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23 - Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup · Twelve Years a Slave

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  Speaker 1: Appendix of twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup, Appendix A,
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  Speaker 1: page two hundred ninety one, Chapter three hundred seventy five.
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  Speaker 1: An Act more effectually to protect the free citizens of
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  Speaker 1: this State from being kidnapped or reduced to slavery. Past
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  Speaker 1: May fourteenth, eighteen forty the people of the State of
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  Speaker 1: New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows.
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  Speaker 1: Point one, whenever the Governor of this State shall receive
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  Speaker 1: information satisfactory to him that any free citizen or any
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  Speaker 1: inhabitant of this State has been kidnapped or transported away
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  Speaker 1: out of this state or into any other state or
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  Speaker 1: territory of the United States, for the purpose of being
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  Speaker 1: there held in slavery, or that such free citizen or
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  Speaker 1: inhabitant is wrongly seized, is imprisoned, or held in slavery
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  Speaker 1: in any of the states or territories of the United States,
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  Speaker 1: on the allegation or pretense that such a person is
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  Speaker 1: a slave, or, by colour of any usage or rule
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  Speaker 1: of law prevailing in such state or territory, is deemed
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  Speaker 1: or taken to be a slave or not entitled of
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  Speaker 1: right to the personal liberty belonging to a citizen it
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  Speaker 1: shall be the duty of the said Governor to take
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  Speaker 1: such measures as he shall deem necessary to procure such
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  Speaker 1: person to be restored to his liberty and return to
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  Speaker 1: this state. The Governor is hereby authorized to appoint and
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  Speaker 1: employ such agent or agents as he shall deem necessary
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  Speaker 1: to affect the restoration and return of such person, and
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  Speaker 1: shall furnish the said agent with such credentials and instructions
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  Speaker 1: as will be likely to accomplish the object of his appointment.
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  Speaker 1: The Governor may determine the compensation to be allowed to
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  Speaker 1: such agents for his services, besides his necessary expenses. Point two.
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  Speaker 1: Such agents shall proceed to collect the proper proof to
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  Speaker 1: establish the right of such person to his freedom, and
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  Speaker 1: shall perform such journeys, take such measures in steace, and
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  Speaker 1: procure to be prosecuted such legal proceedings under the direction
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  Speaker 1: of the Governor as shall be necessary to procure such
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  Speaker 1: person to be restored to his liberty and returned to
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  Speaker 1: this state. Point three. The accounts for all services and
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  Speaker 1: expenses incurred in carrying this act into effect shall be
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  Speaker 1: audited by the Comptroller and paid by the Treasurer on
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  Speaker 1: his warrant out of any monies in the Treasury of
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  Speaker 1: this State not otherwise appropriated. The Treasurer may advance, on
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  Speaker 1: the warrant of the Comptroller, to such agent such sum
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  Speaker 1: or sums as the Governor shall certify to be reasonable
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  Speaker 1: advances to enable him to accomplish the purposes of his appointment,
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  Speaker 1: for which advance such agents shall account on the final
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  Speaker 1: audit of his warrant. Point four. This Act shall take
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  Speaker 1: effect immediately. Appendix B, Page two hundred and ninety two.
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  Speaker 1: Memorial of Anne to His Excellency, the Governor of the
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  Speaker 1: State of New York, the oriel of Anne Northup, of
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  Speaker 1: the village of Glens Falls, in the County of Warren, State. Aforesaid,
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  Speaker 1: respectfully set forth that your memorialist, whose maiden name was
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  Speaker 1: Anne Hampton, was forty four years old on the fourteenth
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  Speaker 1: day of March last and was married to Solomon Northup,
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  Speaker 1: then of Fort Edward, in the County of Washington and State.
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  Speaker 1: A foresaid on the twenty fifth day of December a d.
