha1n per his "'mk. On Sep1emher li Pac.a ~enr Cm·ernor .Johnson a lerrer that ac(;ompan icd a prisoner he had <•pprd1l'11dccl. The priso11er. l'aca CXJ)lained. \fas ··~l 111usl i1 ,rclrrlgil,lc: fc:llc•\\', lhc: Re,·. J11h11 Pa1tc:rscJ11 : he has been ende;l\·ourin& lO th row t·,·cn · Obscadt: in cht: \\'ar lO c:dling fonh our niilitia. ;md ha.' ,·iolatt'fl 1he Excx11t in11 nl our I .aws: ht: is

the 11cost pro\'oking exaspera1 ing more.al 1.hat. en:~ r existed ... I hope he \\'ill he 1.aken good c1rc ot accd well guarded ." 111 tht sauce letter l'aca

l'<:pone<I d1a1 an insurr<.:nion had broken out 011 the Eastern Shore, and he plare<l much ot the bl;1111c lor the distu rbance on Methodist prt:acl1c:rs. a group lu.:. as an arclcul :\1 tg·lica11, hclcl i1 t c:cH1tc.;lll}>I. "I it Ill

so1T1' w inform you of an Insurrection of Tories 011 the !\orders ol Queen .-\nnc·s and Caroline Counries headed hy son1e scoundrel Meth­odist Pn:adters." l'aGt wrote. adding that " a llody ol ci&hty ;1sse111blt'd

in arms, were dispersed. three h;11·e since been apprehended [ "·ith the ] Captain & Chid Muhodist Pread1er . . . a111011g the Capti\Ts."';

\Vonl that Frann· had t'Hlt:rcd the war 011 d11: :\1ncrican side. rcccil'cd in the spring of 1718. c;1uscd the: British w cha11g-c- their pla11 of attack. Philadelphia was eva<.:11ated . and thncaht-r tl11· 111<1in l\ricish cffon \\'as conccmratcd in the \\'est Indies ;mcl in the southern t:olonics . llccausc­

of Maryland's gl"ogr;1phical location. hoth English and :\mcrican troops

tra\·dcd thro11gh chc provin<:e 011 cheir ""'Y somh. This resulted in some minor skincci>hcs and raid~. t·spei:i;dly along th<: Chcsapc:akc Bay. Paca·s \-Vye lshuul c.:statt.: was not. a11ac:kctl hy the British. but in June [·/71' he was conlront.ecl hy an American "·hom he conside red as ominous as the enemy. The Co11tinc11tal :\t'lll\', r hrn11ically shnn or all il'pcs of

eq11ip111c1n and supplies, o<:casionallY rcsonccl 10 impressment. or the

outright co11fiscatioll of prirnt.e property. In June 17/'fo an Amcri-

e<m officer allc111ptecl 10 S<:ize horses lx:longing IO Pat:a. ;111 infr ing('me111 of hi~ rights he rcfu~cd w 1olcnue. \\'1 i1 ing to Co,·crnor T homas .John­son on June 11 , Pa<.:;c desnibcd 1.he i11ridc11t: " A Mr. Kutlulph. an olticer ol' the light Hors<' with a Sergca11t paicl me a \'is it" l'ew l);iys ;ego. Thc:y ,,·ere in Pursui1 o l Horses ;11111 clema11decl scn11l' ol me. Mr. R11<l11lph shc:wcd mt: an .\ 111ho1·ity loo111 \lajor l.l-c co p1'''1i' all H on;cs betwccu Philadelphia & llcbw;1re 1ha1 would suit lor ligh t H orse . .-\ftC'r rcadiug his authority I to ld him if he :u1c111pte<l to 'eizc at11· of my Horse.' I would hlow his Hraim our." '

Hy July Iii!\ the .\ m('11<;;1m once 111orc controlletl l'h il;idelphia. and since (:c)Jlbt'CSS agai Jl IJlt'l th<.:rt:. \.-\'i l)i (llll }'ac;t IJIO\'Cd his f(1111ily 1.0 thi'll

ci1y shonh ;iltcr his ah.err;11io11 \\' ith Rutlulph . .-\1111 Han iso11 !'am must h;t\'e been pk;1~ccl to sec hc:r l:unih· aurl fricnth on(c 111ore. panindarly since she wa.1 prcitnant ,,·i1h hn first child. O n Ouohcr ~:;. I iii\. :\nn ga\'c bin h to ;1 son. 1\'110111 the !'ams l1:11ll('d H e11r~ i11 ho11or ol \ 1111 's lather.

The Pacas 1c111ai11 cd in Philaddphia 1l11oui;ho11t I iii'. ancl 177!1. ah hough \\'illi:un \\'as al»c111 mud1 of the 1 i111c beca11sc ol rcspomi· bililics hack in :-.tarybnd. p,.,.,, hail hc<'n <·kneel a 111c111bt:r of the liftc<:tHnan .S<:na1e o l :-.r a ry land i11 1'v1·c111 hN I ii!i. >c:1·1·ing umil he resigned in Ocu:111lu.:r I iii . H e w;is r<:·ek< tcd w the Sc11;Hc in Non.:111 -l>cr I ii8. ancl r1·r11 1houi;h hi, la111ily \\'a.~ """' Ji,·in!{ in l'hibclclph i;i he :i11c.:11rlccl 11ca rl i "'<T)' Sc»ion 11u11l he again rl·signcd in ~la y I it!CJ.

In ;1ddition to .<<'n·i11i; i11 1he .\l:ttl' Sc1ia1c and in the Co11tincn1al Congress. P:1c 1 l't'cci ,·ed :1ppoi 111111cnts to 1 wo high jnclil·ial pasts d u ring 1hc war years. In t>larch I iii\ he wa~ appaintcd a j11<lgc ol the (;cnc.:ral Coun. a posi11cm nf critica l i111portan1 c :n the tit11 c became th« m un 'ras \ 'C'Slccl ,,·jilt the rig;hl to ht'ar <:ase~ tonccrning 1 r<.·; 1 ~on and inil.urrec· tion. :\s l'a.-a knew 11·ell lro111 hi' at1<' 1npt' lO rai.,c troo ps and 111 ppl ies in August I iii. the h1s1ern Shore; w;1s a hoth<:d ol disaffect ion. ancl it no\\' lu:c:unc: die responsibilit~ ol· the (;cneral Coun to re-establi sh some scn1blancc of polil ical stabil i11 i11 the region.

Paca and the o ther jnclg(·S on the Ccueral Conn 111m·ed slowly and cautiously. ht'ca u!><: no majo1 <'nun hacl met on 1hc E:is1n11 Shooc since the l:tll of I ii!'>.' The coun sa l for the lirs1 time in f.:i<l0l1 in April I 778. prosecuting only one cas" during it~ l 1 r~t sc::ssinn. \-\' ith each succ:ts.~i 1·c sc:~s iv11 . howe\'~r. the jud~1·< hea rd inncarn1!( numhC'r' o l cases in\'Oking J>Cr~ons accused ul tH.'<l~>n an1l insurr~·n1on . The jud!(l'S often handed

clowu g uilty n·,.ciins . hut 1-;11hcr chan ll1a11cl :11ing death sc111ences or

other ha,.sh p11nisl1111cms. the\ l'rndemh· imposed only 11101u:t<Jr)' fines

for tho;c loullcl guilt~-. The 111odcr:11 ion <how11 by die judge; did m uch

to n•dnce tcnsic)ns O il the b1s1crn Shore. and the lc1-cl of conllict bc­

l\\'t•e11 patriots and · l"orics tk-nt:ascd lllitrh·cll1 ' l he go1·erno1· had chosen

we ll when he 'ck<'lcd Pat a a< one ol thc j11d l('eS n·stt·d wi1h 1hc re~po11si­

bil11y ol rc-estahli,hing the authoril\ ol the go1·(·rrnnenc on the.; l'~tstcm

Shore. B)' O cwhc1 I/ill Pact he lincd h..- had scnul the purpose for

whi d1 h<~ had b cc 11 appoi111ed 10 thr. coun. so ht· resigned his co111mis­

sio11 o n 1hc bench . I l e must ha \'c c.;njoieil his hrid tenure as a judge,

h ow<:,'Cl'. hcc:1ust· in I illll he ;iccepted Congress's appoin tment ;is a

judg<= o f the ne\\'I)' < n::ncd Cour1 ol .\ppeab lor admiralt )' and p rize

c<1ses.

The militar~ <ii nation re111aint'<I l""rnriom throughouc I ii!) a n d

l iXU. plac·iug ;.ulditio1tal str;1i11 01l c\·ery<)tlc.: {·011u11i11c< I 10 tile ;\111crican

cause. In chc midst o t th« po lit ica l ttcnno il. l':ir:1 ll'as t\\' ice «oc ilrnncccl

"'ith personal trap;<'dr. In earl r May I ii9. his so11 William di ed. the Jas1

child bum 10 hi s wile i\far) Chell'. ;1ml by th e lall of that year Anu

H arrison l'a1·a lrnd btT0111<' cri1 ic:11ly ill. She may nc\·<:r han: 1·c.;ro\'crcd

fron1 the hi r1 h ot her ·'"" I lt-n r~ . . md il i' k11ow11 1ha1 her illucss "·as

a 1011~ C:nl<: 1hat slo"' I: "'l'l'cd he r >trc11g1h until she \\'<IS li11ally con·

fined lCJ lied. Ca tharin(' l.it·in!{Sl011 ".,..,,., her si~ te r on D cc(•1J1 lwr ~6.

