Captain William D. Matthews

William D. Matthews (c.1827 – 1906) was an African American abolitionist, Civil War Union officer and Freemason.He was leader in Leavenworth, Kansas as well as nationally.

Life In Maryland

William D. Matthews was born free to mixed-race parents. His father, Joseph, was a man of African descent who hailed from Delaware. His mother, the half-white slave daughter of a Frenchman, had gained her release from bondage upon her father’s death.Matthews moved to Baltimore in the late 1840s and worked as a sailor until 1854, when he purchased his own vessel and worked the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River. But discriminatory laws limited his ability to make a living. He sold the boat and left Maryland.^[1]

Abolitionist In Leavenworth, Kansas

Matthews moved to Leavenworth, Kansas in 1856. It was there that he opened the Waverly House, which served as a State on the Underground Railroad.He assisted with the help of others including Daniel R. Anthony (brother of Susan B. Anthony) helped many escape the yoke of Slavery.^[1]

Civil War

William D. Matthews was an active recruiter for ex slaves to fight in the American Civil War. Before being mustered into service in the Union Army they engaged in the skirmish at Island Mound. This skirmish occurred five months before the famous 54th Infantry conflict at Fort Wagner, South Carolina. In August 1862, William D. Matthews was giving permission to raise 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers.^[2]

Freemasonry

William D. Matthews was a popular as well as controversial leader in Prince Hall Freemasonry. Though his masonic beginnings are relatively unknown, William D. Matthews was a force with the organization of Freemasonry amongst African Americans in the central to western parts of the United States. William Matthews helped to organize the Most Worshipful King Solomon Grand Lodge, under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons June 24, 1867. This Grand Lodge became powerful with Jurisdiction over Lodges in Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, Texas, Colorado and Wyoming. The Lodges Matthews organized in Texas formed the Grand Lodge of Texas (now styled The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas) with Matthews installing the officers at its formation.^[3] Matthews was elevated to the eighth National Grand Master in 1887 and served until his death in 1906.^[4]

References

1. Coddington, Ronald (2013).”A Great Fight for Freedom”’. New York, NY.
2. Washington (D.C.) Bee, April 9, 1904
3. Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Texas, 1875, p. 13
4. Brock, Matthew, 1980 History of the National Grand Lodge : a study of the origin, organization, battles, controversies and the evolution of the Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons, Prince Hall Origin, National Compact, U.S.A. p. 124