William+Paca

​ William Paca was born on October 31,1740. He is the second son on John Paca and Elizabeth Smith Paca. William Paca is from Abingdon Maryland. His great-grandfather immegrated in the 1740's. Paca was placed in a Philadelphia college by his father when Paca was just 15 years old. He began attending the college on May 25, 1752. 7 years later, in the year 1759, William Paca graduated from the university in Philadelphia. On October 26, 1759 Paca became a founding member of the Forensics Club. He began to follow law in 1750 which is when he began studies to become a judge. 11 years later, in the year 1761 he recieved his degree and began practicing law. William Paca's political career began in 1771. He slowly worked his way up by becoming a Member of the Committee of Correspondance, and moving to a Patriot Leader, then Paca was elected to the Continental Congress. Between the years of 1774 and 1778, William Paca was the Chief Justice of Maryland. Then, in 1778, Paca was elected to the position of Governor of Maryland. Paca was a part of a private practice in his home in Maryland in the year 1764. Paca is regarded as one of the founding fathers. He was a delegate of Maryland. As for religion, Paca believed mostly in Christian. Most of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were born in the United States. William Paca's ancestors migrated from Italy. Although he was born in the Americas, William Paca has a strong Italian background. Paca signed the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776, William Paca married Mary Chew on May 26, 1763. His daughter was born just a year later, in 1764. She was named Henrietta Maria. 6 Years after the birth of his daughter, he and his wife were blessed with a son. His name was John Philemon Paca. Just two short years later his wife gave birth to another son named William Paca Jr. Sadly, just after the birth of William Paca Jr, Mary Chew passed away on January 15,1774. His daughter, Hester, occured in 1775.Henrietta Marie Joyce was born oin 1776. Just after the birth of Henrietta, William Paca married Ann Harrison of Philadelphia. The two of them had a son named Henry Paca in 1780. Ann Harrison died just a year after the birth of their son. Henry Paca died in 1781. William Paca had a total of six children. Two of whom were illegitamate. Paca was re-elected governor two consecutive years in November of 1783 and 1784 William Paca passed away on October 13, 1799. This was just 18 days before his 60th birthday. He out lived most of his family with both Mary Chew and his family with Ann Harrison.