This week’s theme will focus on African-American historical firsts.
Mathias De Souza, an indentured servant, was the only black person to serve in the colonial Maryland legislature. He is considered the first African -American to sit on any legislative body in what would become the United States.
Mathias de Souza was one of nine indentured servants working for Father Andrew White, a Catholic priest. He arrived at St Mary’s City, St Clements Island, Maryland, in 1634 on the ship, The Ark along with White and other European settlers. De Souza was probably of mixed African and European descent judging by land records that record him being called a ‘Molato’ (Mulatto) by a priest in the colony.
For the first few years, De Souza worked for Jesuit priests although the exact details of his activities are not known. Generally such servants built and maintained churches and houses for the Jesuits.
In 1638, having worked for the required four years as an indentured servant, De Souza became a free man. He earned money by continuing to work for the priests. He also traded English goods with Indians for animal furs and food. In 1641 he commanded a small boat on a two month voyage to trade with the Susquehannock Indians. In 1642, De Souza sailed as master of a ketch belonging to the Provincial Secretary, John Lewger.
De Souza was able to vote. In 1641 he was elected to the Maryland General Assembly, serving until 1642. Soon after, when Susquehannock Indians attacked the English settlers, De Souza became indebted to John Lewger and to planter John Hollis as he was unable to trade for furs. The last trace of Matthias De Souza in colonial records was an order of the court in 1642 requiring him to re-enter indentured servitude. He was ordered to serve John Lewger for a limited period of time to pay off a debt.
No record remains of De Souza’s activities after 1642, but the Indians killed some colonists in battles during 1643 and other colonists became sick and died from disease and lack of food.
Information courtesy of Blackpast.org.