The historic tea-party of Edenton, October 25th, 1774;

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OCTOBER 25th, 1774

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AN INCIDENT IN NORTH CAROLINA
CONNECTED WITH BRITISH TAXATION

By RICHARD DILLARD, A. M., M. D.

Formerly a member of the North Carolina Historical Commission

'■ National recollection is the foundation of national character."

Edward Everett.

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SPECIAL EXPOSITION EDITION.

In August, 1892, I published in the Magazine of American History the first
account of the "Edenton Tea=Party." The article was so well received, and
awakened such interest among students of history, that I was induced to publish
it privately in 1898 : It was again republis'ied by the "North Carclina Booklet,"
in 1901, and now at the urgent requests of friends it greets the public with its
fourth edition.

Al! ri?hls reserved.

PRKSIDENT OF THE EDENTON TEA-PARTY OF 1774.

[From a portrait in the "Old Cupola Douse."]

PROEM.

THE religious votaries of the Maldivean Isles, at certaiii
timeS; commit to the mercy of the wind and waves
little boats laden with rich lined flowers, delicate per-
fumes, and sweet-scented woods of their native isles, hoping
to receive in return rich rewards for the sacrifice ; though I
have no flowers of rhetoric to offer, no measured lines, no burn-
ing incense from the Muses' shrine, 'tis thus I consign this bit
of native history rudderless to the tide, trusting some friendly
Avave may bear it safely on: Hoping also like Ruth in tin;
fields of the wealthy Boaz, to glean, and bind together a few
handfuls. which other and abler reapers have carelessl}'', or on
purpose let fall.

HERE is in Afghanistan, according to Eastern tra-
dition, a miracnlons history plant, which records
upon its broad Inxurions leaves whatever happens
each day in its immediate vicinity; There are no
inaecnracies and misstatements of the press, no
partiality or partizan writers, no incongruity of conflicting
records, but like the polished waters around which it flourishes,
it faithfully mirrors the environing objects. Unfortunately
in this country there is no such gift by Nature, no historic
Genii, but there is, I believe, a movement on foot to condense,
preserve, and separate true and legitimate history from th(5
ordinary records of the press. The ancients were especially
particular that their records should be exact, even the works
of the historian Liv>', barely escaped ainiihilation at the liandss
of the infamous Caligula, for their alleged historical inaccura-
cies. As history is but the story of the past, then posterity
demands a truthful and unbiased narration of the facts;
"Truth comes to us from the past, as gold is washed down
from the mountains of Sierra Nevada, in minute but precious
particles, and intermixed with infinite alloy, the debris of cen-
turies." It is sufficient for us to preserve facts as they hap-
pen, the succeeding generations will give them their proper
coloring.

Tacitus, apiu-ei'iating the value of history to mankind, wrote,
nearly twenty centuries ago, that its chief object was "to
rescue virtuous actions from the oblivion, to which the want
of records would consign them."

Even in this practical, speculative age there seems to be a
tendency all over our country to exhume from oblivion the
events and traditions of our past. This growing revereiu^e for
American history is an evidence of increasing national intelli-
gence, pride and dignity. Uufortunately for North Carolina,
many of her most beautiful traditions liave ])een allowed to
pass utuioticed, and her glorions deeds regarded as mere

ephemera to perish with the actors. The establishment of a
chair of history at the state university, and the organization
of the historical society will do much to develop and preserve
our vast and valuable historic material. We must confess,
and with mortification and chagrin, that in order to study any
subject connected with state history intelligently, we have
been obliged in the past to refer not only to the historical so-
cieties of other states, but even to the libraries of Europe.

It is the object of this paper to bring into light an excep-
tionally interesting and patriotic incident in North Carolina,
hitherto only casually noticed by one state historian- A stranger
coming to Edenton twenty-five years ago was shown an old-
fashioned, long wooden house fronting directly on the beautiful
court-house green ; this historic house has since yielded to
the ruthless hand of modern vandalism. It was the residence
of !lMrs. Elizal^eth King, and under its roof fifty-one patrioti'j;
ladies* (and not fifty-four as stated erroneously by Wheeler)
met October 25th, 1774, and passed resolutions commending
the action of the provincial congress. They also declared they
would not conform "to that Pernicious Custom of Drinking
Tea, or that the aforesaid Ladys would not promote ye wear
of any manufacture from England" until the tax was repealed.
Wheeler, in alluding to this incident and to the stormy days
closely preceding the Revolution, in his second volume says :
"The patriotism of the men was even exceeded by that of the
women. By some strange freak of circumstance, many years
ago. there was found at Gibraltar a beautiful picture done in
skillful style, enameled on glass, of a 'meeting of the ladies of
Edenton destroying the tea, (their favorite beverage) when
it was taxed by the English parliament.' This picture was
procured by some of the officers of our navy, and was sent to
Edenton. where I saw it in 1830."

