Whilst perusing the works of Haitian historians on Goman, the maroon, soldier, and leader who led what was essentially an independent state in Haiti's Sud for over a decade, we came across at least one descendant of his on Family Search. According to Madiou, Ardouin and other sources, Goman had a son, Lundi, who was pardoned by President Boyer. Indeed, the act was commemorated in a painting that, alas, has been lost. Interestingly, the entry of Boyer into Cap-Haitien after the fall of Christophe's regime in the Nord was also commemorated by a painting, perhaps showing how important the reunification of Haiti was for Boyer's administration. Anyway, in 1843, Lundi Goman's daughter, Margueritte, was born. One wonders how many other descendants of Goman were out there in Haiti during the late 1800s and, perhaps, today.
What was his relationship with André Rigaud? I read he was a lieutenant of his. Why would a black maroon choose to work for Rigaud given what befell his black soldiers known as the "Suisses" after Rigaud made peace with his white enemies?
ReplyDeleteI thik he saw Rigaud as a "godfather" figure and Rigaud was the one who officially freed him during the Revolution. Ha, if you trust Beaubrun Ardouin, Goman supposedly saw Rigaud as a "good" mulatto.
ReplyDeleteThat fact indicates that maroons were purely pragmatic, willing to work as slave catchers for white planters when it was in the interest of their little group. Some historians, Carolyn E. Fick for example, tend to give them credit over the black military leaders as more consistent fighters against the slave system. In my opinion, that's anarchist bs. Revolutions are the children of the push and pull between the masses and the revolutionary leadership.
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree. Maroons are so romanticized
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