Summary of Twelve Years a Slave

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Summary of Twelve Years a Slave Solomon Northup was born a freeman. On Christmas day, 1829, Northup married Anne Hampton. He was about twenty one years old and decided to enter upon a life of industry so that he could help support him and his wife. He first was employed with others repairing the Champlain Canal. By the time the Canal was finished Northup purchased a pair of horses and other things necessarily required in the business of navigation. He hired several men to help him and he began to transport large rafts of timber from Lake Champlain to Troy. Being involved with this type of work for awhile Northup became very good with the arts and mysteries of rafting. After he finished with that contract he entered into another contract with Medad Gunn, to cut a large quantity of wood. He did this job during the winter and when spring came around him and his wife decided to start a farm. They lived on the farm for many years and as he lived on the farm Northup was called many times to play the violin and Anne became known as a famous cook and was employed in the kitchen at Sherrill's Coffee House. They lived a very happy life on the farm and made a good amount of money playing the violin, cooking and farming. In 1834, they moved to Saratoga Springs. Northup got a job to drive a hack during visiting seasons and during the winter he relied on his violin. In 1841 they moved from Saratoga because they had not prospered but still they lived a comfortable life. Northup and his wife were the parents of three children, Elizabeth(10), Margaret(8) and Alonzo(5). They had a very good relationship with all their children and loved them dearly. Northup searched the streets for work in the village of Saratoga Springs and there h... ... middle of paper ... ...e legal paperwork. Northup was to be taken into custody until determined rightfully free. After obtaining the judged signatures, they concluded that asking Northup a few questions and him answering correctly would prove conclusive. They asked him the questions and he answered correctly, they explained to Epps about everything and went to town to get the papers signed and finally they were on their way. On the way back they pass many bad memories. As they travel back to Washington Burch was arrested for kidnaping and selling Northup to slavery. On January 18 Northups friends testified that he was a freeman that they had known him for a very long time. He traveled back and met his family. The family was overwhelmed with joy and besides themselves. After everyone eventually settled down they talked about the hundreds and hundreds of events that had occurred.

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