Biddy Mason: The Mormon Slave Who Became a Californian Treasure
Bridget Mason (1818-1901)
For nearly forty years, she lived as a slave under a Mississippi master. Despite never learning to read or write, she saved her earnings as a midwife, ultimately becoming a wealthy Black real estate magnate and a revered philanthropist.
This inspiring tale illustrates that what truly matters is not how you begin life but how you finish it. It’s a powerful reminder that the journey and its outcomes define our experiences far more than our starting point.
Her nickname was “Biddy.”
Bridget Mason, born into slavery in August 1818, experienced life under several masters before being sold to Robert and Rebecca Smith in Mississippi. Her valuable childcare, livestock management, and medicine skills made her an indispensable asset to her owners.
A Mormon Move West
In 1847, the entire Smith family converted to Mormonism and pulled up stakes to move west with Brigham Young. Biddy traveled with her slave owners from Mississippi to eastern Illinois, on to Colorado, and eventually Salt Lake City, Utah. She was among 34 slaves in the wagon train and walked the entire 1,700 miles, arriving in 1848.
In 1851, Brigham Young commissioned a group of Mormons to emigrate to California and establish a new outpost. Among those in the wagon train were the Smith family and Biddy, but they soon encountered a significant problem: California was a free state.
California Schemin’
During the Civil War era, free states were those where slavery was illegal, primarily located in the North and opposing slavery’s expansion. In contrast, slave states permitted slavery, predominantly in the South, and relied on enslaved labor, ultimately seceding to form the Confederacy.
Once Biddy crossed into the Golden State (which had become a state only a year earlier), it meant she was no longer a slave. But that fact didn’t matter to her master. He ignored California law. Besides, Biddy was illiterate, so the Smiths could easily keep her unaware… and so she remained enslaved.
Breaking Free
In 1856, Smith decided to move to Texas, a slave state, prompting Biddy to voice her concerns. The move would separate her from her children. After sharing her fears with two free Black men, they informed her of California law. Biddy then sued Robert Smith for emancipation.
During the court hearings, Biddy’s master displayed his ruthlessness by providing false testimony, claiming she intended to relocate to Texas, and bribing her lawyer to miss court dates. Additionally, Biddy was unable to testify personally due to a California law that barred Blacks from speaking against Whites in court.
After 38 years of slavery, justice for Biddy and her family finally arrived when the judge liberated her from Smith. This pivotal moment marked the end of a long and arduous struggle for freedom.
Building a New Life
Biddy, a free Black woman in the prime of her life and mother of three daughters, quickly found work as a nurse and midwife. Living frugally, she saved every penny she earned, ultimately using her savings to purchase land.
Biddy was among the pioneering Black women who made history by owning real estate in Los Angeles, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations. Her achievements are a testament to resilience and determination in a challenging environment.
Biddy’s real estate investments flourished over time, leading to her wealth. She generously used her resources to shelter and feed the impoverished and imprisoned. Mason funded a traveler’s aid center, daycares, and schools for children. She also played a crucial role in founding the first African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles. Once, she paid the grocery bills for a community made homeless by a flood, and daily, people lined up at her home seeking financial assistance, which she provided as much as she could.
Biddy often stated, “The open hand is blessed, for it gives in abundance, even as it receives. If you hold your hand closed, nothing good can come in.” She lived by this philosophy every day of her life, embodying the blessings of generosity and openness.
A Rich Life of Generosity
During her final years, Mason’s financial holdings surpassed $300,000, equivalent to approximately $9.2 million today. This substantial amount reflects her successful financial management throughout her life.
Biddy died January 15, 1891. She passed as a revered citizen of Los Angeles and was awarded several distinctions, including memorial parks, murals, and even a day (November 16) named in her honor.
Bridget “Biddy” Mason.
Former Slave. Real Estate Entrepreneur. Christian Philanthropist.
And now you know the rest of HERstory.
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SOURCES:
- “Biddy Mason” (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biddy_Mason
- Beasely, Delilah L. The Negro Trail Blazers of California (Los Angeles: 1919): 90, 109, 110, 117. Available for download at Google books.
- Martineau Wagner, T. (2007, July 12). Bridget “Biddy” Mason (1818-1891). BlackPast.org. https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/mason-bridget-biddy-1818-1891/