352:
512:, with no living relatives in California or the United States. In 1848 his estate was assumed devalued and in debt. The public discovery of gold in the American River valley and upon his extensive land holdings increased the actual value of his estate dramatically. His waterfront property in today's financial district of San Francisco would be valuable today. A complete inventory of his estate has yet to be quantified. The court appointed temporary administrators of his estate because there were no probate laws in California at that time. By 1854, when the California State Legislature considered
286:. In census records, Marie Anne Spark was classified as a free Carib Indian, but few Carib survived into the late 18th century, according to Gary Palgon's biography of Leidesdorff. Other sources document tens of thousands of Caribs, most of mixed heritage, living in the Windwards and Trinidad at the time of Leidesdorff's birth. Together the accounts describe Spark as a light-skinned woman of mixed-race ancestry, yet classified as black by the 1850s California Court System, where blacks were restricted from testifying in court.
31:
1025:
542:
The dispute was brought to the courts, where legal entanglements over the conflicts of
Mexican, American and Danish laws kept it for over ten years." The uncertainty of new probate laws, combined with the fact that William Leidesdorff, though he had held federal offices, held dual Mexican and U.S. citizenship, further complicated the property issues.
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of the estate, then worth a million and a half, to the state legislature, and suggested that proceedings be commenced for its recovery from Folsom. The courts refused to admit the title of the West Indian mixed-race relatives because there may have been "other heirs, who had never conveyed away their
443:
Leidesdorff, Jr. achieved a high reputation for integrity and enterprise; he is said to have been "liberal, hospitable, cordial, confiding even to a fault." Leidesdorff became one of the wealthiest man in
California. The value of his property near Sacramento began to rise dramatically just before his
541:
By the time Folsom returned to San
Francisco, land prices were rising. The government challenged his purchase of Leidesdorff's title, as Anna Spark legally had no claim to it. A California State government "claim was brought because under old Mexican law that foreigners could not inherit property.
529:
In 1849, Folsom took leave from the U.S. Army and located
Leidesdorff's mother and some of his siblings in the West Indies. Folsom signed a note to purchase from Anna Spark title to her son's estate for $ 75,000, title which included all of Leidesdorff's real estate holdings in San Francisco as well
300:, as were all the Leidesdorff children, since it was the adopted faith his father and many other people of Jewish ancestry in Europe assumed to avoid conflict. In 1837 Leidesdorff Sr. officially "adopted" all four of his own children from Anne Marie Sparks to give them legal standing by Danish Law.
273:
Indian woman; she was believed also to have had
African and European ancestry. Her race was noted in a census report. Many people observed that what were called "Carib" people had skin of various hues that likely reflected mixed ancestry, ranging from dark brown to lighter shades of brown, resulting
564:
Ultimately the following happened: (1) The claims of
Leidesdorff's West Indian relatives were thrown out of court; their evidence of relationship was rejected. As they were not American citizens, they were not considered to have standing. (2) No recognized Danish family or individual of the name of
312:
where he became a naturalized
American citizen and a ship captain. He held posts with firms associated with his father or perhaps his mentors. Ship manifest documents show Leidesdorff's working as Ship Captain and/or Master, 1834–1840, out of the Port of New Orleans. William Alexander Leidesdorff,
545:
Leidesdorff's St. Croix relatives, mother and siblings, challenged title through Danish officials because of Folsom's false evaluation of the estate. Both the US and
Mexican national governments had interest in the large estate. The high value and reach of the Leidesdorff estate made Folsom's
435:
to serve as the US Vice Consul to Mexico at the Port of San
Francisco, a measure of his political standing in region. Larkin was the first and last U.S. consul appointed to serve in California. Before the American flag was raised over San Francisco (July 1846), Leidesdorff had the U.S.
518:
to take control of the property, Leidesdorff's estate was worth well over one million dollars and multiple of millions of dollars in gold was mined off his land. When the
Leidesdorff-Folsom partitioned estate was auctioned off in 1856, the property brought more than $ 1,445,000.
