Bridget “Biddy” Mason was born on August 15, 1818 as a slave to Robert Marion Smith and Rebecca Crosby Smith in Hancock, Georgia. In 1847 Robert Smith, Biddy’s owner, became a Mormon then packed up all of his belongs to move to Utah. On the journey Biddy was forced to herd the cattle, cook meals, midwife and take care of her own children, Ellen, Ann and Harriet. Then in 1851 Smith again packed up his belongs and moved to San Bernardino, California to join another Mormon community. Though at that time California was a Union state and slavery was illegal. During the course of their stay in California Biddy’s daughter Ellen fell in love with a free black man named Charles Owens. Some others of Charles friends were also dating
Bridget “Biddy” Mason was born on August 15, 1818 as a slave to Robert Marion Smith and Rebecca Crosby Smith in Hancock, Georgia. In 1847 Robert Smith, Biddy’s owner, became a Mormon then packed up all of his belongs to move to Utah. On the journey Biddy was forced to herd the cattle, cook meals, midwife and take care of her own children, Ellen, Ann and Harriet. Then in 1851 Smith again packed up his belongs and moved to San Bernardino, California to join another Mormon community. Though at that time California was a Union state and slavery was illegal. During the course of their stay in California Biddy’s daughter Ellen fell in love with a free black man named Charles Owens. Some others of Charles friends were also dating