I ii!t. that thr.ir 11111tual lricncl . J\ lrs. Pan 1. had bc1:n u11ablc to ka,·c

her house sinc:c c.u h lkt <'111hcr. ;ul1li11)l" poign:inth· that <he ··could

nor help t t1r!'li11,:z the ,,.,>rt11 thil t ,,·as gt1;-i,,· ing 1111; root~ of '<<J fair a

11« >\•.tcr ... ~·

\·Villi;rn1 1';1c 1 \\'as "~ n·in!{ i11 the <Late Scna t<.: i11 .\nnapo lis in early

Decemlxr whe11 ht: 1CC('in:d \\'Ord tlta1 his ll'ilc ll'as serious ly ill. arnl

he i111111cdia1 cl~- kit for l'hiladdphia. :\nn Harrison l'al:t <lil-<l on

Fri rby. Febni:111 :!:1. l l l:!O . ju, 1 '"·cmy·thrcc yea r, ol :t);C. She had suf­

lc rcd "a liugcri11 ~ and 1ras1i11p; illnt:ss ,,·ith µa1i~:11re." :incl like Mary

Cht:\\'. ~he left hn husband an "all lucnc fort11 11 c." " .-\nn '> 0 11l y child

J lcnry d it:d in I il'i I hdort 1hc· ai(c ol three.

Th us. \\' i II ia 111 Pa1·a \\'aS "·idm.-cd for a scco11d 1 i me. :incl wi 1 h i ncreas­

i ng public rc~ponsibiliti~s i11 ;\far) land h e d c1cnnined 10 rnon: his

fami lr bark tn chc ~t;otc. Only his two d1ildrc11 by Mary Cht: ll' a nd his

nalu ra l cla11gl1Lcr. I k~ter. were scill Ji,·ing. l'erha1" iJC(ausc he feared Hesler \\'011ld 1101 l>e accept<'rl by his neighbors 011 the F.asccrn Shore, he placed her in ~frs. Brode;111·~ bo~rdi11g school. co11fi<lent chat :\1111's rdatin:s 1d10 li1erl nearby woulcl a11c11cl to her needs. Paca anrl h is other 1wo children 111m«d bad. 10 \.\'ye Island in la1e Jilli ell' early 178!!. 11 ;, 1 i<:s "· ith the J-Ja1·1 iso11 fa mily rc:mai11 cd d ose, however. and he took h is ch ild ren to Ph ila1k lphia to 1·isi1 their ";111 11 1.s" and " u11des" and c hc i r sisu.:r as olten as pCtssi blc. 11111 for the rema inde r ol his life . \Y yt Isli111d \\'on lei bi.: 1-'<cca 's hncnc.

,\ J'c\\' lll<J111hs hdorc Pala 1110,·cd hack to ~!<1ryland . and al a time when he appears to ha,c been ,·i~iti11g his \·\'~e Island e.~cacc. British troops raided the ncil(hhoduJod and only good fnnunc ~p;u· .. 11 Pat·a from c.onsidi-rahlc loss ol propi.:ny. :\1 I :00 A .. ,1 . 011 clw oighc nt \larch 14, I i~ I . '"'" lmrgt·s ol t·11e111 ~ soldier' or descn crs. 1111111bcring from twelve co fifcy depending 011 Liu; .1cco11111. plumlcrcd ch<: t"C<ll<: nl Colonel F.d\\'ard I.loyd. ho lding liirll hosra~e umil lhey W(' r (: certai n of <:scape. The: niaraudcrs 1h1.:u t'Cl\\'t•d their barge' 10 \Vri.: Island. ll'he rc they raided d1t· phn11a1ion ol .John llcale Bordley. l'au c',, hrothcr· in·law. The 1" 11 auacks were random .11111 sudden. and l'aca ·s C'ltillC \ms for· tu itously spared. '\onc1hckss. he in11ncrlia1dy joined ocher families in the :11ca in " 'nbsniption luncl lor pun:h;1si11R" a baq.(c 10 proten the Eas1r 111 Shore side nl the C:he,;11wak1· B;iy.

·williacrr l'aca 's years of S<'l\'irc tlJ chc Staie ol C.la rylancl were r e. wanil:d i 11 \' o\'Clll ber I / i\:! by hi< clcu iorr to the Ii rst ol 1 h rec successive onc·ycar 1cn11s as go1·ernor. Dani<:I o f Sl. Thoma~ Jcn iit'r ran against Paca at his lirst election. hu1 he "'"' unopposed hoc h umes he was re. elccccd. J'h1: pe1·iod Pact .<en·"d as tht· Mate's chief ext:1:u1i,·c \\'as i>mh rc\\'an li1111 and dia llenging. Jc wa' he 1\'110 had the honor co arrnounct· rati ticat io11 o l tht offi<:ial pt';irc 11·cacy be1wcc 11 llritain and rhe 1: ni1cd Stale>. and he sencd as t hi.: offi~ ia l hosc ll'hc11 \Vashi11!(1<H1 1·cs igw .:d his comn1issio11 i11 rhc Scatt· Hou'c i11 .-\1111apol is in 1Jcrr111hcr 178:1. Bm Pacc a lso had 10 co11trom rna111· p rn hlcrm. 1101 du: lease of \\'h ich was hou>ing. H al'ing sold his townhouse on Prince (;corge Su·r<'• 111 Thomas J enings in 1 i$11. Paca mm·cd i11111 che scatc's oflicial governor's man· ~ion. the l11>111t: former!~ occupied hy 1 he last proprietary go,·ernor. Sir Robert F.dcn. Descri bed as ~ 11 "clep;anl hu ilcl iuv;" >ltortly before the

R n ·olution. the dwell ing had lallc11 into dis;irra,· and i.J,· :'\m·cmber ' '

178-! Paca was <Olllpla i11 i11g to che General :\ssclltbl)' of che " ruinous

Slalc ol the house :tppropriat crl lor hi< t'tsidencc'' " B111. lar more im·

ponanc issues also <'nnfromed Governor l':ica in his years as the state '~

chid c:"cntti,·e. indncling stimulating an econo111r s1raincd w chc limit

by ,,·ar and pm\'idi ng adequate co111p<.·11sation for the men " ·ho had

Ion gin so long and hard in 1 he arm y of 1l1c st.ate .

. -\lthoni;h hosti licic< had clkctin:ly cndcd with the surrender of

Cornwall is ac Yorluown on Oc tc.1 1.Jcr l !I. l i~ I. Pac:t was s till tact·d "' ith

niilitary a1;:1;i·cssio11 d ttring- hi s first year a~ governor. Pt·acc nc:gotiacions

h;id l>een under ,,·ay in Francc throughot11 the fall and "'inter of J 7x~­

ll3 . and ic was generally undcrscood that all lllilit;ory acti\'ity woulrl

cc;tsc pending chc outcome o l d1tsc tltceting.<. But a concingcnt nf

H1·itish se:1111c11 111anning elt:vcu barges. t\\·o schooners . aud a slooµ

l>cgan patrolling the Chcsapc:akc- Bay during the winter of 1782- 1:13.

r aptttring :\rnerica11 \'rsscls attd plurnkri11~ planta tions ;i long lhc shorr

of the l3;1y. On Fcl)l'ltary 21. 1 7 ~!:1. Pata Wl'Ole ll) Ccvrgc Washingcon

.-0111pbini11g o l the- l\ritish deprc:dations. \\'ashi11g1on forw;mlcd Paca 's

lcuer w (: 11 y Carle1011. the 13ri t ish co111111ander ht·atlquanen:<I in :-.Jew

York. and itt response Carlc1011 "'rott 11rn n111~iliacorr leue rs dircnly

to the go,·t: rnor. l 'hanklul for bis i111c 1'\'Ctt1ion 011 Maryland ' , behalf.

Pam pc1111cd a g1"" 1ous no•c 10 Carkton that co11duclcd . .. \\'..- feel rhc

111ost sensible Plt' asurt· that a Cc:ss;11io11 or Hosti lities h<1s 1ak<:11 !'lace.

and \\'c fc n·"11tl\' pray they 111ay never again be renewed l>Cl\\'cen cht·

Cit i7.ens ol :\ 111crin1 an<l Subjects o f Great Britain."' ',

The tenns of tl11: provi, ional peace 11 ca t r reached .-\ 111criG1 in \fay

I i~3. and not long ;1fter Gc111·nd \VashittglOn bega n planning for his

return tn pri\'ate lik at i\·lou11t Vernon. \-\'ashington's popularity was

<!nonnous-hc- was un:111i111ou'I)' hailed ,1s a h<:ro who hacl S.:t , ·cd his

c1.1untr~ . anti he would ha\'c larcd litrk oppo,i1inn had be askc:d to he

named ki111( o l tht· Llnited Sca tes . .-\wan: o f his inliuc:nct :is a public

ka<ler. \\'a,hingwn was dctel'lltincd to 11sr the rc>ignation ol hi~ m ilitary

com1nis""" as a public expre,sion ot his belief tha1 1hc milita ry shou ld

a lways lie 'ubor<linatc to cil'ili:m autho ric.)'. T lrn.s. in a carefully orches·

trau:d crrc111011 y. ( :corgt· \ Vashi11gto11 lorm;illy rcsi~ned his corn mission

on December :!:l. I iltl. in the· ~late H ous1· at .-\nnapolis 1d1crt· Congres.<

was then 111c:..-ting.

