Twelve Years a Slave

“Such dupes are men to custom, and so prone
    To reverence what is ancient, and can plead
    A course of long observance for its use,
    That even servitude, the worst of ills,
    Because delivered down from sire to son,
    Is kept and guarded as a sacred thing.
    But is it fit or can it bear the shock
    Of rational discussion, that a man
    Compounded and made up, like other men,
    Of elements tumultuous, in whom lust
    And folly in as ample measure meet,
    As in the bosom of the slave he rules,
    Should be a despot absolute, and boast
    Himself the only freeman of his land?” — Cowper.

    EDITOR’S PREFACE

    When the editor commenced the preparation of the following narrative, he did not suppose it would reach the size of this volume. In order, however, to present all the facts which have been communicated to him, it has seemed necessary to extend it to its present length.
    Many of the statements contained in the following pages are corroborated by abundant evidence — others rest entirely upon Solomon’s assertion. That he has adhered strictly to the truth the editor, at least, who has had an opportunity of detecting any contradiction or discrepancy in his statements, is well satisfied. He has invariably repeated the same story without deviating in the slightest particular, and has also carefully perused the manuscript, dictating an alteration wherever the most trivial inaccuracy has appealed.
    It was Solomon’s fortune, during his captivity, to be owned by several masters. The treatment he received while at the “Pine Woods” shows that among slaveholders there are men of humanity as well of cruelty. Some of them are spoken of with emotions of gratitude — others in a spirit of bitterness. It is believed that the following account of his experience on Bayou Boeuf presents a correct picture of Slavery in all its lights, and shadows, as it now exists in that locality. Unbiased, as he conceives, by any prepossessions or prejudices, the only object of the editor has been to give a faithful history of Solomon Northup’s life, as he received it from his lips.
    In the accomplishment of that object, he trusts he has succeeded, notwithstanding the numerous faults of style and of expression it may be found to contain.
    David Wilson.
    Whitehall, N. Y., May, 1853.

CHAPTER I

    Introductory — Ancestry — The Northup Family — Birth and Parentage — Mintus Northup — Marriage with Anne Hampton — Good Resolutions — Champlain Canal — Rafting Excursion to Canada — Farming — The Violin — Cooking — Removal to Saratoga — Parker and Perry — Slaves — And Slavery — The Children — The Beginning of Sorrow

    Having been born a freeman, and for more than thirty years enjoyed the blessings of liberty in a free State-and having at the end of that time been kidnapped and sold into Slavery, where I remained, until happily rescued in the month of January, 1853, after a bondage of twelve years — it has been suggested that an account of my life and fortunes would not be uninteresting to the public.
    Since my return to liberty, I have not failed to perceive the increasing interest throughout the Northern States, in regard to the subject of Slavery. Works of fiction, professing to portray its features in their more pleasing as well as more repugnant aspects, have been circulated to an extent unprecedented, and, as I understand, have created a fruitful topic of comment and discussion.
    I can speak of Slavery only so far as it came under my own observation — only so far as I have known and experienced it in my own person. My object is, to give a candid and truthful statement of facts: to repeat the story of my life, without exaggeration, leaving it for others to determine, whether even the pages of fiction present a picture of more cruel wrong or a severer bondage.
    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.
    Henry B. Northup, Esq., of Sandy Hill, a distinguished counselor at law, and the man to whom, under Providence, I am indebted for my present liberty, and my return to the society of my wife and children, is a relative