Apr 28

Apr 28 Penelope Barker and the Edenton Tea Party

In October of 1774 Penelope Barker organized the all female Edenton Tea Party.

Penelope Barker

By 1774 Penelope Padgett had outlived two husbands.

Now going by the name Penelope Barker, her third husband, Thomas, had traveled overseas to represent North Carolina in London.

During the long absence, Penelope had become radicalized to the Patriot Cause.

The Edenton Tea Party

At almost the exact same time as the First Continental Congress was agreeing to the Continental Association, Barker became inspired to mimic the Boston Tea Party.

The ladies did things their own way, however, and met peaceable in a house.

Penelope had collected 51 women who met in what became known as the Edenton Tea Party.

Barker presented these women a petition she wrote, and everyone signed it.

The agreement was to boycott British goods and work to make as much as they could in the home to replace the need for imports.

British Response

The Edenton Tea Party sent their petition to England, where it was printed in the papers.

In her accompanying letter, Barker even went so far as to criticize the men of Boston for wearing disguises, noting that the women of Edenton were brave enough to sign their own names.

Penelope and her friends were mocked by all of jolly old England. Among the many insults was the engraving (pictured here) which implied the women were not lady-like and so wrapped up in themselves that they let their kids get peed on by dogs.

This was far from the truth and, in fact, Penelope Barker and the rest of the attendees at the Edenton Tea Party were Patriots who were brave enough to step out of their roles in society to stand up for what they believed was right.

Want to read about more FOUNDING MOTHERS?

Great! Check out these articles:

Phillis Wheatley - From Slave Girl to Master Poet

Martha Bratton - Explosions, Death Threats and Huck’s Defeat

The Adventures of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton

Penelope Barker actually has a biography.

That being said, it is very short and aimed at children, but still worth the read.

Pick up a copy through the Amazon affiliate link below…