CHAPTER I.

by Solomon Northup

　　CHAPTER I.INTRODUCTORY ANCESTRY THE NORTHUP FAMILY BIRTH AND PARENT-AGE MLNTUS NORTHUP MARRIAGE WITH ANNE HAMPTON GOOD RES-OLUTIONS CHAMPLAIN CANAL RAFTING EXCURSION TO CANADAFARMING THE VIOLIN COOKING REMOVAL TO SARATOGA PARKERAND PERRY SLAVES AND SLAVERY THE CHILDREN THE BEGINNINGOF SORROW.Haying been born a freeman, and for more thanthirty years enjoyed the blessings of liberty in a freeState — and having at the end of that time been kid-napped and sold into Slavery, where I remained, untilhappily rescued in the month of January, 1S53, aftera bondage of twelve years — it has been suggestedthat an account of my life and fortunes would not beuninteresting to the public.I Since my return to liberty, I have not failed to per-ceive the increasing interest throughout the NorthernStates, in regard to the subject of Slavery. "Works offiction, professing to portray its features in their morepleasing as well as more repugnant aspects, have been

　　IS TWELVE TEAKS A SLAVE.circulated to an extent unprecedented, and, as I un-derstand, have created a fruitful topic of comment anddiscussion.I can speak of Slavery only so far as it came undermy own observation — only so far as I have knownand experienced it in my own person. My object is,to give a candid and truthful statement of facts : torepeat the story of my life, without- exaggeration, leav-ing it for others to determine, whether even the pagesof fiction present a picture of more cruel wrong or aseverer bondage.As far back as I have been able to ascertain, myancestors on the paternal side were slaves in EhodeIsland. They belonged to a family by the name of2SI orthup, one of whom, removing to the State of New-York, settled at Hoosic, in Eensselaer county. Hebrought with him Mintus ISTorthup, my father. Onthe death of this gentleman, which must have occur-red some fifty years ago, my father became free, hav-ing been emancipated by a direction in his will.Henry B. IsTorthup, Esq., of Sandy Hill, a distin-guished counselor at law, and the man to whom, un-der Providence, I am indebted for my present liberty,and my return to the society of my wife and children,is a relative of the family in which my forefatherswere thus held to service, and from which they tookthe name I bear. To this fact may be attributed thepersevering interest he has taken in my behalf.Sometime after my father's liberation, he removedto the town of Minerva, Essex county, 1ST. Y., where I

　　PARENTAGE. 19 was born, in the month of July, 1808. How long heremained in the latter place I have not the means ofdefinitely ascertaining. From thence he removed toGranville, Washington county, near a place known asSlyborough, where, for some years, he labored on thefarm of Clark 2>Torthup, also a relative of his old mas-ter ; from thence he removed to the Alden farm, atMoss Street, a short distance north of the village ofSandy Hill ; and from thence to the farm now ownedby Kussel Pratt, situated on the road leading fromFort Edward to Argyle, where he continued to resideuntil his death, which took place on the 22d day ofNovember, 1829. He left a widow and two children— myself, and Joseph, an elder brother. The latteris still living in the county of Oswego, near the cityof that name ; my mother died during the period ofmy captivity.Though born a slave, and laboring under the disad-vantages to which my unfortunate race is subjected,my father was a man respected for his industry andintegrity, as many now living, who well rememberhim, are ready to testify. His whole life was passed inthe peaceful pursuits of agriculture, never seeking em-ployment in those more menial positions, which seemto be especially allotted to the children of Africa. Be-sides giving us an education surpassing that ordinari-ly bestowed upon children in our condition, he ac-quired, ( by his diligence and economy, a sufficientproperty qualification to entitle him to the right ofsuffrage. He was accustomed to speak to us of his

　　20 TWELVE YEAES A SLAVE. early life ; and although at all times cherishing thewarmest emotions of kindness, and even of affectiontowards the family, in whose house he had been abondsman, he nevertheless comprehended the systemof Slavery, and dwelt with sorrow on the degradationof his race. He endeavored to imbue our minds withsentiments of morality, and to teach us to place ourtrust and confidence in Him who regards the humblestas well as the highest of his creatures. How oftensince that time has the recollection of his paternalcounsels occurred to me, while lying in a slave hut inthe distant and sickly regions of Louisiana, smartingwith the undeserved wounds wdiich an inhuman mas-ter had inflicted, and longing only for the grave whichhad covered him, to shield me also from the lash ofthe oppressor. In the church-yard at Sandy Hill, anhumble stone marks the spot where he reposes, afterhaving worthily performed the duties appertaining tothe lowly sphere wherein God had appointed him towalk.Up to this period I had been principally engagedwith my father in the labors of the farm. The leis-ure hours allowed me were generally either employedover my books, or playing on the violin — an amuse-ment which was the ruling passion of my youth. Ithas also been the source of consolation since, affordingpleasure to the simple beings with whom my lot wascast, and beguiling my own thoughts, for many hours,from the painful contemplation of my fate.On Christmas dav, 1829, I was married to Anne