:\s f:O\'C:l'llor of \faryland. \·\'illia111 l'nca had spec ial t·crc111n11ial rC·

86

sponsibilit.ic.< during \\'ashington's \'iSJI co Annapolis. Paca officially welcomed \Vashington lO town in a lcu('r 1ha1 ind111kd an elaborat<: ll'ib111e LO t he irr. nc ral's l'irtues: "Your C.haracrer i11 cn-rY Counl.l'Y and n • ' in en~rr Age will he ho11or·d. arlncir'd and n:n: r'd ," Pac:a 'no te. "h111 w a l\·l ind clcrnwd as yours. ch« C011s.·iourncss of '""·ing don e· G reac :111d ill11s11·iou.1 nc~cls ii'<Jll\ the pt11(;S( Pri11ciplc" uf Pa1ri0Lisi11 : of h ;I\'• ing by your \ \'isclom ancl Mag11am ini1y ar rr<u:cl 1he :\1·111 r of Tyn1111y­saved a dear Counrn· and l\Jillions of Fdlow Citizens - and Millions yc1 unborn-from sla,·cry and all the H orrors ;mcl Cala mi1ics of Sla\'er y and placed their R ights and Liberties 011 a Pennancnt Founda1iu11-must yie ld a Sacistac1 io11 infini1e ly 'upcrior to all the Pomp and Ecla t or applauding .\i-;i:s and admiring Worlds." '·' l\lore ri:stra incd. \V;1sh· ing wn responded thac he appreciau:<l Paca·~ wclco1ne. 1·ioting th<tt h<" would " cherish a pleasi11g r('1J1c1nbrancc .. of it a11d of his rr turn LO A.nnapulis " after chc· happ,· ;uid houlll a blc 1nminatio11 of 1hc wu." "

:--lo o fficia I even ts were <d1c1 I u led 1 hi: Ii rs1 n,·o clays o l \\'ash i ngtou 's St<t )' i11 . .\nnapolis. 1>111 o n Munday. Deccn1hc: r '2 :!. :1 din11n was gi,·cn a t Mann ·s Tan:i n for 0' er two hundred i-;11c-s1s . . .\ccording to Dr . .J a111t:s Til ton. "T he number o l chee rlul " >ices. wi1h the clangor of kni ves and fork.' 11iadc a din of" n :ry c:x1rao1dinary nature and most deligh tful i111iucncc. Evc1v lllan seemed to be in lica\<: 11 or so absorber! in 1ht: pleasure' o f im;igina1ivn. as 10 nc~lt:n t he 11ull't: sordid .1ppc1i1e:;. fo1 not a sonl go t clnn1k. d1nugh 1hc-re \QS ll' inc in p le1H} and th t: usual nu111hcr o l I :l toaslS d rn nk." ' ' Tl1<11 nigh1 Paca hos1('d a b;ill a1 the State I louse, 1 he rooms of 1d1ich "·ere hrillian tly illulllinatcd hy c:and k s in (;\'cry wind°''" Dr. Tilwn 1 ·om111~nu:d 1 hat CcH~ ra l \-V;1shiH!(IOn w.ts most g r,icious. nrn kini; sure t hat " all the lad ies might h;l\·c the pltasu rc ol dancing \\'i th him."'"

The lollm,-in~ mo111ing Conl(l·c" assembltcl at thr: Slate House. <m<l at noon ( ;cncrnl \\'ashin)\ton swod and dt:l i\'t':recl a shon bu1 mo,·ing speech 1hat concluded. " H aving now linishcil 1he \\'Or k assigned me. I rc1irc from the great theatre ol . .\c:tiOH: and bid<ling; an :\llcnion;itc farewell 10 1his ..\11gm1 hod) 11J1dcr whose orclc1" l han: so long ac.t('d , l lier<: offer my CoJ1HlliSs io11 , a11d tak~· rnr lean: ol all dw cmploymc111s ol public lik ." " I Ii' rc111<1rks hn ishcrl. \\'ashing1011 dn;w his < ·01111ni~· siun from his <O<ll pod.C l. ha11<kd it LO 1hc prtsidt: 111 ol Congress. and wi1 hd re\\· from the room. l n l h c "·o rds of J am ts l\ lcH cm·~, lhe c,·cm was a " spectacle incxpn:ssibh· solt:mn and ~ffo.:ning . .. "

87

Ci ~ ...... J~~.CJT"i0:,,..ft1lf ' "

SfGBLLE ~CY • I, ., M· p A c A,'

The Treaty of Paris was formally ratified by Congn:ss in Annapolis

on J anuary l ·t. l 7 tH. Paca is~ucd au olllci •tl prod;u11atio11 LO the citizcus of i\farylaml dcdari11g 1hc W<tr a1 ;rn end. but for a ll practical purposes

1.hc state harl been at peace since rhe spring of the preceding year. Peace "'as welcomed by all. b111 i1 posed serious problems for Pam as g-o\"Crnor. The financi<•l condition of the s1a1c was prccarions. in p•1n because 10 support the war it had prin1cd h n1ul re1l.< ol thonsauds of P"l'er dollars,

which had now inflated to near worthlessness . People who had sold the srare equipment and supplies found 1.ha1 no one \n.mld rakt: the paper with which thcr hat! been paid. and IO make 111a11c rs wmsc the go\'Crn· mem was forced LO le\')' high taxes in an ('!Ton to pay off ac.cnmtliated c.lclJls <tnd sccur(~ n1>t::ra1ing ca1>i1.al. FurLhcr111ore. as !'-C)f>11 as 1radc \\'ith

Europe had reopcucd, those Maq lamkrs who still h;id 111011cy spc111

large sums on imported goods . fnnher depleting rhe supplt· of moner in the pro\'incc . .Jol111 Ridout portrayed the bleak econo1nic pinure to former go,·ernor H oratio .Slrnrp<: in ;i letter writ ten iu . .\pri l I 78·1: ··You \\•ill c..;(t!Sil y c.:c.>1 tcci ,·c: hO\\' 111uch cli:iLl'css·r the l'co1 >lc arc in genera l &

how unable to pay tht: hea\'y Taxes imposed on them in consequence

of the late unlrnppy rui uous "''"" iVloncy was ncl'Cl' more scarce. much """ i11g hecn expon.ed last Year by the loreign ad1·enrurers ,,·ho poured in Quantit ies o( Goods from Europe on the Cessation ol Hosr iliries $.:

got for tl1(:n1 mos1. of 1.he Speci(: that was then in Circ.nlation. · '" IL 1rns Paca·s job rn restore public contidc::nce in state gon:n11t1<:11t aud its cnr· rcncr. and he rc\'ca led how impon anr he cons idered rhe task in a letter to Daniel of St. Thomas .Jcni[cr Kri tten in :'\larch li83 : "Peace. if it

bri ngs not a rc$rorarion ol Public Fairh alon!( 11·irh ir. 1cill hardly deserve to be c;tlkd a J,Jc,sing:· 1"

The ccOn(unic (:t)ndi t ion in ~faryland gradually ini pro,·cd during Pac:a's ll'llltrc ;t s g<>\'(:r11or. a11cl l1c ,;.·a~ C.::\'C11tuall y able tel rlc ,·rll (: JIH>l'C

1 ime r.o or her projects he considered csscmia l lO the ncn· state. He cham · pioned rhc cilnsc ol thc soldiers who bad tought duri11g the war. 111any

of whom had been lo rced 10 scl l rht:ir pay and lane.I certificates to spent· lators in order LO misc money LO make their 1rny hotne o nce they were discharged. In his lllessag-cs to the kgislarn re Paca argued cloqnemly that t he state's soldiers should be treated with humanity and their

service to the .stare .should not go unrewardtd. The cause or ed 11('arion

in Maryland al.so recei ,·ed rht: go,·r.rnor -.s mpporr , for he c:onsistemly aided the recen tly cl!itrtned \·Vashi11g1011 Colkge. fou nded in C hester·

89

town in 1782. Pam comributed £50 as a charter subscriber LO t.hc school. and he lat.er loaned the inscit.u1ion an additional £400. \ Vash ington Col­

lege Jong remained ont of Pac:a·s fanirit.e causes. F.m.husiast.icallv endors­ing an instillltion of h ighc1· learning on die Eastern Shore, Paca served as one ol the ,·isi1ors and go,·ernors of the ne"· sc.hool and accepted the honor of laying the cornerstone of the college in '.lay 1783.

