Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Charles Carroll of Carrollton (September 19 1737–November 14 1832) was a lawyer and politician from Maryland who was a delegate to the Continental Congress and later a United States Senator. He was the last surviving and only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Family life

Charles married Mary Darnall, known as Molly, on June 5, 1768. They had seven children before Molly died in 1782, but only three survived infancy: Mary, Charles Jr., and Kitty. Mary married to Richard Caton, and Charles lived with them and their four children after his wife died. Charles Jr. (sometimes known as Charles Carroll of Homewood because he oversaw its design and contruction) married Harriet Chew and lived in Philadelphia. Harriet was the daughter of Benjamin Chew, the chief justice of Pennsylvania, and her sister married John Eager Howard who had served in the Senate with Charles Carroll of Carrollton. Charles was an alcoholic who reportedly consumed up to two quarts of brandy a day. This led to erratic behavior that resulted in his separation from Harriet.

Related Topics:
June 5 - 1768 - 1782 - Benjamin Chew - Pennsylvania - John Eager Howard

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Today, Carroll's descendants own the largest parcel of land in Howard County, Maryland, with over 1000 acres of valuable, but historically preserved land in Ellicott City, Maryland.

Related Topics:
Howard County, Maryland - Ellicott City, Maryland

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