Matthias de Souza, an indentured servant, was the only black person to serve in the colonial Maryland legislature. As such he is the first African American to sit in any legislative body in what would become the United States. Matthias de Souza worked as an indentured servant for Father Andrew White, a Catholic priest. He arrived in Maryland in 1634. Records record him as being called mulatto (a African/European mix). De Souza became a free man in 1638, after working the required four years as an indentured servant. 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 Sousa in the records of the colony is an order of the court in 1642 requiring him to reenter indentured servitude. He was ordered to serve John Lewger for a limited period of time to pay off a debt. There are no further records of de Souza after 1642. #blackhistorymonth #blackhistory #maryland #mattiasdesousa #colonists #servant #free #colonialmaryland #indenturedservitude #indenturedservant #johnlewger #johnhollis #marylandgeneralassembly #susquehannock #indians #settlers #mulatto #mixedrace #usa #black #us #africanamerican #first
