Rhode Island. In 1788 Chase was a delegate to the Maryland convention called to ratify the United States Constitution. He was among those opposed to its adoption, believing that a Bill of Rights should be included. When the Bill of Rights was formally adopted by Congress in 1789, Chase generally became a supporter of the Federalist Party. He drafted the Northwest Ordinance of 1784 as part of its drafting committee. Jeremiah Chase and his cousin, John Francis Mercer vehemently opposed the Federal Constitution's ratification. Being elected to the state convention, he became an Antifederalist leader. Chase feared the Federalists would abolish state laws protecting personal rights, and he called for a federal bill of rights at the convention. Having owned 11 slaves, by mid-1780s Chase was of the opinion Maryland's slaves should be freed. At the 1788 state ratification convention he spoke against slavery being supported by a federal Constitution. He was one of 12 leaders who voted against the federal Constitution's ratification. Judicial career Chase returned to state politics after the constitutional crisis. Despite his opposition to the Constitution, Chase was named as a justice in the state's General Court in 1789, serving for six years. He held the tax commissioner office of Anne Arundel County in 1788. As tax commissioner, together with Charles Ridgely and his cousin Samuel, he speculated in ex-Tory lands in Annapolis and the port of Baltimore. He also served in the Maryland State Senate in 1796, where he became a strong Republican in a Federalist state. In 1806 he was appointed chief justice of the Maryland Court of Appeals, for the third district, until 1826, retiring that year. Later life Jeremiah Chase remained married to Hester Baldwin until her death in 1823 and had five children: Richard, Frances, Hester, Matilda, and Catherine. He rented a wing of the Hammond House from Matthias Hammond as a law office. His residence was on nearby King George Street. In 1811 he purchased the Hammond-Harwood House for his eldest daughter Frances Lookcerman to live in with her husband Richard Loockerman. It was customary for the father-in-law to give the deed to his son-in-law. However, Judge Chase did not trust his son-in-law, and kept the deed in his name. When Chase died at home in Annapolis on May 11, 1828, he was buried in the City Cemetery, or St. Anne's Cemetery in Annapolis. Some of his land was confiscated