451:
reported the total non-Native population of San Francisco as only 812: 575 males, 177 females and 60 children. In May 1848, the vast majority of men departed for the American River gold fields in hopes of striking it rich. Other towns were nearly emptied in the frenzy of the
215:
at the Port of San Francisco beginning in 1845. Leidesdorff was President of the San Francisco school board and also elected as City Treasurer. Shortly before Leidesdorff's death, vast amounts of gold were officially reported on his
593:
246:
woman. As his parents were not legally married, Leidesdorff was considered illegitimate until July 18th, 1837, when a Crucian court formally recognized his birth, allowing him to inherit his father's property.
363:, Leidesdorff, Jr. began to re-build his businesses. The village cove then only had thirty European-Mexican families, so it did not take long for the ambitious man to make an impact. He launched the first
496:
priest. On the day of his burial, the town was in mourning, flags were at half-mast, business was suspended, and the schools were closed. His remains were interred near the front entrance of
565:
Leidesdorff appeared to claim the estate of William Leidesdorff of San Francisco. Other Danish members of the family lived on St. Croix for some time after the American's death. (3) The
404:, the state religion; learn to speak Spanish; and accept Mexican citizenship. He went on to establish extensive commercial relations throughout Hawaii, Alaska and Mexican California.
379:. He built the City Hotel, the first hotel in San Francisco, and the first commercial shipping warehouse, the latter on what became Leidesdorff Street off the Embarcadero.
950:
396:. During this period, Mexico encouraged leading Americans to settle in its territory by granting large land grants; in exchange the government required Americans to
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along the boundary of "Historic Leidesdorff Ranch", his 35,000-acre (140 km) cattle and wheat ranch along the southern banks of the American River Parkway,
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Today, William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. is recognized as the "African Founding Father of California", as noted by the California State Legislature.
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526:. As Customs Collector and Harbor Master for San Francisco in 1848, he had become familiar with Leidesdorff's business dealings with the U.S. Army.
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In 1844 Leidesdorff obtained a vast land grant through favor from the Mexican government for 35,521 acres (143.75 km) on the south bank of the
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848:
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By the time his estate was auctioned off in 1856, it was worth more than $ 1,445,000, not including vast quantities of gold mined upon his land.
1112:
613:
Leidesdorff Bicentennial Celebration – "Golden Legacy of William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr.," October 23, 2010, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
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death, when gold was discovered along the American River just above his Leidesdorff Ranch, in the Gold Mining District of California.
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in the city; later he was elected City Treasurer. His house was one of the largest, and he donated land for the first public school.
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citizen in 1844 and received a land grant from the Mexican government, 8 Spanish leagues, or 35,500 acres (144 km) south of the
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755:
293:, "With the name of William Alexander Leidesdorff, we begin the documentary history of pioneers of Negro origin in California."
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1137:
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rights in the estate", from Europe. These "other heirs" from Leidesdorff's father's family lived in Europe at Altona and
262:, then across the river from but now part of today's port of Hamburg, Germany. He migrated to North America and later the
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865:"San Francisco Gold Rush Chronology: 1846-1849", The Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco, accessed 1 Dec 2009
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805:, San Francisco: Acme Pub. Co., 1952, excerpt at Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco, accessed 22 Nov 2009
87:
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278:, to which she may have belonged. Other sources said the mother Marie Anne Spark (as she was also known) was a
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During the eight years of his residence, Leidesdorff served as one of six aldermen or town councilors of the
569:
covered and protected every title obtained from Joseph L. Folsom and others who later acquired possession.
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207:
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Savage, W.S. (July 1953). "The Influence of William Alexander Leidesdorff on the History of California".
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read for the first time in California on the veranda at his home in celebration of Independence Day.