This is not only erroneous, but Mr. Wheeler has also mis-
quoted the reference to the meeting in the American Archives,
and there has been considerable other misinformation afloat
regarding it, all of which I shall endeavor to set aright. The

*As the population Avas sparse, it is very probable that fifty-one names
comprised most of the ladies living in and around Edenton then.

following is the correct notice copied direct from the American
Archives, and occupies just twelve lines: "Association Signe<l
by Ladies of Edenton, North Carolina, October 25, 1774. 'As
we cannot be indifferent on any occasion that appears to
affect the peace and happiness of our country; and it has been
thought necessary for the publick good to enter into several
particular resolves, by meeting of IMembers of Deputies from
the whole province, it is a duty that we owe not only to our
near and dear relations and connections, but to ourselves,
who are essentially interested in their welfare, to do every-
thing as far as lies in our power to testify our sincere ad-
herence to the same, and we do therefore accordingly sub-
scribe this paper, as a witness of our fixed intention, and
solemn determination to do so.' Signed by fifty-one ladies."*
Women have always been potent factors in all great moral
and political reformations. The drafting of such resolutions,
so directly antagonistic to royal authority required a calmer,
far more enviable courage than that developed by the fanatic
heroism of the crusades, or the feverish bravery of martial
music. The tax upon tea was a direct insult to their household,
gods ; it poisoned every cup of their tea, it affected every
hearthstone in the province. In looking back upon our past
it should be a matter of pride to know, that such women helped
to form the preface of our history, characters Avhidi should be
held up to our children as worthy of emulation.

■'Tlu'se are deeds ^vllich should not pass away.
And names that must not wither, tliongh the earth
Forgets lier eni])ires with a jiist decay."

The account of this tea-party found its way into the London
papers of that day, and the effect it had there may be noted
in the following old letter, strongly tinctured Avith sarcasm.
It was M^ritten l)y Arthur Iredell of London to his brother
James Tredell, a distinguished patriot of this ])lace, Avho mar-
ried Miss Hannah Johnsoi). a sister of one of tlie signers of
the noted document.

*Anieri('an Arcliivcs fourth serios, vol. T. 801.

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'"LoxDON Queen ISquake," January 31, 177.).

Dear I^hothek: I see by tlie iiewsjmper the Edenton ladies have
signalized themselves by their protest against tea drinking. The name
of Johnston 1 see among otliers; are any of my sister's relations patriotic
heroines? Is there a female eongi-ess at Edenton too? I hope not, for
we Englishmen are afraid of the male congress, but if the ladies, who
have ever since the Amazonian era been esteemed the most formidable
enemies; if they, I say, should attack us, the most fatal consequence is
to be dreaded. So dextrous in the handling of a darf, each wound they
give is mortal; whilst we, so unhappily formed by nature, the more wc
strive to conquer them, the more we are conquered. The Edenton ladies,
conscious, I suppose, of this superiority on their side, by a former experi-
ence, are Avilling I imagine, to crush us into atoms by their omnipotency;
the only security on oiu- side to prevent the impending ruin, that I can
perceive, is the probability that there are but few places in America which
possess so mtich female artillery as Edenton.

Pray let me know all the particulars when you favor me with a letter.
Your most affectionate friend and brother,

ARTHUR IREDELL. ''

The society of Edenton at this period was charming in its
refinement and cnltnre; it was at one time the colonial capita],,
and social rival of Williamsburg, Virginia, Edenton then had
five hundred inhabitants. Tts galaxy of distinguished patriots,
both men and women, would shine resplendent in any country
or in any age, Tlie tea-jsarty then, as now, was one of the
most fashionable modes of entertaining. The English Avere
essentially a tea-drinking nation, and consequently tea became
the most universal drink of the colonies. Dr. Johnson declared
that "with tea he amused the evening, with tea solaced the
midnight, and with tea welcomed the morning," Dickens him-
self frequently refers to these tea-drinkings. At a meetint;-
of the Brick Lane Branch of the ITnited Grand Junction Ebe-
nezer Temperance Association, the ladies draid\ tea to such an
alarming extent, that the Pickwickian ]\Ir, Weller could not
help from remarking out loud, in spite of Sam's protests, and
nudgings — "There's a young 'ooman on the next foi-m but
one, as has drunk nine breakfast cups and a half; and she's a
swelling wisibly before my Avery eyes," Coffee was not intro-
duced in Enrope until much Intel-, the first cup having been
drunk by Louis XIV, of France at a cost of twenty-nine dol-
lars per pound. The princijial variety of tea used l\v the colo-
nies was the Bohea. or black tea. and canu' from India. It was

