Marie-Joseph Angelique
Marie-Josèph Angélique was a woman born around 1705 in Madeira, Portugal, and became a central figure in a notable historical case in colonial Canada. She was enslaved during her early teens and brought to New England before being sold to a French businessman in Montreal. Angélique's life took a dramatic turn when she attempted to escape with a fellow indentured servant, Claude Thibault, in 1734. Their plan was thwarted, leading to Angélique being accused of setting a devastating fire that destroyed significant property in the city, including a hospital.
Despite a lack of direct evidence, public sentiment quickly turned against her. Angélique was subjected to a trial influenced by her status as an enslaved person, and she ultimately faced torture to extract a confession. Following a controversial trial, she was sentenced to death, which was carried out by hanging in June 1734. Angélique's story has resonated through time, inspiring plays and public recognition, including a square named in her honor in Montreal. Her life highlights the complex interplay of race, gender, and power in colonial society and continues to evoke reflection on historical injustices.
Marie-Joseph Angelique
Slave
- Born: ca. 1705
- Birthplace: Madeira, Portugal
- Died: June 21, 1734
- Place of death: Montreal, Canada
Also known as: Marie-Josèph dite Angélique
Significance: Marie-Josèph Angélique was a Portuguese slave who was tried for setting fire to her owner's house and burning much of the area known as Old Montreal.
Background
Marie-Josèph Angélique was born in Madeira, an archipelago off the coast of Portugal, around 1705. This area was a large part of the Atlantic slave trade, and while it is not known exactly how Angélique came to be enslaved, in her early teens she was bought by a Flemish merchant named Nicholaas Bleecker or Nichus Block and brought to New England. In 1725 she was sold to François Poulin de Francheville, a French businessman, who took her to his home in Montreal. After his death in 1733, Angélique was owned by his wife, Thérèse de Couagne de Francheville. Angélique worked in Montreal at the Franchevilles’ home and sometimes helped with the family’s nearby farm that produced trading supplies.
While enslaved by the Franchevilles, Angélique became involved with Claude Thibault, a white indentured servant who was working for the family. Madame Francheville left the area to attend to the businesses of her husband after his death, and Angélique and Thibault were placed in the care of her brother-in-law, Alexis Monière.
Alleged Crime, Trial, and Execution
Angélique and Thibault tried to escape on February 22, 1734. Heading toward New England, the pair crossed the St. Lawrence river. Weather conditions forced the couple to seek refuge near the Chambly road in Chateauguay. They were then found and returned to Montreal, where Thibault was imprisoned on March 5.
Angélique suffered no repercussions for her escape because Madame Francheville had already been planning on selling her. Madame Francheville felt as though she could not control Angélique and had already accepted an offer of six hundred pounds of gunpowder for Angélique from one of her late husband’s business partners, François-Etienne Cugent. This might have spurred Angélique’s escape attempt. Madame Francheville also dismissed a free house servant because of tensions between the servant and Angélique. Angélique claimed she could do a better job than the servant, Louise Poirier, and Madame Francheville relented. However, Madame Francheville told Poirier she would send for her again after Angélique had been sold.
Thibault was released from jail on April 8, 1734, and returned to Madame Francheville’s home for his outstanding wages. She mentioned to him that Angélique had been sold and would be sent to Quebec City when the ice had broken. Defying Madame Francheville’s demand that he never set foot on her property again. Thibault visited Angélique when her mistress was not home. They began to plan a new escape, and a fire might have been discussed in order to create a distraction for their escape.
On April 10, 1734, the local fire alarm was sounded during the evening prayer. A fire had been started and was moving from the area of rue Saint-Paul and continuing to rue Saint-Joseph. Many tried to run and remain safe in the Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal, a hospital run by a nursing order of nuns, but the fire destroyed the hospital within only a few hours, along with forty-five houses. Because the citizens of Montreal were panicking, many items were taken from the nearby homes.
Many people began to believe that Angélique was the one who had set the fire, but Angélique denied any involvement. Marie-Manon, a young Pawnee slave, said she had heard that Angélique had claimed that her mistress would not "sleep in her house tonight." Before long, most believed that it had been Angélique who had set the fire, and she was found in the garden of the Hôtel-Dieu and arrested. At the time, someone could be arrested based on the opinion of the public and if it was in agreement that the suspect could be guilty. Another warrant was issued for Thibault, but he had disappeared and could not be found.
Angélique was charged with setting the fire and tried by French law. None of the many witnesses at Angélique’s trial could testify to seeing her start the fire. Her character as a slave was also called into question, but no concrete evidence was found to convict her of the crime, and Angélique refused to confess.
The prosecution planned to turn to torture, something that had never previously been done in New France. Before they could try this, however, an eyewitness became available. Alexis Monière’s five-year old daughter, Amable, said that she had seen Angélique bringing coals up to the attic of Madame Francheville’s home the day of the fire. This was enough for the prosecution to conclude that Angélique was guilty. After the fact, many questioned why Amable was not brought before the court before, but it is believed that Angélique had become the scapegoat for the fire at this point. Although she had already been convicted and sentenced, Angélique was then tortured, as the judge believed that she and Thibault had acted together and hoped that torture would force Angélique to denounce her accomplice. Though she at last confessed to the crime, she maintained that she had acted alone.
Angélique was originally sentenced to have her hand cut off and be burnt alive, but when her sentence was appealed to the superior court in Quebec City, it was reduced to being hanged until dead and then having her body burnt. The hanging took place on June 21, 1734, in Montreal.
Impact
Angélique's story has inspired many. Actor and playwright Lorena Gale wrote a play based on the trial documents of her case, Angélique, which won the 1995 du Maurier National Playwriting Competition. In 2012, a public square facing City Hall was named after her.
Personal Life
Angélique was recorded to have had three children with a fellow slave, Jacques César, though it is not known whether their relationship was their own choice or whether it was forced on them by their owners. All three children, a boy born 1731 and two twins born 1732, died in infancy.
Bibliography
Cooper, Afua. The Hanging of Angélique: The Untold Story of Canadian Slavery and the Burning of Old Montréal. Athens: U of Georgia P, 2007. Print.
Cooper, Afua, and Davida Aaronovitch. "Marie-Joseph Angélique." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada, 4 Mar. 2015. Web. 1 Aug. 2016.
"The Fire, Saturday, April 10, 1734." Torture and Truth: Angélique and the Burning of Montreal. Great Unsolved Mysteries in Canadian History, n.d. Web. 1 Aug. 2016.
"Marie-Joseph Angélique." Black History Pages. 5 by 5 Media and African Images, n.d. Web. 1 Aug. 2016.
Mayrand-Fiset, Mirielle. "Marie-Joseph Angelique: Remembering the Arsonist Slave of Montreal." ActiveHistory. ActiveHistory, 25 Sept. 2012. Web. 1 Aug. 2016.