Rachel Eliza Elliott Pressly (1848-1929)

Rachel Eliza Elliott Pressly

Birth

16 Dec 1848

Winnsboro, Fairfield County, South Carolina, USA

Death

18 Jan 1929 (aged 80)

Winnsboro, Fairfield County, South Carolina, USA

Burial

Bethel ARP Church Cemetery

Winnsboro, Fairfield County, South Carolina, USA Show Map

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Rachel Eliza Elliott, a daughter of Henry Laurens Elliott and the former Miss Mary Milliken McMaster, was born December 16th 1848 near Winnsboro in Fairfield County, South Carolina. Her parents were descendants of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians; who had hepled organize several A.R.P. churches in the area. Her early education was at the Female Seminary in Winnsboro. She later studied under Rev. Lord, a noted theologian from New Orleans.

Rachel Eliza Elliott was twice married; first on July 9th 1868 to Burrell Cockrell Rosborough; who died five years later. They had the following known children:
Mary Elliott (1869-1880)
Jennie Bell (1872-1948)

In 1877, Rachel entered Due West Female Institute to study music; where she met Rev. Neill E. Pressly, a divinity student. They were married on November 5th 1878 and had the following known children:
Bonner Grier (1880-1947)
John Ebenezer (1882-1932)
Henry Elliott (1885-1974)
Lucille Echavaria (1904-2000)

When Rev. Pressly graduated from Erskine Theologian Seminary; he asked to go to Egypt as the churches second missionary. But instead on August 19th 1878, the church established an Independent Mission in Mexico, and commissioned Neill and Rachel to Mexico as the first missionaries of their Church to that part of the world. There they spent the next twenty-three years in the community of Tampico on the Gulf Coast of Mexico.

It has been written of Rachel Eliza Elliott Pressly, "that she has been a faithful wife, a true helpmeet, a safe counselor to her husband in his labors and difficulties, and has always taken an active part with him in his work. She is not only a devoted and fond mother to her children."

Rachel Eliza Elliott Pressly departed this earthly life on the 18th day of January 1929 in the 80th year of her age. She was laid to rest beside her husband and near her parents at Bethel A.R.P. cemetery.