Two Mrs. Chase

Samuel Chase, signer of the Declaration of Independence, married twice. He was twenty-one years old in 1762 when he married Anne Baldwin of Annapolis, Maryland. He had recently completed his study of law under the direction of two prominent Annapolis attorneys, John Hammond and John Hall, and had established his own law practice. He was also taking an active interest in public affairs.

Anne did not live long enough to share the great honors that came to her husband because she died in the early years of the Revolution. She was the mother of six children, two sons and four daughters.

Samuel went to England in March 1783 on legal business. There he met and married Miss Hannah Kilty Giles of London. They became parents of two daughters, Eliza (married Dr. Skipwith Coale of London) and Hannah (married William Barney, Esq.).

Judge Chase moved to Baltimore in 1786 where his good friend, Col. John E. Howard, gave him a piece of land on the condition that he would live there. The land consisted of many city lots as well as area where the Judge built his home - a "specious mansion." The sale of the other lots helped the Judge to live in comfortable conditions until his death in 1811.

Facts and quotes are from Wives of the Signers: The women behind the Declaration of Independence, pp. 217-219.