:\)though he did not actively pursue his kga l prnctin: whik serving as gon~rnor. Paca did found a club for roung lawyers that brought the best legal 111inds in the pro,·incc together under his direction. ,-\ visitor to :\nnapolis in 17::1'.1 described the d ub and Pam's rok as a teacher of law sllldems:

Annapolis is a nursery of the long robe .... The Governor, who is of this profession, has instituted a societY composed of s111clcnrs of the law, who meet at his house, at Hated periods. to discuss law

questions and questious in political economy. He proposes the sub­ject, sits as President. and giYes judgmem. in conjunction with his council. the C ha11n:llor. the law yers and 1he Judges of the General Coun. ·when the debates arc finished the co111panr sup with the

go\-crnor."

Pam's third ten11 as gon;rno1· <:11dccl on :--iovc1nl>c1· '.!G , I ?H.'i . The following rear he w;1s elected to both the Senate and the House of Delegate~ . and he declined 1hc for111cr honor in fan)r of the lancr. Paca was therefore: iu 1hc Lo"·er House of 1.he Assembly during the ,,·imer of I 78fi-S7 wh<:n a kll<:r from the go,·crnor of Virginia "·a.~ read l:alling

for l\fa ryland lO join in a com·ention a1 Phi ladelphia rn cons ider amend­ing the Articles of Conledera t ion. ,-\!though h<: w<is a n1c111bcr ol' the

commiuee that drnfted insiructious for 1he :\faryland delegates to 1hc Constitmional Conventio11 i11 Philadelphia. Pac<i rduscd to aucnd as

a dclcgaie. He basically agreed with the type of govcrn111cm established hy the Articles ol Confederation. and he feared that the righcs of both

states and individuals \rnul<I be jeopardized if the central government were given more.: power. The Constitutional Cotl\'ention that met dur­ing the summer ol I 71i7 adopted a const itu tion that pro,·ided for a much stronger federal governntcnt. and Pam became one ol' the leaders ol' the . .\ntilcderalist ntovement in Marrlaud that sought to block its

ratififation. Maryland's ratilicatio11 Convcmion \\·as considered of crucial impor-

')()

rnnc..: by supporters of the prnposed Co11s1i1mio11. Six states had already

ratifier! the Consrimtion, but :\ ntifc<leralists appeared strong. perhaps

tlominan t. in the remaining states. Four southern states had not yet

\'otcd: l\laryl;md's Con\'cntion was scheduled 10 meet first. (;eorge

\Vashington k11t his considerabk i11 flucncc 10 supporter~ ot the Consti­

tution. infonning Maryia11d pol11 ical leaders tha1 i11 his opinion the

Co11stinnion would "'-'''<:f lie adopted ii Maryland :\ ntifl:dern lists pre·

vailed. The l'cdcralists' appre hcnsic.ms wen: strong. fo r prominent

M:n·ylanders , including \ Villiani l'aca . .Sa111ucl Chase, and Thomas

Johnson. had spoken out a14ainst the Constitution.

The . .\11tilederalists in l\lar) 1.md failed to mi;'ani1.c. however . and

'"hen the ratihcation Con,·cmion met in . .\nnapoli~ in April 1788 1hc

Constitution was approved hy :111 1J\-cnd1clmi11g 111ajority of the delc­

Katcs. l'aca attended the Coll\'e11 tio11 and a u c1npu.:d tO imroduce a

series of amendments prior· to the rat ilicatio11 \'OI C. hut hi: was not per·

mittecl w "cldrcss the ;1sscmhl y. Assured tllitl h.: \\'01tld be allowed to

imroducc his a111<:nclmcnts af1cr the ratifica1ion vocc. Pa" ' jo ined tbe

111ajurity in llppr·o,·ing the Co11sti111Lion, c\·cn though he s1ill harl grnve

rcscr\'ations about the go\·crnment cMablished by that doc111nenL Once

the \'Ote was ol'Cr. Paca was pcnniuecl ro introduce: his proposecl amend·

men ts to the Cons1 iu 1cion, but the: connnittec: ap poi1He<I to consider

thc111 1\'aS rlo111i11ated by Fcdcralis" who rdusc:d to rcc:n111111end action.

l'a.;a's rnai 11 'luarrel " ' ith di..: Constitution "°'" 1hat. he felt it did not

;ulcqna tc ly s<dcguard indi \'id ual rigllls. and m<my ol the guarn1Hccs he

sought - particularly freedom ot· rdigio11. freedom ol thc press , and legal

pro tec:1io11 tor 1hose accused ol rrirnt·s- wcrc: late1 incorporated into

the 13ill of Rights.'" In I i8!1 Paca acccp1cd his la~t public- ollicl'. 1hat of juclg•· nf 1he Fecl ­

cnd J) is1rin Court for \l arylaml. Pres ident \Vashington had rcscrva­

' ions ab<nn o lfering the jt"l~C'~hip to hir1t bceausc of l'aca'> :\lll ifcdcral­

ist sympathies. Hut "·hen .-\ lc>xander Comte Hanson, \Vash ing1011 's first

choice. fai led to :i<:c.cpr. the µos ition ht: ofkn:d it to Pac.a because his abili­

ties as a jurist were high!) rcspcnccl. l'aca remained a federal judge until

his 1lca th, wi th 1.he ten years ht sern·cl in 1hat capacity be ing a longer

pc:riocl of time than he dn·utccl 10 any other oflice during his lnng public

career. Except for <1ttending court ,,·hen it was in session. P;Ka spent the last

ten )'Ca rs of his li fe in "irtual rctire111rn t on his \ \'ye Island estate. There

!) I

' \

FM1tt F.li'rmlimr '""' Gromrrl Pinn rJj W)•e l-111/l

was a 1fo·clli11g on \·l'yc Island tha t Paca and his for nil y had period ica ll y

user! as their home since the early 1 //0~. hut 11ow 1hal he had mon:

kisurc Paca deciclc:d 10 huilrl a new home. I le had become cnor·rnously

wealthy h\ I /90. dul· in part 10 hi, la1,· career. but 1norr pariicul:irly

to h i' fort 11i1om m.nTiagc>. H <· owned over one huncln.:cl sla\'<'~. hr had

a<:c: unndatcd a "as1 q 11 :111tit1· of cxpc11si1·c f11rn i1 11re and sih·cr pl;1tC', ancl

the propen y lw htld in l'rnns~h·;i ni<l and ~faryland C\tablisbcd hi m as

o ne o f l he l;n·).\' '" lando \\·ne rs in tlu.: s t:1 tc . In addi t ion Paci was and·

111red n rnn 'rl10 h:1d Ion!\" cul1i1·at<:d a ta~t<· lor 1he fi nest in En~lish

arch itecture a11d l:111d«apc ~an!ening. lli s po li1ical caret:r had hcc.:11

hnilt on his lcwk1-.;hip ol the 11op11 lar parq :11ul 110 one- had heen 111orc

fen em in suppon of tlrl' \111r1ic111 ,·au«· d11ri1111 the \\'ar fo1 l nclcpend·

cnc:e. HcconsickH·d 'qm1·:11ion from llri1ai11 ;1 political m·ces.<i1y. but Iii>

r«,pcct for English uiltur« w:1s nc,·cr di111i11isl1<·cl. Thus. when l'arn rlc·

cicled to bn ilcl a mansion on his isbnd <'.<1a1c on the F.a>t<:rn Shore. he adopted the Eng li.<h mun try house as his 111odcl.

\\'ye l!all. the 111a11sio11 Paca l1uih on \\'ye bland. \\'as al111ost CCI· rn inly the most splendid house in .\111crica 11·he11 compkccd. Ccmscn1c· tio11 began about l i!Hl. and lidorc i1 1rns finisht'(I Pac;c had liquidated all or his propcny holdi11i:s iu 1'<'1111syh·a11i,1 anrl had .. allc:d iu <c:1·eral large <kbcs to lina ll('C the h u ildi11g. In >picc or 1hc COS1 Cll \·\ 'ye: H a ll , it is popula rl y bc lic1ed clrn c Paca built 1he 111a11s io 11 lor hi s so n ;ind tha t his own rcsidc:ucc \\'as ;1cross \\')<: '.'\a1Tm"' on the mainland on a cract kno\\'n :is \\'ye l'b11catio11. The la lltT tract did 1101 rninc into cite Paca fam il y 1111til I :l l l. whcu it \\'<IS lclt to .John P hik:mon l'aca's \\'itc by her aunt. Anna !'Ilaria Tilv;h111an Chew! ' \\'1·c Hall \\':tS \\'ill i:11n l';Ka '> 0111 )' resideuc<: on the Ea.~1 c r11 Shor<: during the l;m 1.:11 )'<:ars o l his life. aml he a lont· \\'as rcsj)onsililc: tor apprm·iug the dc,ign :end cX('CU· 1ion of tht; buildi11g. II """ 1hus a l'C' 111arka hl1 re\'C:11ing ind icacio11 o l t he wealth and cultura l sophis t ica l io n Pac:1 had auaith:d during his li l<:time. \ Vyc Hall bumcd in ll<i9. but «>me idea of it\ mai:11ihccncc can ht· seen in an extanc lro11t dC\'ation a11d Hoor plan ol the building. ::>treed\· ing 11carly one: h undred lc:c:t in k ng th . d1c: house trn~ d isting uished b ) a massi,·c two-story central blod: connencd to 1c;rn1inal wings concain. ing large Palladian 11· indows . . \ crnrd ing to 1n1dition. \Nye f.la ll was desig ned by Jame' H oha11. Lh t: Irish a1· .. hitect 1d10 dc,ignl~I the \\'hitt· House Ill \ Vashi11g10n. Inn the :11 chi tcci 's tlra1' i11g d early ;hell\'> t ha 1 the plan lo r t he d welling was th(' 11·ork ol Josc:ph CIHk. !lorn in F.11g" la nd. Clar k '~"" the lust pm1· Kcn1lutiona1 y :\I.II') lanclcr to :uh·en ise in the newspaper as a J>l'Olessin11:d a rch i1 cc1. . .\ rnong hi.~ ncl1cr acl1ievc· men ts in Maryla nd wnc: <.0111 p le ii11g tlH' Sta tc I I o us<' - t·\pcr ia II y chc cupola a1ul dome- anti lin"hing " Bl:ulcn'< Folly." the house 01 ig inall1· in1.c11ded as I he res idc1K<: lor t lH! mlo11 )"• go1·c r11or rha t is llO \\' th e cent ral h 11 ild in!( on tht· ca111pu> o l St. J ohn's Colk~c. '.'\ot only tlid l'aca employ a11 accompli>ill'<l a rd 1nen Ill dcsii;n \.\'ye H all. hut he a lso w nnuis.siciued l.11 kt' O 'Dio. :i l a 1 u l~ctpe :\ l'(' hi cc·n . co la )· m11 1hc: 11ardc:ns diat omam<:ntt'.<I 1be 1c11'1"l'S in lro111 ol 1hc buililin~."

