Elizabeth Denison, the daughter of slave parents,
was born into slavery in 1786. She was born on the William Tucker
farm along the Huron River of St. Clair, now called the Clinton
River. In a legal battle, Denison vs. Tucker, Lisette failed to
obtain freedom through the Supreme Court of Michigan Territory.
She did achieve freedom later by establishing residence in Canada,
returning to Michigan around 1815. For the next period of time,
she was employed by several prominent families in Detroit. It is
interesting to note that even after she received her freedom, she
chose to continue to do housework for others.
In 1827, she was married to Scipio Forth. The marriage is entered
on the records of St. Paul’s Protestant Episcopal Church in
Detroit. Seemingly, Lisette became a widow within three years after
the marriage.
In 1831, she was employed by Detroit Mayor John Biddle and spent
the next 30 years working for the family. John Biddle bought an
estate downriver which he named Wyandotte. Wyandotte is where Lisette
spent most of her time with the Biddles until 1849 when the Biddles
returned to Philadelphia. Once they were settled, they sent for
Lisette to join them in Philadelphia. Later, while in France, Mrs.
Biddle requested that Lisette join the Biddle’s in Paris.
This must have been an extraordinary experience for Lisette. Lisette
returned to Grosse Ile, Michigan in 1856 where she joined William
Biddle, eldest son of John, and cared for his two oldest children
for nearly three years.
Lisette and Mrs. John Biddle shared their Episcopal faith. Lisette
was motivated by a donation to Mariner’s Church and wished
to do the same in the downriver area. She made her wishes known
to William Biddle. Since his mother also wished to have a chapel
built, William consulted with brother James to determine how this
could be done. James contributed some land. William had money from
his mother and $3,000 from Lisette to build the chapel. It is believed
he contributed some of his own money also. The chapel was named
St. James Episcopal Church. It is positioned on East River Road,
facing Canada, on Grosse Ile. The area is surrounded by many expensive
homes.
Neither of the two women was alive when the chapel was completed.
They never saw it. Mrs. Eliza Biddle died in Philadelphia on November
3, 1865. She was buried in the Biddle Family Plot at Elmwood Cemetery
on November 8, 1865. Nine months later on August 7, 1866, Lisette
died and was buried in Stranger’s Ground also at Elmwood Cemetery.
