353:
513:, 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
287:. 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:
1026:
543:
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
444:
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
542:
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.
530:
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
301:, 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.
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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
565:
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
313:
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,
546:
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
436:
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.
519:
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.
452:
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
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247:
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.
364:, 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
497:
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
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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
405:, 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.
380:. 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.
951:
397:. 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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527:. 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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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.
1113:
614:
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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294:, "With the name of William Alexander Leidesdorff, we begin the documentary history of pioneers of Negro origin in California."
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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
263:, 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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866:"San Francisco Gold Rush Chronology: 1846-1849", The Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco, accessed 1 Dec 2009
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806:, San Francisco: Acme Pub. Co., 1952, excerpt at Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco, accessed 22 Nov 2009
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279:, 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
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covered and protected every title obtained from Joseph L. Folsom and others who later acquired possession.
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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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418:, 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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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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539:. 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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1029: 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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414:. After the United States took over California following the
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Leidesdorff traveled to New York to become the Master of the
659:
African-American Business Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary
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Settlement of the estate was complicated by the actions of
356:
William Alexander Leidesdorff memorial in San Francisco, CA
340:, St. Croix, Brazil, Chile, the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii),
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ancestry. Leidesdorff became a United States citizen in
332:(later San Francisco) in Alta California, then part of
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547:"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
376:; it was 37 feet (11 m) long and purchased in
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97:American vice-consul for the Port of San Francisco
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820:, p. 787, Greenwood Press, Westport, Conn., 1983
147:and one of the founders of the city that became
837:, Smithsonian Institution, accessed 28 Nov 2009
831:"Revival of Expansionism in the United States"
633:"Who Were America's First Black Millionaires?"
235:Leidesdorff was born in 1810 on the island of
190:in 1841, then under Mexican rule, settling in
1144:City and town treasurers in the United States
1134:Jewish American people in California politics
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1104:People from Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
297:As an infant, Leidesdorff was baptized as a
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900:Joseph Libbey Folsom, Folsom History Museum
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656:Ingham, John N.; Feldman, Lynne B. (1994).
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779:"William Alexander Leidesdorff, 1810-1848"
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251:Wilhelm Leidesdorff Sr. was reportedly of
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1164:African-American history in San Francisco
1129:American people of Danish-Jewish descent
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952:"San Francisco's Forgotten Attractions"
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804:Pioneers of Negro Origin in California
734:Pioneers of Negro Origin in California
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267:to further his career as a merchant.
124:Wilhelm Alexander Leidesdorff (father)
1114:Danish emigrants to the United States
608:Gala honoring the Leidesdorff Legacy.
950:Burmon, Andrew (February 25, 2013).
926:Journal of the Senate of California,
781:, BlackPast.org, accessed 1 Dec 2009
685:
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996:Journal of the Senate of California
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309:In 1834, Leidesdorff immigrated to
35:Anonymous portrait of Leidesdorff (
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1149:School board members in California
1109:People from the Danish West Indies
505:Leidesdorff estate and controversy
318:began at the Port of New Orleans.
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1174:19th-century American politicians
1038:; et al., eds. (1901–1906).
878:"William A. Leidesdorff Obituary"
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531:as the 35,000-acre (140 km)
211:. He served as US Vice Consul to
137:William Alexander Leidesdorff Jr.
1044:. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
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1019:Early Days and Men of California
939:Early Days and Men of California
562:, and in the Caribbean Islands.
489:on May 18, 1848 after receiving
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225:Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
1179:African Americans in California
1154:California city council members
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736:, San Francisco: Acme Pub. Co.
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425:In 1845, during the President
255:descent from the community of
1:
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336:, in 1841. His route was via
328: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
1139:California local politicians
1012:California State Legislature
692:The Journal of Negro History
533:Rancho Rio de los Americanos
509:The California pioneer died
394:Rancho Rio de los Americanos
259:. It was part of the Danish
208:Rancho Rio de los Americanos
7:
1089:19th-century Danish sailors
856:, 1906, accessed 1 Dec 2009
439:Declaration of Independence
387:, near today's Californian
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1184:African-American Catholics
1119:African-American diplomats
1079:19th-century Danish people
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886:. May 20, 1848. p. 3.
732:Sue Bailey Thurman, 1952,
664:Greenwood Publishing Group
501:the next day on May 19th.
127:Anna Marie Sparks (mother)
991:Jewish Encyclopedia, 1906
662:. Westport, Connecticut:
589:15 miles (24 km) of
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1169:History of San Francisco
1159:Ranchers from California
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186:in 1834. He migrated to
105:October 1845 - July 1846
1041:The Jewish Encyclopedia
1000:Annals of San Francisco
956:www.huffingtonpost.com/
606:New York City, New York
391:.He named the property
568:statute of limitations
357:
1014:, ACR 131 (Cox), 2004
1006:History of California
355:
277:Virgin Islands Creole
987:"William Leidesdorf"
850:"William Leidesdorf"
666:. pp. 424–425.
485:Leidesdorff died of
416:Mexican–American War
916:, Concord, NH: 1882
854:Jewish Encyclopedia
448:In March 1848, the
16:American politician
1124:American diplomats
981:California Reports
593:was dedicated the
586:are named for him.
584:Folsom, California
551:, recommended the
469:, he lived with a
389:City of Sacramento
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292:Sue Bailey Thurman
261:Schleswig-Holstein
241:Danish West Indies
162:Leidesdorff was a
59:Danish West Indies
1057:Missing or empty
1050:cite encyclopedia
1017:A. J. V. Sweasy,
1008:, vols. ii and iv
958:. Huffington Post
574:Legacy and honors
370:San Francisco Bay
316:Negro Seamen Acts
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84:Burial place
71:(1848-05-18)
69:May 18, 1848
1099:1848 deaths
1094:1810 births
1084:Danish Jews
962:26 February
487:brain fever
403:Catholicism
362:Yerba Buena
330:Yerba Buena
311:New Orleans
237:Saint Croix
205:, known as
192:Yerba Buena
184:New Orleans
170:, possibly
164:West Indian
153:millionaire
143:settler in
40: 1845
1073:Categories
642:2024-04-30
619:References
599:Sacramento
560:Copenhagen
537:Sacramento
491:last rites
427:James Polk
281:mixed-race
231:Early life
168:Afro-Cuban
145:California
77:California
1004:Hittell,
720:150288502
511:intestate
455:Gold Rush
366:steamboat
326:Julia Ann
265:Caribbean
110:Successor
55:St. Croix
937:Sweasy,
495:Catholic
372:and the
323:schooner
299:Lutheran
1033::
975:Sources
712:2715738
601:County.
554:escheat
516:escheat
493:from a
471:Russian
399:convert
239:in the
199:Mexican
155:in the
118:Parents
983:, 1854
766:
718:
710:
670:
549:Bigler
431:Consul
378:Alaska
338:Panama
334:Mexico
305:Career
253:Jewish
245:creole
213:Mexico
180:Jewish
176:Danish
716:S2CID
708:JSTOR
535:near
481:Death
275:in a
272:Carib
172:Carib
94:Title
1063:help
964:2013
928:1854
764:ISBN
668:ISBN
285:Cuba
102:Term
66:Died
51:1810
48:Born
700:doi
401:to
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174:,
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