Matthew Williams (February 8, 1908 – December 4, 1931) was a black man lynched by a white mob in Salisbury, Maryland on December 4, 1931.[1]

Life of Matthew Williams

Born to Harry Williams and Annie Hardy on February 8, 1908, in Norfolk, Virginia, Matthew Williams lost both his parents only a few years later. His mother died of pneumonia in 1912, and his father died in 1915. Thus, Williams and his elder sister, Olivia, were sent to live with their maternal grandmother, Mary Handy, in Salisbury, Maryland.

Williams attended school until he was fourteen, when his grandmother died, taking a job at the Elliot Box and Crate Factory, known for keeping to himself and making an impressive amount of money for a Black laborer at the time. In her book, On The Courthouse Lawn, professor and civil rights lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill wrote of Matthew Williams that he was reported to have $56 in savings up to the point of his death. He was incredibly conscious of his money, depositing half of his money in the Farmers’ and Merchants’ Bank of Salisbury and the other half in the Prudential Bank, after hearing of the Depression-era bank failures, only for there to be no trace of it after his passing.[2]  

On the afternoon of December 4, 1931, a supposed confrontation at work led to Williams being hospitalized taken to Peninsula General Hospital (now Peninsula Regional Medical Center), where he was placed in the "Negro Ward" in a straitjacket, and his head bandaged so that he could not see. Williams was heavily injured from bullet wounds, yet his actual death occurred much later.[3]

The official story goes that Matthew Williams went to his employer's office, and the two began arguing over wages. At some point in the argument, Matthew Williams shot Daniel Elliott, killing him, then attempted to use the gun on himself, only for Daniel Elliott's son, James Elliott, to be reported to have found the two, and using the gun fired two more shots at Matthew Williams, wounding him in the chest and leg.[3]

The 1970s biography of Dorchester County waterman Joseph L. Sutton recounts a different story, stating that others claimed that the culprit was the son, James Elliot. Allegedly, James killed his father, Daniel, then later shot Williams to avoid him being against him. James later claimed that Williams shot Daniel and he took the gun soon after, wounding Williams.[3]

Williams was eventually dragged from the hospital by an angry mob who heard of the incident, and while only the local police authorities were present, they were unable to stop the mob from lynching Williams on the courthouse green, and it was only hours later, after the body was hung and burned, the authorities were able to take the deceased Williams away.[4]

Historical significance

William's lynching is just one of many lynching cases on the Eastern Shore. Garfield King, an 18-year-old black man in 1898, tragically became a victim of racial violence and injustice when he forcefully taken a jail cell by a white mob.[3] The mob exposed him to a horrific and brutal attack, which included beatings, kicks, and ultimately hanging him, followed by a blast of up to 50 gunshots.[3] King had been accused of involvement in an altercation outside a store in which a 22-year-old white man named, Harmon Kenney was shot and killed. This altercation ultimately led to King's death. Despite witnesses testifying, the perpetrators of this lynching remained unidentified due to the dim lighting and use of facial covers.[3] What adds a particularly unsettling element to this tragedy is that all the witnesses "agreed" that the leader of the mob was a "mysterious tall man." The jury, however, determined a verdict stating that King had met his demise at the hands of unknown parties, shedding light on the grim pattern of such cases where justice was elusive, and the perpetrators often went unpunished. Garfield King's story serves as a saddening reminder of the racial injustices and violence that plagued America's history during this dark period.[5]

In 1933, just two years after William's lynching, a man by the name of George Armwood was accused of assaulting 72-year-old women in Princess Anne. Armwood was taken to a Salisbury prison just ten miles north of Princess Anne. Armwood was stabbed and beaten to death outside of the jail. His dead corpse was then dragged by the mob where his dead body was hung and set to fire outside the Somerset County courthouse. As predicted the Somerset County police department claimed the mob who organized this attack were not from there county so there was nothing they could do.[6]

On the Eastern Shore there is a typical pattern that appears in all of the lynchings. African American prisoners were not protected and were taken by mobs.[3] Also, the local newspapers and government all claimed that the guilty were unknown and for nothing to be done about these crimes.[3] The historical significance in the lynchings that take place on the Eastern Shore is that it was a trend where Whites could unrightfully conflict harm and instill fear into Black communities.[7][3]

Legacy/Aftermath

The lynching of Matthew Williams has left an everlasting mark on the Eastern Shore.[2][3] The lynchings that occurred on the Eastern Shore often go undiscussed, as it is viewed as a taboo topic.[7] The history of lynching is not discussed in families or taught in schools and as a result, people are left unaware of a large and crucial piece of Eastern Shore history.

