Al Pouessi, baptized Marthe Adélaïde Modeste Testas and known under the name of Modeste Testas (1765–1870) was an Ethiopian woman who was enslaved, purchased by Bordeaux merchants and subsequently freed after living on three continents. One of her descendants is a former president of Haiti, François Denys Légitime.
Testas was born with the name Al Pouessi, and was originally from Ethiopia in East Africa.[1][2] She was captured in a raid at the age of fourteen, following a dispute with another tribe. She was taken to West Africa from where she was sold.[3] She was purchased between 1778 and 1781 by Pierre and François Testas, who were merchants and slave-traders from Bordeaux, and owners of a sugar plantation on the island of Haiti.[4]
She travelled to Bordeaux, where she was baptized by the Testas brothers in 1781, giving her the name Marthe Adelaïde Modeste Testas.[5] The same year, she was transported with François Testas to their plantation in Haiti.[5] As an enslaved person, Testas could not consent to a relationship or sex and the circumstances under which she had two children with her owner are not known.[1][6]
In 1795 François Testas left Haiti for New York, travelling with his enslaved servants, who included Modeste Testas and Joseph Lespérance.[7] After moving to Baltimore, François died in Philadelphia. However, in his will he freed the slaves he owned. For Testas, however, one of the conditions of her emancipation was that she would marry Lespérance.[1] The couple returned to Haiti, where Testas inherited fifty-one tiles of land. She and Lespérance had a number of children.[1][3]
In 1870, Testas died on the Testas estate, located near to Jérémie, at the age of 105.[8]
Legacyedit
One of Testas' grandsons, François Denys Légitime, who was the son of Tinette Lespérance, became President of the Republic of Haiti from 1888 to 1889.[7]
Modeste Testas alongside her sculptor, Woodly Caymitte
On 10 May 2019 a statue of Testas was unveiled in Bordeaux, which was created by the Haitian sculptor Woodly Caymitte.[9][10] The bronze statue is 1.7m high and was made at the Fonderie des Cyclopes, and is located on the banks of the Garonne, Quai Louis XVIII.[11] It is a figurative sculpture and is notable as a representation of the body of an enslaved woman.[12] An explanatory plaque on the ground evokes the story of Modeste Testas.[7]
^ abcdHadson, Albert. "La France va honorer la grand-mère d'un ancien président haïtien". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
^Jahan, Sébastien (2020-09-01). "Collectif " Sortir du colonialisme Gironde ", Guide du Bordeaux colonial et de la métropole bordelaise. Paris, Syllepse, 2020, 247 p., 10 €". Cahiers d'histoire. Revue d'histoire critique (in French) (146). doi:10.4000/chrhc.14863. ISSN 1271-6669.
^ abLa mémoire de l’esclavage et de la traite négrière à Bordeaux
^The Testas brothers are cited in the book by Médéric Louis Élie Moreau de Saint-Méry , La part Française de l'Isle de Saint-Domingue , Volume 3. p. 1552.
^ ab"Modeste Testas - Mémoire de l'esclavage et de la traite négrière - Bordeaux". www.memoire-esclavage-bordeaux.fr (in French). Retrieved 2021-03-23.
^"Journée de commémoration de la traite négrière : la statue d'une ancienne esclave installée à Bordeaux". France Bleu (in French). 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
^ abc"Haiti - Memory : Bordeaux inaugurates the statue of a slave of the Haitian sculptor, C. Woodly - HaitiLibre.com : Haiti news 7/7". www.haitilibre.com. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
^"Bordeaux : et l'esclave Modeste Testas sortit de l'oubli". SudOuest.fr (in French). Retrieved 2021-03-23.
^Onishi, Norimitsu (2020-06-24). "George Floyd's Killing Forces Wider Debate on France's Slave-Trading Past". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
^AFP. "Noting colonial past, French city adds info plaques to slave trader street signs". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
^Forrest, Alan (2020). "Remembering and forgetting: How France's slaving ports have come to terms with their past". History Compass. 18 (10): e12632. doi:10.1111/hic3.12632. ISSN 1478-0542. S2CID 224945530.
^Araujo, Ana Lucia (2020-10-15). Slavery in the Age of Memory: Engaging the Past. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN978-1-350-04850-8.
