Robert Mathews

Robert Jay Mathews

Birth Name: Robert Jay Mathews
Birth Date: 1953-01-16
Birth Place: Marfa, Texas, USA
Death Date: 1984-12-08 (31 years old)
Death Location: Whidbey Island, Washington, USA
Occupation: Electrician

Robert Jay Mathews was a pro-White activist, founder of Sons of Liberty, and founder of The Order along with David Lane and Louis Beam. Robert at age 11 while living in Phoenix, Arizona joined the John Birch Society, and at age 16 was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1974 Robert and his dad moved to Metaline Falls, Washington where they purchased 60 acres and raised Scottish Galloway Cattle. In 1976 Robert married Debbie McGarity, and in 1981 adopted a son. He later had a biological daughter with his mistress Zillah Craig.

Sons of Liberty

Robert formed the Sons of Liberty as an anti-communist militia, with most of the about 25 members being Mormons. He left the group that he founded likely do to dissagreement between the Mormon and non-Mormon members.

The Order

In 1983 Robert founded The Order and constructed barracks with help from friends, members of the Aryan Nations, and members of the National Alliance, on his 60 acres in Mataline, Washington. The group used currency counterfeiting and robberies ranging from $369 to $3,600,000. They distributed some of the proceeds to pro-White organizations around the USA. Tom Martinez a member of The Order was caught by the FBI using counterfeit currency and turned on his brothers. The charges placed on members of The Order included racketeering, conspiracy, counterfeiting, transporting stolen money, armored car robbery, and violation of civil rights. Multiple people connected to the group were eventually tried for sedition, but were acquitted by a jury.

Final Days

Robert wrote a letter declaring war on the US Federal Government. After Tom Martinez turned on The Order, the FBI moved to capture Robert and other members of The Order. Robert was surrounded in a house on Whidbey Island on December 7th, 1984. On December 8th the FBI fired dozens of smoke grenades and stun grenades in to the house to force Robert out, but was unsuccessful due to his use of a gas mask. When agents attempted to enter the house Robert fired upon the agents, forcing them to retreat. Later a helicopter appeared and was fired upon by Robert which led to more gunfire with FBI agents, but no one was injured in the gunfire. An FBI agent then fired three M79 Starburst flares into the house from the helicopter igniting the house. Robert continued with gunfire while the house burned until he died of burns and smoke inhalation. After entering the house Roberts 31 year old body was found with a pistol still in his hand. No agents where injured in the standoff. Roberts remains were cremated and the ashes were spread by his family on the property in Mataline, Washington.