*Life and Corrcsiiondcncc of .lames hcdcll, vol. 1, page 2.">0,

of the purest quality, the art of sophisticatiou and adul-
teration being unknown at that day. The feeling of ease and
comfort inspired by an elegant cup of tea, as well as the exhil-
aration of the mental faculties which it produces, made it a
necessary assistant to break the stiffness of those old-fashioned
parties. It contains an active principle thine, which, taken in
considerable quantity, produces a species of intoxication. For-
eigners who visit China, where tea is served upon almost
every occasion, become frequently tea-drunk. The method of
preparing tea by our ancestors was essentially that of the
wealthy class in China. The tea was brought upon the table
in decorated china tea-caddies, some of which are still in
existence, along with an urn of boiling water. The tea leaves
were then placed in the cup of every guest, the cup filled with
hot water, and the saucer inverted over it for a few minutes to
retain the aroma. The tea-pot was only used then by the
rather bourgeoisie. Social life was never more enjoyed than
then, there was an abandon and freedom of manner, united
with an open-hearted hospitality, of which we know nothing
at this day, when social restrictions restrict also social pleas-
ures.

Col. Edward Buncoml^e but crystalized, and formulated the
most universal feeling of this section, when he inscribed, ia
unmistakable lines upon his front gate the euphonious distich :

"Welcome aU
To Buncombe Hall."^'

There were quiltings, and cotillion parties, and tea-parties
without number, the gentlemen would often go great distances
on horseback, with their sweethearts riding behind them, and
attend these gatherings. If the night was cold, blazing fires
of lightwood crackled to receive them, and huge bowls of
spicy apple-toddy mellowed to enliven and cheer, later in
the evening tea would invariably be served, which no one
would be so unfashionable as to refuse. An old lady informer!
me that her grandmother had a medical friend, who would
always drink fourteen cups of tea.

*Buncombe Hall stood in Washington Co., and was the seat of a generous
hospitality. The mantel from its banquet hall is now in the Courthouse at
Asheville, the county seat of Biuicombe.

Under its inHnoiU'C eonversatioii ciiliNciicd. and wit sparlded.
After tea the ladies would g-ossip. and spin, and reel, while
the gentlemen would retire to diseuss the political issues of the
day, the policy of Lord North in rei^ard to the American colo-
nies, or the nnjnst tax which Avas al)out to lie placed ni)on tea,
or perhaps one wonki read aloud a recent speech hy i\lr. Pitt,
from an English newspaper, which he had been so fortunate to
obtain from some incoming- ship: All along this would be
punctuated by puffs of tobacco smoke from their long-stennned
pipes. They were as iu)tional aliout their tobacco as they
were about their tea. the method of preparing and using the
weed, was to cure it in the sun, cut it upon a maple log,
keep it in a lilly pot, which was a jar of white earth, and
to litiht the pipe with a splinter of juniper, or with a coal
of tire, in a pair of silver tongs made for that purpose.

The incidents connected with this particular tea-party are
es]»ecially interesting, as they come to us through the blu^
mist of a century. We can easily imagine how they sat around
in their low-necked, short-waisted gowns, and after they had
gossiped sufificiently, "it Avas resolved that those who couk'
spin, ought to be employed in that way. and those who could
not should reel. AVhen the time arrived for drinking tea,
Bohea, and Hyperion were provided, and every one of the
ladies judiciously rejected the poisonous Bohea, and unani-
mously and to their very great honor, preferred the balsamic
TIy])erion" which was nothing more than the dried leaves of
the raspberry vine, a drink, in the writer's opinion, more vik^
even than the much vaunted Yupon.

The picture of this patriotic party, incorrectly alluded to
hy Wheeler, has a strange and unique history, and I give it
as I have received it from the lady into whose possession the
picture has fallen. Tiieutenant William T. ]\luse, a United
States naval officer, who became conspicuous during the civil
war, and whose mother was a Miss Blount of Edenton. while
on a cruise in the ^fediterranean stopped at Vovt Mahon on
the island of Minorca, and accidentally saw hanging in a
barber's shop there a picture, representing the Edenton tt^a-
party of 1774. It was jjurchased, and brought by him to

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Edenton in 1880. I have this date from an old Bible beariuo;
the date of his return from the cruise. It was first placed ou
exhibition in the court-house, and the representation of the
characters was so distinct that many of the ladies were easily
recognized. It then found a resting place in the old tailor
shop of Joseph ^Manning, ancestor of Chief Justice Manning
of Louisiana, and finally in a cracked condition, was intrusted
to the care of a lady. During the confusion of refugeeing
incident to the civil war, it was by some misadventure broken
in three pieces.

