On January 1, 1808, congress prohibited the importation of slaves. One year earlier in 1807, the UK abolished the slave trade. Solomon Northup was born July 10th, 1808. With the trade of slaves illegal, but slavery legal in some states, slave catchers had to find a new way to get slaves. Some continued with the trade illegally, forced abduction to deceit, and abduction of children and some captured free African American men and women, like in Solomon Northup’s case in 1853. Solomon Northup’s childhood lead to his many claims to fame and left a memorable legacy. Solomon Northup lived what you could say a normal life in the early 1800’s. His father was in service to Capt. Henry Northup and at his passing his will stated that Mintus be a
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Northup was approached by two men, Merrill Brown and Abram Hamilton, who offered him quick business opportunity to play the fiddle in New York and then persuaded him to continue in Washington, a slave state. With his free papers in hand he worked and enjoyed Washington until he felt extreme pain and had to go to the doctor. Once he woke up, he found himself in chains, stripped of all his clothing except for undergarments and most importantly his freeman paperwork. He was beaten multiple times as he tried to explain that he is a free man, but learned that no one is going to believe him so he kept to himself, did what they commanded of him and stayed smart. Mr. Solomon, who is named Platt at the time, continued on the slave journey to New Orleans where he was sold to his first master, William Ford. Mr. F was a Baptist preacher who farmed in Bayou Boeup of the red river in Louisianan and was considerate to his slaves. Solomon worked as a carpenter to build looms for Mr. Ford until he was sold in the winter of 1842 to John Tibaut. Mr. Tibaut used Solomon to finish constructing Fords plantation. Mr. Tibaut inflicted upon Solomon cruel and unnecessary treatment, and attempted to kill Solomon twice once at gun point and once with an axe. Mr. Tibaut could no longer stand Solomon so he hired him out to a planter name Eldret. For five weeks Eldret had Solomon clear cane, trees, and undergrowth at “the Big Cane Break” to develop a cotton field. with the job was unfinished Solomon was sold to his last owner Mr. Epps. Mr. Epps held Northup for almost ten years and whipped his slaves if they did not meet daily work quotas, such as the pounds of cotton
Northup was approached by two men, Merrill Brown and Abram Hamilton, who offered him quick business opportunity to play the fiddle in New York and then persuaded him to continue in Washington, a slave state. With his free papers in hand he worked and enjoyed Washington until he felt extreme pain and had to go to the doctor. Once he woke up, he found himself in chains, stripped of all his clothing except for undergarments and most importantly his freeman paperwork. He was beaten multiple times as he tried to explain that he is a free man, but learned that no one is going to believe him so he kept to himself, did what they commanded of him and stayed smart. Mr. Solomon, who is named Platt at the time, continued on the slave journey to New Orleans where he was sold to his first master, William Ford. Mr. F was a Baptist preacher who farmed in Bayou Boeup of the red river in Louisianan and was considerate to his slaves. Solomon worked as a carpenter to build looms for Mr. Ford until he was sold in the winter of 1842 to John Tibaut. Mr. Tibaut used Solomon to finish constructing Fords plantation. Mr. Tibaut inflicted upon Solomon cruel and unnecessary treatment, and attempted to kill Solomon twice once at gun point and once with an axe. Mr. Tibaut could no longer stand Solomon so he hired him out to a planter name Eldret. For five weeks Eldret had Solomon clear cane, trees, and undergrowth at “the Big Cane Break” to develop a cotton field. with the job was unfinished Solomon was sold to his last owner Mr. Epps. Mr. Epps held Northup for almost ten years and whipped his slaves if they did not meet daily work quotas, such as the pounds of cotton