Penelope Barker: and the OTHER Tea Party

by Linda Harris Sittig

Many of us know about the Boston Tea Party, which took place on December 16, 1773. On that day, Patriots, known as the Sons of Liberty, disguised themselves as Indians and tossed 340 chests of English tea into Boston Harbor, protesting Parliament’s recently imposed tea tax on the colonies.

However, there were other ‘Tea Parties,’ where colonists refused to drink English tea due to taxes being levied on British goods: taxation without representation.

The other tea parties, however, did not have the distinction of the Edenton Tea Party on October 25, 1774. Why? None of the colonists who participated wore disguises, all 51 participants signed a letter attesting to their involvement, and all the protesters were women. The Edenton Tea Party was one of the earliest recorded demonstrations of protest against the British Intolerable Acts by a group of women.

PENELOPE’S STORY

Who then was Penelope Barker, and what role did she play?

Born in June of 1728 in Edenton, North Carolina, Penelope (maiden name Pagett) found herself at age 17, marrying her deceased sister’s husband, John Hodgson. Her main role was to take care of his three children. She quickly became pregnant herself, and when she was 21, her husband died, leaving her a widow with five children to raise alone.

Although she inherited his property, it was held in trust because she was a widow. Within six years, she married again, and this husband, James Craven, bought her property outright for himself and then deeded it back to Penelope free and clear.

John Craven died four years later, leaving Penelope Hodgson Craven a wealthy widow. Two years later, and now widowed twice, Penelope married Thomas Barker, a wealthy lawyer in Edenton.

Within four years of their wedding, Thomas was called to London to represent the American colony of North Carolina in matters of law. He would be in London for the next 17 years.

What did Penelope do as a married woman living alone?

She managed the family’s finances and kept an ear to the ground for what she realized could be an impending rebellion against the British Crown. When the First Continental Congress passed the nonimportation resolutions urging colonists to boycott English goods, Penelope and the women of North Carolina took it seriously.

THE TEA PARTY

On October 25, 1774, Penelope invited 51 of her neighbors and friends to a tea hosted in a nearby house. While the women sipped local herbal tea, Penelope brought forth a resolution that the women of Edenton would publicly support a boycott of British goods, including cloth and tea. Each woman signed the resolution, and then Penelope mailed it to the London Packet and the London Advertiser for all of England to read.

I can only imagine Thomas Barker’s surprise when reading the London morning newspapers!

“As we cannot be indifferent on any occasion that appears nearly to affect the peace and happiness of our country, and as it has been thought necessary, for the public good, to enter into several particular resolves by a meeting of Members deputed from the whole Province, it is a duty which we owe, not only to our near and dear connections who have concurred in them, but to ourselves who are essentially interested in their welfare, to do everything as far as lies in our power to testify our sincere adherence to the same; and we do therefore accordingly  subscribe this paper, as a witness of our fixed intention and solemn determination to do so.”

Britain did not act favorably toward these women from the colonies who signed their names to a paper of protest. The British newspapers labeled them as loose women without morals because what decent woman dared to protest, in writing no less, about her government?

Thomas came home from London, and the American colonies were then the United States of America. Penelope continued her life with Thomas in Edenton for the next eight years. When he passed, she had been widowed three times and remained a widow for the remainder of her life in the house they built together.

TODAY

That house now showcases the Edenton Historical Commission. Upon entering the Penelope Barker Welcome Center, you can see all 51 names of the women of the Edenton Tea Party whose courage classifies them as early political activists.

Massachusetts Patriots may have had the first tea party, but North Carolina had female Patriots who refused to let their voices be silenced.

I hope you enjoyed Penelope Barker’s story. It is a testimonial to the fact that our country was founded by men and women who prized freedom above convenience and truth above compliance.

Wishing you the best in 2025!

~ Linda

Author of Cut From Strong Cloth, Last Curtain Call, Counting Crows, B-52 DOWN, and Opening Closed Doors.