Thomas Mundy Peterson
Thomas Mundy Peterson (1824–1904) of Perth Amboy, New Jersey was the first African-American to vote in an election under the just-enacted provisions of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution. His vote was cast on March 31, 1870.[1][2]
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[edit] Biography
He was born in Metuchen, New Jersey. His father, also named Thomas, worked for the Mundy family. It is unclear if he was a slave of the family or not. His mother, Lucy Green, was a slave of Hugh Newell (1744-1816) of Freehold Township, New Jersey. She was manumitted at age 21 by Newell's will.
He was a school custodian and general handyman in Perth Amboy. Active in the Republican Party, he became that the city's first African-American to hold elected office, on the Middlesex County Commission.[3] He was also the city's first "colored" person to serve on a jury.
Peterson voted in a local election held in Perth Amboy, NJ over the town's charter. Some citizens wanted to revise the existing charter while others wished to abandon the charter altogether in favor of a township form of government. Peterson cast his ballot in favor of revising the existing charter. This side won 229 to 63. Peterson was afterward appointed to be a member of the committee of seven that made the revisions.[4] American Publishing Company, Perth Amboy, New Jersey. No date. p. 139. Quotes Peterson from an undated newspaper article, likely from 1884 when he received the "voting medal."
While he is known today as "Thomas Mundy Peterson," there are no contemporary records that include the three names together. The one exception is the cover for the program describing the ceremony when he was given the "voting medal," and that calls him "Thomas Peterson-Mundy."[5] Contemporary documents refer to him as either Thomas Peterson or Thomas (or Tom) Mundy. His death certificate, the undertaker's accounts book and a land deed all refer to him as "Thomas H. Peterson." In the obituary appearing in The Perth Amboy Evening News he is called Thomas Henry Peterson.
[edit] Legacy
Decades later, the school where Peterson had worked was renamed after him.
In New Jersey, March 31 is annually celebrated as Thomas Mundy Peterson Day in recognition of his historic vote.[6]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Perth Amboy Church Is 302 And Counting". New York Times. February 15, 1987. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40711FA345E0C768DDDAB0894DF484D81. Retrieved 2010-11-27. "The first black man to vote in America, Thomas Mundy Peterson, was a member of St. Peter's and is buried in its graveyard. He voted in the Perth Amboy mayoral election of March 31, 1870, one day after adoption of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution."
- ^ African-American Firsts Remembered - Newark Public Library at www.npl.org
- ^ Voting Medal at www.history.org
- ^ McGinnis, William C. History of Perth Amboy New Jersey.
- ^ None (1935). The Presentation Of A Medal To Thomas Peterson - Mundy. Perth Amboy, New Jersey: H. E. Pickersgill.
- ^ P.L.1998, jr.001 (AJR31) at www.njleg.state.nj.us
[edit] External links
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