This year, the United States marked the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Among the 56 men who signed the document in 1776 were four Marylanders: Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Samuel Chase, William Paca, and Thomas Stone. Each of these men represented a different part of colonial Maryland and left a lasting mark on our state’s history.
Charles Carroll of Carrollton — Anne Arundel County
Born in Annapolis in 1737, Charles Carroll of Carrollton was a native of Anne Arundel County.
His place in Maryland history goes beyond signing the Declaration. Carroll was the only Roman Catholic among the 56 signers, and he later became one of Maryland’s first two U.S. senators. He also holds one of the most notable longevity records among the Founding Fathers: after the deaths of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson on July 4, 1826, Carroll became the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence, living until 1832.
There is even a modern Maryland county connection: Carroll County was named in his honor when it was created in 1837 from parts of Baltimore and Frederick counties.
Samuel Chase — Somerset County
From Maryland’s Eastern Shore came Samuel Chase, born near Princess Anne in Somerset County in 1741.
Long before the Declaration was signed, Chase was involved with the Sons of Liberty and helped lead protests against the Stamp Act. His fiery political style earned him the reputation as one of Maryland’s most devoted advocates for the American cause.
Chase’s career took an astonishing turn after the Revolution. In 1796, President George Washington appointed him to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he served as an associate justice until he died in 1811.
William Paca — Baltimore County, now Harford County
William Paca was born near Abingdon in Baltimore County in 1740, an area that is now part of Harford County.
Paca became involved in the growing resistance to British policies and, like Samuel Chase, was active in the Sons of Liberty. Paca served in the Continental Congress from 1774 through 1780. He later served as Governor of Maryland from 1782 to 1785.
Paca also left his mark on Annapolis. His elegant Georgian home, built in the 1760s, still stands today and is now a National Historic Landmark. The William Paca House and Garden gives a glimpse into the life of one of Maryland’s Founding Fathers.
Thomas Stone — Charles County
From Charles County came Thomas Stone, born at Poynton Manor in 1743. He represented Charles County in Maryland’s conventions and served multiple terms as a delegate to the Continental Congress.
Stone hoped for a peaceful settlement with Britain and was considered a moderate among the revolutionaries. As the situation worsened, however, Stone ultimately accepted that independence was the only way forward and signed the Declaration.
His Charles County home, Haberdeventure, is preserved today as the Thomas Stone National Historic Site. The site tells Stone’s story, along with the broader history of his family and the people who lived and worked on the estate.
Four Marylanders, Four Counties, One Declaration
Maryland’s four signers came from different corners of the colony and brought different personalities, backgrounds, and viewpoints to the Revolutionary movement.
Two and a half centuries later, Marylanders can still visit the places where these four signers lived, served, and shaped history, reminders that the story of American independence is also a story deeply rooted in Maryland’s counties.
If you would like your county featured in Fun Facts, please get in touch with Abbey Duncan at aduncan@mdcounties.org
