My friend and historian John Angus Martin, author of A-Z of Grenada Heritage told me about ‘Bontemps the Swiss.’ It seems that Louis Francois Bontemps was a Swiss national who was an estate manager in Grenada.
Bontemps was possibly involved in business of his own and owned a house either in Grenville or Marquis, St Andrew with ‘8 enslaved not attached to an estate.’ He integrated well because of his French language, and seemed quite attached to the French protestants.
However, during Fedon’s Rebellion, like many of the white French, he probably felt compelled to remain in Fedon’s camp, fearing for his life if he left. He forfeited the house and slaves. He was among the first group of rebels brought to trial in June 1796 and indicted either on the 27 or 30 June. He pled that he was not the person in the ‘Act to Attaint Certain Persons…’ His name appears on the execution list as Louis Francois Bontiens/Bontems, but he is named on the in the ‘An Act to Attaint certain Persons…’ (11 August 1795) as Louis François Bontems. Despite his pleading, the jury returned a guilty verdict and the chief judge passed the sentence of death. On 8 or 9 July 1796 he was among 15 rebels hanged on the Parade in the Market Square.
Execution list: Louis Francois Bontiens/Bontems
That’s the same market square that is chock-a-block of vendors hustling spices, fruit, veg and assorted bits and pieces Monday to Sunday. I believe the gibbet used to be within the back of the square close to the junction of Market Hill, Granby and Grenville streets. There IS a photo somewhere…. Will find.
Contemporary Arts Residency in the Swiss Alps – 10 days to go
10 days until I begin my contemporary arts residency at Open Spaces in the Swiss Alps. Please join me on this journey, and receive at the end, an original made-in-Switzerland-by me artwork of your very own. Of course, along the way, you get to follow my blog (online or via email), and see progress reports. Visit my original blogpost with a Paypal link — and help offset basic expenses for my stay. So far, support received has paid for return airfare and ground transport to Gstaad, where I’ll be collected to get to the village of Feutersoey, some 10 minutes away. Thank you.
FOR YOUR SUPPORT – still not too late!
As a reward for your generous support, I will send an original painting made-in-Switzerland-by-me to you at the end of the residency, as below:
- USD $50 support: (acid free mixed media paper, 6×8 inches.) Still available #27
- USD $100 support: (acid free mixed media paper 9×12 inches.) Still available #17
- USD $200 support: (handmade South Indian paper A4.) Still available #8
I will also provide daily updates about my journey on my blog as well as a special pdf diary of works in progress and extensive studio photos. BONUS: I’ll also send select digital images from my extensive Grenada Traditional Masquerade series, direct to your email address.
PS if the link does not work, OPEN IT IN YOUR BROWSER or please email me at artstung@gmail.com or inbox your email to https://www.facebook.com/artstungingrenada/ and I will email you a Paypal invoice. For persons who wish to donate outside of Paypal (in Grenada or in Trinidad or anywhere else) whatsapp me at 14734561953 for instructions.
Thank you to my family, friends, OLD and NEW collectors of my work!