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  Speaker 1: Eighteen twenty eight by Timothy Eddy, then a Justice of
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  Speaker 1: the Peace, that the said Solomon, after such marriage, lived
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  Speaker 1: and kept house with your Memorialist in said town until
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  Speaker 1: eighteen thirty, when he removed with his said family to
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  Speaker 1: the town of Kingsbury in said county, and remained there
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  Speaker 1: about three years, and then removed to Saratoga Springs in
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  Speaker 1: the state aforesaid, and continued to reside in said Saratoga
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  Speaker 1: Springs and the adjoining town until about the year eighteen
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  Speaker 1: forty one, as near as the time can be recollected,
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  Speaker 1: when the said Solomon started to go to the city
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  Speaker 1: of Washington in the District of Columbia, since which time
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  Speaker 1: your Memorialist has never seen her said husband, and your
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  Speaker 1: Memorialist further states that in the year eighteen forty one,
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  Speaker 1: she received information by a letter directed to Henry B.
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  Speaker 1: Northup Esquire of Sandy Hill, Washington County, New York and
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  Speaker 1: postmarked at New Orleans, that said Solomon had been kidnapped
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  Speaker 1: in Washington, put on board of a vessel, and was
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  Speaker 1: then in such vessel in New Orleans, but could not
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  Speaker 1: tell how he came in that situation nor what his
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  Speaker 1: destination was. That your Memorialist ever since the last mentioned period,
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  Speaker 1: has been wholly unable to obtain any information of where
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  Speaker 1: the said Solomon was until the month of September last,
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  Speaker 1: when another letter was received from the said Solomon postmarked
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  Speaker 1: at Marksville in the Parish of Avoyel in the state
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  Speaker 1: of Louisiana, stating that he was held there as a slave,
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  Speaker 1: which statements your memorialist believed to be true. That the
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  Speaker 1: said Solomon is about forty five years of age and
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  Speaker 1: never resided out of the State of New York, in
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  Speaker 1: which state he was born, until the time he went
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  Speaker 1: to Washington City. As before stated, that the said Solomon
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  Speaker 1: Northup is a free citizen of the State of New
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  Speaker 1: York and is now wrongfully held in slavery in or
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  Speaker 1: near Marksville, in the Parish of Avoyel in the state
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  Speaker 1: of Louisiana, one of the United States of America, on
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  Speaker 1: the allegation or pretense that the said Solomon is a slave.
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  Speaker 1: And your memorialist further states that Mintus north Up was
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  Speaker 1: the reputed father of said Solomon and was a Negro
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  Speaker 1: and died at Fort Edward on the twenty second day
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  Speaker 1: of November eighteen twenty nine. That the mother of said
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  Speaker 1: Solomon was a mulatto or three quarters white, and died
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  Speaker 1: in the County of Oswego, New York, some five or
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  Speaker 1: six years ago. As your memorialist was informed and believes
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  Speaker 1: and never was a slave, that your memorial and her
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  Speaker 1: family are poor and wholly unable to pay or sustain
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  Speaker 1: any portion of the expenses of restoring the said Solomon
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  Speaker 1: to his freedom. Your Excellency is entreated to employ such
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  Speaker 1: agent or agents as shall be deemed necessary to affect
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  Speaker 1: the restoration and return of said Solomon Northup, in pursuance
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  Speaker 1: of an Act of the Legislature of the State of
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  Speaker 1: New York past May fourteenth, eighteen forty entitled an Act
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  Speaker 1: more effectually to protect the free citizens of this State
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  Speaker 1: from being kidnapped or reduced to slavery. And your memorialist
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  Speaker 1: will ever pray signed and Northup dated November nineteenth, eighteen
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  Speaker 1: fifty two, State of New York, Washington County, and Northup
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  Speaker 1: of the Village of Glen Falls in the County of Warren,
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  Speaker 1: in said state, being duly sworn, doth depose and say
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  Speaker 1: that she signed the above memorial, and that the statements
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  Speaker 1: therein contained are true. Signed and Northup subscribed and sworn
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  Speaker 1: before me this nineteenth, November eighteen fifty two, Charles Hughes's
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  Speaker 1: Justice Peace. We recommend that the Governor appoints Henry B.
