Matthew, an African American man residing in Hyde County, North Carolina, was enslaved by Timothy Allen. Matthew was known within the local enslaved community as a practitioner of folk medicine or witchcraft, and people came to get herbal medicines from him or to have him perform rituals on their behalf. According to another enslaved man named Daniel, in 1756 Matthew gave Daniel a root which was supposed to make anyone who touched it love him and treat him more nicely. Any further information regarding this individual has not been located.