\.\'ye Hall""" Paca 's last grc:c1 ad1i1:1·t·111c111. and i1 w;1s hcrt· cha t he spc111 his hnal )'Ca rs in i" ila tcd splc:ndor. Paci·; Iii<: had been rcpe:ucdl r touched hy tragedy. aml each 1 i111c he \\'i1hdrc\\· a bit mo rt· ,,·ithin him· sell. llr che I i\Jl l> l'aca h ~cl le\\' rlosc lri cmls a11d Ji rik in te rest in social acti1·ic it·>. His 'n" J ohn Mill li1·ed \\'i lh hin1. hu1 il1roughouc mo,1 ot his

years l'aca did not cultivate a dose rela t io ns hip wi1h him. l'aca saw little

of his daughter. Henrietta :\Liria. who had spent much of her li[c in

the care of her C hew rel<1tives 011 the \.Ycstcrn Shore: in No\'cmbcr 179·1 she married T hottlas G. Addison of Prince Georgt::'s County. There· aft.er Pam lived alone in \Vyt: Hall wi1h nnly his i1npCLuous son for companionship. Lale in the summer ol l 79fl, at the age of fifty-nine, Paca bccaJnc cr itica lly ill.

An ;l!lonymom acquaimance providt:cl a descr iption of his last hours:

During h is illness be con,·ersed with perlen resignation on his ap­proaching dissolmion aud cheerfu lly sub111illt"<I to sickness and death under a deep con\'ictio11 o[ th e uncning wisdom aud goodness of his heavenly Father and ol tht: rcrlc111p1 ion of the world by our Lord

and Saviour Jesus C hrist. To the faith and charity of a Christian be added the cj,·ji vinue;; of a gcndcn1an. Fond as a husband. indulgcm as a father, constan t as a lrie11d. am l kind as a master.'"'

\ .Yi lliam l'aca d ied on October J ;l. 1 /!l\l . and was hmiecl on the grounds of \\'ye Hall. ,\u intensely pri,·ace man. Pam had ne\·enhdcss devotnl ncarl y all of h is ad u It Ii fc 10 p11 l>I ic sc1Yicc. :\s a mcm ber of

lhe Continetnal Cong-rcss. a Signer o l t he Dcdarat iou of Independence. go,·crnor of Marylaud. and a state anrl federal juclge, l'aca had con­tril..nttcd as much as ;my 111;111 o l his )!;Cnr:1·a1ion to the indepe ndence of the United States. thus ensuring 1.ba1 the :\merican experience in

demo<:racy would stKt:ccd.

9·1

Notes

IXTROOl:<.:T t OX

I Fo1111an co John r hi lcr11un 1•:1ca. F('hr11~11·y 9. J S~i. 1'~ 1 c::1 Pa.p('t·:,. por 1folio I.~ . Ill). ·l·l. :'\·[ ar~· l a nd H i"'lCJrit a l ."to<i('ty. lla II i111orc. rruou:d in . \ ll>l'rl Sil\'t>1 nlaJJ. " \ \"illio.1111 P:tca. Si14ncr. ( ;u\'t:ruor. J tu i~t." .lln t ' ' '"'•" H tJffo ' ' al ,\lot:,n:11rf· 3i ( 1942}::?!1. i Peters to Joh 11 Ph ill'1no 11 l':1ca. \( ;11 th ~-L I ~~7. Pal a 1';1 pc rs. pnrtfolio I :1. no . ·~6. ;\ lary(and His.torlr:-il Socir-t ~. ttuutcd in Silvcr111au ... \Villi:.nl f';n.-:i." I'· 22. , Pea le co John Phih.·111011 p .• r.t. . \ ll 1og1 ;1 ph ( :01 h•c lio11 of ti H.' Sig11ct'' or l h(' l)crlar;·J· cit.l11 of Jnd r.pc..•rttlc.: 1H.t·. H i~torir.) 1 Sotit: f\' of P<.·1111,,l .. ·a 11 i ;1, J>hila cl<:lph ia. 1 :\danl~. c.li;try c·1n1 y (01 (), 1nhc:r IO. I/; J. in ,,,,,,,_. and . .Jutubtngru;>hv 11f /()hll .-1dr1ut.\, l"d!.. J., rr. Uu11t:1field. l.eo11 ;11 d ( '.. f :1h1· r, ~UHl \ \1(-111.h:J n. (;;11rc;((. ·I vo l,). {C:a1nhrldge. ~J a,,,.: R(:lk11:tp l'n.~:-!I of Harv:i1·d t l ni,·cr~it,· Pi e,:-.. 196 11. i: J50; :\ tlant.' tu S;111nu: I C '.h;i~·. Jul' I. li'7•i. in t:dntuntl ( : IS11r11c11 , ed .. l.1'llt'1~ 11f 1h1• ,.\ll'lll{1f~f\ ,,, thf· c:o11/Jnc11t11I r:rH>g1·,•J,\. s \OI\. ( \\.: 1 :-. lii 11.~ton. D.(;,: Carncxic ln.sti· 1t11ion. I t)~ J -:Hi) , I ::)2~.

:i. Kenj;.u11i11 Ru,h. ·r11,. ."'-t1tul>i1_,g1·11/1h\· 11f /J1•111(1111111 R.11.h: //11 .. Tr1>i:cll ·1·/,ro11P:h J,1/e" u1g1:1h1:1· ;1111/I Hi.\ (:ou11111111p lt11(· /for>lf f ur liS'J- 1¥1' . c:d . < :c-or.~c- \\'. ( ~orne1 (t>rinl ~ llJll . l\.J.: Pri 11t:c_·1011 I 1 ni v1:r:iif ) Pres~. 1 ~)·i8) . p. 15 1.

CHAPTF..R ON I:

l N11nle1·uu.c; hiu,l{r:t ph ical ,)kc:1chc:- o f \\°i llla111 P:1c.a lh;11 ft:·1\ t appe:tred ~i11cr lhc: 1880s s1.1t1.: u11c11ui,0c.:ill) 1h.1L ht·,,,., ol l1:llia11 a 1h1' 'll '· Our 1c~ar<·h t't,·c:a led nothi11~ prior 11> tl1c J:i it• 11j1u·tt:cn1h <t:111u1 ·~· sugµ.cs ci 11,µ; Jt:i li:tu a11tc:cecl('lll:o. for th<· Para fa111il y. \\. t" <111sprrt d1~1 L die~ nfi.i.tin .-,r thc id1•::1 fna ~ hr :t n •lrlic.:lt· chat appc:iretl in l ipp11ua1(s ,\l11gn: i11r· (.\ pril 1817). p. Ii' I. in'' hich ii i~ ~l;1tcd 1hat P~u .. ·a·~ ratltc:i-, John 1':1t':t, " ••• \\'a) ol gell iJCHHIJ) o f 1 : 11 .~·(• \\'t:a Jrh. ;\ '1lC1111, ft:) OdSOlHe" ;11 uJ r tfillttl li l ~l tl, <.IS CVidcUC <:d IJy his [JCH' l l :til :t.l \\'yr r! ;dl. hi\ f~<l lll l't'.li g i\i U}.:, C01lfirlll :lli011 \0 the iclf":l o( l t:tlia11 vri~in '"~~c~t.-d 1,, tlu· l.1nlil' n:1111r.'' ()'-·<'r ti1ne. 1he <:;l:t te111c:1H

95

rnaflc by t lie l .ipj>iurfll I ,\·ri ll'r bcl :11nc :trce1>ted a~ fart. r :11 ht>r 1 hau !ii111ply OH('

man·s ohscr,·:ition th al ,I ohn l';u a· .. pli' ~it_ al I L'alut·e~ Uore sonic J'C!!Cltl l>l:inrf:" to ,,·hat

he chnui:hr :m h:clian •hould look like.

