Robert Paca (abt. 1631 - 1681)

Born about 1631 in England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 1681 at about age 50 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland

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Robert Paca migrated from England to America.

Biography

Robert Paca was a Maryland colonist.

1651 Arrival in Maryland

Robert Paca, the original settler, was in Maryland in 1651, when there was granted him a tract of 490 acres of land in Anne Arundel County for transporting nine men into the Province, according to the conditions of Plantations. ^[1]

"Robert Paca was brought to the colonies before 1660 by a man named John Hall, who owned an estate in Anne Arundel County. To pay his transportation costs, Paca most likely indentured himself to Hall as a servant. "^[2]

1661 Marriage

"After Hall’s death, Robert Paca married his widow Mary Parker, and thus acquired a family, position, and considerable property. Though Robert Paca did not die a wealthy man, he was able to put his family on the path to becoming landowners, planters, and public servants." ^[2]

Robert Paca, the immigrant, married the daughter of one of the commissioners appointed by Oliver Cromwell to govern Maryland. By her he had one son, Aquila, who became High Sheriff of Baltimore County, and later member of the House of Burgesses. ^[1]

Mary Parker (1632-1699), was the daughter of William Parker (?-1673/74). ^[3]

Mary had first been married to John Hall (?-by 1660), who immigrated in 1640. ^[3]

Mary subsequently married by 1661 Robert Paca (?-1681). ^[3]

Robert Paca died in 1681. Mary Parker Hall Paca died in 1699. ^[3]

1665 Robert Paca witnesses will of William Eldridge

Eldridge, William, A.A. Co., 11th Mar., 1665; 2nd June, 1667. To Samuel Lane, admr., and William Sisick, entire estate, real and personal. Test: Henry Bennett, Robert Paca, John Burges. 1.285. ^[4]

1681 Will and Death

Other large tracts in the same county were later patented to Robert Paca (will dated April 28, 1681, name spelled also “Peaker”). ^[1]

Robert Peaker, Anne Arundel County. Will written 26th April, 1681. ^[5]

• To son Aquila, 345a., home plantation
• Wife Mary, execx
• Test: Katharine Goodbury, Wm. White..

Children

1. Martha, b. 1656. Note -- this birth date would have occurred prior to Robert Paca's marriage to Mary Parker in about 1661. Was Martha actually her mother's daughter by a previous marriage, but brought up as Martha Paca?Day-1904 06:25, 5 November 2015 (EST). Martha is not named in Robert's 1681 will. ^[5]
2. Aquila, b. 1674. Named in will. ^[5]

A Paca descendant, William Paca, was a signer of the declaration of independence. ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Hester Dorsey Richardson, Sidelights on Maryland History, With Sketches of Early Maryland Volume II, Page 194 Accessed 23 November 2021 jhd
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. Entry for William Paca
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Edward C. Papenfuse, et al. A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 Volume 426, Page 385.
4. ↑ Norma Lundgren, Beaven Family Genforum Aug 10, 2001 http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/beaven/83/
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} *Jane Baldwin, Maryland Calendar of Wills, page 99 http://mdhistory.net/msaref09/pdf/baldwin_vol01.pdf. Accessed November 5, 2015
6. ↑ http://www.dsdi1776.com/signers-by-state/william-paca/