ishmael
Difficult and hazardous working conditions
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When the announcement in the Quebec Gazette was published on March 11, 1784, a $14 reward was offered for Ishmael. This was the second time that merchant John Turner of Montreal published announcements about the people he had enslaved. The first time, in 1779, Ishmael was described as born in New England, with an accent specific to that area, and as having broad shoulders and black curly hair. The announcement also stated that he had already had smallpox, could read English fairly well and spoke very little French. He was said to be 35 years old. According to Francis Back, a specialist in ancient costumes, the clothing that Ishmael wore when he escaped (a hat painted white, a frock and trousers made from Osnaburg fabric) is associated with marine occupations such as river piloting or stevedoring. Given that John Turner was a merchant, it’s possible that Ishmael was a stevedore.
A kick to his left leg by a horse
At his second attempt at escape, in 1784, the announcement began by specifying that he had "a remarkably down-cast Countenance." He had also lost his upper teeth and the fourth finger on his left hand, and he bore a fresh scar from a kick to his right leg by a horse.
Illustrated by RICHARD VALLERAND
Pretending to be a free man
It was added that he understood a bit of Dutch and that he pretended to be a free man, an escape strategy to hide his real identity. There is an unusual fact attached to this announcement: appearing five years after the first one, in which he was said to be 35, this time Ismael’s age was stated as being 36. When he escaped for the third time, in 1788, Ishmael was described as barefooted, which, as in Bell’s case, tells us that he maybe was in a hurry to leave. At the time, he was wearing a sailor’s blue jacket, which brings us back to Francis Back’s theory about Ishmael’s activities being maritime in nature. Almost ten years after his first escape, he was still described as being 35 years old. Once again, the announcement said that he was pretending to be a free man.
read the wanted notice
Legal uncertainty about ownership
The merchant John Turner had enslaved at least four other persons, including Manuel Allen, whom he sold to his son Jervis George Turner. In 1798, Manuel Allen escaped in the wake of desertions spearheaded by Charlotte the same year. The escapes by Charlotte, Judith, Manuel Allen and Robin helped to end slavery in Lower Canada at the turn of the 19th century. Justice James Monk, who presided over various court cases, could not find any legal basis for the practice of slavery in the province, and from that point on, refused to punish the fugitives.
Ishmael: “something remarkably sad about his face”
The grueling working conditions in slavery, as well as in shipyards and port facilities, made workplace accidents and resulting injuries all too common. In these notoriously demanding and risky trades, the tasks assigned to enslaved persons were often the most exhausting and dangerous. They were forced to perform them regardless of their fatigue or the risks to their health, safety, and lives.
Occupational Health and Safety
In slavery, no rights are recognized—not even the right to life. Much less the right to health, safety, personal integrity, or safe working conditions. Fortunately, the emergence of human rights has reversed this trend by guaranteeing every person, regardless of skin color, the right to safe, just, and equitable working conditions. Unfortunately, persistent racial prejudices in our society still result in people of color being concentrated in more demanding, more dangerous, and lower-paying jobs, even when they possess the skills or credentials that would qualify them for more desirable positions. Caregivers, domestic workers, janitorial staff, and low-skilled jobs: the direct, indirect, and systemic discrimination that people of African descent still widely face is difficult to eradicate despite the existence of laws.
from slavery to rights
Test your knowledge
By looking at Ishmael’s clothing, can you determine what waas his job?
Illustration by RICHARD VALLERAND
