James Mathews was a man born into slavery in South Carolina.  The early years of his life were spent enslaved in the south, until he finally managed to escape hidden on a ship out of Charleston.  He landed in Boston, MA.  

Then he made his way via the underground railroad to Hallowell, where he was welcomed.  He settled here for the rest of his life.  

In the 1830’s he told an harrowing account of his life enslaved.  This account of his life was used by Abolitionists across the country to tell a true life account of the horrors endured by the enslaved people.  

Upon his death the people from Hallowell pool funds to provide him a stone in the town cemetery.  His stone can still be seen today.