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International Leidesdorff bicentennial celebrations began on October 22, 2011, on his native isle of
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1039:
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469:
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417:, he was one of three members on the first San Francisco school board, which organized the first
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William Alexander Leidesdorff: First Black Millionaire, American Consul and California Pioneer
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151:. A highly successful, enterprising businessman, he is thought to have been the first black
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1092:
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8:
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Jr. was thought the last black ship captain in Louisiana after strict enforcement of the
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Leidesdorff Exhibit, Mission Delores Basilica, San Francisco, California, May 1–31, 2010
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25th Anniversary of the Federal Holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the CORE
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woman while maintaining diplomatic relationships with the Russian community in
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Leidesdorff, Jr.'s mother Anna Marie Sparks, was described in one account as a
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538:. He paid her a deposit, with the promise of two more installment payments.
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A Genealogy of the Folsom Family: John Folsom and His Descendants, 1615–1682
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Leidesdorff Street in San Francisco, California and Leidesdorff Street in
194:(now San Francisco), a village of about 30 Mexican and European families.
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to William Leidesdorff, a white Danish merchant, and Anne Marie Spark, a
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1028: This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
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administration, Leidesdorff accepted the request from United States
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woman of African and Spanish heritage, thought to have been born in
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Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States, 1846–48
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413:. After the United States took over California following the
343:, and on to California following the Pacific Ocean currents.
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Leidesdorff traveled to New York to become the Master of the
658:
African-American Business Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary
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Settlement of the estate was complicated by the actions of
355:
William Alexander Leidesdorff memorial in San Francisco, CA
339:, St. Croix, Brazil, Chile, the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii),
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179:
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ancestry. Leidesdorff became a United States citizen in
331:(later San Francisco) in Alta California, then part of
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546:"purchase" extremely controversial. In 1854, Governor
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Leidesdorff never married. According to the explorer
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Biographical Dictionary of American Business Leaders
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Sue Bailey Thurman, "William Alexander Leidesdorff"
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William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. Memorial Highway
375:; it was 37 feet (11 m) long and purchased in
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97:American vice-consul for the Port of San Francisco
1069:
819:, p. 787, Greenwood Press, Westport, Conn., 1983
147:and one of the founders of the city that became
836:, Smithsonian Institution, accessed 28 Nov 2009
830:"Revival of Expansionism in the United States"
632:"Who Were America's First Black Millionaires?"
234:Leidesdorff was born in 1810 on the island of
190:in 1841, then under Mexican rule, settling in
1143:City and town treasurers in the United States
1133:Jewish American people in California politics
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1103:People from Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
296:As an infant, Leidesdorff was baptized as a
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899:Joseph Libbey Folsom, Folsom History Museum
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655:Ingham, John N.; Feldman, Lynne B. (1994).
794:
792:
790:
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778:"William Alexander Leidesdorff, 1810-1848"
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250:Wilhelm Leidesdorff Sr. was reportedly of
29:
1163:African-American history in San Francisco
1128:American people of Danish-Jewish descent
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951:"San Francisco's Forgotten Attractions"
783:
1070:
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803:Pioneers of Negro Origin in California
733:Pioneers of Negro Origin in California
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266:to further his career as a merchant.
124:Wilhelm Alexander Leidesdorff (father)
1113:Danish emigrants to the United States
607:Gala honoring the Leidesdorff Legacy.
949:Burmon, Andrew (February 25, 2013).
925:Journal of the Senate of California,
780:, BlackPast.org, accessed 1 Dec 2009
684:
682:
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995:Journal of the Senate of California
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308:In 1834, Leidesdorff immigrated to
35:Anonymous portrait of Leidesdorff (
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1148:School board members in California
1108:People from the Danish West Indies
504:Leidesdorff estate and controversy
317:began at the Port of New Orleans.
14:
1194:
1173:19th-century American politicians
1037:; et al., eds. (1901–1906).
877:"William A. Leidesdorff Obituary"
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530:as the 35,000-acre (140 km)
211:. He served as US Vice Consul to
137:William Alexander Leidesdorff Jr.
1043:. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
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1018:Early Days and Men of California
938:Early Days and Men of California
561:, and in the Caribbean Islands.
488:on May 18, 1848 after receiving
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225:Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
1178:African Americans in California
1153:California city council members
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735:, San Francisco: Acme Pub. Co.