-:? 1 ·<· .. 1:uuc1n:.11-y P·r<x:c..x:<li nx . ., Jl .• (nl .... iti iR. l ·111c .... otJ1l·1"'\'i:)~ no1e<l. all (.h.Xtnltt:nt-.

rC1C'd :-irt· a t the I J;tl l uf llecord,, . ..\n11a poli ...

:i Enrr~· for Fc:IJruar~ l ~J. H>fi l , \\ 'arraut~ L .. ilJ("'• ill. 11;61 166:i, fol. HO.

·• ·rhe- F'H't'!"lt ol 1);11 111 L) at., ... knO\\' ll i11 1<:'4<'1 t('c·o1·ds si ill]) I ~ :1, 0:11111, R.c:11l llolls 1.

fol. ~~ ; Pati:-Htf, I ~ . fol. 17:~.

: . . :\nnc· :\rt11n lc.:J <.:011n1,· l .aucf H .. c.-COl'd \\" I' I, lol!o. 2·1; 5:!.

" For 1 hL· .1n n11;1l ton,·cr.sion 1 a te: 1J I 1ohnrfo 10 :,tcrli ug. '"'~ Ru, .. t'll K. .. \ ·l'cnard.

··Farin Pri(c:; ol 2\L11·, l:u1d T oht1ct ,•. I 1i:.>!I Ii JU." ;\f 111-..·ln11d I Ji ., tl)tu ul .\/11~11 :.in(' 68

( 1!17S):85 .

• . \ Htll" .\ r 11ndel c :o11nt~· J.;111cl Rrcu)tl \\"JI .f. fol\. J 13- 15.

• Septcmher J.I. 1101. ihid .. \\"T 1. lol. ~·Ii .

1' J11,· (' 111 ori~:<.~11Hl . ..\tc.Oll1H.~ 71\. fol,, 16.i --(l(; ; ihid .. $.to).,, 265 Cifi.

IG {Jup11h1i:,hcc.l d:.ll<i .. \q11i l:1 P:tt<J hl1.-. Li',c,i.;J:11l\'(' Hh~1 or~ l'ru iL"<..l. Eci\\':trd c;.

1>:.pc•uft1:-o<' diic.:c 11,r, l-Jall <.1t Jll"cortl~ .. ~\n11<q>oli ... · 1 hi" fil<•i. ar(' c 11rrc11tl' bl·iug ('cli1ed

frn· p11hlic.irio11 in 4:arl' 1!177 :i .. :l l\\'Q vulu1nc.~ dic1ion:ir' ol :'\r,11•\ l;uuJ IL·~i~la1ors.

1635- Vi8\J.

" Ibid.

'"Wilh ~O. lob. ~45-.Ji.

CllAPTP:R T\VO

I Fcbruai y ( ;n ur1. 1>)0 1. c:h:tU(('r~ K.Ct"•'H'(l 5 1. fol. ~-)[0.

:! ·rhc foJJo,rin~ di .. c 11-. .. io11 j .. haSt:d 0 11 "' Rule. .. , and ~rinn1t:, of Lhe J-'or~nsjr (:Juh,"

typcsu ipl iHall o l Reconh. 11.d.1.

"No clch11ili\t• p1nof ha> IJC'<'n tound 1h:11 1'.:tt;l attuall~ .111erule•I the· 11111' of (;otu l.

l fis nanu• \\".t\ :ulth·tl 10 1lu: rol l., vi 1h1,,· l1111rr leJnplc 011 (a1111:'U\ l·I. l 'ifi2. ln11 hc­

is knO,\' ll t (l h:1 \ t ' lx:t·n in . \ 11n.1poli:- 1..·lc' i:11 d;1 ~-' l:u<>r. \O ltc.: c. otd<I no t h:-ivf' pr-r­

sonally hcfn i 11 Eu~laud at th(• r i nit-. . ~t t orcl i ug 1 o thl· For(.·u .. ii. t :I uh 111 i H\ltt:\. t1at<1

''':lli abS(.'lll ht·tH·c·t· n '.'\o\·c111l,c·1 ~~. 1760 .i nd St!pH.:n1hc.-r /. I 7111. :111 :1111plc· .u11011111 ol

ti1ne f<>r h irn to h a \·l· ,·(si1e-d F.n,c;l :u t<I,

I 1\ nn:t po l j., R<·1..1)rd:-. '.!, J tr) 'j I 7ti!>. loJ. I i!~ .

~ Bro.s<h ilh· )>H l>li .. ltt·i.l J11111..· l!J. litit1, l>oun1I in ail('t the lt111<' :?.\. J;6li. iv•Ul' uf tlu:

.\-f'n1 )'lt1 ntl ( i":' 11,~ . St;it<: L il>1a1 '· \un:tJ>Oli-+.

' 1\lich:.r l ~l .tt:\c-nlara 1u C:.111011. Jul\ :!ll. I ;t) I. (~uroll· \ fr ·l :t\'i'h l":tµc-r, •. \fS !!~O.

'\J aryl.11ul l-l i,lorilal Soc:iet~.

-; t :h:'l ll(t'I' ' ' Kc.·\ord 51. fol. '.) I 0.

\ll.i

C HAPl't:R ·r 11R F.E

' The history or the Palit'; IO\\·nhou...c in . \111t.11>0Ji, i~ cl("l:tiled in S1anh:\ Sc:nn h. ''The P~tt.a HouM:. ;\nn:q101is. )f:tl)land: :·\ lt iSLOric;iJ :\1 cl1acolog:y Sln<l ~· for H.i~· turi<: . ..\ nn:.} polis. J nc.," xerox uf Lypt•srrl pt (<:on lrat:l . \rrh:icology. Jnt'. . I ~)() 7), J>p. 4-54. 2 l~tnedit·l <.:alver1 tu C:t·<:iliu' (:.""tlv<.·rt. Ju111.· 2·J. 1765. <11u'lc<.·1I in f:h.11h.:" .\lhro Barker. '/'hr Dnrk(!•o1111d of tfl,• R f"t•olution 111 .\J111·yft111d (1 9.tO; reprilu l'C.I .. . \rrhon l.looks. 19Gi ), p. ~!16.

• Mnr)' lancl Ga:tlll', May ~9. l ilili.

•1 Wills 34, fob. ti- Iii.

~ (.;hanrery Rctord 1 I. fol!lo. 60 ti:!.

• T~lhot Co1111\)' 0>'ii;-inal \\'i lh, box •i. folda ~ 1.

C: llAJ•T t: K fo'Ol.' R

1 •• Re-cords or ch<: 1 1 0111011~ c:Juh."' in :( Ulf' l l( ,,,, , , ,,,,H "al ' '"' ord ( 11.p .• 11.d. }· H all of Ile-cord~ . .-\nnapvJi:,.

:i J <>n:·lthan Boluh..-r, llt•1ni 111 1.f,'JUt':, of 1111 .·I nt1•1i1a11 l.rJ\'alt~I. f7J ,'<: - J';8rJ. <.:ti. .Jon;i. th an UolH:hicr <Jio.,tou and ~ I"\\' \ ork: Hou~htou .\tlffiiu <.:v .• I H25)~ p. 6i. • Q1101ed in "Ho111011y Club.'' p. :100.

'Q l''L' J ')tl8 uotet 111 1v1( .• 1~. .... . li l\ouc:her, H.e111iui,f·r·nt·r"L p. t)K.

~ Oulauy lO l-la111t"r\lf."~. Scptr111hr1 15. l7iO. \.{llUtcd in Ra1kt.'t'. !it1Ck!-{TOUl1d oj lhi· R clJ()/u11011, p. :H,I.

-: Fnr ~• J L'JJrln d ng of d it· en 1 ii\' l'XC.h:111gc·. :tt't' Pc·tc•1 '\, 0 11 u I. c~d .. :\·I (IJ)·la " ' ' fin,/ 1 '11.• J~nt/Jirr·. 177): '/ 'Irr.· : l111 rlon l ·1J.'I c:~t, :.r• tt / .r·11r•1, ( lkt11i nt(u c: John:<-. Hvpki 11') C ni ­\'t:l')lly Press. l ~• i ·l) .

"',\ lur)·laud (i11z.1·11r.Sepu.~n1her 10, l'ii:!. 11 llnuc ht1, J<1·,,1u11 .\'Ct?J1r·r~:, .1>. iO.

•• iuid.

II Ibid .. p. i l.

•'!Bernard C:. Steiner. quott'(I i11 ~il\·cr1l)au . .. \ \ 'iJlia111 Pat-:1," 1>. G. 13 .\'1trrylund c;a:r·ttr. :\l ay 20. I ii:3. J I )l)jd,

lj F.dtli .. lo Ulll\JlltPd l('lipicn f. ;\f!l~ :!!'\. l// I. i11 \ubrc:~ ( .. l.Julll. ed .. Lc·ttcri /ruin .-l1nr1ut1 1C...1n1luid.i-;l-. .\Ja,:-..: )\('lknap l'r("S) ol H;t1\·:11tl l :11i\'er')ity Pre)), l!t6!'J}. p. 85.

l 1o .·\d:u11::,. dial) i· nlr) lor ~ep1 c1uht·r :!3, li i !I. i11/)urry11n1/ 1lutobiogra/1lty, '.!: 178. ,: it.C'c orcl~ ol u~1 •. Hi'i1n~ rot. Xfi~J. ( .llli'!.f ( :11111 C"h. l'hil:ulelvhia. Penns~ (\;lHia.

