Edenton and Chowan County: In the Middle of Something Great
You'll find that our history is more than buildings and a few key historic players.
Edenton's people, from the earliest days as the Colonial Capitol of the territory that became North Carolina (and parts of Tennessee) and Chowan (show-wan) County, have played critical roles in defining the values that built the state and the nation.
Our history is not just part of our past, it is present to this day. More than 22 historic properties that existed in those early history days still exist today, not as reproductions, but as the actual structure lovingly preserved by a community dedicated to what makes America great.
Edentonians are different. Many are direct descendants of old families that go directly back to recipients of land grants made by King George or various royalty of England. Some have only been here for three or four generations and have ties to the Outer Banks' fishing culture or to Virginia shipping, mercantile and furniture making.
First and second generation Edentonians may have come to the area around WW II to serve at the military base and guard against the U-2 Boats attacking the Atlantic shores. Newcomers are from all over the nation and the world. They bring numerous talents from academia, corporate and entrepreneurial experience as well as the sciences and healing professions. They all have in common a good spirit for getting along, volunteerism, engagement with neighbors and all of those things that make life in a small town superior.
As in the past, people in Edenton and the nation have core values that are easily traced back to Penelope Barker, James Iredell, James Iredell, Jr., Hugh Williamson, Samuel Johnston and Joseph Hewes.
Hugh Williamson attended the convention and signed the proposed US Constitution. As reported by wikipedia:
James Iredell of Edenton, at age 38, was the youngest member of the first US Supreme Court, appointed by George Washington. As wikipedia notes:
While working at the customs house, Iredell read law under Samuel Johnston (later governor of North Carolina), began the practice of law and was admitted to the bar in 1771. The grandson of a clergyman, he was a devout Anglican throughout his life and his writings display an interest in spirituality and metaphysics beyond a simple attachment to organized religion.
In 1773, Iredell married Johnston's sister Hannah and they had four children; only 3 survived.
One of his sons, James Iredell, Jr. served a short period as the Democratic-Republican Governor of North Carolina and then as a U. S. Senator where he was a Jacksonian, the early Democrats of the Congress.
Samuel Johnston, from Chowan County (Edenton) represented the state in the Continental Congress and later as the 6th Governor of North Carolina, where he president over both conventions called to ratify the U. S. Constitution. He then served as the state's first U.S. Senator. As wikipedia elaborates:
Joseph Hewes, a newcomer to Edenton signed the Declaration of Independence and as detailed in wikipedia:
Three citizens from what is now the state of North Carolina signed the Declaration of Independence: They were Joseph Hewes, William Hooper and John Penn. Three other North Carolinians signed the Constitution: William Blount, Richard Dobbs Spaight and Hugh Williamson. Hewes and Williamson were from Edenton.
North Carolina's Archives are in the process of digitizing early newspapers of the state, including those of Edenton. This link will get you to their home page.
Marriage, in what is now North Carolina, has been regulated since 1669. Almost 100 years before the US Constitution was adopted, the Lords Proprietors, governors appointed by the British Crown, set rules of marriages to help determine the legitimacy of claims of inheritance. As late as 1715, only marriages performed by ministers of the Church of England were considered valid.
North Carolina is the home of the nation's first cultivated wine grapes, the scuppernong. Discovered along the coast by Sir. Walter Raleigh's explorers, the mother vine was discovered and cultivated. In 1974 Edenton was home of Deerfield Vineyards Wine Cellars with a capacity of 13,000 gallons producing a muscadine derived wine. By 1980, 55,000 gallons were being produced. Today? None.
You'll find that our history is more than buildings and a few key historic players.
Edenton's people, from the earliest days as the Colonial Capitol of the territory that became North Carolina (and parts of Tennessee) and Chowan (show-wan) County, have played critical roles in defining the values that built the state and the nation.
Our history is not just part of our past, it is present to this day. More than 22 historic properties that existed in those early history days still exist today, not as reproductions, but as the actual structure lovingly preserved by a community dedicated to what makes America great.
Edentonians are different. Many are direct descendants of old families that go directly back to recipients of land grants made by King George or various royalty of England. Some have only been here for three or four generations and have ties to the Outer Banks' fishing culture or to Virginia shipping, mercantile and furniture making. First and second generation Edentonians may have come to the area around WW II to serve at the military base and guard against the U-2 Boats attacking the Atlantic shores. Newcomers are from all over the nation and the world. They bring numerous talents from academia, corporate and entrepreneurial experience as well as the sciences and healing professions. They all have in common a good spirit for getting along, volunteerism, engagement with neighbors and all of those things that make life in a small town superior.
As in the past, people in Edenton and the nation have core values that are easily traced back to Penelope Barker, James Iredell, James Iredell, Jr., Hugh Williamson, Samuel Johnston and Joseph Hewes.
Hugh Williamson attended the convention and signed the proposed US Constitution. As reported by wikipedia:
"Williamson was a scholar of international renown. His erudition had brought him into contact with some of the leading intellectuals of the Patriot cause and, in turn, with the ferment of political ideas that eventually found expression in the Constitution. During the American Revolution, Williamson served as physician and natural scientist to the American war effort. His experiences in that preeminent event of his generation transformed the genial scholar into an adroit politician and a determined leader in the campaign for effective national government. This leadership was evident not only at the Convention in Philadelphia but also, with telling effect, during the ratification debates in North Carolina.
