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Michael Shochet

Mathias de Sousa was believed to be the first colonist of African decent in Maryland. He arrived in St. Mary's river in 1634 on the Ark; which was one of the first boats to ever arrive in Maryland. Mathias de Sousa was desribed in records as a "mulatto", and was the first person of African descent to participate and vote in the colonial assembly.

Matthias de Sousa, 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.

Life in Maryland
There is no record of his Mathhias de Sousa's birthdate or age. Early colonial records further indicate that de Sousa was a "mulato", which probably means he was of African and European descent. His surname suggest he was possibly of Portuguese decent.

Mathias De Sousa was the first African American to begin working for the Maryland legislature during the colonial period of the early 1600’s. For the first few years he lived in Maryland, de Sousa worked as an indentured servant for Jesuit priests although the exact details of his activities are not know. Generally such servants built and maintained churches and houses for the Jesuits.

Life As a Free Man
In 1638, having worked for the required four years as an indentured servant, de Sousa 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 Sousa sailed as master of a ketch belonging to the Provincial Secretary, John Lewger.

Life as a trader
De Sousa departed and returned to the capital of the colony, St. Mary's City, many times. He also voted and in 1641 he was elected to the Maryland General Assembly, serving until 1642. Soon after, when Susquehannock Indians attacked the English settlers, de Sousa 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.

Death
No record remains of de Sousa'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.