Penelope Barker

Penelope Padgett Hodgson Craven Barker, commonly known as Penelope Barker (June 17, 1728 – 1796), was a Colonial American activist who, in the lead-up to the American Revolution, organized a boycott of British goods in 1774 orchestrated by a group of women known as the Edenton Tea Party. It was the "first recorded women's political demonstration in America". one of three daughters to Samuel Padgett, a physician, and Elizabeth Blount. Her sisters were Sarah and Elizabeth. Padgett was the granddaughter of Anne Willis and James Blount, a prominent planter of Chowan County. He left the property, along with the rest of his estate to her upon his death. Mitchell says he died in 1755 and then eleven pages later says he died in 1756. she and the children inherited his estate The NCPedia states that Thomas was away from 1761 to 1778, Years of death are also 1787, 1788, and 1789

Edenton Tea Party

Plaque commemorating the Edenton Tea Party, October 25, 1774. Located inside the North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh, North Carolina. Barker was known as a patriot of the Revolution and ten months after the famous Boston Tea Party, she organized a Tea Party of her own. Barker wrote a statement proposing a boycott of British goods, like cloth and tea. Followed by 50 other women, the Edenton Tea Party was created.

Edenton Tea Pot. Sculpted in 1905, this teapot commemorates the 1774 Edenton Tea Party. The women were praised as patriots by the Colonial American press. a group of patriots gathered the tea and sold it to other patriots to fund the rebellion against the British. They had also ousted royal officials and agents at the time. The Daughters of Liberty, like the Sons of Liberty, boycotted British goods.

In 1908, a plaque was dedicated by the Daughters of the American Revolution of North Carolina and placed in the state Capitol Building in Raleigh, North Carolina. It honored her leadership at the Edenton Tea Party. In 1940, a marker was placed at West Queen Street (US 17 Business) in Edenton by the North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program. It states, "Women in this town led by Penelope Barker in 1774 resolved to boycott British imports. Early and influential activism by women."