Chapter 1

           Havingbeenbornafreeman,andformorethanthirtyyearsenjoyedtheblessingsoflibertyinafreeState—andhavingattheendofthattimebeenkidnappedandsoldintoSlavery,whereIremained,untilhappilyrescuedinthemonthofJanuary,1853,afterabondageoftwelveyears—ithasbeensuggestedthatanaccountofmylifeandfortuneswouldnotbeuninterestingtothepublic. 

           Sincemyreturntoliberty,IhavenotfailedtoperceivetheincreasinginterestthroughouttheNorthernStates,inregardtothesubjectofSlavery. Worksoffiction,professingtoportrayitsfeaturesintheirmorepleasingaswellasmorerepugnantaspects,havebeencirculatedtoanextentunprecedented,and,asIunderstand,havecreatedafruitfultopicofcommentanddiscussion. 

           IcanspeakofSlaveryonlysofarasitcameundermyownobservation—onlysofarasIhaveknownandexperienceditinmyownperson. Myobjectis,togiveacandidandtruthfulstatementoffacts: torepeatthestoryofmylife,withoutexaggeration,leavingitforotherstodetermine,whethereventhepagesoffictionpresentapictureofmorecruelwrongorasevererbondage. 

           AsfarbackasIhavebeenabletoascertain,myancestorsonthepaternalsidewereslavesinRhodeIsland. TheybelongedtoafamilybythenameofNorthup,oneofwhom,removingtotheStateofNew-York,settledatHoosic,inRensselaercounty. HebroughtwithhimMintusNorthup,myfather. Onthedeathofthisgentleman,whichmusthaveoccurredsomefiftyyearsago,myfatherbecamefree,havingbeenemancipatedbyadirectioninhiswill.