Mathias de Sousa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mathias de Sousa
|
|
|---|---|
Bronze relief within a 1987 monument
|
|
| Other names | Matthias Sousa [sic] |
| Occupation | Fur trader, mariner, indentured servant |
| Member of Province of Maryland General Assembly | |
| Assumed office 1641 |
|
Mathias de Sousa was an important early settler in the Province of Maryland during the 1600s. He is often recognized as the first person of African heritage to vote in an American legislature. This happened when he attended a meeting of the Maryland Assembly in 1641.
De Sousa first came to Maryland as an indentured servant for Jesuit priests. An indentured servant was someone who agreed to work for a set number of years to pay for their journey to America or other debts. In some old documents, he was described using the term "molato," which was a word used back then for people of mixed heritage. Historians believe he likely had both Portuguese and African roots.
Contents
Who Was Mathias de Sousa?
Mathias de Sousa arrived in the American colonies around 1633. He came to colonial Maryland as an indentured servant, working for Father Andrew White, a Jesuit priest.
In 1639, a document written by another Jesuit priest, Father Ferdinand Poulton, mentioned de Sousa as "molato." This document was a request for land for the Jesuit order. Another document repeated this description. However, other historical records about de Sousa, mostly from an English court, did not mention his race or background.
His Early Life in Maryland
A Voice in the Assembly
On March 23, 1641, Mathias de Sousa was recorded as being present at a meeting of the Maryland Assembly. The Assembly was like a government meeting where important decisions and laws for the colony were made. Historians believe that his presence at this meeting meant he was a free man and had the right to vote on the laws being discussed. This makes him a very important figure in early American history.
Adventures in Fur Trading
Later that same year, de Sousa took on a new role. He was in charge of hiring people for a trip to trade furs with the Susquehanna people. He also worked as the captain, or "skipper," of the expedition's pinnace, which was a small sailing ship.
In 1642, de Sousa and one of his workers, John Prettiman, became indentured servants again. They worked for the Provincial Secretary, John Lewger, to pay off debts. These debts likely came from their fur trading adventures. After 1643, there are no more historical records that mention Mathias de Sousa.
Historians have often thought that de Sousa was Catholic. However, some sources suggest he might have been Jewish.
Remembering Mathias de Sousa
Mathias de Sousa's story is remembered today. A special historical marker has been placed in St. Mary's City, Maryland, to honor him.
His life also inspired art. The famous actor Denzel Washington spent a summer in 1976 performing in a play called Wings of the Morning. This play was about Maryland's history. It included an African-American character and narrator who was loosely based on Mathias de Sousa's life.
See also
 | Madam C. J. Walker |
 | Janet Emerson Bashen |
 | Annie Turnbo Malone |
 | Maggie L. Walker |
