Yesterday's Architect · 1817–1883
Elizabeth A. Gloucester
Born free in Richmond and raised in Philadelphia, she moved from secondhand clothing and furniture stores into real estate, running 15 or more boarding houses in New York and Brooklyn, with Brooklyn's Remsen House as the flagship. She funded Siloam Presbyterian Church and gave money to John Brown, and at her 1883 death was described as the wealthiest Black woman in America.
Related architects
- Stephen Smith and William Whipper
Also connected to Frederick Douglass
- Isaiah T. Montgomery
Also connected to Frederick Douglass
- Cyrus Bustill
Linked through John Brown
- Wilson Ruffin Abbott
Same place: Richmond, Virginia
- Charity “Duchess” Quamino
Same theme: Financing freedom
- Clara Brown
Same theme: Financing freedom
- Mary Ellen Pleasant
Same theme: Financing freedom
- Sally Seymour
Same theme: Food and hospitality
- Biddy Mason
Same theme: Real estate and land
- Edith Cumbo
Same theme: Real estate and land
- Henry Boyd
Same theme: Financing freedom
- Jane Johnson Endsley
Same theme: Real estate and land
- Jeremiah G. Hamilton
Same theme: Real estate and land
People
- husband · 1838James GloucesterBEJ profile
- hostedFrederick Douglassstayed at the Remsen HouseBEJ profile
- hostedHarriet Beecher Stoweheld or attended meetings at the Remsen HouseBEJ profile
- hostedHenry Highland Garnetthosted at the Remsen HouseBEJ profile
- hostedHenry Ward Beecherheld or attended meetings at the Remsen HouseBEJ profile
- hostedJohn Brownstayed a week at the Gloucester homeBEJ profile
- principal benefactor ofJohn Browngave $25; in 1857 pledged to raise money and supportBEJ profile
- hosted byJohn Gloucester Sr.raised her from age sixBEJ profile
Institutions and enterprises
- foundedRemsen Housebought former Hamilton Club building, converted to boarding houseBEJ profile
- helped fundSiloam Presbyterian Churchfunded construction of the church buildingBEJ profile
Places
- born in · 1817Richmond, VirginiaBEJ profile
- held property in · 1870Brooklynabout $150,000 in Brooklyn real estateBEJ profile
- died in · 1883Brooklynat the Remsen HouseBEJ profile
- buried atGreen-Wood CemeteryBEJ profile
- worked inManhattanclothing and furniture storesBEJ profile
- worked inPhiladelphiasecondhand clothing storeBEJ profile
Events
- helped fundHarpers Ferry raidhelped fund itBEJ profile
Themes
Only relationships stated in a BEJ profile or a cited record are shown, each with its source.