Marksville in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)
Solomon Northup, "Twelve Years a Slave"
Photographed By Cajun Scrambler, July 28, 2018
1. Solomon Northup, "Twelve Years a Slave" Marker
Inscription.
Solomon Northup, "Twelve Years a Slave". . Solomon Northup, a free man of color from New York, was lured to Washington, D.C. in 1841 and kidnapped into slavery. Brought to New Orleans, he was sold to spend 12 years as a slave in Central Louisiana arriving on the Red River in Alexandria. After 2 years in Rapides, he was then sold to Edwin Epps, a small planter, on Bayou Boeuf in Avoyelles near present Bunkie area, where he labored as a slave for 10 years. Sam Bass, an itinerant carpenter and native of Canada, who came to work at the Epps place, helped to send a letter to New York about his whereabouts. In December 1852, Attorney Henry Northup of New York came to free Northup with the help of the Avoyelles Sheriff. In January 1853, he was released with the help of Marksville Attorney John Waddill and Judge Ralph Cushman in the Avoyelles Parish Courthouse. Northup then left Marksville via the Red River eventually returning to New York where he wrote his famous slave narrative, "Twelve Years a Slave."
Solomon Northup, a free man of color from New York, was lured
to Washington, D.C. in 1841 and kidnapped into slavery.
Brought to New Orleans, he was sold to spend 12 years as a
slave in Central Louisiana arriving on the Red River in
Alexandria. After 2 years in Rapides, he was then sold to
Edwin Epps, a small planter, on Bayou Boeuf in Avoyelles near
present Bunkie
area, where
he labored as a slave for 10 years.
Sam Bass, an itinerant carpenter and native of Canada, who
came to work at the Epps place, helped to send a letter to
New York about his whereabouts. In December 1852,
Attorney Henry Northup of New York came to free Northup with
the help of the Avoyelles Sheriff. In January 1853, he was
released with the help of Marksville Attorney John Waddill
and Judge Ralph Cushman in the Avoyelles Parish Courthouse.
Northup then left Marksville via the Red River eventually
returning to New York where he wrote his famous slave
narrative, "Twelve Years a Slave."
Location. 31° 7.649′ N, 92° 3.951′ W. Marker is in Marksville
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, Louisiana, in Avoyelles Parish. Marker is on North Main Street (State Highway 115) north of Mark Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 312 North Main Street, Marksville LA 71351, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. Located in front of the Avoyelles Parish Courthouse.
Photographed By Cajun Scrambler, July 28, 2018
2. Solomon Northup, "Twelve Years a Slave" Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2018, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 936 times since then and 83 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 1, 2018.
