Edenton was the first capital of colonial North Carolina and home to such notables as James Iredell, Associate Justice of the first U. S. Supreme Court, appointed by President George Washington; Joseph Hewes, signer of the Declaration of Independence; Dr. Hugh Williamson, signer of the U. S. Constitution; James Wilson, signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, Samuel Johnston, Governor and U. S. Senator and Penelope Barker, organizer of the Edenton Tea Party.
During the lead up to the American Revolution, two events stand out as notable for the premise that Americans will not be taxed for the benefit of others; the Boston and Edenton Tea Parties. A free people demand individual liberty not possible when bureacrats take what you earn. The Edenton Tea Party is an important symbol for two additional reasons. It was the first activist role for women in the American colonies. It was the first action where patriots publicly identified themselves, by signing a resolution that could have led to retaliation by the King's forces during this time of absolute monarchy. Not until the time of the Declaration of Independence, 1776, did other Americans publicly rebuke the King.
1773 - Boston Tea Party