Twelve Years a Slave

Twelve Years a Slave Excerpt 1

"As far back as I have been able to ascertain, my ancestors on the paternal side were slaves in Rhode Island. They belonged to a family by the name of Northup, one of whom, removing to the State of New York, settled at Hoosic, in Rensselaer county. He brought with him Mintus Northup, my father. On the death of this gentleman, which must have occurred some fifty years ago, my father became free, having been emancipated by a direction in his will....Sometime after my father's liberation, he removed to the town of Minerva, Essex county, N.Y., where I was born, in the month of July, 1808."  (p.18-19)

Twelve Years a Slave Excerpt 2

"On Christmas Day, 1829, I was married to Anne Hampton, a colored girl then living in the vicinity of our residence. ...

With the return of spring, Anne and myself conceived the project of taking a farm in the neighborhood. I had been accustomed from earliest youth to agricultural labors, and it was an occupation congenial to my tastes. I accordingly entered into arrangements for a part of the old Alden farm, on which my father formerly resided. With one cow, one swine, a yoke of fine oxen I had lately purchased of Lewis Brown, in Hartford, and other personal property and effects, we proceeded to our new home in Kingsbury. That year I planted twenty-five acres of corn, sowed large fields of oats, and commenced farming upon as large a scale as my utmost means would permit. Anne was diligent about the house affairs, while I toiled laboriously in the field.

On this place we continued to reside until 1834." (p. 20-21, 23-24)

1830 Census Questions

Look at the 1830 Census, first along the left side to find Solomon's name and then along the top to look at the categories. Make sure to look at both pages of the census record.

Notice in the record how Solomon Northup's entry is documented compared to the rest of the individual's listed on the census record. How are they different?

Twelve Years a Slave Excerpt 3

"I continued to reside at Saratoga until the spring of 1841. ...

At this time we were the parents of three children--Elizabeth, Margaret, and Alonzo. Elizabeth, the eldest, was in her tenth year; Margaret was two years younger, the little Alonzo had just passed his fifth birth-day. They filled our house with gladness. Their young voices were music in our ears. Many an airy castle did their mother and myself build for the little innocents. When not at labor I was always walking with them, clad in their best attire, through the streets and groves of Saratoga." (p. 26-27)

1840 Census Questions

Look at the 1840 Census.

• Where is Solomon Northup living?
• Who is living with him?

Twelve Years a Slave Excerpt 4

"The pain in my head had subsided in a measure, but I was very faint and weak. I was sitting upon a low bench, made of rough boards, and without coat or hat. I was hand cuffed. Around my ankles also were a pair of heavy fetters. One end of a chain was fastened to a large ring in the floor, the other to the fetters on my ankles. I tried in vain to stand upon my feet. Waking from such a painful trance, it was some time before I could collect my thoughts. Where was I? What was the meaning of these chains?...What had I done to deserve imprisonment in such a dungeon? I could not comprehend. There was a blank of some indefinite period, preceding my awakening in that lonely place, the events of which the utmost stretch of memory was unable to recall. I listened intently for some sign or sound of life, but nothing broke the oppressive silence, save the clinking of my chains, whenever I chanced to move. I spoke aloud, but the sound of my voice startled me. I felt of my pockets, so far as the fetters would allow—far enough, indeed, to ascertain that I had not only been robbed of liberty, but that my money and free papers were also gone! Then did the idea begin to break upon my mind, at first dim and confused, that I had been kidnapped. But that I thought was incredible." (p. 38)

Twelve Years a Slave Excerpt 5

"In the afternoon we were drawn up, two abreast, Robert and myself in advance, and in this order, driven by Burch and Goodin from the yard, through the streets of Richmond to the brig Orleans. She was a vessel of respectable size, full rigged, and freighted principally with tobacco. We were all on board by five o'clock. Burch brought us each a tin cup and a spoon. There were forty of us in the brig...." (p. 63-64)

Twelve Years a Slave Excerpt 6

"Very soon traders and consignees came on board. One, a tall, thin-faced man, with light complexion and a little bent, made his appearance, with a paper in his hand. Burch's gang, consisting of myself, Eliza and her children, Harry, Lethe, and some others, who had joined us at Richmond, were consigned to him. This gentleman was Mr. Theophilus Freeman. Reading from his paper, he called, "Platt." No one answered. The name was called again and again, but still there was no reply. Then Lethe was called, then Eliza, then Harry, until the list was finished, each one stepping forward as his or her name was called.
'Captain, where's Platt?' demanded Theophilus Freeman.
The captain was unable to inform him, no one being, on board answering to that name.
'Who shipped him?' he again inquired of the captain, pointing to me.
'Burch,' replied the captain.
'Your name is Platt—you answer my description. Why don't you come forward?' he demanded of me, in an angry tone.
I informed him that was not my name; that I had never been called by it, but that I had no objection to it as I knew of." (p. 75-76)

Slave Manifest Questions

Slave manifests were required by law to document slaves being shipped from one port to another.

• What is the name of the ship?
• What port did the ship leave from?
• What port did the ship sail to?
• What name is given to Solomon Northup?
• What number is he on the manifest?
• What is his age? His height? His complexion?

Twelve Years a Slave Excerpt 7

"Edwin Epps, of whom much will be said during the remainder of this history, is a large, portly, heavybodied man with light hair, high cheek bones, and a Roman nose of extraordinary dimensions. He has blue eyes, a fair complexion, and is, as I would say, full six feet high. ...

His manners are repulsive and coarse, and his language gives speedy and unequivocal evidence that he has never enjoyed the advantages of an education. ...

He had been a driver and overseer in his younger years, but at this time was in possession of a plantation on Bayou Huff Power, ... It belonged to Joseph B. Roberts, his wife's uncle, and was leased by Epps. His principal business was raising cotton, ..." (p. 162-163)

1850 Census Questions

The Census of 1850 included a Slave Schedule where all slaves were counted. Look at the 1850 Slave Schedule .

• Which slave owned by Edwin Epps do you think could be Solomon Northup (Platt Hamilton)?
• What information leads you to believe this?

Historical Context

After twelve years, Solomon Northup regains his freedom with assistance from Henry B. Northup the descendant of his father, Mintus Northup's original owner.