Chapter 21

           IamindebtedtoMr.HenryB.Northupandothersformanyoftheparticularscontainedinthischapter. 

           TheletterwrittenbyBass,directedtoParkerandPerry,andwhichwasdepositedinthepost-officeinMarksvilleonthe15thdayofAugust,1852,arrivedatSaratogaintheearlypartofSeptember. Sometimeprevioustothis,AnnehadremovedtoGlensFalls,Warrencounty,whereshehadchargeofthekitcheninCarpenter’sHotel. Shekepthouse,however,lodgingwithourchildren,andwasonlyabsentfromthemduringsuchtimeasthedischargeofherdutiesinthehotelrequired. 

           Messrs.ParkerandPerry,onreceiptoftheletter,forwardeditimmediatelytoAnne. Onreadingitthechildrenwereallexcitement,andwithoutdelayhastenedtotheneighboringvillageofSandyHill,toconsultHenryB.Northup,andobtainhisadviceandassistanceinthematter. 

           Uponexamination,thatgentlemanfoundamongthestatutesoftheStateanactprovidingfortherecoveryoffreecitizensfromslavery. ItwaspassedMay14,1840,andisentitled"AnactmoreeffectuallytoprotectthefreecitizensofthisStatefrombeingkidnappedorreducedtoslavery."