For a tiny town, Edenton played monumental roles in United States history. The town’s foundation began with English colonialism and evolved into a hotbed of contention during the American Revolution. And let’s not forget about the role it served for both sides during the American Civil War. The town bursts with significant pieces of history well worth knowing but less often talked about beyond Edenton’s streets. However, the beauty of present-day Edenton is that you still see influences from many of these key figures and cultural events. Take a moment to discover them, and take the wealth of information with you the next time you visit Edenton or venture around town.
The Beginnings
Or at least in 1668 ... the Carolina Charter from King Charles established Chowan County along with three other counties, which eventually became the North Carolina colony. One of the colony’s first governors, Charles Eden, lived in the area. He’s credited for making Edenton the sophisticated settlement that attracted the attention of other hopeful colonists and settlers. During his time as governor, he established the Church of England and issued the colonists’ first taxes. And when the French and Indian War stirred upheaval in the South Carolina colony, it was Eden who worked out a compromise with the Chief of Tuscarora.
Pirates terrorizing coastal waters kept Eden's hands full too. When Blackbeard turned himself in to Eden, the governor pardoned the infamous pirate, though rumors suggest that the governor may have benefited from keeping Blackbeard on friendly terms. After Eden died in 1722, his hometown took the name of Edenton in his honor and became an incorporated town. And guess what? He’s still here too. If you visit the cemetery at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in downtown, you’ll see the governor’s final resting place.
Following Eden’s death, Edenton continued blossoming as one of the top places to be in the state and, thanks to its coastal location between the port in Jamestown and Charleston, in the mid-Atlantic region as well. Edenton and Raleigh served the colony’s two capitals, with the following governor making Edenton his residence.
Photo: Penelope Barker, Edenton Historical Commission
As tension escalated between the colonists and the Crown, Edentonians held notable roles in the United States’ fight for independence. It started with Penelope Barker, the mistress of the Barker House during the late 1700s. In protestation against the 1773 Tea Act, Barker worked to rally colonial women to formally denounce and boycott British goods. She, along with 50 other Edenton ladies, signed a petition announcing their boycott in what became known as the Edenton Tea Party – the first political activism displayed by women in the nation’s history.
Today the Barker House is operated by the Edenton Historical Commission and serves as the Edenton Welcome Center – it’s a cornerstone for cultural events and the town’s information, and I’m sure you’ve seen it.
The Revolutionary War consumed America, and prestigious gentlemen from around the colonies gathered in Boston to sign the Declaration of Independence. Joseph Hewes of Edenton was among them, and George Washington later appointed him as the first Secretary of the Navy. Hewes wasn’t the only Edentonian Washington put into a position of power. James Iredell served as the youngest justice on the first United States Supreme Court. His son later served as a North Carolina governor and then a United States senator. Today their Edenton home is maintained by the Historic Edenton State Historic Site, and it’s open for regular tours. And if you go on the annual Christmas Candlelight Tour, be sure to stop by for its legendary cookie-covered “groaning board” (dining room table).
You can also credit Edenton locals for the ratification of the United States Constitution. James Iredell, along with Hugh Williamson and Samuel Johnston, worked together to encourage North Carolina to ratify and sign the Constitution.
So, there you go: seven figures who helped develop and define our nation’s history and all of whom called Edenton home in some form or another. And that’s just the beginning. Be sure to check back next week for a blog on more Edentonians who left a mark on American history and the town we know today.
Photos: Historic Edenton State Historic Site
About the Author Hannah Lee Leidy
Hannah Lee is a fiction and creative nonfiction writer living on the Outer Banks. She graduated from Kenyon College in Ohio with a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. Traveling is her passion, but nowhere ever feels as much like home as the Outer Banks. When not planning her next trip or adventure, Hannah Lee loves aimless drives down the Beach Road, spending copious amounts of time in coffee shops and reading every short story collection she gets her hands on. 