Saul Matthews facts for kids

Saul Matthews was an enslaved African American who became a brave spy for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He gathered important information about the British army, which helped the Patriots (Americans fighting for independence). Because of his amazing service, the government of Virginia gave him his full freedom in 1792. They said he deserved to be completely free, "as if he was born free," because of the many important things he did during the war.

Life as an Enslaved Person

Saul Matthews was born in Virginia. During his life, he was enslaved by a man named Thomas Mathews. Being enslaved meant he was not free and had to work without pay.

Spying for Freedom

In 1781, during the American Revolutionary War, a British general named Cornwallis and his soldiers took over Portsmouth, Virginia. Saul Matthews was working for an American officer named Colonel Josiah Parker.

Colonel Parker asked Saul Matthews to do something very dangerous: sneak into the British army camps and spy on them. Saul Matthews did this many times. Each time, he came back with valuable information that helped the American forces.

Even after his brave actions, Saul Matthews was forced back into slavery for about 10 more years. But he didn't give up. In 1792, he asked the Virginia General Assembly (Virginia's government) to grant him his freedom. Because of his important work as a spy, they agreed, and he finally became a free man.