Penelope Barker

Early Life and Family

Penelope Barker was born on June 17, 1728 in Edenton North Carolina. She was one of three daughters to Samuel Padgett a physician, and Elizabeth Blount. Penelope outlived many of her spouses and family members. For example, her father and sister Elizabeth died consecutively leaving her to raise Elizabeth's children. At the young age of 17 Penelope married her deceased sister's husband John Hodgson in 1745. Only two years later John dealving her deepls and her sister's three children. In 1751 Penelope remarried to the wealthy James Craven who was a planter and farmer. When he died in 1755 she inherited all of his estate and became the richest woman in the Province of North Carolina. For the third and final time Penelope married Thomas Barker who was an attorney in Edenton, and 16 years older than her. They had three children who all died before their first birthdays. Mr. Barker sailed to England many times as a representative of North Carolina. In 1933 he journeyed there and was unable to return for many years due to the British blockade of American ships. While her husband was unable to return home from London Penelope managed their estates and home. After Thomas Barker returned in 1778, he and his wife built a home in 1782, which is known today as the Barker House. Penelope outlived her husband by seven years, dying in 1796. She and her husband are buried alongside each other in the Johnston family graveyard at Hayes Plantation, near Edenton.

Women in the American Revolution

In the Colonies during the time of the American Revolution women were encouraged to follow the non-importation act passed by Congress in 1744. Women were the main consumers of British tea’s and textiles and to support the rebellion they boycotted all British imports, and even formed groups to encourage other women to do so.They signed resolutions like the Edenton Tea Party and created their own teas from mulberry leaves, lavender, and locally grown herb.

Involvement and Tea Party

Penelope was known as a patriot of the Revolution, on October 25, 1774, ten months after the famous Boston Tea Party, Barker organized a Tea Party of her own. Penelope wrote a statement proposing a boycott on British goods. Followed by 50 other women the Edenton Tea Party was created . On October 25, 1774 Penelope and her supporters met at the house of Elizabeth King to sign the Edenton Tea Party resolution. In this resolution, it stated “We, the aforesaid Lady’s will not promote ye wear of any manufacturer from England until such time that all acts which tend to enslave our Native country shall be repealed". This is one of the first ever recorded women’s political demonstrations in the Americas.

Backlash

Penelope sent this petition to London which caused much controversy about the women involved. While it was condoned in the colonial press, the women were mocked in the London papers. A political cartoon was published and released in London. The cartoon portrayed the women as bad mothers with loose morals, and received misogynist ridicule. Men in London stated that these women were stepping out of their expected gender roles.