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  Speaker 1: Northup of the village of Sandy Hill, Washington County, New York,
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  Speaker 1: as one of the agents to procure the restoration and
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  Speaker 1: return of Solomon Northup, named in the foregoing Memorial of
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  Speaker 1: Anne Northup, dated at Sandy Hill, Washington County, New York,
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  Speaker 1: November twenty, eighteen fifty two. Signed Peter Holbrook, Daniel Sweet, B. F. Hoague,
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  Speaker 1: Alman Clark, Charles Hughes, Benjamin Ferris E. D. Baker, Josiah H. Brown,
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  Speaker 1: Orville Clark, State of New York, Washington County. Josiah hand
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  Speaker 1: of the village of Sandy Hill in said county, being
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  Speaker 1: Julie Sworn says he is fifty seven years old and
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  Speaker 1: was born in said village and has always resided there.
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  Speaker 1: That he has known Mintu's Northup and his son Solomon
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  Speaker 1: named in the annexed Memorial of Annae Northup since previous
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  Speaker 1: to the year eighteen sixteen. That Mintus Northup then and
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  Speaker 1: until the time of his death, cultivated a farm in
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  Speaker 1: the towns of Kingsbury and fort Edward from the time
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  Speaker 1: depponents first knew him until he died. That said Mintus
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  Speaker 1: and his wife, the mother of said Solomon Northup, were
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  Speaker 1: reported to be free citizens of New York, and Deponent
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  Speaker 1: believes they were so free. That said Solomon Northup was
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  Speaker 1: born in said County of Washington, as Deponent believes, and
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  Speaker 1: was married December twenty fifth, eighteen twenty eight, in Fort Edward, aforesaid,
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  Speaker 1: and his said wife and three children, two daughters and
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  Speaker 1: one son are now living in Glens Falls, Warren County,
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  Speaker 1: New York. And that the said Solomon Northup always resided
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  Speaker 1: in said County of Washington and its immediate vicinity until
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  Speaker 1: about eighteen forty one, since which time Deponent has not
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  Speaker 1: seen him, but Deponent has been credibly informed and as
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  Speaker 1: he very believes truly, the said Solomon is now wrongly
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  Speaker 1: held as a slave in the state of Louisiana. And
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  Speaker 1: Deponent further says that Anne Northup, named in the said memorial,
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  Speaker 1: is entitled to credit, and Deponent believes the statements contained
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  Speaker 1: in her said memorial are true. Signed Josiah Hand, subscribed
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  Speaker 1: and sworn before me this nineteenth day of November eighteen
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  Speaker 1: fifty two, Charles Hughes' Justice Piece, State of New York,
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  Speaker 1: Washington County, Timothy Eddy of Fort Edward in said County
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  Speaker 1: being duly sworn says he is now over blank years
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  Speaker 1: old and has been a resident of said town more
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  Speaker 1: than blank year's last past, and that he was well
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  Speaker 1: acquainted with Solomon Northup, named in the annexed memorial of
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  Speaker 1: Anne Northup, and with his father, Mintus Northup, who was
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  Speaker 1: a Negro. The wife of said Mintus was a Mulatto woman.
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  Speaker 1: That said Mintus Northup and his said wife and family
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  Speaker 1: two sons, Joseph and Solomon, resided in said town of
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  Speaker 1: Fort Edward for several years before the year eighteen twenty eight,
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  Speaker 1: and said Mintus died in said town AD eighteen twenty nine,
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  Speaker 1: as Deponent believes. And Deponent further says that he was
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  Speaker 1: a justice of the peace in said town in the
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  Speaker 1: year eighteen twenty eight, and as such justice of the peace, he,
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  Speaker 1: on the twenty fifth day of December eighteen twenty eight,
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  Speaker 1: joined the said Solomon in marriage with Anne Hampton, who
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  Speaker 1: is the same person who has subscribed the annexed memorial.