Sherrilyn Ifill’s On the Courthouse Lawn

On December 1, 2007, Sherrilyn Ifill published a book titled On the Courthouse Lawn.[3] Ifill wrote this book to illustrate the ubiquitous history of lynchings on the Eastern Shore. Ifill also wrote her book to reach out to communities about this history of racial violence in an effort to help communities confront this legacy. The book contains considerable discussion of the lynching of Matthew Williams and the response of Salisbury, Maryland residents and institutions.[3]

In writing her book, Ifill stated that she did not intentionally single out the Eastern Shore. When conducting her research on nationwide lynching events, she found the Eastern Shore to be the ideal demonstration of how communities have failed to face and confront the legacy of lynching.[7]

In conducting her research, Ifill learned a great deal about not only the history of the lynchings, but their lasting impact on the communities on the Eastern Shore. In an interview following the publication of her book, she explains the to her the most disturbing part of her research was not the lynchings themselves, rather it was the silence surrounding their existence.[7]

In On the Courthouse Lawn, Ifill outlines the history of lynchings on the Eastern Shore and suggests that the racial violence experienced is not solely a history lesson, but a trust shattering reality that contaminates relationships between the varying communities on the Eastern Shore.[7][3] Ifill found that while many White Eastern Shore natives had no knowledge of the lynchings, many Black Eastern Shore natives explained that the lynchings left a consequence of fear and mistrust.[7][3]

Bringing History to Light

Long (n.d.), stated "we need to actually talk more about the lasting consequences of the lynchings".[8] In recent years, efforts have been made on the Eastern Shore to uncover and make known the legacy of lynching. A Confederate marker to John H. Winder that used to stand in front of the courthouse in Downtown Salisbury has been removed and a new historical marker was placed in front of the courthouse where twp of the lynchings occurred.[8] Another effort Eastern Shore communities have engaged in is hosting vigils on the anniversaries of crimes.[9]

Confederate Marker Removed

Outside of the courthouse in Downtown Salisbury, Maryland, there used to stand a statue honoring Confederate General John Winder.[8][10] Activists (such as the Wicomico Truth and Reconciliation Initiative), argued that this statue served as an overt nod towards white supremacy.[10][11] Opponents believed that taking down the monument does n0t further racial harmony, rather it erases history.[10][11] When taken down from the courthouse lawn in 2020, the marker was unceremoniously loaded into a small van.[10]

Placing of the New Historical Marker

When the former confederate marker was removed, it was replaced by a nod to the history of lynching on the Eastern Shore. The bright blue sign sits in front of the courthouse and outlines the lynchings of Garfield King, Matthew Williams, and another unknown male all lynched in Wicomico County.[8] Dozens of people gathered for the unveiling as people walked the route the mob took in 1931 during the lynching of Matthew Williams. This event can be viewed as a chance to state, as a community, this was unjust. This event also allowed the discussion of the history of lynching to begin.

References

  1. ↑ "Matthew Williams (1908-1931) Biographical Series; Lynched in Salisbury, December 4, 1931". Archives of Maryland, MSA SC 3520-13749. Maryland State Government. March 8, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Chavis Jr., Charles L. (2021). The Silent Shore: The Lynching of Matthew Williams and the Politics of Racism in the Free State. Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 15–17. ISBN 9781421442921.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Iffil, Sherillyn (2007). On The Courthouse Lawn: Confronting the Legacy of Lynching in the Twenty-First Century. Beacon Press. pp. 45. ISBN 978-0-8070-0988-8.
  4. ↑ "Lynchers in Salisbury Had Right of Way". The Baltimore Sun. December 5, 1931.
  5. ↑ Ifill, Sherrilyn A. On the courthouse lawn, revised edition: confronting the legacy of lynching in the twenty-first century. Beacon Press, 2018.
  6. ↑ Levy, Peter B. "On the Courthouse Lawn: Confronting the Legacy of Lynching in the Twenty-First Century." The Journal of Southern History 75.2 (2009): 474.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wyatt, K. (n.d.). "A dark memory hangs over the eastern shore".
  8. 1 2 3 4 Marbella, Jean (2021). "Silent no more: Eastern shore community reckons with lynchings in its past". The Washington Post.
  9. ↑ "Vigil marks 1931 Salisbury lynching of Matthew Williams". The Daily Times. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Powers, K. (June 12, 2020). "Confederate general john winder sign comes down in wicomico". Delmarva Now.
  11. 1 2 Powers, K. (June 12, 2020). "Examining gen. john winder's history as confederate monuments fall across the country". Delmarva Now.
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