Paca, William. Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Maryland. Document Signed ("Wm Paca") as Governor, vellum, one page, 9¾ x 12 in., June, 1785. A grant for 4 ¼ acres in Baltimore County to John Cockey Owings, the assignee of Edward Worm, who had been granted 50 acres "out of the Proprietary Land Office according to the Conditions of Plantation…and the right of the Proprietary long now vested in The State of Maryland…." The Maryland state seal is attached by a ribbon to the lower edge. Age yellowing and a horizontal cut which runs diagonally through the document and affects Paca's signature; the document is held together by an old tape repair on verso. Script and signature are somewhat faded. Signed during Paca's last term as Governor. Accompanied by a transcript. (See also in this section the Samuel Chase Document Signed, which is signed twice by Paca).
Paca was elected to the First Continental Congress in 1774 and served until 1778, when he was appointed Chief Justice of Maryland. In mid-May of 1776, the people of Maryland passed a resolution prohibiting their delegates from voting for independence; however, the restrictions were withdrawn in June and Paca and the other delegates from Maryland voted for the Declaration of Independence. Paca is rare.
Estimated Value $800 - 1,000.
Purchased from Robert Batchelder in 1995.
Signers of The Declaration of Independence
