When was mathias de sousa born

In he commanded a small boat on a two month voyage to trade with the Susquehannock Indians. De Sousa departed and returned to the capital of the colony, St. He also voted and in he was elected to the Maryland General Assembly, serving until 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 requiring him to reenter indentured servitude. The priests made him captain of their trading ship.

Later, Mathius was captain of a trading ship owned by John Lewger, who was Secretary in the Maryland government. In March , Mathius was elected as a representative at a Maryland Assembly meeting. This proves that Mathius was no longer a servant.

He voted as a citizen. Then, colonists had a very hard year in The Susquehannock Indians attacked the English settlers. Mathius could not trade for furs during the Susquehannock invasion. He had trouble paying his rent and buying food. There is no information about Mathius' life after No one wrote down what happened to him.

The Indians killed some colonists in battles during Other colonists became sick and died from disease and lack of food. We don't know about the end of Mathius' life, but we do know that he lived as a sailor and trader.

Important people like the Jesuits and John Lewger trusted him to be captain of their ships. Even if they called him a "mulatto," they trusted Mathius to lead white crew members on their vessels.

Pathogens Europeans were never exposed to in the Old World ravaged them in the New. It is estimated that only four in 10 would live to see the end of their indenture. Unfortunately, that knife cut both ways. European newcomers likewise exposed Native Americans to diseases they had never seen before. The cruel joke was that one white man sneezed and wiped out half the Indian nation. When the Mayflower landed on Plymouth Rock, the Pilgrims inherited a land nearly devoid of people due to European-borne diseases which ripped through the landscape years before.

Historians conjecture he probably spent time planting and harvesting crops and learned to sail, trading with local Indian tribes on behalf of the Jesuits. When his indenture concluded in , de Sousa was listed as mariner and fur trader.

Explore the history behind compelling individuals, establishments, and organizations and how their stories helped shape the region. The profound history of African Americans resonates throughout the three counties of Calvert, Charles and St.

African American Experience. Notable Individuals. Josiah Henson Josiah Henson was an author, abolitionist, and minister. Notable Locations.

Historic Sotterley An historic plantation circa , Sotterley has built itself into a premier location for exploring the complicated past of the region. Drayden African-American Schoolhouse c. Leonard Creek, a War of naval engagement, occurred here and is retold in the slave narrative of Charles Ball, who fled north to freedom. Two enslaved people from this site enlisted in the Union Army and became free. Old Jail of St. Among the federal army units to serve as guards were African-American soldiers of the U.

Colored Troops regiments.