Edward Jenner Warren House (c. 1850) in Washington, NC stands as a notable example of Greek Revival architecture featuring elements such as a one-bay porch, center hall plan, simple Greek Revival motifs, two-panel doors, ceiling roundels, and original hardware.
Edward Jenner Warren – Life & Career
Born in Vermont into a prominent Puritan-descended family.
Graduated from Dartmouth (1847), moved to Washington, NC, studied law while teaching, and was admitted to the bar in 1848
Became a leading lawyer—famously survived a murder attempt in 1853—and co-founded the Pamlico Bank in 1855.
Held key roles in NC politics: delegate to the Secession Convention (1861–62), three terms in the state Senate (1862, 1864, 1870), presided over the impeachment trial of Governor Holden (1871–72), and served as a Superior Court judge (1865–68) .
Suffered from crippling rheumatism late in life, using a wheelchair in his final years, and died in Washington at age 50.
Summary of Warren’s Political Stance on Secession
Opposed Immediate Secession Before Lincoln's Inauguration:
Warren was initially a strong Unionist.
He believed North Carolina should not secede hastily or act out of impulse.
He warned against being swept up in the “passions of the hour” and advocated for deliberation and moderation.
Shifted Position After Fort Sumter and Lincoln’s Call for Troops:
Once President Lincoln called for troops following the attack on Fort Sumter (April 1861), Warren shifted his position.
He viewed the federal action as coercive and unconstitutional, saying it left North Carolina with no honorable alternative but secession.
Supported Secession as a Matter of Honor and Sovereignty:
He argued that state sovereignty must be defended, and that submission to federal demands would be a betrayal of constitutional principles.
In his view, Lincoln’s use of military force against seceded states changed the moral and legal equation, making peaceful Union preservation impossible.
Framed Secession as a Reluctant but Justified Response:
Warren emphasized that he did not favor secession as a first choice—it was, for him, a response to Northern aggression.
He presented secession not as rebellion, but as a constitutional right of the states, born out of necessity.
Family
💍 Wife: Deborah Virginia Bonner (1829–1910)
Married in 1849, daughter of Colonel Richard H. Bonner and descendant of early Methodist leadership in NC.
They corresponded frequently—letters in archival collections cover health, social affairs, and wartime challenges.
👶 Children
Lucy Wheelock Warren (1850–1937): Educated at Saint Mary’s School, Raleigh (1865–67). Married William Rodman Myers in 1872. She later wrote memoirs of antebellum Washington.
Charles Frederick Warren (1852–1904): Studied law at Washington College, later became the second president of the NC Bar Association
