In Port Royal, Virginia, John Penn was born on May 17, 1741. He was the only child of Moses Penn and Catherine (Taylor) Penn. Unlike a number of the signers of the Declaration, he did not grow up on a vast plantation. A small farm in Caroline County was his boyhood home, surrounded by a world of woods, streams, and caves. His father was not a strong proponent of education. Hence, young John was only educated in a common school for two years.

John Penn’s lack of education changed dramatically in 1759. Tragically, his father passed away suddenly. This shifted his focus radically as he now was the man responsible for keeping the farm and caring for his mother. His uncle, Edmund Pendleton, saw to it that he received the information and knowledge necessary. In the uncle’s library, lauded by Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, Mr. Penn found a deep reserve of wisdom concerning history, religion, and philosophy. In just three years, he was sufficiently educated, passed the bar exam, and began practicing law in Virginia.

In early 1774, two incidents likely caused John Penn to move to North Carolina and join relatives who had moved there over the past few years. He had become outspoken against the crown’s taxation and imposition of duties without representation. He also vocally supported breaking away from England. The colonial authorities arrested him and brought charges of disrespect and possible treasonous comments about King George III. The other reason for relocating may have been the increased control exercised by colonial officials. Upon arriving in Granville County, he found the people resented colonial leadership, which had a dim view of the colonists’ intelligence and denied them opportunities in local governance.  

It did not take long for John Penn to be identified as a leader and his legal practice prospered in a brief amount of time. Within a few months of moving to Granville, he was selected by his peers a delegate to the First Continental Congress and to the Provincial Congress. The establishment in Granville County and the surrounding area were infuriated. They considered him a carpetbagger.

In the 18th century, traveling to Philadelphia to participate in the Continental Congress was a journey of danger and difficulty. John Penn and his fellow delegates put themselves at great risk to gather and determine the future direction of the colonies. For Mr. Penn, he had to travel on horseback almost 400 miles through dense woods using Indian trails more often than not. This placed him in danger of possible attack by Indians or highwaymen. 

From the start, John Penn made his position known to his colleagues: “My first wish is for America to be free.” He worked tirelessly not only on ensuring Richard Henry Lee’s resolution for independence was approved, but also regarding financial matters, supply procurement for the military and its armory, and shipping logistics. He was also involved in many committee meetings and the general sessions for almost six years. For his delegatory work, Mr. Penn received no salary, only an infrequent stipend for travel expenditures.

In 1780, the British invaded South Carolina and captured it. The colonists of North Carolina expected invasion sometime in the late summer. On August 23, 1780, North Carolina’s General Assembly appointed John Penn and two other men to prepare the colony for invasion. Mr. Penn did much of the work due to the ineptitude of his committee colleagues. He set up reliable lines of communication with military leadership. He also engaged in recruiting, secured military funding, obtained supplies, arranged transportation, and more.

John Penn’s steadfast fight for freedom left him in weakened health. He returned home to his wife in Stovall after six profitable years, but six years of constant stress and treacherous travel. He finished his life practicing law. He died on September 14, 1788. He was 47 years of age.