(1700-1734)
The man was Claude Thibault, a white indentured servant from France, who would be free once his contract was up; but for poor Marie-Joseph; only death would set her free.
In a fit of anger, she set fire to Poulin's home, but tragically the fire spread to forty-six other buildings, including the famed L'Hôtel Dieu hospital. Fortunately, no lives were lost, but Angelique was captured and brought to trial. After admitting her guilt, she was sentenced to torture and death.
Her execution, which took place on June 21, 1634; was a public affair, and on the fateful day, she was driven through the streets on a scavenger's cart, with a rope tied around her neck and signs bearing the word "incendiaire" ("arsonist") on her chest and back. On arrival at the parish church at Place d'Armes, she was made to kneel and beg for forgiveness from the King, God, and her fellow citizens. Then her hand was cut off. Slavery was condoned by the church, so she could not expect to get any sympathy in 'The House of God'.
Placed back in the wagon, she was taken to the gallows, and not wanting to dirty their hands, another slave, Mathieu; was forced to carry out the hanging. She was then burned at the stake and her ashes were "cast to the four corners of the earth."
A century later, the Underground Railroad in Canada, assisted many black slaves fleeing the United States, but Marie-Josephe Angelique, who only wanted to be allowed to marry her sweetheart; had no such support.
