Titus van Bengale

M, #5886, b. circa 1684, d. 3 September 1714

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Last Edited18/11/2017
Birth*Titus van Bengale was born circa 1684 in Bengal.1
 
Lovers*Circa 1713 Titus van Bengale and Marie Mouton were lovers Cape Colony.2  
Death*He died on 3 September 1714 de Caep de Goede Hoop, Titus was impaled through the anus and suffered a drawn out death.3,4
 
(Lover) DeathFranz Joosten died on 3 January 1714 Vier-en-twintigriviere, de Caep de Goede Hoop, murdered by his wife Marie Mouton, and two slaves, one of whom, Titus van Bengale, was Marie's lover. The other was Fortuin van Angola and both were owned by Joosten. Joosten's body was stuffed down a warthog burrow, but his murder was exposed when the body was later dug up by animals.5,6,7,8
 

Citations

  1. [S414] H.F. Heese, Reg en Onreg (Kaapse Regspraak in die Agtiende Eeu) (Belville, South Africa: Instituut vir Historiese Navorsing, Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland, 1994), ISBN 1-86808-195-8, At his trial in 1714, Titus van Bengale, was said to be 30 years old. Hereinafter cited as Reg en Onreg.
  2. [S156] Robert C-H Shell, Children of Bondage, A social history of the Slave Society at the Cape of Good Hope, 1652-1838 (1 Jan Smuts Avenue, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2001: Witwatersrand University Press, 1994), p.317. The most spectacular case of an interracial liaison was one in 1714 between the 24-year-old Maria (Marie) Mouton from Middelburg in Zealand (sic), who had a love affair with her slave, Titus of Bengal.. Hereinafter cited as Children of Bondage.
  3. [S562] Precis of the archives of the Cape of Good Hope, W.A. van der Stel Journal, 1699-1732, H.C.V. Leibrandt; (Cape Town, South Africa: W. A. Richards & Sons, Government Printers, Castle Street, 1896), pp.260-261:September 3. -The slave Titus, above mentioned, died about midday, having lived in his misery about 48 hours; something horrible to think of, to say nothing of personally beholding the misery. It is said that 4 hours after his empalement he received a bottle of arrack from which he drank freely and heartily. Whenadvised not to take too much, lest he should get drunk, he answered that it did not matter, as he sat fast enough, and that there was no fear of his falling. It is true that whilst sitting in that deplorable state, he often joked, and scoffingly said that he would never again believe a woman. A way of dying, lauded by the Romans, but damnable among the Christians.. Hereinafter cited as W.A. van der Stel Journal 1699-1732.
  4. [S156] Robert C-H Shell, Children of Bondage, p.317. [Marie Mouton], with Titus and several slave accomplices, murdered her husband of eight years, Franz Joost of Lippstadt. The Cape Court sentenced Titus to be publically impaled through the anus until death. While impaled he was given a flask of rice brandy (arrack) by several onlookers, one of whom duly chided him lest he become too drunk. The diarist recorded Titus' sardonic answer: "It did not matter as he sat fast enough and there was no fear of falling." The diarist of this event concluded: "It is true that whilst sitting in that deplorable state, he often joked, and scoffingly said that he would never again believe a woman."
  5. [S562] W.A. van der Stel Journal 1699-1732, p.260: September1. -Maria Mouton, of Middelburg in Zealand, 24 years old, murdered her husband with the assistance of her paramour the slave Titus of Bengal. She is sentenced to be half strangled, after that to be scorched, and after that strangled until death. Titus to be empaled and to remain so, until death. After that his head and right hand are to be cut off and fixed on a pole, beyond the limits of his late master's property. Fortuin, an accomplice, is also to have his right hand cut off, and without receiving the coup de grace, is to be broken on the wheel. After that he is to be placed on a grating until death takes place. After that his head is to be cut off, and with his hand placed on a pole, together with the head and hand of Titus. After that the bodies are to be taken to the outside place of execution, and there left exposed to the air and the vultures. The properly of the woman is to be divided as follows:- A half of the half for the plaintiff, and the other half for the Orphan Chamber. Costs beforehand to be deducted.
  6. [S150] Edited & augmented by GISA Originally compiled by J.A. Heese & R.T.J. Lombard, South African Genealogies 5 L-M, GISA SA Genealogies (Stellenbosch, South Africa: Genealogical Institute of South Africa, 1999), Page 704. Hereinafter cited as S.A. Genealogies 5 L-M.
  7. [S156] Robert C-H Shell, Children of Bondage.
  8. [S34] J.A. Heese & R.T.J. Lombard, South African Genealogies 4 J-K (Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council, 1992), p.126. ...vermoor op 31.1.1714 deur sy vrou en twee van sy slawe .... Hereinafter cited as S.A. Genealogies 4 J-K.
 

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