Bridget “Biddy” Mason

Biddy Mason (born Bridget) made her mark in history due to her skills in medicine, real estate, and philanthropy. She born on August 15, 1818. Historians are unclear regarding the exact state of birth, but what is known is that she was originally born into a slave state.

Biddy’s story is a journey to freedom. In her youth, she was taught about the properties of medicine and mid-wifing skills. This knowledge was passed down to her from the elders of the enslavement camp at which she resided. The enslavers that held Biddy and her children captive were Robert and Rebecca Smith. The Smiths were eventually converted to Mormonism which influenced their move from Mississippi to Utah. The Smiths remained in Utah for 3 year until moving to California, a state in which slavery was illegal. The Smiths were instructed that the people they enslaved would be free upon arriving in California. Despite California state laws, the Smiths withheld the Mason family’s freedom for a total of 4 years. During their time in California, Biddy built a network of free black people who encouraged her to fight for her freedom in the court system.

The Smiths were ready to flee the free state of California in order to maintain their ownership of the Mason family, but their plans were interrupted when Biddy’s free friends reported their crime to the local sheriff. Robert Smith insisted that Biddy remained with him as a laborer under her own free will and that she wanted to go to the state of Texas.

The sheriff kept the Mason family in protective custody until their court date to determine Biddy’s status as a free black person. Ironically, despite California being a free state, it lacked progressive laws within the court system. It would have been illegal for Biddy to testify on her own behalf in the court against Robert Smith.

On January 21st 1856, Robert Smith failed to appear in court. Judge Benjamin Ignatius Hayes explained to Biddy that if she wanted to go to Texas, then her children would have to remain in California. Biddy stated that she did not want to be away from her children. On that day, Biddy was declared free. She received her freedom documents 4 years later in 1860.

As a free woman, Biddy moved to LA and used her skills as a healer to become a doctor’s assistant and a midwife. Her knowledge and skillset eventually lead on her the path to becoming one of the richest people in LA. She used her status for philanthropy and she established Los Angeles First A.M.E. Church.

This is an incredible legacy of mother, a healer, and a fighter. We honor you Biddy Mason.

Receipts (aka Source)

National Park Service. (n.d.). Bridget “Biddy” Mason (U.S. National Park Service). Retrieved January 28, 2019, from https://www.nps.gov/people/biddymason.htm

ACLU OF NORTHERN CA. (2019, November 10). From Enslaved to Entrepreneur: The Biddy Mason Story [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmt6hK4Y4sU&feature=youtu.be