Twelve Years a Slave

his son Solomon Northup, from the said year 1818 until he left this part of the country, about the year 1840 or 1841; that he married Anne Hampton, daughter of William Hampton, a near neighbor of this deponent; that the said Anne, wife of said Solomon, is now living and resides in this vicinity; that the said Mintus Northup and William Hampton were both reputed and esteemed in this community as respectable men. And this deponent saith that the said Mintus Northup and his family, and the said William Hampton and his family, from the earliest recollection and acquaintance of this deponent with him (as far back as 1810,) were always reputed, esteemed, and taken to be, and this deponent believes, truly so, free citizens of the State of New-York. This deponent knows the said William Hampton, under the laws of this State, was entitled to vote at our elections, and he believes the said Mintus Northup also was entitled as a free citizen with the property qualification.
    And this deponent further saith, that the said Solomon Northup, son of said Mintus, and husband of said Anne Hampton when he left this State, was at the time thereof a free citizen of the State of New-York. And this deponent further saith, that said Anne Hampton, wife of Solomon Northup, is a respectable woman, of good character, and I would believe her statements, and do believe the facts set forth in her memorial to his excellency, the Governor, in relation to her said husband, are true.
    Orville Clark. Sworn before me, November 19th, 1852. U. G. Paris, Justice of the Peace. State of New-York: Washington County, ss.

    Benjamin Ferris, of the village of Sandy Hill, in said county, being duly sworn, doth depose and say — that he is now fifty-seven years old, and has resided in said village forty-five years; that he was as well acquainted with Mintus Northup, named in the annexed memorial of Anne Northup, from the year 1816 to the time of his death, which occurred at Fort Edward, in the fall of 1829; that he knew the children of the said Mintus, namely, Joseph Northup and Solomon Northup, and that the said Solomon is the same person named in said memorial; that said Mintus resided in the said county of Washington to the time of his death, and was, during all that time, a free citizen of the said State of New-York, as deponent verify believes; that said memorialist, Anne Northup, is a woman of good character, and the statement contained in her memorial is entitled to credit.
    Benjamin Ferris. Sworn before me, November 19th, 1852. U. G. Paris, Justice of the Peace. State of New-York: Executive Chamber, Albany, Nov. 30, 1852.

    I hereby certify that the foregoing is a correct copy of certain proofs filed in the Executive Department, upon which I have appointed Henry B. Northup an Agent of this State, to take proper proceedings in behalf of Solomon Northup there in mentioned.
    Washington Hunt. By the Governor. J. F. R., Private Secretary. State of New-York: Executive Department.

    Washington Hunt, Governor of the State of New-York, to whom it may concern, greeting:
    Whereas, I have received information on oath, which is satisfactary to me, that Solomon Northup, who is a free citizen of this State, is wrongfully held in slavery, in the State of Louisiana:
    And whereas, it is made my duty, by the laws of this State, to take such measures as I shall deem necessary to procure any citizen so wrongfully held in slavery, to be restored to his liberty and returned to this State:
    Be it known, that in pursuance of chapter 375 of the laws of this State, passed in 1840, I have constituted, appointed and employed Henry B. Northup, Esquire, of the county of Washington, in this State, an Agent, with full power to effect the restoration of said Solomon Northup, and the said Agent is hereby authorized and empowered to institute such proper and legal proceedings, to procure such evidence, retain such counsel, and finally to take such measures as will be most likely to accomplish the object of his said appointment.
    He is also instructed to proceed to the State of Louisianawith all convenient dispatch, to execute the agency hereby created.
    In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, [L.S.] and affixed the privy seal of the State, at Albany, this 23d day of November, in the year of our Lord 1852.
    Washington Hunt. James E. Ruggles, Private Secretary.

    State of Louisiana: Parish of Avoyelles.
    Before me, Aristide Barbin, Recorder of the parish of Avoyelles, personally