Twelve Years a Slave

by Solomon Northup

  The Salem Press carried this note on August 16, 1853:

  We purchased a few days since, of the veritable “Uncle Sol,” a volume of his work entitled Solomon Northup Twelve Years a Slave; and perused its pages with great Interest–gathering from them much valuable information relative to the Institution of Slavery at the South, interwoven with a thrilling account of “Uncle Sol’s” hardships and privations during his twelve years of servitude. The work is chastely and elegantly written, reflecting great credit upon the editor, Hon. D. WILSON, and affords another evidence of his superior talent as a popular writer. For the sake of humanity and truth, we bespeak for the work an extensive sale. We hope Mr. Wilson may continue his labors as an author.

  222. New York historian Edward Knoblauch wrote: “In the Ballston Spa Village Cemetery there is the grave of an Isaac M. Van Namee, died 22 January 1900 at the age of 67 years, which would have made him about 21 years old in July of 1854” [See Knoblauch].

  223. Washington County People’s Journal, July 20, 1854.

  224. “The People vs. Alexander Merrill and Joseph Russell.” In Reports of Decisions in Criminal Cases Made at Term, in Chambers, and in the Courts of Oyer and Terminer of the State of New York, compiled by Amasa J. Parker, 590-605. Vol. II. Albany, NY: Banks, Gould, and Co., 1856.

  225. Sonia Taub letter to Sue Eakin, April 23, 1993.

  226. Enos is recorded as saying “It is said that M[errill] some years ago endeavored to entice away a negro boy in his neighborhood, by persuading him to let him sell him, then run away and be again sold, each time dividing the booty . . . He is also said to have declared at one time that he followed kidnapping for years; and that he felt as safe in that business as that in any other business.” [See “Sol Northup’s Kidnappers,” Washington County People’s Journal]

  227. Fiske, 17-18.

  228. Mann, 153.

  229. See Wyckoff, 136.