97

1.s Bordley to lier sister, .\larch 22, 178:1. liordlcy·l :atvc:rt .\·lauuscr ipts. ,\·IS. 82 .

. \faryland Historical Socict\". Bahimorc. We gratc(ully acknowledge John .\-1.

'Walton, Jr .. for brin.(\ing chis Jeccer co our ~11ten1ion. 111 J••u:a Lo Ru:,h. DL"tL·1nhcr 2. 1-;s1, Ru:th P<1J>l·r~. Libra1·y ContJ>any of PhilndeJ.

phia. Philadelphia, Pcnn~ylv~111ia. For this tTlH:ial doc.:1nnc11t in soJ,·i11g the l..c\'iJJ<t·

(i eSll"t n1ysc<~ry-,,•hic:h surfaced le~::. than t\\'O \\'<:ek:-. before thi::. vohu11e \\'<:nt to J>resS- \\'(· arc: iocleJuecl co che as1.011ncling· n1cn1ory of Ed,.,·in \\.'o)f 2ncl, " librarian

extraor dinairc.·''

211 .-\J~xa1nlcr to ( :uu 11c. il o f Sa l el~" Fehrua1y 27. l 'iifi. i11 \·\'i1li;11n Haud Bro\\' llecc

al.. c.:tl::. .. ,.·J 1 ('/J h:<""- of .\I (J rviaud. i~ \'ols. co cl:-i ((" ~. Ba 11 int ore. 1 88~ ). 1 J: 189.

CllAPTJ~R. FIVJ~

1 See, for exan1plc .. ~da1n~. diary e11try for Stpt<:ttthc.~r 2:>. 1775. in Ditu-;· tiutl ;Ju.to­

biograph)' .. 2: 178.

t. .'\cl;1n1.1 •. di;lry C?ntry for ()ccof><~r 10, li7·1 . in ibid .. p . 11:10. :;; c ;hase (0 :\da1ns. J111H: ~H. l 776, quoted in Ed1nu1H.I ( :ody Burnelt, ·1·11,. ( :011/1.

nenwl Congre» ( 19·1 I; reprint e<I., New Yo rk:\\'. W. :-.:omon & Co., 196•1). p. ISi.

1 Julian P. 8o~·d. " Etlitorial :\oll'." in The PajJl'1'\' r.Jf 'J.lruntas /c(/et'.5Un, c:d . .Boyd.

19 vol~. to tl<lle 1. Pri Jl(cto11 . N .J.; Pri 11c.:cto11 l ,l ui\'cr!iil y Prl·ss. I ~)50-). I : :!99-!Hl8.

"\\.'asltin~·1011 f(1 (;c11t·r .il . .\rH·111:1:-. \\'ard. J 11Jy ·t. I i 'i6. in 'flu• ~·lirilint~J o,f (Jeorg''

J1:'us/,1Hg,tou f1·on1 Jiu.· Orrp,iHal ;\Janu~( ri/>t Sourcc.L 17./5 1799, ed. John ( ;, t='irz.

palrick~ j~J \'Ol.:.. l \ \' ;1shi 11g lo11. !).( ;.: l i .S. (;o,·cr1u11c.:1lt Pri ntillg Offit:c. 193 J-·'1·1 ).

5:21i.

I Invencor~ or 1he E~r~1((• or l·Jpnry [J:irri~on. filed Fc:hr11ar} 6. 177'.{, ()fli(;(' or lhf'

Register ol \\'ills. Phi l<idclphia. Pe1111-.yJva11i<1.

:! Frank:!> to . .\nn 1-larri-.on Pac a. Fc:hruary ~t). 1 i'i8. l{('cl Hook~ ·J. 110. 99.

:~ l'aca Lo Johnson. ,\ larc.:lt ~I. I; (Ci. ibid .. no. I 0 L

·• l'aca lt.1 Joh 11sou . . \ugusl 2:), 1 ;77. in Rro,,·n~. ed ._. ,;l rr h1a'"' of .\-( aryland, I 6: 34'L

'' I hid., p. ~45.

6 Pata to John.)(111. ~eptc1nber h. 1777. iu ibid .. p. :{<i·I.

'Pata co .Johmun. J1111c 11. li7K. Gi lmo1 Paper>. ,·ol. ~.fol. 15. ~IS 387.1. ~fary.

h111d Hl!itOl'il<d SOt'i('l~ .

·"The.· follo\\'i ng di-.cu .. ;,ion i~ l1a:.cd ou Ronald H(,fh11a11. :I Sj>iril of J)i~s1·11.lior1:

F.r:nnon! j( '. J' oli r /( '' '~ ,, " I /(f• I~ 1';•ul" U!JH t H .\/,~ 1'\'/11.'td ( B:t 11 i lll()J'(': Johns Hopkin;, L: niv<·r:.i 1 ~· Pr<'"•!'., 1Hi1lj. pp. 2 '.fi - ·lfl.

!> Livings1on to S:1ralt l.i\·in~~ton la~ . l)t·fct11h~r ~~;, 1779, tn foltn /a-.·: ·1~/rr· J·lahiug of o R r1 1t1/11tio1111ry. ( 'n/>ul)lt.~ /i,·d />a /Jrr.'i, fi ·l;- 17so. ed. Rirh;1rcl B . .\forris ( '."\C\\'

York: Harper;(; Jtm,·. 1~175). p. @gn.

JO ()bitt.HIT)' of . .\un Harrison Pa<a. ,\Jaryland Jo11r11nl ""'' Rnl11uu)f,. . l dr'('tll.ier,

February 29, 1780.

11 Quoted in Morris l.. Radoff. /1 11ilrli11g; of 1/1(' St111r of Mnn ·la11tl 111 A 11nnpo/i,

(A11napulis: Hall uf Kecords Comrni.,,ion. 1!15·1). pp. il - i2.

12 P::ica to \Vashiut;ton. Febr uary ~I . I i X~. 1 lc:idquart<:r$ Paper~ or the .Brici!ilt . ..\rrn y

in . ..\mcrica. no. 69'tG. phn1osta t. Rese-arl'h l>c1>aru11("11 1. (;oJunial \\' iJli:unsburJ?.

Founda tion. \Villian1sbur~. \i irt,rinia: l:arlcton to Pac.a, l\farch IS. l'iH3, ibi<l .. no.

i l36; C;arJeton co Pa(.a, .\ pril 6. l i8~. ibid .. no. 73'.~~> ; Par.a ro (.;;irlecou :\pril '.l5,

l /83, ibid., no. 7~54 .

,, Paca tu Washi11gl0n. December 21!. 178!!, q11otetl iu Silvcnnan, " William Paca,"

p. 12.

1' \.Va~hington tO 1'.aca. December ~3. t 783, in J 'llTitiu.~.s of Gco1·gr JtVt1.sh111g1un, 2i:

282.

J:; -l'iltOn lO (;un11ing llc:df()rd, J)..-cc1nber ::?5. 1783. in ibid .. p. 2~:in.

1• Ibid.

Ii \\.'ashington, ",.\ddres~ lO c :o llb'TCS.) on Rtsif,\ning hib (:omrnls~ion," D e rc_;'111bt1' :!$.

1783, in ibid .. p. 285.

1.s i\fcHenry to i\farg;u•et C~tld\\'c~ll,. Dcc:en1ber :!!S, l i8~. in l'11{Xr1 <'/ Tltou1u.\ /e//er ·

SQ1J., fi: 10i.

" Ridout to Sharpe. . .\pril Ii, I llH. Kidout r :ipcrs. 110. 119.

•• Paca to Jeni fer . March ~ I. 1783. ~l:irylan<l :>tare Paper> (Serie. ,\ ). ~9; 13-1. Paca

n1t1~t have: rlec.idc:d 'ha1 t ltis st:itc:111ent ,,·a'i tuu su·on14, hC't:aubC he dele1(•d lt and

~U~t.itUlt"<.I. ":\.nu>ni:; 1hc lSl~in~) u£ Pcac·c our c:i ti r.cn.' oughl LO ha\'t (is] th("

earliest J::videnco ol a Rc>1orntion of pub[li c) laiL11 ."

:n Quo Led in Ed,,·:1rd (~. P:tpcnf u'it:, / n Purs11 it o.f Pru/i t: ·rhc~ ,;/ u n"poli f ,\1 l't«hnn t \'

111 the Era of iii.- t1111erira11 Rru11/11tio11, 176J- /,W5 (Baltimore: Johm H opki n.,

University Press. 1975). p. 1+2.

~1 r ac.:i's pf'opnsc•d iUl>1:·11<.hn('ll(S :ire pri rned as an a1>J>c11dis lo Sil\'('l'ITlilll. " \·\'illi:un

Paca," pp. 23-~5.

