Elizabeth Denison Forth

Elizabeth Denison Forth. Rising from Enslavement, Sharing Her Gifts. , Elizabeth is recognized as the first African American to purchase land in Oakland County., Born around 1786 to an enslaved family in what would later become Macomb County, she was nicknamed "Lisette." At age twenty-one, she escaped to Canada and later returned to the Michigan Territory as a free woman. Even in freedom, Lisette was confined to domestic work, but she served the households of prominent people and saved the wages from her work. In 1825 she purchased the land in Oakland County, later investing in property in other places and in various businesses. Elizabeth was a woman of exceptional dignity, conviction, and compassion. Although born enslaved, she never let it define her. When she died in 1866, her will provided funds to build a chapel "to offer the poor man and the stranger wine and milk without price and without cost.", [Captions:] , Judge Solomon Sibley, 1769-1846, and his wife Sarah Sproat Sibley, 1782-1851. Lisette was employed by the Sibleys. Judge Sibley arranged the sale of Pontiac land to her in 1825. He had served as Detroit's first mayor in 1806, and the Sibleys helped oversee the settlement of Pontiac in 1818., A portion of the 1825 deed of sale of Pontiac property to Elizabeth Denison. Here is written: "…In consideration of the sum of two hundred and twenty-six dollars to (Stephen Mack) in hand paid by Elizabeth Denison, a woman of color, assignee of Solomon Sibley…", April 1992 dedication of historic marker at Oak Hill Cemetery honoring Elizabeth Denison Forth. The marker was paid for by funds gathered by Cora Bradshaw, at left. She was a teacher and supporter of many Pontiac historical projects., On this 1896 Pontiac property map, highlighted areas indicate the 48 % acres bought by Elizabeth Denison in 1825 for $226.00. Eleven years later she sold the property for $950.00., The "Lisette Denison doors" at historic Saint James Chapel on Grosse Ile. When Elizabeth died in 1866, her will set aside funds for the construction of a chapel. In her will are the words: "Having long felt the inadequacy of the provisions made for the poor in our houses of worship…where the rich and the poor should meet together…", Lisette spent her later years working for the Biddle family in Wyandotte and Grosse Ile. John Biddle was mayor of Detroit and founder of Wyandotte, Michigan., County Culture Tidbit , The 1820 census indicates nine Blacks living in Oakland County, including seven members of the John Wilson household.