It is a painting upon glass, twelve by fourteen inches. Upon
one of the pieces is the declaration set forth by the ladies, that
they would drink no tea, nor wear any stuffs of British manu-
facture. Upon another is the picture of the lady, who pre-
sided upon that occasion. She is seated at a table with a
pen in her hand, her maid Amelia standing behind her chair.
This maid lived for many years after this incident, and is
still remembered by some of the oldest citizens. By a singular
coincidence her granddaughter is still living upon the very
same lot where the tea-party was held. Upon the third frag-
ment of this picture in plain letters is written, "the Town of
Edenton." It is not known how the picture of this party was
obtained, or how it found its way to Port Mahon, or even
into the barber shop. The printer's name in the corner of the
picture is said to have been the same one, who printed the cel-
ebrated letters of Junius in the reign of George III.

Pictures have immortalized many events in' history, and it
is very probable that but for this one, the pleasing little inci-
dent would have been lost or forgotten. The defense of Cham-
pigny, by the "Garde Mobile," could never have been so
immortalized in prose or rhyme, as by the brush of Edouard
Detaille. The Confederate etchings by Dr. A. J. Volck, spoke
volumes and were so severe, that he was confined in Fort
McHenry prison, and the political cartoons by John Tanniei
of the London Puncli ])roduced a profound sensation. "Porte
Crayon;" (General Strother), in his interesting article on
Edenton and the surroundings, written for Harper's Magazine
in 1857, says, "It is to be regretted that Porte Crayon did

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not get a sight of tliis })aiiitiiig, that the world might have
heard more of it, and that the patriotism of the Ladies oi
Edenton miglit have been blazoned beside that of the men oi
Boston, who have fignred in so many l)ad woodcuts." None
of the names of the fifty-one ladies present at this party have
been preserved in history, but I have succeeded in rescuing
five of them from the local traditions. Mrs. Penelope Barker.
Avhose picture appears here, was the president of this party.
She was no advocate of celibacy, having been married first to
a ]Mr. Hodgson, then to a Mr. Craven, and lastly to i\Ir. Bar-
ker, w^hom she survived.

At a casual glance one might easily mistake her portrait
for that of Lady Washington. She was one of those lofty.
intrepid, high-born women peculiarly fitted by nature to lead .
fear formed no part of her composition. Her face bears the
expression of sternness without harshness, which a chea])
novelist would describe as hauteur. She Avas a brilliant con-
versationalist, and a society leader of her day.

!Mr. Thomas Barker,* her husband, was a gifted lawyer and
had for his pupil at one time the distinguished Governor,
Samuel Johnston. The attachment of Gov. Johnston for Mr.
Barker was so great, that in after years he had him and his
more illustrious wife interred in his private graveyard on his
beautiful estate Hayes, where a mossy slab marks their last
resting-place. Mr. Barker was detained for some time in
London during the Revolution, and while there his wife was
called upon to show some of that pluck, and courage she had
evinced at the tea-party. Being informed by a servant that
some British soldiers were taking her carriage horses from her
stables, she snatched her husband's sword from the wall, went
out and with a single blow severed the reins in the officer's
hands, and drove her horses back into the stables. The British
officer declared, that for such exhibition of bravery, she should
be allowed to keep her horses, and she was never afterwards
molested. IMrs. Barker's residence stood n])on the site now
occupied by the Woodard Hotel.

Mrs. Sarah Valentine was also one of the signers, her i)or-
trait is still in the possession of her descendants, and her

*A portrait of Thomas Barker by Sir .loslnia lieynolds. graces tlio Hayes
library. There is also a line portrait of iiiiii, probably by Sully, in the
Cupola house.

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house is still standing on lower end of Main St. Mrs. Eliza-
beth King was another signer, and it was at her house as
before mentioned, that the party was held. She was the wife
of Thomas King, a prominent merchant of the town. The
Miss Johnston referred to in the Iredell letter was undoubtedly
Miss Isabella, a sister of Governor Johnston. She was engaged
to Joseph Ilewes, a signer of the Declaration of Independence
from North Carolina and died just before her marriage was
consummated. Hewes, who was a man of great wealth and
refinement, soon followed her broken-hearted to the grave.

