Louis Congo
Encyclopedia
Louis Congo was an African slave who was freed
in 1725 from the Company of the Indies
by Louisiana
official
s and who was appointed public executioner
. He served in this office for at least twelve years, and was granted the authority to execute punishment
s to not only fellow Africans, but also white settlers. During this time, he was given charge of performing whippings
, brandings
, amputation
s, torture
, and hanging
s.
Court records indicate that, on multiple occasions, Congo's position made him the target of vicious attacks, as he was brutally beaten
at least twice. He and the attorney general
sought thorough investigation and punishment in these cases, with it being stated that "the life of said Congo would not be secure if such murderous thugs...were tolerated."
In addition to his freedom, in exchange for his service, Congo received 2 sq_arp of land located on the outskirts of New Orleans and received a regular ration of wine
. Also, although his wife was not formally freed, she was permitted to live with him and was relieved of labor
. Congo also received monetary compensation for each punishment inflicted: flogging earned him 10 pounds
, while hanging
was worth 30 pounds, and he was compensated 40 pounds for breaking someone on the wheel
or for burning someone alive.
It is noted that, unusual for a black man in his time and place, Congo could sign
his name. It is suspected that said name was created in reference to the places he lived: Louis for Louisiana
, Congo for the region of his birth
. If, as his name indicates, he did come from the region of the Congo Basin
, records suggest that he sailed to the Americas in 1721 aboard la Neréide, which was the only ship known to travel from Cabinda, Angola
to Biloxi, Mississippi
.
Freedman
A freedman is a former slave who has been released from slavery, usually by legal means. Historically, slaves became freedmen either by manumission or emancipation ....
in 1725 from the Company of the Indies
Mississippi Company
The "Mississippi Company" became the "Company of the West" and expanded as the "Company of the Indies" .-The Banque Royale:...
by Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
official
Official
An official is someone who holds an office in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority .A government official or functionary is an official who is involved in public...
s and who was appointed public executioner
Executioner
A judicial executioner is a person who carries out a death sentence ordered by the state or other legal authority, which was known in feudal terminology as high justice.-Scope and job:...
. He served in this office for at least twelve years, and was granted the authority to execute punishment
Punishment
Punishment is the authoritative imposition of something negative or unpleasant on a person or animal in response to behavior deemed wrong by an individual or group....
s to not only fellow Africans, but also white settlers. During this time, he was given charge of performing whippings
Flagellation
Flagellation or flogging is the act of methodically beating or whipping the human body. Specialised implements for it include rods, switches, the cat o' nine tails and the sjambok...
, brandings
Human branding
Human branding or stigmatizing is the process in which a mark, usually a symbol or ornamental pattern, is burned into the skin of a living person, with the intention that the resulting scar makes it permanent. This is performed using a hot or very cold branding iron...
, amputation
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
s, torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
, and hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
s.
Court records indicate that, on multiple occasions, Congo's position made him the target of vicious attacks, as he was brutally beaten
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
at least twice. He and the attorney general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
sought thorough investigation and punishment in these cases, with it being stated that "the life of said Congo would not be secure if such murderous thugs...were tolerated."
In addition to his freedom, in exchange for his service, Congo received 2 sq_arp of land located on the outskirts of New Orleans and received a regular ration of wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
. Also, although his wife was not formally freed, she was permitted to live with him and was relieved of labor
Manual labour
Manual labour , manual or manual work is physical work done by people, most especially in contrast to that done by machines, and also to that done by working animals...
. Congo also received monetary compensation for each punishment inflicted: flogging earned him 10 pounds
New France livre
The livre was the currency of New France, the French colony in modern-day Canada. It was subdivided into 20 sols, each of 12 deniers.-History:After an initial period during which barter prevailed, the French livre began to circulate...
, while hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
was worth 30 pounds, and he was compensated 40 pounds for breaking someone on the wheel
Breaking wheel
The breaking wheel, also known as the Catherine wheel or simply the wheel, was a torture device used for capital punishment in the Middle Ages and early modern times for public execution by bludgeoning to death...
or for burning someone alive.
It is noted that, unusual for a black man in his time and place, Congo could sign
Signature
A signature is a handwritten depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and intent. The writer of a signature is a signatory. Similar to a handwritten signature, a signature work describes the work as readily identifying...
his name. It is suspected that said name was created in reference to the places he lived: Louis for Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, Congo for the region of his birth
Congo Basin
The Congo Basin is the sedimentary basin that is the drainage of the Congo River of west equatorial Africa. The basin begins in the highlands of the East African Rift system with input from the Chambeshi River, the Uele and Ubangi Rivers in the upper reaches and the Lualaba River draining wetlands...
. If, as his name indicates, he did come from the region of the Congo Basin
Congo Basin
The Congo Basin is the sedimentary basin that is the drainage of the Congo River of west equatorial Africa. The basin begins in the highlands of the East African Rift system with input from the Chambeshi River, the Uele and Ubangi Rivers in the upper reaches and the Lualaba River draining wetlands...
, records suggest that he sailed to the Americas in 1721 aboard la Neréide, which was the only ship known to travel from Cabinda, Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
to Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....
.