2~ \Viii o t 1\nna ~·l ;lri:l c:tic\\', JH'Ob:tle~I Fchl'U\U'Y 11. 18 11. tiled ill <.:haufe1·y Pap~r.'i ,

no. 3011+; will ol .J uliam>a l'aL;i . pl'Ohatecl April 23. l~til. Queen Annt'> Count)

\Vilt. STH I. fol. 196.

"0'Dio lO Thoma> .fi'ftc·rm11 , f1111~ ~;l , 180 1. <1110 1 ~d in Somh, " rnca !·!oust:,"

p. 188. 2"° Quo~ed in Sil\'t>r111~u1. " \\' ill i;u11 l':u a." p. ~.3.

99

Index

A :\(~1d(•1ny ~111d Chari ty S<:liool

(Philadelphia). 3~ ;\c.1~1111~ . Joh n. fl(). JJ) t\ddison, l'liornas G., 9-1-

_.\Jexancler. Rt>ben. 69

,\1111;ipol is: clesn·iption of. 35-36

B 1JordJer. Jol111 B<::1l<." 5:i. G7, 85 Bo1 clf(' y, '.\largarc:l. 53 Borlllty. S;1rali , 67

il<mlley, Stephen, cHi, 3~), H

Bo ... ton Port . \< t. 65 J~OU( her, ,I Ollil t I 1<t11: HonHHty ( :luh.

55-:';1;: Ft'c Hill (;onrrovc:r:o.~ .. ~,~.

t)().1)2

Brkc·. John . ;l(t ll1udcau. \J1 ..... : IJoarding .)<.. hoo], f,$.1)~)

( .. "

Cah·ert. lleuediet. 46-47 ( ;;dvcrc. Ce:·<.:i l iu~. 46

Carlewn, Guy, 86 ( ::irroll.. Charks, of Carrollwn, !i9-!i0

<:h<'\f . . -\nu .\larY. St'' Pac~1. !\(:try

c:11<:"·

I (I J

Chew. l'hilenwn Lloyd.;,:; (]lC\\'. San1 11c] l fad1cr of \lar~). ·J I

C:IH•\\-. S:in111eJ, 29, $8-·10. ·17, t) J, fi:l, 7·1 C:laph;un. John, :Ii Clork . .fo,;eph, !1;1

College of l'hil;1ddphia, 33·3·1

n Diggc.,, George, 39 no1.-;1?y. F.d\,·,1r<I. :\[rs., ·12

Do1»C)'. I k11ricna Maria, •19·50 D11J;111 y, 0 ;111it'I. 60

Unl:rny. l·kuric-tta ~!aria Lloyd Ch~""

·19 l)ufauy, \\.·.a irer. :)8

E Eddis. \l' illi;un, 5li-57, 65 Eden , Roh<:rt. :;s .. ,9

F Fee Bill 0£ 17·!7 .. ii-SS F<.:c Procl;un:i rion, :JS-6:~

Foren.;ir Club, 30-39 Forma11. Thoma> \farsl1. 21 Frank" R<'he< rnh. 80

G Green, .-\nnc Catharine, 59

Grcr11, Jo11 :1$, ·17

(.;renvillc. c; corgt-. 15-·JU

H Hall, Joh11 (firs1 hmbaml o( Mary

l 'ncnj. 26

I-fall , John (ncpsou o r Ro l>crt P:1ca),

~6-30

f-litll , .J ohn . 50, 1;2

Hall, ,\lnry Parker. Sec Paca, Afary

Hanunoud, 1\r:icr.h i :1~, ()2.63

Hanson. Alcx:111der Con rec, !J I

H:trri~on. :\nn. $.ct" Pata, . .\on

l·l ;u·rison

H ,1rri)01t. 11 rnr)'. 80

H otllC\\'Ood. C,:h:H·Jcs, ·12

H o1no uy <.:luh, .1.1-5?

lloo<I. Zacha1 iah. I;. •19

J rctfc1~u11 . · r110 1n;1;<; , i[J

J en ings. Thomas. S I

Johnson. TholllaS, 1:1, 5<i

L I .c•f'. Ridranl Hem)', i:l

L<:viua in1is1rc·ss of \\' illi;uu Pac..t1),

6t;.(i!I

I Joyd, Ed\\'ar<I, Col., t-15

M ~fr H!'tff)'. James, 87

J\ lal ~e111ar:i . l\tich;lcl, -I!!

NilhuJ~on. Fra ncis, .'i5

0 O'Dio, Luke, 93

1112

p

Para .. .\110 HaJ•t·ison: social

hack~round . 80: wi(c or William

Pan1, 80-111 , II~; death. 84

l'~u.01, ,\ (1 uila: hirth~ 2i; marria~e. 30;

jo in" Socic•r o f 1'-ri<:nds. 30;

(hiltlt•c.·11, 3(); p11hlic: c.arctr. !SO~

dcatlr, !!O; c>t:ttc at <lc:llh, 30-31

l';ica. Aq uila (brother of Will iam),

31-.~~

l'ac;1. l::li1.abt th. 31, o'f Pat.a. Hturjc·tta J\·faria (6r.st daughter·

or \\'iltiam), ·19

l'aca . l"'lenri(:11a Wlaria (second

<laughter o( \l'illiam), 6'1 -!H

Pata, I tcnry, R·I

l'nrn . He>tcr (illegi1im:o11· d'111g h tcr

ol William). 66·&.l

f'a( '" .Jclhn. !II

Pat;i. John Phi lemon. 2 I. M. 9:1-9-l

Para, ~f artha, :;o.3 J

Paca, .\ fary, 26.:l8

Par:t .. \fa1:· t :he-,,·: soc·ial protniuenc:e~

·I I : <ienth, ti~

P~1ca. Robert: :11 r·i,·:t l in '.\ laryl;t nd.

25 ·~~;; ntarria~c. ~6. l:l ndholtlings.

~I ; 1 c: l igiou~ hcJicfs. 2;: rhil <lrc11,

21; '101-ck1:l"f)('I'. ~'!J; dc:1tl1, :_H);

c1ta1<· a t death. 2!I

l':1c.a. \\'illi;nn : :lJ>pear;111re and

rh:il':u ccr. 2 1 ·22~ c 1 hn it b:·1rk~rountl.

'.!5-~1 >. 95u ; hi1't h, :11: cdu..-~tl ion,

.1:!-31: in :\1111:11.>uli~. ,:i(i; fon.:11sic

(:luh, !lli.39; lega l cdul':Hion . :m; at

Jnn>uf ( :our1. ~~I, ~J611: Jegal <arL'!'r ,

il~ .. J I, ·12. -1-1 "15. 50; rrrri\'c'> ,\ J ,,\. ,

·l I ; ll'ivfs, ·l 1. ~O: .\nn:opc.>li<

lo\\·nhutL<rie, ·J ti • .J4; Su1111p . .\r l, ·J f ··18;

ntc111h\:t' o( ~ous of Lih('rt~'. ·I~:

lir!\I. public.· uflire. ·18 : t'lii ldrcu. 49.

t;.I, 6li.ti9. 8<1-1!5; politirnl c.1recr, 50;

Wrc h land, 53; Homony Clul1,

56-51; pronu 11c.i;,tio11 of ~u.n1an1c.

57; fee Bi ll C<Jnrroversy, 60-63; Hoston Pon Act. 65-66; in Maryland c:on\'c.:111ion. 66; n1is1ress. 66-69; ller.larnrio11 o f I 11rlcpendence, i5-i6: nii lit:try ar.tivjties du1'i ng Re\'olu· tion. ~ 1-82; j udge of the General Court, 83-84: go•·crnor, 85-90; law teacher, 90; opinion of U.S. Con­soiunion. !IO-!ll; feJernl judge. 91; con>trnction of Wye I b ll, 92-93; de31h, !H

Paca, William (son 0£ \\'illiam) . 64. 8'1

Parker, W i lliam, 26 Pc: t l ~:, <~harlc~ \.Vi llson, ~ I

Per er<. llirhard. 2 I l'hillips. .fame .. Sr .. $0 Phi llips. ~larthit. Su Paca. ~lartha

R Ricln1n, .foh n, 89 RU!(Cr>, John. H . 76 Ru<h. Be njamin, 21. GS-fl9

s .Steuart, A111hony. 1)2.1;3 Stcwa rr, \\'i llia111. !i~ .Sh.ll'pc. 1-loratio. ·IS. 5 1 ·5~ S111i1h. Elizabc1h. Sec Paca. Elizabeth Smith. William. 33 Stanip An . ·l li-·18 Sunu:. Thon1~1s. 7·1 Sui;ar :\c1. ·16

T T ;tylor, Jo>cph (London), 29 T ilHh111;111, .Jame>. SO ·r ilton. Jau1cs. 87 -r oh:.-cfn I nsp('rc ion .~\rr of I 747 ~ 57 .f>M ·ro,,·''-"ht!ud . .\ct. 50-5!

I 03

\Y \\'ashington. {;eorgf>'. 17. Kt)-8i Wa;hiugwn Colkgc. 89-90 W ye lfo ll, 03 W1·e 1$1:111<1. 53