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Twelve Years a Slave / Narrative of Solomon Northup, a Citizen of New-York, Kidnapped in Washington City in 1841, and Rescued in 1853, from a Cotton Plantation near the Red River in Louisiana cover

Twelve Years a Slave / Narrative of Solomon Northup, a Citizen of New-York, Kidnapped in Washington City in 1841, and Rescued in 1853, from a Cotton Plantation near the Red River in Louisiana

Chapter 31: C.—Page 309.
By Solomon Northup
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About This Book

A free Black man from New York is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the American South, where he endures years of forced labor, physical abuse, and repeated dehumanization on multiple plantations. He documents transfers through slave pens and markets, interactions with various masters and fellow captives, and the small acts of solidarity that sustain morale. The narrative recounts attempts at resistance and escape, the legal and personal obstacles to regaining liberty, and the emotional toll of family separation. It combines close eyewitness detail about daily work, living conditions, and the mechanics of the slave economy with reflective observations on resilience, morality, and the efforts that eventually secure his freedom.

[L.S.]

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the privy seal of the State, at Albany, this 23d day of November, in the year of our Lord 1852.

(Signed,)        WASHINGTON HUNT.

James F. Ruggles, Private Secretary.

C.—Page 309.

State of Louisiana:
Parish of Avoyelles.

Before me, Aristide Barbin, Recorder of the parish of Avoyelles, personally came and appeared Henry B. Northup, of the county of Washington, State of New-York, who hath declared that by virtue of a commission to him as agent of the State of New-York, given and granted by his excellency, Washington Hunt, Governor of the said State of New-York, bearing date the 23d day of November, 1852, authorizing and empowering him, the said Northup, to pursue and recover from slavery a free man of color, called Solomon Northup, who is a free citizen of the State of New-York, and who was kidnapped and sold into slavery, in the State of Louisiana, and now in the possession of Edwin Epps, of the State of Louisiana, of the Parish of Avoyelles; he, the said agent, hereto signing, acknowledges that the said Edwin has this day given and surrendered to him as such agent, the said Solomon Northup, free man of color, as aforesaid, in order that he be restored to his freedom, and carried back to the said State of New-York, pursuant to said commission, the said Edwin Epps being satisfied from the proofs produced by said agent, that the said Solomon Northup is entitled to his freedom. The parties consenting that a certified copy of said power of attorney be annexed to this act.

Done and signed at Marksville, parish of Avoyelles, this fourth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the presence of the undersigned, legal and competent witnesses, who have also hereto signed.

(Signed,)        HENRY B. NORTHUP.
EDWIN EPPS.
ADE. BARBIN, Recorder.

Witnesses:
H. Taylor,
John P. Waddill.

State of Louisiana:
Parish of Avoyelles.

I do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true and correct copy of the original on file and of record in my office.

[L. S.]

Given under my hand and seal of office as Recorder in and for the parish of Avoyelles, this 4th day of January, A. D. 1853.

(Signed,)        ADE. BARBIN, Recorder.

THE END

Transcriber's Notes

The transcriber made these changes to the text:

  • p. xi., Chalenged --> Challenged
  • p. xiii., Coversation --> Conversation
  • p. xvi, expresssion --> expression
  • p. 53, hight --> height
  • p. 58, susually --> usually
  • p. 86, She's not for sale. --> She's not for sale."
  • p. 97, looded --> looked
  • p, 103, capenter --> carpenter
  • p. 106, aligators --> alligators
  • p. 112, Chenyville --> Cheneyville
  • p. 135, gripe --> grip
  • p. 138, loose --> lose
  • p. 149, listing --> listening
  • p. 156, an one --> a one
  • p. 224, maintin --> maintain
  • p. 244, LEW CHEENEY --> LEW CHENEY
  • p. 274, priviliges --> privileges
  • p. 296, 'bringing down his hand emphatically on the table,' -->
    bringing down his hand emphatically on the table,
  • p. 314, reppresented --> represented
  • p. 316, offer- --> offered