Zilpha Elaw facts for kids

Zilpha Elaw (born around 1790 – died 1873) was an African-American preacher. She also wrote her life story. Many people say she was "one of the first outspoken Black women in the United States." She used ideas from the Bible to share her strong beliefs.

Early Life and Calling

Zilpha Elaw was born in Pennsylvania around 1790. She was born free, not enslaved. She grew up in Philadelphia in a family that was very religious. When she was about 12, her mother passed away. Zilpha then went to live with a Quaker family, Pierson and Rebecca Mitchell. Her father passed away two years later.

In 1808, Zilpha had a special vision of Jesus. After this, she joined a Methodist group. In 1811, she married Joseph Elaw and they moved to Burlington, New Jersey. They had a daughter named Rebecca in 1812.

Becoming a Preacher

In 1817, Zilpha went to a week-long revival meeting. During this time, she fell into a deep trance. When she woke up, she gave her very first public speech. She became ill in 1819 and was sick for two years. During this time, she said she had a visit from an angel.

After her husband Joseph passed away in 1823, Zilpha opened a school. It was a school for African-American children in Burlington. But she felt more and more that she was called to be a minister.

Traveling and Preaching

In 1825, Zilpha left her school. She began a journey to preach to enslaved people in Maryland and Virginia. She became a traveling preacher, sharing her message wherever she went. From 1827 to 1840, she traveled all over the United States. She was known to be in Nantucket in 1832.

Preaching in England

Zilpha Elaw moved to England in the summer of 1840 to continue her preaching. Records show she was living in Yorkshire in 1841. Her job was listed as an "Itinerant Preacher," meaning she traveled to preach.

In 1846, she wrote a book about her life. It was called Memoirs of the Life, Religious Experience, and Ministerial Travels and Labours of Mrs. Zilpha Elaw, an American Female of Colour. In her book, she said she gave over 1,000 sermons in Great Britain.

Zilpha often faced challenges from the British clergy (church leaders). They believed it was not proper for a woman to preach. Despite this, she continued her work.

Later Life

Records show that Zilpha Elaw married Ralph Bressey Shum in London in 1850. She was listed as a widow at that time. She continued to live and preach in London into the 1860s.

It is not clear if she ever returned to the United States. Zilpha Shum passed away on August 25, 1873, at the age of 80. She was buried at Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park in London.