Edenton in Chowan County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Edenton Tea Party

Photographed By Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2010

1. Edenton Tea Party Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Fifty-one women met at Mrs. Elizabeth King's home, which stood 1100 ft. S.E., and resolved, Oct. 25, 1774, to support the American Cause.

Erected 1940 by State Historical Commission. (Marker Number A 22.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • War, US Revolutionary • Women. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Division of Archives and History series list.

Location. 36° 3.595′ N, 76° 36.536′ W. Marker is in Edenton, North Carolina, in Chowan County. Marker is on West Queen Street just west of South Broad Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 103 W Queen St, Edenton NC 27932, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Francis Corbin (a few steps from this marker); Barker House (within shouting distance of this marker); James Iredell, Jr (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. Hugh Williamson (within shouting distance of this marker); Chowan County Courthouse

Penelope Barker image. Click for full size.

Internet Archive

2. Penelope Barker

From The Magazine of American History, Vol. XXVIII, No. 2, August 1892,

Click or scan to see
this page online

(within shouting distance of this marker); Mackeys Ferry (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Samuel Johnston (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named James Iredell (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Edenton.

Also see . . .
1. Edenton Tea Party : An American First. North Carolina History Project entry:
It is unknown whether the Edenton Tea Party was planned. What is known is that Penelope Barker, the dynamic wife of Thomas Barker, Treasurer of the Province of North Carolina, organized a seemingly innocuous tea party. But, I think she was the brilliant mastermind of what happened there on October 25, 1774. With aplomb, Barker probably convinced forty-seven to fifty-one women to stop drinking tea and buying English clothes and to sign the following petition: (Submitted on August 25, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

2. Edonton Teas Party. North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program entry (Submitted on October 27, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)

A Society of Patriotic Ladies<br>at Edenton North Carolina image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

3. A Society of Patriotic Ladies
at Edenton North Carolina

A British Satirical look at the Edenton Tea-Party in 1775.
Cartoon by Philip Dawe published by Robert Sayer and John Bennett, March 25, 1775.

Old Tea Party House Facing Court House Green<br>Residence of Mrs. Elizabeth King Pulled Down in 1876 image. Click for full size.

Internet Archive

4. Old Tea Party House Facing Court House Green
Residence of Mrs. Elizabeth King Pulled Down in 1876

from The Historic Tea-Party of Edenton, October 25th, 1774 by Richard Dillard, 1907.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 24, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 1,025 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 24, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 2, 3. submitted on October 25, 2020, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 4. submitted on October 26, 2020, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A photo of the replacement marker. • Can you help?