Elizabeth Ashbridge
Elizabeth Ashbridge was born in England in 1713 and is primarily known through her autobiography, which chronicles her tumultuous life and spiritual journey. Raised in an Anglican family, she eloped at the age of fourteen, leading to a lifelong estrangement from her parents, particularly her strict father. After becoming a widow shortly after her marriage, Elizabeth moved to Ireland and later immigrated to the United States as an indentured servant in 1732. Her experiences with a cruel master prompted her to seek genuine religious enlightenment, ultimately leading her to the Quaker faith.
Despite initial hesitations about the role of women in Quakerism, Elizabeth embraced the religion, which significantly shaped her identity and values. Her marriage to Sullivan brought challenges, including mental and physical abuse, yet she remained dedicated to her spiritual beliefs. Following Sullivan's death, she found happiness in her second marriage to Aaron Ashbridge, also a Quaker. Elizabeth Ashbridge's life story reflects the complexities of marriage and faith in Colonial America, and she remained a devoted member of the Quaker community until her death in 1755. Her writings provide insight into the religious and social dynamics of her time, making her a significant figure in early American history.
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Elizabeth Ashbridge
- Born: 1713
- Birthplace: Manchester, Lancashire, England
- Died: May 16, 1755
- Place of death: Kilnock, County Carlow, Ireland
Biography
Elizabeth Ashbridge was born in England in 1713 to Anglican parents. Little is known about her life, other than what she recorded in a short autobiography. She was apparently a rebellious child who eloped at the age of fourteen. This act resulted in a permanent estrangement from her parents, especially her authoritarian father. Just months after her marriage, she became a widow. Elizabeth then traveled to Ireland where she spent several years. It was at this time that she began to seek religious enlightenment.
Hoping to find a new life, she immigrated to the United States as an indentured servant, arriving in New York in July 1732. Her master was a cruel man, whom Elizabeth had mistakenly thought was religious. She began to sense that much of what was considered religious piety was instead hypocrisy. After some time, she was able to buy her freedom and married a teacher named Sullivan. Concerned that women were not allowed to participate in the Anglican ministry, she turned to other religions for help in her search for spiritual truth.
After visiting Quaker relatives in Pennsylvania, she joined the religion, in spite of her misgivings about the Society of Friends’ prohibition against the preaching of women. After her conversion, Elizabeth became a serious and somber woman, which angered her new husband. He removed her from her relatives’ home, hoping that she would return to her former, more lively self without their influence. Elizabeth endured mental abuse and threats of physical violence from her husband until his death, but she remained faithful to the Quaker religion. After Sullivan’s death, Elizabeth returned to Pennsylvania, and eventually married Aaron Ashbridge, who was also a Quaker. Her marriage to Ashbridge was a happy one, and she found the marital and spiritual harmony that she had sought for most of her life. Her autobiographical account of her life is notable for its religious sensibility, and its portrayal of marriage in Colonial America. Elizabeth Ashbridge remained a member of the Quaker faith until her death in 1755.