A RICH NEGRESS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1123, 9 November 1883, Page 3

A RICH NEGRESS.

The American papers record the death of Mrs Elizabeth A. Olonoester, who is believed to have been the wealthiest negress in the United States. The life of one who was born a slave and died a free woman in the possession of property popularly valued at £IOO,OOO must-be acknowledged to be out of the ordinary course. It is satisfac toiy to know that her experiences in the house of servitude were of a pleasanter nature than fell to the lot of Frederick Douglas or Josiah Henson. Her mother was the cook for a family resident in Richmond, and her Virginian owaer--a Mr Parkhiii—emancipated both her mother and h-r children. Mr Paikhill also arranged that Elizabeth should be placed under thecare of the Rev. Mr Gloucester, of Philadelphia, who was the first negro ever ad mitted as a clergyman of the Presbyterian Church. When be died his ten children in search of a living -scattered in the various directions. One of them went to the college founded by Gerrit Smith, and a renewal, after soma, years’ absence, of his acquaintance with his playfellow Elizabeth led to their marriage. She in the meantime had supported herself as a servant. It was her good fortune to have as mistress a shrewd hut kindly member of the Society of Friends. “ What does thee do with thy money, daughter ?” said the Quakeress to the young girl after a few months. “I spend it,” was the reply. “ Well, thee ought to save it. I would advise thee to get a bank-book and put thy money in the bank.” The girl was then earning 10s a week, but she put a part of that into the bank every month. She always kept the bank-book, and at her death there was a balance to her credit still in the same bank. She marri.-d in 1?53, and her husband, the Rev. J. N. Gloucester, at er some years’ work as a teacher, was ordained as a Congregational minister. His wife bad male judicious purchases of hj -u.se property and taud in New Voik, and she lound the money for the building of Shiloh Church, B o-iklyn- ; of which’ .he • was the first minister. In th« days of her prosperity she did not forget her own peop’e She was a st ady friend of John Brown, of Harper’s Ferry, to whom she gave ho hj money and sympathy. Three of her daughters were g a-lustes of the Obetlin College, which was always a centre of Imp'd for the enslave I tace. The feature of the American negro is still a matter of grave importance, ami at this moment the story of the life of Elizabeth Gloucester will not be lead without interest; ■■ ■