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]
Matthew Williams was born to Harry Williams and Annie née Hardy on February 8, 1908, in Norfolk, Virginia. Only a few years later, he lost both his parents; his mother died of pneumonia in 1912, and his father died in 1915 . Williams and his older sister, Olivia, were then sent to live with their maternal grandmother, Mary Handy, in Salisbury, Maryland.
Williams attended school until he was fourteen, when his grandmother died. He took a job at the Elliot Box and Crate Factory and was known for keeping to himself and making an impressive amount of money for a black labourer at the time. Professor and civil rights lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill wrote in her book, On the Courthouse Lawn, that Matthew Williams was reported to have $56 in savings up to the point of his death. He was incredibly conscious of his money, depositing half of it in the Farmers’ and Merchants’ Bank of Salisbury and the other half in the Prudential Bank after hearing of the Depression-era bank failures. There was no trace of this money after his passing.[2]
On the afternoon of December 4, 1931, a supposed confrontation at work led to Williams being hospitalised at Peninsula General Hospital (now Peninsula Regional Medical Center). He was placed in the "Negro Ward" in a straitjacket, with his head bandaged so that he could not see. Williams was heavily injured from bullet wounds, but his actual death occurred much later.
Allegedly, Matthew Williams went to his employer's office, and the two began arguing over wages. During the argument, Matthew Williams was said to have shot Daniel Elliott, killing him, and then attempted to use the gun on himself. It was further reported that Daniel Elliott's son, James Elliott, then found the two and, using the same gun, fired two more shots at Matthew Williams, wounding him in the chest and leg.
However, the 1970s biography of Dorchester County waterman Joseph L. Sutton recounts a different story, stating that others claimed the culprit was his son, James Elliot. Allegedly, James killed his father, Daniel, then later shot Williams to avoid him bearing witness 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 the local police authorities were present, they were unable to stop the mob from lynching Williams on the courthouse green. It was hours later, after the body was hung and burned, the authorities were able to take the deceased Williams away.[4]
William's lynching is just one of many lynching cases on the Eastern Shore.[5] Garfield King, an 18-year-old black man in 1898, tragically became a victim of racial violence and injustice when he was forcefully taken out of a jail cell by a white mob. 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. 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. 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.[6]
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 on fire outside the Somerset County courthouse. As predicted, the Somerset County police department claimed the mob who organized this attack was not from their county so there was nothing they could do.[7]
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. Also, the local newspapers and government all claimed that the guilty parties were unknown and that nothing could be done about these crimes. The historical significance of the lynchings that take place on the Eastern Shore is that it was a trend where whites could unrightfully cause harm and instill fear in Black communities.
The lynching of Matthew Williams has left an everlasting mark on the Eastern Shore. The lynchings that occurred on the Eastern Shore often go undiscussed, as they are viewed as taboo topics.[8] 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.
On December 1, 2007, Sherrilyn Ifill published a book titled On the Courthouse Lawn. 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.
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.
In conducting her research, Ifill learned a great deal about not only the history of the lynchings but also their lasting impact on the communities on the Eastern Shore. In an interview following the publication of her book, she explains that the most disturbing part of her research was not the lynchings themselves, but rather it was the silence surrounding their existence.
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. 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.
Long (n.d.) stated, "We need to actually talk more about the lasting consequences of the lynchings.".[9] In recent years, efforts have been made on the Eastern Shore to uncover and make known the legacy of lynching. A Confederate marker for 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. Another effort Eastern Shore communities have engaged in is hosting vigils on the anniversaries of crimes.[10]
Outside of the courthouse in downtown Salisbury, Maryland, there used to be a statue honoring Confederate General John Winder.[11] Activists (such as the Wicomico Truth and Reconciliation Initiative), argued that this statue served as an overt nod towards white supremacy.[12] Opponents believed that taking down the monument did not further racial harmony; rather, it erases history. When taken down from the courthouse lawn in 2020, the marker was unceremoniously loaded into a small van.
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. 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.