Mrs. Winifred Wiggins Hoskins, was another signer, and
lived in the country near Edenton, she was the wife of Richard
Hoskins, a fearless And zealous patriot: joining the American
army at the first sound to arms, he served with signal bravery
and courage until its close. During his absence, his wife man-
aged the entire farming interest with prudence and profit.
When they were married, they came down the Roanoke river
in an open boat, crossed the Albemarle sound, and landed at
Edenton. He then took his bride behind him on a pillion to
his farm called Paradise* by a bridle path, there being no
public roads in that direction then. Her wedding dress was
spun and woven from flax grown upon her father's farm in
Halifax county. So delicate and smooth was the warp, that
when she was preparing it for the loom, she passed the entire
chain through her gold ring. The art of household produc-
tion probably reached its greatest perfection about this time.
All connection with the mother country was severed, and the
colonists thrown upon their own resources. It was indispen-
sable to every lady's education that she should know how to
spin, sew, and weave. The spider-like fineness of their yarns,
the exquisite beauty of their needlework, and the lacy filminess
of the woven fabrics which their nimble fingers wrought, are
the envy and admiration of the present age. From the Na-
poleonic standpoint Mrs. Hoskins was the greatest of them all.
having given eight sons, and eight daughters to her country.
T extract the folloAving from the first volume (1877) of the
IMagazine of American History.

"The fine pasturage and great number of wild bees in that vieinity sug-
gested the name. It literally flowed with milk and honey.

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FROM THE OIL PAINTING PRESENTED BY DR. R. DILLAKl) TO I HE STATE OF
NORTH CAROLINA.

"Revohitionai y C'aiicatine. 1 send a description of a caricature tliat
may interest collectors. It is a mezzotint, fourteen by ten inches, entitled
A Society of Patriotic Ladies, at Edenton, in North Carolina. London.
Printed for R. Sayer & J. Bennett, No. 53 in Fleet Street, as the Act
directs 25 jMarch, 1775, Plate V. A group of fifteen figures are around or
near a table in a room. A female at the table with a gavel is evidently
a man, probably meant for Lord North. A lady, with pen in hand is
being kissed by a gentleman. Another lady, standing, is writing on a
large circular, which can be read, 'We the Ladys of Edenton do hereby
solemnly engage not to conform to that Pernicious Custom of Drinking
Tea, or that we the aforesaid Ladys will not laromote ye wear of any
manufacture from England, until such time that all Acts which tend to
enslave this our Native Coimtry shall be repealed.' The other figures are
not close around the table, and are emptying tea-caddies or looking on.
A child and dog are under the table. Compare Bancroft's L'nited States,
Vol. VII, p 282. J. C. B."

It will be remembered that Lord North, referred to in the
description, was prime minister of Engiand at that time, and
the Stamp Act. which included a great many articles, had been
relieved upon everything except tea; this made him especiall\'
odious to the ladies of the Colonies. The dissolute, and impe-
cunious King was cartooned at this time as a hopeless pauper,
thrusting both hands down to the bottom of his empty pockets,
in search of his last guinea. The taxation of the Colonies
became a necessity, which grew out of his extravagances. A
writer in alluding, to the activity and zeal of the women of
the Revolution says, "In the lives of those high-mettled dames
of the olden time, the daughters, wives, and mothers of men,
the earnest inquirer might find much to elucidate that befogged
question of the present day, what are the rights of women ? ' '

And now my task is ended, let history distill in her great
alembic whatever is valuable from these pages for posterity.

The Edenton Tea-Party is no longer a legend, or myth
in North Carolina history, and writers of history are beginning
to call attention to it as one of those important events lead-
ing up to the American Revolution. On the site of the house
where it was held has been placed a Revolutionary cannon sur-
mounted by an heroic bronze colonial tea-pot, upon which is
inscribed: "On this spot stood the residence of Mrs. Elizabeth
King, in which the Ladies of Edenton met Oct. 25th, 1774. to
protest against the tax on tea. ' '

The North Carolina Daughters of the Revolution also, labor-
ing assiduously through their publication, "The Booklet,"
have raised a handsome sum for the erection of an appropriate
memorial at some suitable place, not yet determined upon.

Since the last publication of this pamphlet, Mr. R. T. Haines
Halsey, a broker and litterateur of Wall Street, while pursu-
ing his historical investigations abroad, found in the British
Museum the old newspaper containing the list of the signers
of the "Edenton Tea-Party Resolution," and the reader is
respectfully referred to his interesting book published by the
Grolier Club, entitled "The Boston Port Bill as Pictured by a
Contemporary Boston Cartoonist."

"Beverly Hall," Edenton, N. C, April 20th, 1907.

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