Biddy Mason

Wikipedia Biographical Summary:

"...After petitioning the courts in 1856, Mason won freedom for herself and her daughters. She moved her family to L.A. and worked as a midwife and a nurse. After working for ten years Mason was able to buy a plot of land for $250, becoming one of the first African American women to own land in L.A. Almost 20 years later Mason sold the plot for $1500. Working in real estate Mason was able to help provide for much of L.A.'s African American community..."

SOURCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biddy_Mason

1880 Census:

SOURCE: "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6GB-3JX : accessed 18 May 2015), Biddy Mason in household of William Sargent, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district 23, sheet 184C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0067; FHL microfilm 1,254,067.

In December 1855 Robert Smith, fearing losing his slaves while living in California, decided to move with them to Texas, a slave state. The Owens family had a vested interest in the Mason family as one of their sons was romantically involved with Mason’s 17-year-old daughter. When Robert Owens told the Los Angeles County Sheriff that slaves were being illegally held, he gathered a posse which including Owens and his sons, other cowboys and vaqueros from the Owens ranch. The posse apprehended Smith’s wagon train in Cajon Pass, California en route to Texas and prevented him from leaving the state. - See more at: http://www.blackpast.org/aaw/mason-bridget-biddy-1818-1891#sthash.Y...

Mason v. Smith (The Bridget “Biddy” Mason Case) (1856)

"...the said Biddy is aged thirty-eight years, and the said Ellen is aged seventeen years, and the other children of Biddy, to-wit: Ann (aged from twelve to thirteen) and Harriet (aged eight years), are under the age of fourteen years..."

"...And it further appearing by satisfactory proof to the judge here, that all of the said persons of color are entitled to their freedom, and are free and cannot be held in slavery or involuntary servitude, it is therefore argued that they are entitled to their freedom and are free forever..."

SOURCE: http://www.blackpast.org/primarywest/mason-v-smith-bridget-biddy-ma...

Burial:

Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA

SOURCE: Findagrave: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=126420283