Elizabeth Cook Rilley was an African American Bostonian abolitionist who assisted in the escape of fugitive slave Shadrach Minkins. She was a member of the committee that raised the initial funds for William Lloyd Garrison’s well-known anti-slavery publication, The Liberator. She was born in 1791 in Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States of America. She grew up in Boston and was married twice, first to a man named Jackson and then to William Riley, who owned an apparel store at 22 Brattle Street. Please keep reading to learn more about Elisabeth Rilley, as this blog post contains information about his wiki, age, net worth, bio, social media platforms, family, and more.
Elizabeth Rilley’s Net Worth
How rich was Elisabeth Rilley before she passed away? Elisabeth Rilley was an African American abolitionist from Boston who helped fugitive slave Shadrach Minkins escape. She was a group member that raised the initial finances for The Liberator, William Lloyd Garrison’s well-known anti-slavery periodical. As of this writing, the net worth of Elizabeth is unknown since there is no information about her worth on the internet.
Net Worth | Unknown |
Salary | Unknown |
Source of Wealth | Unknown |
Profession | Actress and Abolitionist |
Early Life
Elizabeth Cook Rilley was born in 1791 in Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States of America, of American nationality and mixed descent. Due to her unknown birthday, her zodiac sign is unknown. Elisabeth’s parents’ names are currently unknown since nothing is known about her family or educational background.
Full Name | Elizabeth Cook Rilley |
Gender | Female |
Age (death age) | 63 years old |
Date of Birth | 1793 |
Place of Birth | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
Nationality | American |
Zodiac Sign | Unknown |
Ethnicity | White |
High School | Unknown |
University | Unknown |
Credentials | Unknown |
Career (Activism)
Despite her inability to write, Riley was an active member of the abolitionist community that surrounded The Liberator, belonging to the African-American Female Intelligence Society and the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society. Riley was accused of donating $2000 of her husband’s money to a local church, leaving their family penniless and hungry. Mrs. Riley and her husband then contradicted this claim in the media, stating that they had only given moderately and that, while they occasionally faced financial difficulties, they were always able to get by. Mr. Riley bequeathed extra monies to the church’s building fund upon his death.
Riley helped fugitive slave Shadrach Minkins escape by hiding him in the attic of her house on 70 Southac Street until he could be safely removed from Boston. As a result, Minkins was able to flee to Canada successfully. Mr. Riley purchased this property in 1835, along with the adjacent house at 68 Southac, in the now-historic Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston, the location of the Massachusetts State property and famous for its position as a hub of African-American and abolitionist activity.
These structures were very close to the famous Lewis and Harriet Hayden House, which is located at 66 Southac (the street has since been renamed Phillips) and was a regular haven utilized nearly continuously by the Underground Railroad.No. 68 was occupied by a barber called Thomas Cole, another ardent member of the abolitionist society who contributed significantly to the cause.
Personal Life
Elizabeth Cook Riley was married to William Riley, the CEO of a clothing store at 22 Brattle Street, which he had been operating since 1827. The couple exchanged marriage vows at a private ceremony attended by family and friends. Elisabeth had two daughters named Sarah and Ann Jackson from her previous marriage. But with William, they gave birth to three more children named William Jr., George, and Eliza Riley. Unfortunately, Elisabeth’s husband, William Riley, died in 1849, but he gave her the majority share of his estate.
Spouse | William Riley |
Children | William Jr., George, Sarah, Ann Jackson, and Eliza Riley |
Parents | N/A |
Siblings | N/A |
Height | N/A |
Weight | N/A |
Later Life and Death
Riley continued to reside in the same residence she had shared with her spouse after his passing. She remained active in the local community, hosting a celebration for the children of an African-American Sunday school on Belknap Street at one point. Riley passed away in 1855 at age 63. According to her obituary, she tended to the sick and needy for “many years,” presumably spending most of her later years as a nurse.
Frequently Ask Questions
Where was Elisabeth Rilley born?
Elisabeth was born in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
What was the name of Elisabeth Rilley’s husband?
William Riley was her husband.
At what age did Elisabeth Rilley die?
Elisabeth Rilley died at age 63 years old.
What was Elisabeth Rilley’s real name?
Elisabeth Cook Rilley