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  Speaker 1: And Deponent expressly says that said Solomon was a free
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  Speaker 1: citizen of the State of New York and always lived
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  Speaker 1: in said state until about the year AD eighteen forty,
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  Speaker 1: since which time Deponent has not seen him, but has
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  Speaker 1: recently been informed, and as deponent believes truly, that said
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  Speaker 1: Solomon north Up is wrongfully held in slavery in or
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  Speaker 1: near Marksville, in the Parish of Avoyel in the state
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  Speaker 1: of Louisiana. And the other says that said Mintus Northup
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  Speaker 1: was nearly sixty years old at the time of his
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  Speaker 1: death and was for more than thirty years next prior
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  Speaker 1: to his death, a free citizen of the State of
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  Speaker 1: New York. And this deponent further says that Anne Northup,
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  Speaker 1: the wife of said Solomon Northup, is of good character
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  Speaker 1: and reputation, and her statements, as contained in the memorial
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  Speaker 1: hereto annexed, are entitled to full credit. Signed Timothy Eddy,
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  Speaker 1: subscribed and sworn before me, this nineteenth day of November
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  Speaker 1: eighteen fifty two, Timothy Staughton, Justice, State of New York,
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  Speaker 1: Washington County. Henry B. Northup, of the village of Sandy
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  Speaker 1: Hill in said County, being duly sworn, says that he
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  Speaker 1: is forty seven years old and has always lived in
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  Speaker 1: said county. That he knew Mintus Northup named in the
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  Speaker 1: annexed memorial from deponent's earliest recollection until the time of
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  Speaker 1: his death, which occurred at Fort Edward in said county
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  Speaker 1: in eighteen twenty nine. That opponent knew the children of
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  Speaker 1: said mintis Viz. Solomon and Joseph, that they were both
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  Speaker 1: born in the County of Washington. Aforesaid as opponent believes
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  Speaker 1: that Deponent was well acquainted with said Solomon, who is
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  Speaker 1: the same person named in the annexed memorial of Ann
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  Speaker 1: northup from his childhood, and that said Solomon always resided
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  Speaker 1: in said County of Washington and the adjoining counties until
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  Speaker 1: about the year eighteen forty one, that said Solomon could
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  Speaker 1: read and write, that said Solomon and his mother and
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  Speaker 1: father were free citizens of the State of New York.
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  Speaker 1: That sometime about the year eighteen forty one, this deponent
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  Speaker 1: received a letter from said Solomon, postmarked New Orleans, stating
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  Speaker 1: that while on business at Washington City, he had been
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  Speaker 1: kidnapped and his free papers taken from him, and he
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  Speaker 1: was then on board a vessel in Irons and was
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  Speaker 1: claimed as a slave, and that he did not know
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  Speaker 1: his destination, which the opponent believes to be true, and
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  Speaker 1: he urged this deponent to assist in procuring his restoration
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  Speaker 1: to freedom, that deponent has lost or mislaid said letter
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  Speaker 1: and cannot find it. That deponent has since endeavored to
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  Speaker 1: find where said Solomon was, but could get no farther
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  Speaker 1: trace of him until September last, when this deponent ascertained,
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  Speaker 1: by a letter purporting to have been written by the
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  Speaker 1: direction of said Solomon, that said Solomon was held and
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  Speaker 1: claimed as a slave in or near Marksville, in the
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  Speaker 1: Parish of Avoyel Louisiana, And that this deponent verily believes
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  Speaker 1: that such information is true, and that said Solomon is
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  Speaker 1: now wrongfully held in slavery at Marksville. Aforesaid, signed Henry B. Northup,
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  Speaker 1: subscribed and sworn to before me, this twentieth day of
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  Speaker 1: November eighteen fifty two, Charles Hughes, JP, State of New York,
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  Speaker 1: Washington County, Nicholas C. Northup, of the village of Sandy
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  Speaker 1: Hill in said County, being duly sworn, doth depose and
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  Speaker 1: say that he is now fifty eight years of age,
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  Speaker 1: and has known Solomon Northup mentioned in the annexed memorial
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  Speaker 1: of Anne Northup, ever since he was born. And this
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  Speaker 1: deponent saith that said Solomon is now about forty five
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  Speaker 1: years old, and was born in the County of Washington
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  Speaker 1: or in the County of Essex in said state, and
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  Speaker 1: always resided in the state of New York until about
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  Speaker 1: the year eighteen forty one, since which time Deponent has
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  Speaker 1: not seen him or known where he was until a
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  Speaker 1: few weeks since opponent was informed and believes truly that
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  Speaker 1: said Solomon was held in slavery in the state of Louisiana.
