William M. Thomas Explained

William M. Thomas was an African-American Republican politician during the Reconstruction era. He was a minister affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church.^{[1] [2]} He represented Colleton County in the 1868 South Carolina Constitutional Convention and in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1868 until 1876. He was also an officer in the state militia and was a delegate to the 1876 Republican National Convention.^[1] He was categorized as "colored".^[3] He and Joseph D. Boston were the only African Americans to serve all four terms during the Reconstruction era in the South Carolina House.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Book: Smith, John David. Black Judas: William Hannibal Thomas and "The American Negro". November 15, 2019. University of Georgia Press. 9780820356259. Google Books.
2. Book: Taylor, Alrutheus Ambush. The Negro in South Carolina During the Reconstruction. July 29, 1924. Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. 9781404760899. Google Books.
3. Web site: Reconstruction in South Carolina, 1865-1877. John Schreiner. Reynolds. July 29, 1905. State Company. Google Books.
4. Book: Rabinowitz, Howard N.. Southern Black Leaders of the Reconstruction Era. July 29, 1982. University of Illinois Press. 9780252009723. Google Books.