Samuel Chase and William Paca, Signers of the Declaration from Maryland

4 pages (12 1/2 x 7 3/4 in; 310 x 195 mm, scallop-cut at top margin) on a bifolium, Maryland , 20 November 1793; scattered spots of foxing and some ink bleedthrough, professional restoration to fold separations with some loss of text, but not affecting any of the signatures.

MULTIPLE AUTOGRAPHS OF TWO MARYLAND DECLARATION SIGNERS, TRANSFERRING “CONFISCATED BRITISH PROPERTY.”

“Whereas the said William Paca by deed of bargain and sale from the commissioners for the sale of confiscated British property was seized in fee simple of two lots of land formerly the property of the Principio Company lying in Baltimore County. …”

Paca is here transferring two lots of land to Charles Ridgley, Darby Lux, Lyde Goodwin, and Rachel Hollingsworth. The land was “confiscated British property” that had been seized during the war. Some of the text in the final pages is written in the hand of Chase.

Samuel Chase (1741–1811) represented Maryland in the Continental Congress. He was appointed by President George Washington as an associate justice on the Supreme Court. After Thomas Jefferson was elected and began efforts to terminate the "midnight judges" appointed by President John Adams in the closing days of his administration, Chase was impeached by Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans in the House of Representatives, who charged him with allowing his (Federalist) political bias to influence his judgements. Ultimately the Senate, including many who were opposed to his politics, voted to acquit Chase—a major victory for an independent judiciary. Chase served on the court until his death in 1811. William Paca (1740–1799) was also a representative of Maryland in the Continental Congress and later served as the state’s third governor. In addition, Paca served as a state senator to Maryland and as a judge of the United States Court for Maryland.