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424:In 1845, during the President
254:descent from the community of
1:
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335:, in 1841. His route was via
327:that sailed from New York to
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218:Rancho Rio De los Americanos.
139:(1810 – May 18, 1848) was an
88:Mission San Francisco de AsĂs
36:
23:William Alexander Leidesdorff
1138:California local politicians
1011:California State Legislature
691:The Journal of Negro History
532:Rancho Rio de los Americanos
508:The California pioneer died
393:Rancho Rio de los Americanos
258:. It was part of the Danish
208:Rancho Rio de los Americanos
7:
1088:19th-century Danish sailors
855:, 1906, accessed 1 Dec 2009
438:Declaration of Independence
386:, near today's Californian
10:
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1183:African-American Catholics
1118:African-American diplomats
1078:19th-century Danish people
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885:. May 20, 1848. p. 3.
731:Sue Bailey Thurman, 1952,
663:Greenwood Publishing Group
500:the next day on May 19th.
127:Anna Marie Sparks (mother)
990:Jewish Encyclopedia, 1906
661:. Westport, Connecticut:
588:15 miles (24 km) of
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1168:History of San Francisco
1158:Ranchers from California
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186:in 1834. He migrated to
105:October 1845 - July 1846
1040:The Jewish Encyclopedia
999:Annals of San Francisco
955:www.huffingtonpost.com/
605:New York City, New York
390:.He named the property
567:statute of limitations
356:
1013:, ACR 131 (Cox), 2004
1005:History of California
354:
276:Virgin Islands Creole
986:"William Leidesdorf"
849:"William Leidesdorf"
665:. pp. 424–425.
484:Leidesdorff died of
415:Mexican–American War
915:, Concord, NH: 1882
853:Jewish Encyclopedia
447:In March 1848, the
16:American politician
1123:American diplomats
980:California Reports
592:was dedicated the
585:are named for him.
583:Folsom, California
550:, recommended the
468:, he lived with a
388:City of Sacramento
357:
291:Sue Bailey Thurman
260:Schleswig-Holstein
240:Danish West Indies
162:Leidesdorff was a
59:Danish West Indies
1056:Missing or empty
1049:cite encyclopedia
1016:A. J. V. Sweasy,
1007:, vols. ii and iv
957:. Huffington Post
573:Legacy and honors
369:San Francisco Bay
315:Negro Seamen Acts
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84:Burial place
71:(1848-05-18)
69:May 18, 1848
1098:1848 deaths
1093:1810 births
1083:Danish Jews
961:26 February
486:brain fever
402:Catholicism
361:Yerba Buena
329:Yerba Buena
310:New Orleans
236:Saint Croix
205:, known as
192:Yerba Buena
184:New Orleans
170:, possibly
164:West Indian
153:millionaire
143:settler in
40: 1845
1072:Categories
641:2024-04-30
618:References
598:Sacramento
559:Copenhagen
536:Sacramento
490:last rites
426:James Polk
280:mixed-race
230:Early life
168:Afro-Cuban
145:California
77:California
1003:Hittell,
719:150288502
510:intestate
454:Gold Rush
365:steamboat
325:Julia Ann
264:Caribbean
110:Successor
55:St. Croix
936:Sweasy,
494:Catholic
371:and the
322:schooner
298:Lutheran
1032::
974:Sources
711:2715738
600:County.
553:escheat
515:escheat
492:from a
470:Russian
398:convert
238:in the
199:Mexican
155:in the
118:Parents
982:, 1854
765:
717:
709:
669:
548:Bigler
430:Consul
377:Alaska
337:Panama
333:Mexico
304:Career
252:Jewish
244:creole
213:Mexico
180:Jewish
176:Danish
715:S2CID
707:JSTOR
534:near
480:Death
274:in a
271:Carib
172:Carib
94:Title
1062:help
963:2013
927:1854
763:ISBN
667:ISBN
284:Cuba
102:Term
66:Died
51:1810
48:Born
699:doi
400:to
1074::
1053::
1051:}}
1047:{{
988:,
953:.
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841:^
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801:,
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476:.
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174:,
159:.
57:,
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701::
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42:)
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