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  Speaker 1: Deponent further says that said Solomon was married in the
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  Speaker 1: town of Fort Edward in said county about twenty four
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  Speaker 1: years ago, and that his wife and two daughters and
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  Speaker 1: one son now reside in the village of Glens Falls,
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  Speaker 1: County of Warren, in said state of New York. And
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  Speaker 1: this deponent swears positively that said Solomon Northup is a
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  Speaker 1: set of of said state of New York, and was
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  Speaker 1: born free and from his earliest infancy lived and resided
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  Speaker 1: in the counties of Washington, Essex, Warren, and Saratoga in
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  Speaker 1: the state of New York, and that his said wife
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  Speaker 1: and children have never resided out of said counties since
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  Speaker 1: the time said Solomon was married. That Opponent knew the
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  Speaker 1: father of said Solomon Northup, that said father was a
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  Speaker 1: Negro named Mintus Northup and died in the town of
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  Speaker 1: Fort Edward in the County of Washington, State of New York,
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  Speaker 1: on the twenty second day of November a d. Eighteen
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  Speaker 1: twenty nine, and was buried in the graveyard in Sandy Hill.
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  Speaker 1: Aforesaid that for more than thirty years before his death,
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  Speaker 1: he lived in the counties of Essex, Washington and Rensalaa
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  Speaker 1: and State of New York, and left a wife and
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  Speaker 1: two sons, Joseph and said Solomon, him surviving. That the
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  Speaker 1: mother of said Solomon was a Mulatto woman and is
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  Speaker 1: now dead and died, as deponent believes, in Oswego County,
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  Speaker 1: New York, within five or six years past. And this
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  Speaker 1: opponent further states that the mother of the said Solomon
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  Speaker 1: Northup was not a slave at the time of the
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  Speaker 1: birth of said Solomon Northup, and has not been a
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  Speaker 1: slave at any time within the last fifty years. Signed
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  Speaker 1: NC Northup, subscribed and sworn before me this nineteenth day
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  Speaker 1: of November eighteen fifty two. Charles Hughes, Justice Piece, State
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  Speaker 1: of New York, Washington County. Aorville Clark of the village
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  Speaker 1: of Sandy Hill, in the County of Washington, State of
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  Speaker 1: New York, being duly sworn, doth depose and say that
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  Speaker 1: he this opponent is over fifty years of age, that
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  Speaker 1: in the years eighteen ten and eighteen eleven, or most
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  Speaker 1: of the time of those years, this opponent resided at
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  Speaker 1: Sandy Hill, aforesaid, and at Glen's Falls. That this opponent
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  Speaker 1: then knew Mintus Northup, a black or colored man. He
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  Speaker 1: was there a freeman, as this deponent believes and always understood,
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  Speaker 1: that the wife of said Mintus Northup and mother of Solomon,
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  Speaker 1: was a free woman. That from the year eighteen eighteen
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  Speaker 1: until the time of the death of said Mintus Northup,
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  Speaker 1: about the year eighteen twenty nine, this opponent was very
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  Speaker 1: well acquainted with the said Mintus Northup, that he was
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  Speaker 1: a respectable man in the community in which he resided,
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  Speaker 1: and was a freeman. So taken and esteemed by all
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  Speaker 1: his acquaintances. That this deponent has also been and was
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  Speaker 1: acquainted with his son, Solomon Northup, from the said year
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  Speaker 1: eighteen eighteen until he left this part of the country
• 17:39
  Speaker 1: about the year eighteen forty or eighteen forty one, that