Williamson's career demonstrates the rootlessness that characterized the lives of many Americans even in the eighteenth century. Born on the frontier, he lived for significant periods of his long life in three different regions of the country. This mobility undoubtedly contributed to the development of his nationalistic outlook, an outlook strengthened by wartime service with interstate military forces and reinforced by the interests of the planters and merchants that formed his North Carolina constituency. These experiences convinced him that only a strong central government could adequately protect and foster the political, economic, and intellectual future of the new nation."
Williamson's career demonstrates the rootlessness that characterized the lives of many Americans even in the eighteenth century. Born on the frontier, he lived for significant periods of his long life in three different regions of the country. This mobility undoubtedly contributed to the development of his nationalistic outlook, an outlook strengthened by wartime service with interstate military forces and reinforced by the interests of the planters and merchants that formed his North Carolina constituency. These experiences convinced him that only a strong central government could adequately protect and foster the political, economic, and intellectual future of the new nation."
James Iredell of Edenton, at age 38, was the youngest member of the first US Supreme Court, appointed by George Washington. As wikipedia notes:
"James Iredell was born in Lewes, England, the oldest of five children of a Bristol merchant. The failure of his father's business (and health) impelled James to immigrate to the Colonies in 1767 at the age of 17. Relatives assisted him in obtaining a position in the customs service as deputy collector, or comptroller, of the port of Edenton, North Carolina."
While working at the customs house, Iredell read law under Samuel Johnston (later governor of North Carolina), began the practice of law and was admitted to the bar in 1771. The grandson of a clergyman, he was a devout Anglican throughout his life and his writings display an interest in spirituality and metaphysics beyond a simple attachment to organized religion.
In 1773, Iredell married Johnston's sister Hannah and they had four children; only 3 survived.
One of his sons, James Iredell, Jr. served a short period as the Democratic-Republican Governor of North Carolina and then as a U. S. Senator where he was a Jacksonian, the early Democrats of the Congress.
Samuel Johnston, from Chowan County (Edenton) represented the state in the Continental Congress and later as the 6th Governor of North Carolina, where he president over both conventions called to ratify the U. S. Constitution. He then served as the state's first U.S. Senator. As wikipedia elaborates:
"North Carolina sent Johnston as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1780 and 1781. Johnston was elected the first President of the United States in Congress Assembled under the Articles of Confederation, but he declined the office."
Joseph Hewes, a newcomer to Edenton signed the Declaration of Independence and as detailed in wikipedia:
"Hewes was formally educated at Princeton and after college he became an apprentice of a merchant. After finishing his apprenticeship he earned himself a good name and a strong reputation, which would serve him well in becoming one of the most famous signers of the Declaration of Independence for North Carolina, along with William Hooper and John Penn. After a few years as a successful merchant, he became very wealthy. Hewes moved to Edenton, North Carolina at the age of 30 and won over the people of the state with his charm and honorable businesslike character. Hewes was elected to the North Carolina legislature in 1763, only three years after he moved to the state. Second to the delegates of Massachusetts, Hewes was a pioneer of independence who influenced his state to be more rebellious during the years leading up to the revolution. After being re-elected numerous times in the legislature, Hewes was now focused on a new and more ambitious job as a continental congressman."
"At the beginning of the year 1776, Hewes was appointed as the first ever Secretary of the Navy. John Adams often said that Hewes "laid the foundation, the cornerstone of the American Navy." Alongside General George Washington, Hewes became one of the greatest military achievers in American history. He was also involved with the secret committee of claims, which further promoted the independence of the colonies. Hewes was one of the primary reasons why North Carolina submitted to independence before any other colony. He was also one of the few reasons why the Declaration of Independence was ever signed.
Hewes was initially faced with an ill equipped navy of which to fight the British Navy. To remedy this, he provided his own extensive fleet of ships, outfitted them, and chose the most capable of men to captain these ships. John Paul Jones was one of these captains for whom Hewes was instrumental in providing a command."Fun Facts:
Three citizens from what is now the state of North Carolina signed the Declaration of Independence: They were Joseph Hewes, William Hooper and John Penn. Three other North Carolinians signed the Constitution: William Blount, Richard Dobbs Spaight and Hugh Williamson. Hewes and Williamson were from Edenton.
North Carolina's Archives are in the process of digitizing early newspapers of the state, including those of Edenton. This link will get you to their home page.
Marriage, in what is now North Carolina, has been regulated since 1669. Almost 100 years before the US Constitution was adopted, the Lords Proprietors, governors appointed by the British Crown, set rules of marriages to help determine the legitimacy of claims of inheritance. As late as 1715, only marriages performed by ministers of the Church of England were considered valid.
North Carolina is the home of the nation's first cultivated wine grapes, the scuppernong. Discovered along the coast by Sir. Walter Raleigh's explorers, the mother vine was discovered and cultivated. In 1974 Edenton was home of Deerfield Vineyards Wine Cellars with a capacity of 13,000 gallons producing a muscadine derived wine. By 1980, 55,000 gallons were being produced. Today? None.
