The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-06-29
(CharlOtta News

it's history has been so much neg
lected, that it is in danger of arous-
ing skeptical unbelief when even the
plain facts are stated.
Edenton, which lies on that cres-
cent of calm water, Edenton Bay, is
one of the most historic, as it is one
of the most beautiful of North Caro-
lima towns. Its settlement dates far
back almost to the time of the Lords
Proprietors who ruled over Albe-
marie Plantations. 1t was settled by
people of English blood, cavaliers,
some of whom came direct from the
mother country and others moved
over the line from the colony Of Vir-
ginia. From the very time of it's set
tlement there was local aristocracv
that kept up the social life they had
enjoyed in England and in Virginia,
and the town. was almost from it's
inception noted for its culture and
its society.
1t was once the seat of colonial
government, and the place, after it
grew into a town, was named for one
Of the most able and esteemed of
Colonial Governors, Gov. Eden.
The Court Ground that stretches
from the doors of the old court house
,, to the waters Of the bay, is beauti-
full green lawn on which the good
people of the place have enjoyed
gathering together from the early
part of the eighteenth century.
Fronting this lawn is the old brick
court house where courts have been
held from time to time since 1925 (if
the date is remembered correctly.
This house was built of brick brought
from England, and to-day compares
favorably with the court houses of
most countries. Many of the most
noted barristers have plead at its
| bar, and the States ablest Judges
have presided over its courts. The
records of the county 90 far back into
the colonial period, and are of great
interest to the searcher after histori-
cal material.
The old custom house, looking as
if the tax collector of King George
were still in charge of its affairs,
stands to one side of this lawn.
Until few years ago the "Tea
Party House" stood on the opposite
side of this lawn from the custom
house, but, if am not mistaken, it
was destroyed by fire some years ago.
When the duty was levied on i'm
ports of tea all the ladies Of Edenton
were called together by Mrs. Sarah
Baker, wife of the Crowns Attorney
for the colony, and they resolved that
not a pound of tea on which duty had
to be paid should ever be brought
into that part of the colony. This
was long before the Boston citizens
disguised themselves as Indians and
threw over the cargo of the unfortu-
nate tea merchants in the harbor of
that New England port. The ladies
of Edenton held to their resolve and
did without their cup of tea until the
duty was taken off. It is claimed
that not pound of tea on which duty
had to be paid was ever landed at the
port of Edenton. This Tea Party
is as we'll authenticated as any other
fact in our history. An English
artist painted picture of the gather
ing at the time, and duplicate OF
this old-time painting has been Sc
cured and now hangs in the State
Library at Raleigh.
AS one walks along the streets OF
the town he sees on every hand evi-
dences of its historic past. A little
tablet set in the corner of stone
tells that this was .once the business
site of Joseph Hewe, one of the sign
~
dependence.
The old !"Cupola House. is one OF
the points of interest shown the
visitor. This was before the Revolu
tion the residence of the Honorable
Mr.. Barker, who presided over the
Edenton tea party. The building is
preserved in all it's colonial dignity
When you walk into the old-fashion.
ed garden with its thick evergreens,
its flowers and its hedges, you seen
to have stepped into typical resi-
dence of the 18th century gentle
folk. The place is occupied by the
lineal descendants of the colonia
owners, and is kept with religious
! care. The handsome old portrait
that adorn the walls, the spinet te
whose music the stately ladies ane
gentlemen Of past age danced th'
minuet, the handsome old mahogan,
furniture and the unique silver, al
are preserved, giving the entire resi-
dence and grounds the air of forme
century. Almost every room in thu
house and every heirloom has it
bit of history; and the owners take
t pride in keeping sacredly these relic
. of their gentle forefathers.
: But Edenton's history cannot b
r told in newspaper column or re
, called in hasty quarter of an hour
JOHN WILDER JENKINS.
Ramon Beats Them All.
/ Ao.,=xz P;s..oll 4