　　GOOD RESOLUTIONS. 21 Hampton, a colored girl then living in the vicinity ofonr residence. The ceremony was performed at FortEdward, by Timothy Eddy, Esq., a magistrate ofthat town, and still a prominent citizen of the place.She had resided a long time at Sandy Hill, with Mr.Baird, proprietor of the Eagle Tavern, and also in thefamily of Rev. Alexander Proudfit, of Salem. Thisgentleman for many years had presided over the Pres-byterian society at the latter place, and was widelydistinguished for his learning and piety. Annestill holds in grateful remembrance the exceedingkindness and the excellent counsels of that good man.She is not able to determine the exact line of her de-scent, but the blood of three races mingles in herveins. It is difficult to tell whether the red, white, orblack predominates. The union of them all, however,in her origin, has given her a singular but pleasingexpression, such as is rarely to be seen. Thoughsomewhat resembling, yet she cannot properly bestyled a quadroon, a class to which, I have omitted tomention, my mother belonged.I had just now passed the period of my minority,having reached the age of twenty-one years in themonth of July previous. Deprived of the advice andassistance of my father, with a wife dependent uponme for support, I resolved to enter upon a life of in-dustry ; and notwithstanding the obstacle of color,and the consciousness of my lowly state, indulged inpleasant dreams of a good time coming, when the pos-session of some humble habitation, with a few sur-

　　22 TWELVE TEAE3 A SLAVE. rounding acres, should reward my labors, and bringme the means of happiness and comfort.From the time of my marriage to this day the loveI have borne my wife has been sincere and unabated;and only those who have felt the glowing tendernessa father cherishes for his offspring, can appreciate myaffection for the beloved children which have sincebeen born to us. This much I deem appropriate andnecessary to say, in order that those who read thesepages, may comprehend the poignancy of those suf-ferings I have been doomed to bear.Immediately upon our marriage we commencedhouse-keeping, in the old yellow building then stand-ing at the southern extremity of Fort Edward village,and which has since been transformed into a modernmansion, and lately occupied by Captain Lathrop.It is known as the Fort ■ House. In this building thecourts were sometime held after the organization ofthe county. It was also occupied by Burgoyne in1777, being situated near the old Fort on the left bankof the Hudson.During the winter I was employed with others re-pairing the Champlain Canal, on that section overwhich "William Van Nortwick was superintendent.David McEachron had the immediate charge of themen in whose company I labored. By the time thecanal opened in the spring, I was enabled, from thesavings of ,my wages, to purchase a pair of horses, andother things necessarily required in the business ofnavigation.

　　EXCURSION TO CANADA. 23 Having hired several efficient hands to assist me, Ientered into contracts for the transportation of largerafts of timber from Lake Champlain to Troy. DyerBeckwith and a Mr. Bartemy, of Whitehall, accompa-nied me on several trips. During the season I be-came perfectly familiar with the art and mysteries ofrafting — a knowledge which afterwards enabled meto render profitable service to a worthy master, andto astonish the simple-witted lumbermen on the banksof the Bayou Bceuf.In one of my voyages down Lake Champlain, I wasinduced to make a visit to Canada. Repairing toMontreal, I visited the cathedral and other places ofinterest in that city, from whence I continued my ex-cursion to Kingston and other towns, obtaining aknowledge of localities, which was also of service tome afterwards, as will appear towards the close ofthis narrative.Having completed my contracts on the canal satis-factorily to myself and to my employer, and not wish-ing to remain idle, now that the navigation of the ca-nal was again suspended, I entered into another con-tract with Medad Gunn, to cut a large quantity ofwood. In this business I was engaged during thewinter of 1831-32."With the return of spring, Anne and myself con-ceived the project of taking a farm in the neighbor-hood. I had been accustomed from earliest youth toagricultural labors, and it was an occupation conge-nial to my tastes. I accordingly entered into arrange-