• 17:43
  Speaker 1: he married Anne Hampton, daughter of William Hampton, a near
• 17:46
  Speaker 1: neighbour of this deponent, that the said Anne, wife of
• 17:50
  Speaker 1: said Solomon, is now living and resides in this vicinity,
• 17:54
  Speaker 1: That the said Mintus Northup and William Hampton were both
• 17:57
  Speaker 1: reputed and esteemed in this community as respectable men. And
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  Speaker 1: this opponent saith that the said Mintus Northup and his family,
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  Speaker 1: and the said William Hampton and his family from the
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  Speaker 1: earliest recollection and acquaintance of this deponent with him, as
• 18:13
  Speaker 1: far back as eighteen ten, were always reputed, esteemed, and
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  Speaker 1: taken to be and this deponent believes truly so free
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  Speaker 1: citizens of the State of New York. This opponent knows
• 18:25
  Speaker 1: the said William Hampton, under the laws of this state,
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  Speaker 1: was entitled to vote at our elections, and he believes
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  Speaker 1: the said Mintus Northup also was entitled as a free
• 18:35
  Speaker 1: citizen with the property qualification. And this opponent further saith
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  Speaker 1: that the said Solomon Northup, son of said Mintus and
• 18:44
  Speaker 1: husband of said Anne Hampton, when he left this state,
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  Speaker 1: was at the time thereof a free citizen of the
• 18:50
  Speaker 1: State of New York. And this opponent further saith that
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  Speaker 1: said Anne Hampton, wife of Solomon Northup, is a respectable
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  Speaker 1: woman of good character, and I would believe her statements,
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  Speaker 1: and do believe the facts set forth in her memorial
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  Speaker 1: to his Excellency, the Governor, in relation to her said
• 19:08
  Speaker 1: husband are true. Signed Auville Clarke, sworn before me, November nineteenth,
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  Speaker 1: eighteen fifty two, U. G. Paris, Justice of the Peace,
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  Speaker 1: State of New York, Washington County. Benjamin Ferris, of the
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  Speaker 1: village of Sandy Hill in said county, being July sworn,
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  Speaker 1: doth depose and say that he is now fifty seven
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  Speaker 1: years old and has resided in said village forty five years.
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  Speaker 1: That he was well acquainted with Mintus Northup, named in
• 19:40
  Speaker 1: the annexed memorial of Anne Northup, from the year eighteen
• 19:43
  Speaker 1: sixteen to the time of his death, which occurred at
• 19:47
  Speaker 1: Fort Edward in the fall of eighteen twenty nine. That
• 19:50
  Speaker 1: he knew the children of the said Mintus, namely Joseph
• 19:54
  Speaker 1: Northup and Solomon Northup, And that the said Solomon is
• 19:58
  Speaker 1: the same person named in said memorial. That said Mintus
• 20:02
  Speaker 1: resided in the said County of Washington to the time
• 20:05
  Speaker 1: of his death, and was during all that time a
• 20:08
  Speaker 1: free citizen of the said State of New York. As
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  Speaker 1: opponent verily believes that said memorialist Anne Northup, is a
• 20:15
  Speaker 1: woman of good character, and the statement contained in her
• 20:19
  Speaker 1: memorial is entitled to credit. Signed Benjamin Ferris, sworn before me,
• 20:24
  Speaker 1: November nineteenth, eighteen fifty two, U. G. Paris, Justice of
• 20:29
  Speaker 1: the Peace, State of New York, Executive Chamber, Albany, November thirty,
• 20:35
  Speaker 1: eighteen fifty two. I hereby certify that the foregoing is
• 20:39
  Speaker 1: a correct copy of certain proofs filed in the Executive Department,
• 20:43
  Speaker 1: upon which I have appointed Henry B. Northup, an agent
• 20:46
  Speaker 1: of this State, to take proper proceedings in behalf of
• 20:49
  Speaker 1: Solomon Northup, therein mentioned, Signed Washington Hunt by the Governor
• 20:55
  Speaker 1: JFR Private Secretary, State of New York, Executive Department, Washington Hunt,
• 21:02
  Speaker 1: Governor of the State of New York, to whom it
• 21:04
  Speaker 1: may concern, greeting. Whereas I have received information on oath
• 21:09
  Speaker 1: which is satisfactory to me that Solomon Northup, who is
• 21:13
  Speaker 1: a free citizen of this state, is wrongfully held in
• 21:16
  Speaker 1: slavery in the State of Louisiana. And whereas it is
• 21:20
  Speaker 1: made my duty by the laws of this state to
• 21:23
  Speaker 1: take such measures as I shall deem necessary to procure
• 21:26
  Speaker 1: any citizen so wrongfully held in slavery to be restored
• 21:30
  Speaker 1: to his liberty and returned to this state. Be it
• 21:33
  Speaker 1: known that, in pursuance of Chapter three hundred seventy five
• 21:37
  Speaker 1: of the Laws of this State, passed in eighteen forty,
• 21:40
  Speaker 1: I have constituted, appointed and employed Henry B. Northup, Esquire
• 21:45
  Speaker 1: of the County of Washington, in this state, an agent
• 21:49
  Speaker 1: with full power to affect the restoration of said Solomon Northup.