External linksedit
Teaser - Modeste Testas ou l’histoire d’Al Pouessi
April 12, 2024
modeste, testas, pouessi, baptized, marthe, adélaïde, known, under, name, 1765, 1870, ethiopian, woman, enslaved, purchased, bordeaux, merchants, subsequently, freed, after, living, three, continents, descendants, former, president, haiti, françois, denys, lég. Al Pouessi baptized Marthe Adelaide Modeste Testas and known under the name of Modeste Testas 1765 1870 was an Ethiopian woman who was enslaved purchased by Bordeaux merchants and subsequently freed after living on three continents One of her descendants is a former president of Haiti Francois Denys Legitime Modeste TestasBornAl Pouessi1765EthiopiaDied1870 aged 105 HaitiOther namesMarthe Adelaide Modeste Testas Contents 1 Biography 2 Legacy 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBiography editTestas was born with the name Al Pouessi and was originally from Ethiopia in East Africa 1 2 She was captured in a raid at the age of fourteen following a dispute with another tribe She was taken to West Africa from where she was sold 3 She was purchased between 1778 and 1781 by Pierre and Francois Testas who were merchants and slave traders from Bordeaux and owners of a sugar plantation on the island of Haiti 4 She travelled to Bordeaux where she was baptized by the Testas brothers in 1781 giving her the name Marthe Adelaide Modeste Testas 5 The same year she was transported with Francois Testas to their plantation in Haiti 5 As an enslaved person Testas could not consent to a relationship or sex and the circumstances under which she had two children with her owner are not known 1 6 In 1795 Francois Testas left Haiti for New York travelling with his enslaved servants who included Modeste Testas and Joseph Lesperance 7 After moving to Baltimore Francois died in Philadelphia However in his will he freed the slaves he owned For Testas however one of the conditions of her emancipation was that she would marry Lesperance 1 The couple returned to Haiti where Testas inherited fifty one tiles of land She and Lesperance had a number of children 1 3 In 1870 Testas died on the Testas estate located near to Jeremie at the age of 105 8 Legacy editOne of Testas grandsons Francois Denys Legitime who was the son of Tinette Lesperance became President of the Republic of Haiti from 1888 to 1889 7 nbsp Modeste Testas alongside her sculptor Woodly CaymitteOn 10 May 2019 a statue of Testas was unveiled in Bordeaux which was created by the Haitian sculptor Woodly Caymitte 9 10 The bronze statue is 1 7m high and was made at the Fonderie des Cyclopes and is located on the banks of the Garonne Quai Louis XVIII 11 It is a figurative sculpture and is notable as a representation of the body of an enslaved woman 12 An explanatory plaque on the ground evokes the story of Modeste Testas 7 nbsp Modeste Testas statue plaqueSee also editSlavery in AfricaReferences edit a b c d Hadson Albert La France va honorer la grand mere d un ancien president haitien archive wikiwix com Retrieved 2021 03 23 Jahan Sebastien 2020 09 01 Collectif Sortir du colonialisme Gironde Guide du Bordeaux colonial et de la metropole bordelaise Paris Syllepse 2020 247 p 10 Cahiers d histoire Revue d histoire critique in French 146 doi 10 4000 chrhc 14863 ISSN 1271 6669 a b La memoire de l esclavage et de la traite negriere a Bordeaux The Testas brothers are cited in the book by Mederic Louis Elie Moreau de Saint Mery La part Francaise de l Isle de Saint Domingue Volume 3 p 1552 a b Modeste Testas Memoire de l esclavage et de la traite negriere Bordeaux www memoire esclavage bordeaux fr in French Retrieved 2021 03 23 Journee de commemoration de la traite negriere la statue d une ancienne esclave installee a Bordeaux France Bleu in French 2019 05 10 Retrieved 2021 03 23 a b c Haiti Memory Bordeaux inaugurates the statue of a slave of the Haitian sculptor C Woodly HaitiLibre com Haiti news 7 7 www haitilibre com Retrieved 2021 03 23 Bordeaux et l esclave Modeste Testas sortit de l oubli SudOuest fr in French Retrieved 2021 03 23 Onishi Norimitsu 2020 06 24 George Floyd s Killing Forces Wider Debate on France s Slave Trading Past The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2021 03 23 AFP Noting colonial past French city adds info plaques to slave trader street signs www timesofisrael com Retrieved 2021 03 23 Forrest Alan 2020 Remembering and forgetting How France s slaving ports have come to terms with their past History Compass 18 10 e12632 doi 10 1111 hic3 12632 ISSN 1478 0542 S2CID 224945530 Araujo Ana Lucia 2020 10 15 Slavery in the Age of Memory Engaging the Past Bloomsbury Publishing ISBN 978 1 350 04850 8 External links editTeaser Modeste Testas ou l histoire d Al Pouessi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Modeste Testas amp oldid 1208712097, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