　　24 TWELVE TEARS A SLAVE. ment's for a part of the old Alden farm, on which myfather formerly resided. "With one cow, one swine,a yoke of fine oxen I had lately purchased of LewisBrown, in Hartford, and other personal property andeffects, we proceeded to our new home in Kingsbury.That year I planted twenty-five acres of corn, sowedlarge fields of oats, and commenced farming upon aslarge a scale as my utmost means would permit.Anne was diligent about the house affairs, while Itoiled laboriously in the field.On this place we continued to reside until 1834.In the winter season I had numerous calls to play onthe violin. Wherever the young people assembled todance, I was almost invariably there. Throughoutthe surrounding villages my fiddle was notorious.Anne, also, during her long residence at the EagleTavern, had become somewhat famous as a cook.During court weeks, and on public occasions, she wasemployed at high wages in the kitchen at Sherrill'sCoffee House."We always returned home from the performanceof these services with money in our pockets ; so that,with fiddling, cooking, and farming, we soon foundourselves in the possession of abundance, and, in fact,leading a happy and prosperous life. "Well, indeed,would it have been for us had we remained on thefarm at Kingsbury ; but the time came when thenext step was to be taken towards the cruel destinythat awaited me.In March, 1834, we removed to Saratoga Springs.

　　REMOVAL TO SARATOGA. 25 We occupied a house belonging to Daniel O'Brien,on the north side of Washington street. At that timeIsaac Taylor kept a large boarding house, known asWashington Hall, at the north end of Broadway. Heemployed me to drive a hack, in which capacity 1worked for him two years. After this time I wasgenerally employed through the visiting season, asalso was Anne, in the United States Hotel, and otherpublic houses of the place. In winter seasons I re-lied upon my violin, though during the constructionof the Troy and Saratoga railroad, I performed manyhard days 1 labor upon it.I was in the habit, at Saratoga, of purchasing articles necessary for my family at the stores of Mr. Cephas Parker and Mr. William Perry, gentlementowards whom, for many acts of kindness, I enter-tained feelings of strong regard. It was for this rea-son that, twelve years afterwards, I caused to be di-rected to them the letter, which is hereinafter insert-ed, and which was the means, in the hands of Mr.Northup, of my fortunate deliverance.While living at the United States Hotel, I frequent-ly met with slaves, who had accompanied their mas-ters from the South. They were always well dressedand well provided for, leading apparently an easy life,with but few of its ordinary troubles to perplex them.Many times they entered into conversation with meon the subject of Slavery. Almost uniformly I foundthey cherished a secret desire for liberty. Some ofthem expressed the most ardent anxiety to escape, and

　　26 TWELVE TEAKS A SLAVE. consulted me on the best method of effecting it. Thefear of punishment, however, which they knew wascertain to attend their re-capture and return, in allcases proved sufficient to deter them from the exper-iment. Having all my life breathed the free air ofthe North, and conscious that I possessed the samefeelings and affections that find a place in the whiteman's breast ; conscious, moreover, of an intelligenceequal to that of some men, at least, with a fairer skin,I was too ignorant, perhaps too independent, to con-ceive how any one could be content to live in the ab-ject condition of a slave. I could not comprehend thejustice of that law, or that religion, which upholds orrecognizes the principle of Slavery ; and never once,I am proud to say, did I fail to counsel any one whocame to me, to watch his opportunity, and strike forfreedom.I continued to reside at Saratoga until the spring of1841. The flattering anticipations which, seven yearsbefore, had seduced us from the quiet farm-house, onthe east side of the Hudson, had not been realized.Though always in comfortable circumstances, wehad not prospered. The society and associations at thatworld-renowned watering place, were not calculatedto preserve the simple habits of industry and economyto which I had been accustomed, but, on the contrary,to substitute others in their stead, tending to shift-lessness and extravagance.At this time we were the parents of three children— Elizabeth, Margaret, and Alonzo. Elizabeth, the

　　HOME AND ITS PLEASURES. 27 eldest, was in her tenth, year; Margaret was twoyears younger, and little Alonzo had just passed hisfifth birth-day. They filled onr house with gladness.Their young voices were music in our ears. Many anairy castle did their mother and myself build for thelittle innocents. When not at labor I was alwayswalking with them, clad in their best attire, throughthe streets and groves of Saratoga. Their presencewas my delight ; and I clasped them to my bosomwith as warm and tender love as if their clouded skinshad been as white as snow.Thus far the history of my life presents nothingwhatever unusual — nothing but the common hopes,and loves, and labors of an obscure colored man, ma-king his humble progress in the world. But now Ihad reached a turning point in my existence — reach-ed the threshold of unutterable wrong, and sorrow,and despair. Kow had I approached within the shad-ow of the cloud, into the thick darkness whereof I wassoon to disappear, thenceforward to be hidden fromthe eyes of all my kindred, and shut out from thesweet light of liberty, for many a weary year.s