• 21:53
  Speaker 1: And the said agent is hereby authorized and empowered to
• 21:57
  Speaker 1: institute such proper and legal proceedings, to procure such evidence,
• 22:01
  Speaker 1: retains such council, and finally, to take such measures as
• 22:05
  Speaker 1: will be most likely to accomplish the objects of his
• 22:08
  Speaker 1: said appointment. He is also instructed to proceed to the
• 22:11
  Speaker 1: State of Louisiana, with all convenient dispatch, to execute the
• 22:15
  Speaker 1: agency hereby created. In witness thereof, I have hereinto subscribed
• 22:20
  Speaker 1: my name and affixed the Privy Seal of the State
• 22:24
  Speaker 1: at Albany, this twenty third day of November, in the
• 22:27
  Speaker 1: year of our Lord eighteen fifty two, Signed Washington Hunt,
• 22:32
  Speaker 1: James f Ruggles's Private Secretary, Appendix C, Page three hundred
• 22:37
  Speaker 1: and nine State of Louisiana, Parish of Avoyel. Before me,
• 22:43
  Speaker 1: Aristide Barbin, Recorder of the Parish of Avoyel, personally came
• 22:47
  Speaker 1: and appeared Henry B. Northup of the County of Washington,
• 22:51
  Speaker 1: State of New York, who hath declared that by virtue
• 22:54
  Speaker 1: of a commission to him as agent of the State
• 22:57
  Speaker 1: of New York, given and granted by his excellence Washington Hunt,
• 23:01
  Speaker 1: Governor of the said State of New York, bearing date
• 23:04
  Speaker 1: the twenty third day of November eighteen fifty two, authorizing
• 23:08
  Speaker 1: and empowering him the said Northup, to pursue and recover
• 23:11
  Speaker 1: from slavery a free man of colour called Solomon Northup,
• 23:15
  Speaker 1: who is a free citizen of the State of New York,
• 23:18
  Speaker 1: and who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the
• 23:21
  Speaker 1: State of Louisiana, and now in the possession of Edwin
• 23:25
  Speaker 1: Epps of the State of Louisiana, in the Parish of Avoyel.
• 23:29
  Speaker 1: He the said agent. Hereto signing acknowledges that the said
• 23:33
  Speaker 1: Edwin has this day given and surrendered to him as
• 23:36
  Speaker 1: such agent, the said Solomon Northup, free man of colour,
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: as aforesaid, in order that he be restored to his
• 23:43
  Speaker 1: freedom and carried back to the said State of New
• 23:46
  Speaker 1: York pursuant to said commission, The said Edwin Epps, being
• 23:50
  Speaker 1: satisfied from the proofs produced by said agent, that the
• 23:53
  Speaker 1: said Solomon Northup is entitled to his freedom, the parties
• 23:58
  Speaker 1: consenting that a certified copy of Saint said power of
• 24:00
  Speaker 1: Attorney be annexed to this act, done and signed at Marksville,
• 24:04
  Speaker 1: Parish of Avoyel, this fourth day of January one thousand,
• 24:08
  Speaker 1: eight hundred and fifty three, in the presence of the
• 24:11
  Speaker 1: undersigned legal and competent witnesses, who have also hereto signed,
• 24:16
  Speaker 1: Signed Henry B. Northup, Edwin Epps, Aid Barbin Recorder, Witnesses H. Taylor,
• 24:24
  Speaker 1: John P. Waddill, State of Louisiana, Parish of Avoyel. I
• 24:29
  Speaker 1: do hereby certify the fore going to be a true
• 24:32
  Speaker 1: and correct copy of the original on file and of
• 24:35
  Speaker 1: record in my office, given under my hand and seal
• 24:39
  Speaker 1: of office as Recorder in and for the Parish of Avoyel,
• 24:43
  Speaker 1: this fourth day of January a d. Eighteen fifty three,
• 24:47
  Speaker 1: signed Aid Barbin, Recorder, the end end of twelve years
• 24:53
  Speaker 1: a slave by Solomon Northup,